Talking Pools Podcast
If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.
Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.
Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.
Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.
If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.
Talking Pools Podcast
When Customers Meet Chlorine Science
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Andrea kicks off the episode venting about her latest headache — a string of finicky customers inside a gated community who think pool service comes with mind-reading included. From access codes that don’t work to residents insisting their “pool smells too clean,” Andrea’s got stories that’ll make any tech feel seen. Paulette chimes in with her trademark humor and hard-earned wisdom, grounding the chaos with her calm-but-deadly insights on customer communication and setting boundaries.
But the episode doesn’t stay in the HOA drama zone for long — it quickly pivots into an impromptu chemistry deep dive. When one customer complains about chlorine levels “being too high because it smells,” Andrea and Paulette use the opportunity to unpack the truth behind chlorine chemistry, how Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) actually works, and why the “chlorine smell” myth refuses to die.
They break down:
- What ORP means in plain English (and why it’s a better measure of sanitation than free chlorine alone)
- How environmental factors like pH, sunlight, and CYA influence oxidation potential
- Common test kit interferences that can make readings go haywire — from residual monopersulfate (MPS) to copper and even dirty sample cells
- Why color-matching tests in the field are not the chemistry gospel some pool owners think they are
Andrea’s frustration turns into a mini chemistry class, with Paulette walking through troubleshooting steps that balance humor and hard science. The result? A perfect blend of real-world technician talk and science-backed pool wisdom that every service pro and water chemistry nerd will love.
Key Takeaways:
- Gated communities = gated logic (sometimes). Access and attitude are both part of the job.
- Chlorine smell ≠ too much chlorine — it’s usually chloramines, a sign of not enough free chlorine.
- ORP gives you a snapshot of water’s true oxidizing potential, not just the chlorine ppm number.
- Test interference can ruin your data faster than a leaf in a sample cell. Know your kit, rinse your vials, and don’t trust a color block alone.
- Customer education starts with confidence in your own chemistry knowledge.
Closing Moment:
Andrea ends the episode with a sigh and a laugh — “Maybe I’ll just put up my own gate next time.” Paulette replies, “As long as it keeps the chloramines out.”
Episode Length: ~42 minutes
Perfect For: Pool techs who love a mix of field stories and chemistry truth bombs — and anyone who’s ever been buzzed in by a gate code that didn’t work.
Hashtags:
#TalkingPoolsPodcast #PoolPros #WaterChemistry #ORP #ChlorineMyths #PoolServiceLife #AndreaAndPaulette #CPOClass #PoolTechTalk
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
