In episode 271 of the Pool Nation Podcast — where it’s all pool talk (and we ain’t talking about netting and jetting)! In this Best of Pool Nation special, Edgar, John, Zach, and the Cannonball King himself, Spider, host an action-packed lineup featuring Heritage Pool Supply, Aquastar, and the Pool Nation Hall of Fame inductees.

Get ready for a mix of laughs, real stories, industry insight, and a few surprises — from distribution and leadership to water safety, Hall of Fame jackets, and even where this year’s After Party might be!

Whether you’re a pool pro, supplier, or industry insider, this episode has something for everyone who’s part of the Nation.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast – Intro & the Marco Polo Champ Returns 01:30 – The “Best of Pool Nation” and why this episode matters 05:20 – Heritage Pool Supply joins the studio: meet Logan, Jeff, Grayson, Chris & Isaac 13:40 – Real talk from behind the counter: how distribution supports pool pros 24:10 – Building bridges between service, retail, and distribution 33:15 – Spider’s Cannonball & JJ’s “two wake-up mornings” story 41:00 – Aquastar x Every Child a Swimmer – safety, purpose & partnership 56:30 – Casey McGovern, Todd Pierre, and Steve Barnes join the conversation 01:10:00 – Why Aquastar’s partnership goes beyond donations 01:27:40 – The emotional side of leadership & water safety awareness 01:40:00 – Pool Nation Hall of Fame: celebrating legends Steve Barnes & Terry Arko 01:54:00 – Behind the scenes: the jacket redesign & Hall of Fame stories 02:10:00 – Remembering Bob Lowry and how his legacy shaped Pool Nation 02:25:00 – Future of the Pool Nation Awards & 2025 After-Party scouting 02:37:00 – Closing thoughts: unity, education, and the future of our industry

• Logan, Jeff, Grayson, Chris, and Isaac – Heritage Pool Supply

• Casey McGovern – Every Child a Swimmer

• Todd Pierre & Steve Barnes – Aquastar Pool Products

• Terry Arko – Industry Hall of Fame Inductee

• SPPA – Pool pros’ trusted insurance partner.

• US Motors – Neptune Variable Speed Motor: smart, quiet, efficient.

• BluRay XL – The real mineral purifier. bluerayxl.com

• AquaStar Pool Products – Safety, innovation, and performance.

• Natural Chemistry – Simplify your service.

• Raypak – The future of heating with Nitec™ technology.

• Hayward – Innovation that shines bright.

Episode 270 Pool Nation Podcast. Welcome to a special Best of Pool Nation Podcast episode! This week, we’re celebrating some of the most inspiring and hardworking professionals in the pool industry — the people who embody what it means to be part of a Nation of Pool Pros.

In this special feature, Megan Kendrick from Pool Pro Magazine joins Edgar De Jesus to talk with James Broderick, Aiden Dunn, and Nick LaPointe — all nominees for the Pool Nation 30 Under 40 Pool Pro of the Year Award. Hear how James built JB Pools from the ground up, how Aiden grew his family business into a thriving operation, and what drives each of them to raise the bar for service and professionalism.

We also feature highlights from powerful interviews with industry leaders like Josh Sandler, CEO of Gold Medal Pools, who shares his family’s multi-generation legacy and how they grew through the 2008 recession, and a fun conversation with Brian Croson, Johnny Davis, Andrew Raglin, and Daniel Nicholas, all nominees for Pool Sales Rep of the Year, sharing stories, laughter, and lessons from the field.

💡 Whether you’re just starting out or running a multi-team operation, these stories remind us why passion, grit, and integrity matter most in the pool industry.

🎧 Listen now to get inspired, laugh with the crew, and celebrate the people moving the pool industry forward.

Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to the Best of Pool Nation 01:20 – Megan Kendrick joins the show 03:00 – James Broderick on building JB Pools 12:15 – Aiden Dunn’s family legacy and growth 18:50 – Customer trust and service lessons 24:00 – Green-to-Clean of the Month shout-out 27:10 – Interview with Josh Sandler, CEO of Gold Medal Pools 49:00 – Building through the 2008 recession 58:30 – Sales Rep of the Year nominees panel: Brian, Johnny, Andrew & Daniel 1:10:00 – Funny behind-the-scenes moments 1:20:00 – Final thoughts and wrap-up

In Episode 269 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus sits down with Megan Kendrick from Pool Pro Magazine and the incredible female nominees from the Pool Nation Awards 30 Under 40 — Nelly Allen, Katie Morrissey, Maddy Vandiver, and Sarah Hoopes.

These powerhouse women share their journeys, challenges, and the lessons they’ve learned while shaping the pool industry’s future. From leadership and training to innovation and resilience, each story highlights the strength and passion behind the next generation of pool pros.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How each nominee built their career and broke through barriers

• Leadership lessons from women redefining success in the pool industry

• Balancing personal growth, mentorship, and career in a demanding trade

• Behind-the-scenes stories from Pool Pro Magazine’s 30 Under 40

• What to expect at the Pool Nation Awards in Las Vegas

🎧 A must-listen for anyone passionate about growth, recognition, and empowering women in the pool industry.

00:00 – Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast 01:00 – Introducing Megan Kendrick & the Queen of Marco Polo 02:00 – Shoutout to sponsors and audience 04:00 – Meet the 30 Under 40 Female Nominees 06:00 – How Nelly transitioned from hospitality to the pool industry 10:00 – The evolution and impact of Amenity Collective 15:00 – Customer service lessons from hospitality to pool service 20:00 – Building communication and customer trust 25:00 – Katie’s journey from Happy Pools to Aquastar 28:00 – Surviving California wildfires and rebuilding a business 35:00 – Wiring pumps and the $10K Pool Pro Challenge 40:00 – Maddy’s journey from lifeguard to industry trainer 45:00 – Leadership through teaching and empowering technicians 50:00 – Managing large teams and running a thriving Atlanta company 55:00 – Sarah’s story: from swim instructor to GM in Arizona 58:00 – Leading a 700-pool operation under Arizona’s heat 01:02:00 – Running marathons and pushing limits 01:05:00 – The importance of education and community in the pool industry 01:07:00 – Closing thoughts and invitation to the Pool Nation Awards

This episode is brought to you by our Visionary Partners, who help make the Pool Nation Podcast possible:

🌟 The SPPA – The premier insurance provider for pool pros 🌟 Blu-Ray XL 🌟 AquaStar Pool Products 🌟 Natural Chemistry 🌟 Raypak 🌟 Heritage Pool Supply 🌟 Hayward Pool Products 🌟 Poolside Tech 🌟 Pool Brain 🌟 Nidec

Thank you for your continued support in driving education, recognition, and excellence across the pool industry.

In Episode 268 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, Zac, and Spider sit down with Alicia Stephens and Ted Lawrence from BioLab to uncover what really goes into developing the pool products we all use. From the first spark of an idea to the science labs, testing pools, and final packaging, you’ll hear how innovation happens in the world of pool chemistry.

Discover how products like phosphate removers, enzymes, and multi-purpose chlorine tabs are developed, tested, and approved. Ted and Alicia pull back the curtain on research & development, product testing, AI-powered education tools, and even wild stories from their labs (yes — human hair testing and “bather waste” simulations are real).

The team also talks about AI’s growing role in education and production at BioLab, industry collaboration, and the importance of elevating the pool industry through innovation and training.

Perfect for service pros, retailers, and manufacturers who want to understand how products are made and why quality matters.

• [00:00] Intro and opening banter with Spider, Alicia, and Ted

• [00:06] $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge and Pool Nation Awards update

• [00:10] Pool Nation Conference overview — tracks and classes

• [00:14] Introducing BioLab’s innovation process (“Napkin to Shelf”)

• [00:18] How ideas become products & the role of formulation chemists

• [00:23] Wild testing methods — human hair, bather waste & lab pools

• [00:26] Product safety, shelf life & field testing in real pools

• [00:31] Encapsulated chlorine tabs and BioLab’s manufacturing difference

• [00:38] Patents and IP — protecting formulas and technology

• [00:41] The evolution of phosphate removers & BioLab’s shift in philosophy

• [00:47] Market research and deciding which products to launch

• [00:52] Packaging engineering, label testing, and launch process

• [00:57] How BioLab educates dealers and service pros nationwide

• [01:18] AI in education — avatars and BioGuard University

• [01:26] The future of training and collaboration in the pool industry

• [01:31] Closing thoughts and Matrix class plans at BioLab HQ

Special thanks to our visionary sponsors for making this episode possible: SPPA – Service Professionals Pool Association, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, BioLab, Raypak, Heritage Pool Supply, Hayward Pool Products, Poolside Tech, Pool Brain, and Nidec US Motors.

Your partnership helps us continue to educate, elevate, and celebrate pool professionals everywhere.

Today in Episode 267 of the Pool Nation Podcast we drop a big announcement: Pool Nation and SPPA are partnering to unite more than 7,200 pool pros under one roof — the largest member-based program our industry has ever seen. Edgar and Zac sit down with Danielle, CEO of SPPA, to unpack what this means for you: a revamped Pool Man University platform, a Pool Nation Water Chemistry Certification path, quarterly business mastermind groups, member perks, rebates, and resources, plus mini-course learning tracks you can implement the next day.

We also preview the $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge finals at PSP/Deck Expo Las Vegas, the Pool Nation Awards, and the two-day Pool Nation Conference (Business, Technical & Hands-On tracks). If you care about profitability, customer retention, leadership, safety, and chemistry, this episode is your new playbook for 2026.

Chapters & timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro, sponsors, and… finding a nickname for Devon
• 02:40 – Zac returns; quick banter & show setup
• 06:45 – $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge (PSP Expo: Oct 22 qualifiers, Oct 24 finals)
• 07:50 – Pool Nation Awards + Conference overview (Oct 24–25; 3 tracks)
• 08:45 – Big headline: Pool Nation × SPPA strategic partnership
• 10:00 – Why this partnership? Mission alignment: protect & make pool pros financially successful
• 12:45 – Customer experience & SPPA service mindset (Ashley/Bailey shoutouts)
• 16:10 – Scale matters: uniting 7,200+ members to drive ROI
• 17:10 – What’s rolling out: revamped LMS/PMU, water chemistry certification, perks & resources
• 19:30 – The 5 core pillars: Business/Profit, Chemistry, Safety, Leadership, Customer Experience/Retention
• 23:05 – Practical training you can implement the next day
• 24:05 – From “motivated” to executing: one-page action plans & success stories
• 26:05 – One-stop shop vision: all the training in one place
• 26:55 – Perks, rebates, promos at scale (prices keep rising—here’s help)
• 33:00 – Education Fund: lowering the barrier for new/smaller companies
• 50:45 – 2026 launch preview: Water Chemistry Certification with levels, quizzes, in-person options
• 55:00 – Quarterly Business Mastermind Groups (free year one for SPPA members); first topic: Turning Pools Into Profits
• 1:01:00 – Mini-courses / tracks: deep dives on one topic (e.g., Profitability, Hiring, etc.)
• 1:08:00 – Not just a platform — an ecosystem (Nation of Pool Pros)
• 1:08:45 – Roadmap & timing: emails, registration link, staged rollouts, early rebates
• 1:11:00 – Where SPPA sees members in a few years: faster growth through access & community
• 1:26:30 – Final thoughts: alignment, mission, and how we lift the industry together
• 1:31:30 – What’s next: watch your inbox for the registration link to activate benefits

Thanks to our visionary partners & sponsors

Huge thank-you to our partners who make this possible: SPPA, Blu-Ray XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Heritage Pool Supply, Hayward Pool Products, Poolside Tech, Pool Brain, and U.S. Motors (Neptune Variable Speed Motor) — plus everyone supporting the Pool Nation Conference, Awards, and the $10K Pool Pro Challenge.

In episode 265 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we sit down with Scott Frost, who recently joined Heritage after more than 30 years in the pool industry. From building pools and running service routes to leadership roles in manufacturing and now distribution, Scott brings one of the most complete perspectives in the industry.

We dive deep into:

• His career journey and lessons learned

• Leadership values and building customer trust

• Heritage’s culture, growth, and future vision

• Why servant leadership and customer-first mentality drive success

• How disruption and innovation are reshaping distribution

This is a powerful conversation for every pool pro, business owner, and industry leader who wants to understand what it takes to succeed and grow in today’s pool industry.

• [00:00] Intro & shoutouts

• [06:00] PSP Expo updates & Pool Nation Awards

• [10:00] Scott’s background: family, aviation, and pool beginnings

• [15:00] Building pools and navigating tough markets

• [20:00] Lessons from economic downturns

• [22:00] Mentors and leadership influences

• [28:00] Rediscovering backyard experiences post-COVID

• [35:00] Servant leadership & customer-first approach

• [40:00] Building culture and values in business

• [50:00] Why Scott joined Heritage & the growth opportunity ahead

• [1:02:00] Digital tools, disruption, and the future of distribution

• [1:20:00] Professionalism and elevating the industry

• [1:30:00] Final thoughts

This podcast is made possible thanks to our visionary partners:

• SPPA

• Blu-Ray XL

• Excel

• AquaStar Pool Products

• Natural Chemistry

• Raypak

• Heritage Pool Supply

• Hayward Pool Products

• Poolside Tech

• PoolBrain

• Nidec

In this week’s Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac are joined by Meagan MAGAÑA, Show Manager of the PSP/Deck Expo, to give you the ultimate insider guide to the 2025 PSP Expo in Las Vegas (Oct 22–24). We break down everything—from education tracks and new keynote sessions to networking parties, the $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge, and the Pool Nation Awards.

If you’ve ever wondered how to maximize your time at the PSP Expo, plan your route through the 400+ booths, and take advantage of show floor education without being overwhelmed—this is your roadmap.

We also share industry secrets on hotel booking, reveal new product launches debuting at the show, and even get into the details of the Energy Bar (espresso in the morning, mocktails in the afternoon!) on the expo floor.

👉 Pro tip: Use promo code POOLNATION at registration for a FREE Expo Pass. 👉 Register at poolspapatio.com or poolnationawards.com.

• [00:00] Intro & sponsor thank-yous

• [02:00] Spider’s studio setup & fun banter

• [05:00] Welcome Meagan Magia – PSP Expo Show Manager

• [07:00] Key show update: October 22–24, 2025 (not November!)

• [09:00] Hotel blocks, rates, and hidden savings

• [12:00] How Pool Nation Awards started at PSP Expo

• [16:00] Venue update – North Hall vs. West Hall (don’t go to MetalCon!)

• [18:00] Welcome Party details – Ayu Dayclub

• [19:00] Three keynotes explained – industry panel, Darren Woodson, Women of Water

• [23:00] Education breakdown: Pre-Con, Core Conference, Show Floor, Post-Con

• [29:00] Food, concessions, and the brand-new Energy Bar

• [30:00] Pool Nation $10,000 Pool Pro Challenge – qualifiers & finals

• [37:00] Pool Nation Awards + HASA After Party at Alle Lounge 66

• [45:00] Voting & nominee prep tips (write your speech!)

• [55:00] Advice for first-time attendees – how to plan and network

• [1:02:00] Product Showcase sneak peek & debuting new tech

• [1:06:00] How to register (and get your free pass)

• [1:12:00] Matrix members’ Vegas events & Larry’s Pool Nation house party

• [1:18:00] Final thoughts from Meagan, Zach & Edgar

This episode is made possible by our Visionary Partners:

• SPPA

• Blu-Ray XL

• AquaStar Pool Products

• Natural Chemistry

• Raypak

• Heritage Pool Supply

• Hayward Pool Products

• Poolside Tech

• Pool Brain

• US Motors