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In this episode of Let's Talk About Pools Live, Lauren Broom and Rob Stewart tackle some of the biggest issues facing the pool industry today. They discuss the 2026 Pool Nation Awards nominations and recognize the professionals making an impact across the industry.

The conversation then shifts to the growing popularity of backyard pool rental platforms like Swimply. Are these pools private, or should they be regulated like public pools? The hosts explore the safety concerns, liability issues, and why states like Minnesota are beginning to regulate this emerging market.

The discussion continues with vacation rental pools, examining whether they should be subject to additional regulations and the unique challenges health agencies face in inspecting and enforcing safety standards for short-term rental properties.

Lauren and Rob also preview upcoming pool industry trade conferences, highlighting the tremendous value of continuing education, professional development, and the networking opportunities that help move the industry forward.

Finally, they dive into concerns surrounding public health inspections, discussing the importance of consistency, fairness, and ensuring both public health professionals and pool industry experts have equal representation on committees that shape pool regulations and safety standards.

Join us for another informative discussion covering today's hottest topics in the pool industry.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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In Episode #80 of Let's Talk About Pools, host Lauren Broom sits down with Jeff Johnson, owner and inventor of the Mini Bucket Test, to discuss one of the most common questions pool owners and service professionals face: Is it a leak, or is it just evaporation?

Jeff shares the story behind developing the Mini Bucket Test, how it simplifies the traditional bucket test, and why it has become a valuable first-step diagnostic tool for homeowners, pool service companies, and retail pool stores. Together, Lauren and Jeff discuss common causes of water loss, misconceptions about pool leaks, when professional leak detection is necessary, and how early diagnosis can save pool owners time, money, and frustration.

Whether you're a pool professional looking to educate your customers or a pool owner trying to determine if your pool is losing more water than normal, this episode provides practical insights and real-world advice to help you make informed decisions before investing in costly leak detection services.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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Join Lauren Broom and co-anchor Rob Stewart for an informative episode covering two important topics affecting the aquatics industry. First, they discuss the National Reflection Pool, including the suspected vandalism that damaged the painted surface, caused the water to turn green, and the restoration efforts underway to return this iconic landmark to its original condition. They also dive into recent pool chemical incidents that have resulted in serious injuries, highlighting the critical importance of chemical safety, proper operator training, and the use of chemical interlocks, flow switches, and safety alarms to help prevent dangerous chemical feed events.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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Join Lauren Broom and co-anchor Rob Stewart on this live episode of Let's Talk About Pools that aired on 06/09/2026 as they discuss pool opening season, chemical safety, and the challenges pool professionals face when preparing pools for summer. From proper startup procedures and water chemistry to handling pool chemicals safely, Lauren and Rob share practical tips, industry insights, and the latest pool news to help keep pools safe, clean, and ready for swimmers.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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Breaking Down Sodium Bromide with Scott Hamilton

In this episode of Let's Talk About Pools, we sit down with Scott Hamilton of United Chemical to take a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood chemicals in the pool industry—sodium bromide.

Join us as Scott explains what sodium bromide is, how it works in swimming pools, and why pool operators and service professionals need to understand its long-term effects on water chemistry. From algae treatments and bromide banks to sanitizer demand and troubleshooting water quality issues, this episode covers the science, benefits, potential drawbacks, and best practices surrounding sodium bromide use.

Whether you're a Certified Pool Operator (CPO), service technician, aquatic facility manager, or industry professional looking to expand your knowledge, this conversation provides practical insights and expert guidance to help you make informed decisions about pool water treatment.

Tune in for an educational discussion packed with real-world experience, industry expertise, and valuable takeaways from one of the leading voices in pool chemistry.

Guest: Scott Hamilton, United Chemical

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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“Welcome back to Let’s Talk About Pools. Today, I’m joined by Carrie Dibrell to talk about Service Industry News and why staying up to date on trends, news, and industry insights is a game changer for pool service techs in the field.

Before we dive in, a quick thank you to our podcast sponsor, Pool Brain, for supporting the show.

If you want to stay ahead and sharpen your knowledge, this episode is for you. Let’s dive in.”

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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🎙️ Let’s Talk About Pools LIVE – 05/12/2026

With regular co-anchor Rob Stewart tied up with too many pool openings of his own up north, we brought in three guest co-anchors for a fun and insightful LIVE episode featuring Ryan Lunsford and Mike Sandoval from Arizona along with Denise Gough from Florida.

This episode covered a wide range of industry topics, including how Hollywood movies and TV shows portray pool service professionals — and how those portrayals can shape the way customers view our industry. The conversation also explored the major regional differences between maintaining pools in Arizona and Southern Florida, from climate challenges to water chemistry and service expectations.

To wrap things up, the panel dove into their preferred startup procedures for new concrete pools, sharing the “why” behind their methods, best practices, and real-world experiences from different parts of the country.

This was a great mix of education, perspective, and industry conversation with pool pros from coast to coast — plus live interaction from listeners throughout the show.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain

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Welcome back to Let’s Talk About Pools, the podcast where we dive into everything pool pros need to know to grow, scale, and succeed in this industry.

Today’s episode is all about something that can make or break your business—your books. Because let’s be honest, you can have the cleanest pools in town, but if your finances are a mess, your business is going to feel it.

That’s why we’re joined by QuickBooks expert Sharon Burch, who’s here to help pool pros like you get organized, understand your numbers, and build a more profitable business.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by bookkeeping, struggled with tracking your income and expenses, or just want to run a tighter ship financially—this episode is for you.

Let’s dive in.

Strategic Podcast Sponsor: Pool Brain