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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
Selling Outcomes, Ryan Walker Part ll
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In the conclusion of Natalie Hood’s conversation with Ryan Walker, the focus shifts from “selling pool stuff” to selling outcomes: experience, lifestyle, confidence, and trust. This episode pulls the curtain back on what’s really happening in today’s retail and builder sales environment—homeowners aren’t shopping locally anymore. They’re shopping globally through TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest, then walking into your store or your design meeting with Dubai-level expectations and a Michigan budget… and they still want you to make it real.
Ryan breaks down why dealers and retailers can’t win by being defensive, dismissive, or stuck in “this is how we’ve always done it.” Instead, the winning move is customer-centric discovery: show what’s possible, guide the customer through tradeoffs, and give them a solution—not a shutdown. Along the way, the conversation hits pricing psychology, upselling ethically, supplier partnerships, training your staff in the off-season, and why one bad review can punch harder than ten great ones.
What This Episode Covers
Selling the vision, not just the pool
Homeowners aren’t buying “a body of water.” They’re buying backyard life that replaces travel, replaces entertainment, and becomes the family experience hub. Pools (and even above-ground setups) have evolved into full environments—decks, lighting, wellness add-ons, the whole vibe.
Why “cheap” isn’t the conversation anymore
With pool projects regularly crossing the $100K mark, obsessing over saving $50–$200 can be meaningless against the total investment (and the loan). The real job is to help the buyer spend smarter, not just spend less.
Social media has changed the customer’s brain
Customers aren’t looking at “what sells in this zip code.” They’re looking at what looks insane on a reel. Dealers who don’t adapt to global inspiration trends risk sounding outdated or dismissive—and that’s how you lose the room (and the sale).
Dealers must stop taking trends personally
If a customer brings you an idea that’s unrealistic or “not right for your market,” the answer isn’t a slammed door. The answer is:
- explain why it’s hard,
- explain what it would require,
- and offer an alternative solution that gets the same feeling with fewer headaches.
How to upsell without being gross
Ryan points out that strong sales isn’t pressure—it’s clarity. Customers want you to guide them. If you can retain attention, build trust, and connect features to outcomes, you can justify premium choices without acting like a carnival barker.
Heat pump myth-busting (yes, even in cold markets)
The episode calls out the “heat pumps don’t work here” mindset and reframes it: heat pumps work in Canada, and Canada is colder than Michigan. Translation: the barrier isn’t physics—it’s explanation and expectation-setting.
Supplier relationships: stop waiting to be visited
Reps cover huge territories and get flooded with requests. If you want training, product support, or attention—ask for it. Call. Get the rep’s number from the distributor. The hungriest dealers get the most support because they create the reason to show up.
Off-season is training season
Retail’s biggest killer: bad reviews
Training staff f
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
