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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
2026 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Talking Pools Podcast has officially opened nominations for the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award, an industry recognition created to celebrate the individuals who go beyond their daily work to teach, guide, and elevate others in the swimming pool and spa profession.
Nominations will be accepted from March 15 through May 15, 2026, inviting pool service technicians, builders, retailers, educators, manufacturers, and other professionals across the industry to submit the name of a mentor who helped shape their career.
The award was created by Talking Pools Podcast host and industry educator Rudy Stankowitz to shine a spotlight on the unsung leaders of the trade—those who invest their time and experience in helping others succeed.
“Every great pool professional started somewhere, and chances are someone helped them along the way,” said Stankowitz. “This award exists to recognize the people who take the time to teach judgment, protect standards, and build technicians who will carry the industry forward.”
Recognizing the Quiet Builders of the Industry
Unlike many awards that highlight business growth or product innovation, the Mentor of the Year Award focuses specifically on mentorship—the act of teaching, guiding, and developing professionals in the field.
Eligible nominees must be actively involved in the swimming pool industry or a closely related field, including service, construction, retail, manufacturing, education, or other supporting roles.
To maintain fairness and integrity, the award program does not allow self-nominations, family nominations, or nominations of Talking Pools Podcast hosts. Each submission must come from a professional working within the industry.
A Championship Recognition
The Mentor of the Year recipient will be presented with a custom championship belt, symbolizing the impact mentors have on shaping the next generation of professionals. The belt was designed by Wildcat Belts, the same manufacturer that produces championship titles for organizations like WWE and UFC.
The inaugural 2025 award attracted dozens of nominations from across the global pool industry, with finalists selected through a multi-stage anonymous review process to ensure a merit-based evaluation.
In keeping with the spirit of the award, the winner will not be asked to attend a formal ceremony. Instead, the Talking Pools Podcast team will deliver the championship belt in person, surprising the recipient at their workplace or job site while they are doing what mentors do best—helping others succeed.
How to Nominate a Mentor
Industry professionals can nominate their mentor by submitting the individual’s name along with a description of how that person helped them grow in their career or business.
Submissions can be made online at:
https://cpoclass.com/pool-news/mentor-award/
Alternatively, nominees can be submitted by visiting cpoclass.com and selecting the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award tab.
The Top 10 nominees will be announced later in 2026, with one individual ultimately earning the title of Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year.
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
So I want to take a minute before we get further into today's episode. I want to talk about something that is incredibly important to me. And honestly, it should be important to everyone in this industry. Mentorship. Every single one of us learned this trade from somebody. Nobody just woke up one morning knowing how to balance water, diagnose equipment problems, or build a successful pool service business. Someone showed us. Someone took the time. Maybe they helped you through your first green pool. Maybe they gave you advice that helped you turn your route into a real business. Whatever it was, somebody helped you get to where you are today. And now it's time to say thank you. Beginning March 15th, we are opening nominations for the Talking Pools Podcast 2026 Mentor of the Year Award. This is your opportunity to recognize the person who made a difference in your career. All you need to do is send us their name. Tell us how they helped you and your business. What did they teach you? How did they guide you? Why do you believe they deserve to be recognized as the 2026 Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year? The mentor selected will receive the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Championship Belt. Yes, an actual championship belt, just as we had done last year, because let's be honest, the people who dedicate their time to mentoring others in this industry deserve to be recognized like champions. We will be accepting nominations from March 15th through May 15th. So you've got two months to get us their name. Don't wait. If somebody helped shape your career, tell us about them now. You can submit their names by visiting cpoclass.com forward slash pool dash news forward slash mentor dash award. Or you can go to cpoclass.com and then just click on the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award tab. Probably the easier way. CPOClass.com, then click on the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award tab. Mentorship is one of the things that make the pool industry different from a lot of other industries. People here still take the time to help each other succeed. So let's recognize the people who helped us along the way. Who is your mentor? Go nominate them today.
