In episode 250 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar and Zac are joined in-studio by Alicia Stephens and Rick Harvey from BioLab for a hilarious, insightful, and business-packed episode you won’t want to miss. They dive deep into what it really takes to build a 5-star pool business—from premium customer experience and staff onboarding to powerful loyalty strategies that keep customers coming back year after year.

🎤 Plus: Rick shares how he went from Red Bull to pool pros, Alicia spills the story of accidentally giving “the talk” to a 6-year-old, and the crew talks about the magic of time management, retention strategies, and why every pool pro needs to stop shopping with their own wallet.

This episode is a must-listen for service pros, retailers, and anyone looking to level up their business through education, relationships, and premium customer care.

Sponsored by: SPPA, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, BioLab, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward, Poolside Tech, Pool Brain, Pool Invoice and Nidec.

• [00:00:00] Welcome to the show – The Pool Nation crew is back with Alicia Stephens & Rick Harvey

• [00:01:30] Marco Polo champions, vacation stories, and wasp attacks

• [00:03:00] Meet Rick Harvey: Yes, he’s not Steve Harvey’s brother… but he’s got the good looks

• [00:06:30] Hilarious family stories, chaos crew updates, and why Edgar now cherishes loud homes

• [00:10:00] Pool Nation Awards nominations, women’s summit prep & Alicia’s comedy debut

• [00:14:00] Pool Nation Conference business classes revealed: Profit, pricing, financials & teams

• [00:19:00] Why Alicia is doing stand-up comedy—and yes, drinks will be required

• [00:23:00] Rick Harvey’s origin story: From Red Bull to BioLab to business strategist

• [00:27:00] Why Biolab is built on education—and how it drives premium retail success

• [00:31:00] How BioLab elevates pool pros through training, coaching, and business support

• [00:34:00] Why fun + learning = retention (and the secret to Alicia’s powerful classes)

• [00:38:00] The ROI of training your employees—even if they’re only with you one season

• [00:41:00] Simple but powerful ways to elevate the customer experience (Retail + Service)

• [00:47:00] Are you a 5-Star Business? Here’s how to find out (and fix it fast)

• [00:50:00] “Don’t shop with your wallet”—How to sell premium without assuming budget

• [00:57:00] What actually builds retention—and why most pool pros overlook it

• [01:04:00] The key to follow-up, trust, and customer loyalty (plus a shout-out to veterinarians)

• [01:08:00] Social reviews, negative feedback, and turning critics into loyal fans

• [01:13:00] Why retaining customers is 10x more powerful than finding new ones

• [01:23:00] Bonus Story: Alicia’s infamous “birds and the bees” moment babysitting Rick’s daughter

• [01:27:00] Final thoughts: What’s your business really doing to go from 4.8 stars to 5?

Episode 249 Pool Nation Podcast - In this can’t-miss episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar welcomes back Danielle and Laurel from the SPPA to uncover the real-life insurance claims that have cost pool pros thousands—even millions. From acid spills that destroy driveways to overfilled pools flooding homes, this episode is packed with eye-opening stories, practical tips, and the must-have insurance coverage every pool business should have.

Plus, we reveal the one thing that can take out your entire business overnight—and how to protect yourself and your family before it’s too late. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the pool industry, you’ll walk away with game-changing knowledge that could save your business.

• [00:00] Welcome to the Pool Nation Podcast – and the legend of the rodeo divorce party

• [05:21] Fun in Texas, bull riding, and million-dollar bulls (literally)

• [11:10] Edgar reveals Danielle’s SPPA Awards streak and what’s new in Vegas 2025

• [15:55] The most common pool insurance claims and how to avoid them

• [22:44] How a bottle of acid ruined a $30,000 driveway – and who paid for it

• [28:16] Overfilling pools: Why it’s one of the costliest mistakes

• [33:25] The danger of dark-bottom pools and Tri-Chlor—$6,500 later

• [37:18] Destroying heaters with water chemistry – a silent profit killer

• [44:10] Edgar shares the chilling story of a Legionella outbreak

• [50:12] Real lawsuits: from dog bites to pool pop-ups and property damage

• [56:35] Why umbrella policies and faulty workmanship coverage are crucial

• [1:01:28] The cost of not planning: Death, disability, and leaving your family unprotected

• [1:08:00] Affordable disability and life insurance plans that every pool pro needs

• [1:15:20] Real stories of broken legs, skateboards, and business disaster

• [1:18:55] Edgar and SPPA commit to launching new video education series for pool pros

• [1:21:45] Edgar becomes the hero of every girls’ trip...and the podcast party planner

E-248 Pool Nation Podcast. Your pools don’t have to turn green—and your profit shouldn’t disappear down the drain. In this powerhouse episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless” and Zac Nicholas sit down with Adam Beech (Founder & CEO, Pool Brain) and Kevin Embree (CRO, Pool Brain) to reveal how today’s smartest service companies are harnessing AI, automated workflows, and real-time inventory to cut chemical costs up to 40 %, end customer churn, and unlock stress-free scaling.

You’ll learn:

• The cringe-worthy day that pushed Adam to build his own software (and why seven other “route apps” couldn’t fix the problem).

• How guided workflows, live alerts, and automated chemical dosing virtually eliminate green pools.

• NEW features dropping this year—credit-card surcharge automation, full inventory with truck-level tracking, Heritage Pool Supply price syncing, and tab-dosing driven by AI weather modeling.

• Why remote monitoring + Pool Brain will let you guarantee “green-pool immunity” (and charge more for it).

• Proven tactics to turn hidden chemical waste and billing leaks into pure profit.

Whether you run 20 pools or 20 trucks, this episode is packed with real numbers, step-by-step advice, and a vision for the tech-powered future of pool service. Hit play and dive in!

Timestamp Chapter

00:00 – 01:00 Welcome & sponsor shout-outs 01:00 – 06:00 Meet Adam Beech & Kevin Embree – why Pool Brain exists 06:00 – 10:00 Pool Nation Awards & upcoming events rundown 10:00 – 16:00 Adam’s origin story: Failed service companies and a DIY route buy-out 16:00 – 20:00 Hitting the 20-truck “glass ceiling” and the birth of Pool Brain 20:00 – 28:00 Early wins: quality-control workflows & 40 % chemical-cost drop 28:00 – 33:00 Training techs, stopping churn & the power of photo proof 33:00 – 40:00 Payroll, pricing and why credit-card billing matters 40:00 – 46:00 Break + sponsor spots 46:00 – 54:00 Funding the build, real-world ROI & lowering A/R to 0.6 % 54:00 – 59:00 What shocks new users most: profit reports & hidden waste 59:00 – 1:09:00 Brand-new features: surcharging, inventory, Heritage price sync 1:09:00 – 1:19:00 AI tab dosing & weather modeling—fully automated chemistry 1:19:00 – 1:25:00 Remote monitoring, WaterGuru integration & the future vision 1:25:00 – 1:32:00 Final thoughts, industry challenge & outro montage

Episode 247 Pool Nation Podcast: Feeling buried in day-to-day chaos? In this jam-packed episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zach the Pool Boy reveal Habit #3 of Highly Successful Pool Pros: Build Systems, Not Just Skills. Discover why documented processes—not the owner’s memory—unlock profit, freedom, and sustainable growth for service, repair, and retail companies.

Edgar and Zach break down a step-by-step blueprint for creating a repeatable training system, preview the business-first course lineup at the 2025 Pool Nation Conference, and share upcoming dates for the Pool Nation Awards and Women’s Summit. Whether you run 20 pools or 2,000, you’ll learn practical ways to:

Reduce chemical costs, labor, and burnout with simple checklists

Onboard new techs in days instead of weeks with video-based SOPs

Turn financial metrics into money by knowing your numbers

Boost team performance through accountability and collaborative culture

Perfect for pool service entrepreneurs, route owners, retail managers, and anyone ready to scale smarter.

Episode Timeline

00:00 High-energy intro & sponsor shout-outs 01:30 Zach’s “fine-tuning year” and why 2025 is all about systems 04:30 Key dates: Pool Nation Awards nominations (June 18) & Women’s Summit (Aug 21-22) 05:30 Sneak peek: Business-focused courses at the 2025 Pool Nation Conference 11:00 Talent Life Cycle & leadership tracks with Doreen King 15:00 Habit #3 deep dive—why scalable systems beat heroics every time 25:00 Real-world examples: daily route checklists, inventory par levels, communication logs 33:00 4-Step Training Blueprint: Identify ➜ Create Materials ➜ Schedule ➜ Document & Review 52:00 Final takeaways: freedom through systems & building a machine that runs without you 59:00 Teaser: customer-retention systems coming in the next episode

In Episode 246 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac spill the tea on huge announcements shaping the future of Pool Nation and the pool industry as a whole.

We kick things off by welcoming a new visionary partner, Nidec US Motors, whose innovative approach and focus on education align perfectly with our mission. You’ll hear why this partnership couldn’t come at a better time as pool pros face new challenges with variable speed motor regulations across the country.

Next up, a major milestone for Pool Nation — we officially welcome Doreen King as our new VP of Business and Leadership Development! Doreen shares her incredible journey, career insights, and how she will help us elevate our business education to help pool pros thrive in every stage of their journey — from running solo routes to scaling empires.

The team breaks down the brand-new Pool Nation Path to Growth and Roadmap, unveiling how this strategic framework will support pool pros at each phase of their business evolution. From fundamentals to executive leadership, we’ve built a roadmap to take your business — and YOU — to the next level.

Plus, hear about:

✅ The Executive Edge — a powerful new way to access personalized business and leadership consulting through Pool Nation. ✅ Women’s Summit 2025 — registration is open and already filling up fast! ✅ The Pool Nation Conference — why this will be the only conference focused entirely on the business side of your pool business.

If you’re ready to elevate your mindset, sharpen your leadership skills, and scale smarter, this is a can’t-miss episode.

[00:00] - Introduction & Studio Vibes Meet Spider, shoutouts, and kicking off the live show energy.

[06:20] - Healthy Mind, Healthy Biz Zach shares how small changes in health impact stress and business clarity.

[12:50] - Exciting Announcements Welcoming new visionary partner: Nidec US Motors.

[22:12] - A Major Addition to Pool Nation Introducing Doreen King as VP of Business & Leadership Development.

[31:30] - Doreen’s Story From hospitality and corporate leadership to Pool Nation — her journey and why she said "yes."

[45:55] - The Vision Behind Pool Nation John and Zach reflect on the 10-year vision and why Doreen fits perfectly.

[57:00] - The Path to Growth Doreen explains the 4 phases of pool business and what skills each stage demands.

[01:10:48] - The Pool Nation Roadmap How the Fundamentals, Accelerator, Essentials, and Advantage tracks work and why they matter.

[01:23:00] - Executive Edge Introducing a new consulting and training solution for pool pros at every level.

[01:28:00] - Final Thoughts Why this matters, how it elevates the industry, and where you can get involved.

In episode 245 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus, John “JJ Flawless,” and Zac “The Pool Boy” Nicholas rip the curtain off the five habits that separate average pool service companies from industry superheroes.

After some laugh-out-loud banter about rental-property stress, sleepless nights, and the wild Shannon Sharpe lawsuit, the crew dives deep into Habit #2: Investing in Learning and Education—showing you how constant learning transforms stress-filled service calls into profitable, confidence-boosting wins.

You’ll learn:

Why mastering new tech, chemistry, and business skills instantly boosts authority and lets you charge premium prices.

How to turn every class, boot camp, or podcast into cash-generating “aha” moments (even if you’ve heard the topic before).

The mindset shift that eliminates backyard anxiety forever—so you can solve ANY problem without second-guessing.

Real-world stories: pop-up heads, phantom spa leaks, and the in-floor check-valve fix seven other companies missed.

Plus:

Pool Nation Awards timelines, Women’s Summit dates, and the upcoming $10K Pool Pro Championship.

Why Google’s AI revenue surge matters to pool pros.

Sponsor shout-outs packed with tools that cut costs and fatten margins.

Listen in, level up, and start using education as a profit multiplier today.

Timestamps

Timecode Segment

01:00 Edgar, John & Zach recap the week: rental house sold, no-sleep winds, Shannon Sharpe drama 07:00 The hidden stress of unfinished to-dos—and why focus matters 11:30 Pool Nation event rundown: Awards nominations, Women’s Summit, $10K Championship 18:50 Habit #1 recap: Knowing Your Numbers 24:00 Deep dive—Habit #2: Investing in Education 32:45 Phosphate “aha” moments & why old-school thinking kills growth 38:10 How lifelong learning builds brand authority and premium pricing power 44:20 Train-the-Trainer stories: beating stage fright and sharpening your saw 49:30 Real-world case study: the spa leak seven companies couldn’t fix 56:00 Sponsor break (SPPA, Pool Invoice, Blu-Ray XL, AquaStar, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward) 60:30 Final thoughts: turning knowledge into marketing gold 63:40 Teaser: next week’s big Pool Nation Conference reveal

In episode 244 of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar, John, and Zac dive into the first of the 5 Habits of Highly Successful Pool Pros—and it's the one that most pool pros overlook: Knowing Your Numbers. From understanding your cost of service to building a business with purpose, we break down what sets thriving companies apart from those just grinding day to day.

Whether you're managing 40 pools or scaling to 13,000, this habit is the foundation of profitability and long-term success. Plus, hear wild stories from Coachella Fest chaos, ducks in pools, and John’s analogy that will have you thinking differently about your business horsepower.

🚨 Bonus: We announce the return of the Pool Nation Awards, the Women's Summit, and the brand-new Filthy Five series—covering the worst habits pool pros need to break.

✅ Perfect for service techs, repair pros, and business owners ready to level up their pool business.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Intro: Edgar botches the intro and adds “flavor” 03:15 – John breaks down Coachella chaos and AirBnB pool nightmares 14:30 – The Five Habits of Highly Successful Pool Pros (overview) 17:45 – John suggests: Let’s do “The Filthy Five” next! 19:00 – Habit #1: They Know Their Numbers 25:30 – Why most pool pros grind hard but don’t grow 29:10 – John’s “horsepower vs. traction” analogy 🔥 34:00 – Why knowing your cost of service is a game-changer 38:00 – The dangerous grind: scaling without clarity 43:00 – Zach’s early journey of avoiding financials 48:00 – How tracking numbers saved Zach’s business 53:10 – John: “We’re not a charity—we’re a business.” 59:30 – Eric’s takeaway: Trade shows break the grind 1:02:15 – Rich: “The biggest room is the room for improvement” 1:05:00 – Final Thoughts: Track it, manage it, profit from it 1:09:00 – Preview of next episode: Habit #2 and beyond 1:10:00 – Sign-off: Zach owes John and Edgar $18 each 😂

🎧 Listen now and start building a business that thrives, not just survives. 🔗 Visit PoolNationPodcast.com for episodes, boot camps, and more!

In episode 243 of the Pool Nation Podcast, we dive deep into the recent Pool Nation Boot Camps at Heritage Pool Supply and Raypak Headquarters in Oxnard, California. Edgar and Zac break down key moments from both events, including highlights from the $10,000 Pool Pro Repair Tech Challenge qualifiers, hands-on training with automation and heaters, and powerful business education sessions focused on leadership, KPIs, and cost of service.

Hear real stories from pool pros who traveled from across the country—Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, New York—to invest in their businesses and grow their teams. We also talk about the rise of team-focused training, peer-to-peer networking, and the kind of education that goes beyond the technical side of pool service and repair.

Plus, we introduce a new topic for our next podcast series: The 5 Habits of Highly Successful Pool Professionals—a deep dive into the traits that separate good pool pros from great business leaders in the pool industry.

Whether you're a pool service tech, repair pro, or business owner looking to scale, this episode is packed with inspiration, insights, and practical takeaways you can use today.

Powered by our amazing partners: SPPA, BluRay XL, AquaStar Pool Products, Natural Chemistry, Raypak, Hayward, Heritage Pool Supply, Poolside Tech, and Pool Brain.

Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] – Podcast Intro

• [00:01:00] – Edgar and Zac talk life updates: college visits and real estate transitions

• [00:04:00] – Recapping the Heritage Boot Camp: attendance, energy, and team participation

• [00:08:00] – Employee engagement, team-building, and national attendees

• [00:12:00] – Hands-on training: wiring automation, heater repair, teamwork at the stations

• [00:16:00] – Business education: foundational leadership principles for every business stage

• [00:20:00] – Doreen’s leadership framework tied to the 4 business phases

• [00:22:00] – Touring Gold Medal Pools: operations, systems, and culture

• [00:24:00] – Matrix training recap: operational KPIs, financial KPIs, and business fundamentals

• [00:26:00] – Accountability training: driving real results after training

• [00:33:00] – Raypak Boot Camp Recap: intimate vibe, deep heater training, and IPSA support

• [00:39:00] – Hot Room at Raypak: live fire heater testing and manometer training

• [00:43:00] – Automation training with The Attendant: streamlined, hands-on experience

• [00:45:00] – Business day at Raypak and why attendance exceeded expectations

• [00:49:00] – Championship qualifiers: energy, pressure, and standing ovation moments

• [00:55:00] – Upcoming podcast preview: The 5 Key Habits of Successful Pool Pros

• [00:58:00] – Final thoughts and gratitude for attendees, sponsors, and the Pool Nation family