Pool Magazine - Podcasts for the Pool Industry

In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down one-on-one with John Watwood, the President and CEO of POOLCORP, for a conversation about leadership, the state of the pool industry, and where the world's largest pool and outdoor living distributor is headed over the next few years.

Watwood's career with POOLCORP began more than two decades ago in the company's Manager in Training program, where he spent time learning the business from the warehouse and sales center level. After building his career outside the company, he ultimately returned to POOLCORP and has now risen to its top leadership position.

He takes the helm during a challenging period for the industry, with new pool construction under pressure and builders, service professionals, and retailers navigating a changing market. Watwood discusses what he's learned from spending his first months meeting directly with customers and employees, and why interfacing directly with the industry is central to his approach.

The conversation explores his game plan for moving POOLCORP forward: strengthening its role as a business partner, making the company easier to do business with, investing in technology and operational execution, and finding new ways to help pool professionals grow. Listen in on a candid conversation with one of the industry's newest CEOs about the challenges ahead, the opportunities he sees in the market, and the leadership philosophy he intends to bring to POOLCORP's next chapter.

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Pool automation is moving beyond simply turning equipment on and off. The next generation of connected products is being designed to provide better diagnostics, actionable equipment data, predictive maintenance, and new ways for pool professionals to manage service in the field.

In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down with Jeremy Young, Director of Product Marketing for Automation at Fluidra, and Orlando Gadea, Vice President of Global Digital Marketing and Customer Experience for Fluidra, to discuss AquaLink Edge, Jandy’s next-generation automation platform, and Trackr IO, Fluidra’s new software platform designed to connect the equipment pad, the technician, and the office.

We dig into how smarter, interconnected equipment could reduce the industry’s reliance on tribal knowledge, shorten the learning curve for new technicians, improve troubleshooting, and give service companies better insight into how equipment is actually performing in the field. Young and Gadea also discuss the potential for predictive maintenance, more dynamic service routes, and a future where pool professionals can identify and respond to problems before the homeowner even knows something is wrong.

It’s an inside look at how connected equipment, automation, and software could reshape the way pool service companies operate.

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The Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge is back for its sixth year, giving designers the same client, property and ambitious project brief—and challenging them to show how they would solve it.

In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, host Joe Trusty sits down with competition co-founder Mike Farley to discuss how the Challenge has evolved, why you don't have to be an elite designer to enter, and why Farley believes learning from other competitors can be just as valuable as winning.

Farley also breaks down this year's Siltstone Estate scenario in Louisiana, the challenges designers will have to solve, how design and visualization tools have changed over the years, and why competitors still need to show the thinking behind their work. The conversation also explores how the Challenge has helped designers grow their skills, gain industry recognition and, in some cases, turn a strong showing into new career opportunities.

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Scuppers have evolved far beyond simple spillways.

On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Frank Vitori of AquaBlu Mosaics and Chuck Nitschke of The Outdoor Plus to explore how scuppers are transforming modern pool and outdoor living design.

From sleek sheer descents and hidden linear water effects to immersive rainfall curtains and sculptural ornamental pieces, the conversation dives deep into the newest trends shaping today’s luxury backyards. The trio discusses how designers are using scuppers to create architectural rhythm, soften noise, divide entertainment spaces, add ambience, and layer water and fire features together for dramatic visual impact.

They also break down some of the biggest mistakes builders make with scuppers — including poor flow management, improper placement, leveling issues, splash-out problems, and mismatched materials — and explain what it takes to execute these features correctly.

Whether you’re a pool builder, designer, or outdoor living professional, this episode offers valuable insight into how modern water features are evolving from decorative accents into fully integrated design tools.

Topics Covered Include:

• Sheer descent scuppers and modern linear design
• Rainfall scuppers and immersive outdoor environments
• Creating ambience and masking unwanted noise
• Using scuppers to divide and define outdoor spaces
• Layering water and fire features together
• Ornamental scuppers making a comeback
• Common installation mistakes and how to avoid them
• Custom scupper applications for luxury projects

If you’re looking to elevate your pool designs and better understand where outdoor living trends are headed, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Read more in Pool Magazine: Scuppers are Reshaping Modern Pool Design

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What does it take to build one of the wildest backyard resorts in America?

On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, we sit down with Lucas Congdon — the visionary designer behind Insane Pools and the powerhouse team at Lucas Lagoons.

Known for creating over-the-top luxury pools featuring massive waterfalls, lazy rivers, hidden grottos, swim-up bars, volcanoes, and immersive resort-style environments, Congdon discusses how his projects evolved from high-end residential pools into fully themed aquatic experiences that blur the line between backyard and destination resort.

We discuss the inspiration behind one of Lucas Lagoons’ most talked-about builds — a jaw-dropping volcano pool and lazy river project that pushes custom pool construction to another level. Lucas shares insights into the engineering challenges, creative process, rock work, water features, and what it takes to bring massive conceptual builds like this to life.

We also dive into:
 • The lasting impact of Insane Pools on the swimming pool industry
 • How luxury outdoor living has evolved over the last decade
 • Why homeowners are demanding more immersive backyard experiences
 • The logistics behind building large-scale custom water features
 • What separates a true luxury pool project from a standard build
 • Current trends shaping high-end pool design in 2026

If you’re into luxury pools, outrageous backyard builds, extreme craftsmanship, and the business behind some of the most recognizable pools in the country, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Read more in Pool Magazine: Lucas Lagoons Volcano Pool Project is Erupting With Creativity

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On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Sean Gadd, President and CEO of Latham Group, for a candid conversation about the current state of the pool industry, fiberglass pool growth, shifting homeowner trends, and where the company is headed next as it celebrates its 70th anniversary. 

Fresh off ringing the NASDAQ opening bell, Gadd discusses stepping into the CEO role during one of the most challenging consumer environments the industry has faced in years. The conversation explores how Latham continues gaining market share despite economic headwinds, why fiberglass pools are steadily taking share from concrete and vinyl, and how homeowners are rethinking the value of investing in their own backyard. 

Joe and Sean also dive into:

•  The similarities between selling pools and selling premium home improvement products 
•  Why the “kitchen table” sales process matters more than ever 
•  The growing opportunity in Southern U.S. markets dominated by gunite pools 
•  How Latham plans to expand awareness of fiberglass pools in sand-state markets like Florida and Texas 
•  The company’s acquisition of Freedom Pools in Australia and what it means for global growth 
•  Why automatic pool covers remain a major strategic focus moving forward 
•  The emotional side of pool ownership and how builders can better “sell the dream” to homeowners 

It’s a deep dive into strategy, market development, consumer behavior, and the future of fiberglass pools from one of the most influential executives in the swimming pool industry today.

Read more in Pool Magazine: Inside Latham’s Playbook To Keep Winning In A Tough Pool Market

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Acrylic pools are pushing luxury pool design into entirely new territory.

On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Jason Jovaag, President and CEO of HammerHead Aquatics, to discuss how his company quietly became one of the most trusted names in acrylic pool design and engineering.

From cantilevered rooftop pools and massive acrylic viewing panels to underwater windows, acrylic floor systems, swim-up bars, wellness applications, and large-scale architectural water features, the conversation explores how acrylic is being integrated into some of the world’s most prestigious aquatic projects. Jovaag also shares stories from Deep Dive Dubai, working alongside elite architects and builders, and what it takes to execute highly technical installations in luxury residential, commercial, and aquatic environments around the globe.

The episode also dives into current design trends shaping the high-end pool market, the growing demand for acrylic features in modern architecture, and why more designers are using acrylic to blur the lines between engineering, art, and outdoor living.

Topics Covered Include:

• Cantilevered acrylic pools and rooftop installations
 • Acrylic pool windows, walls, and floor systems
 • Swim-up bars and interactive acrylic features
 • Deep Dive Dubai and large-scale international projects
 • Working with elite architects and luxury pool builders
 • Wellness applications including hot/cold plunge systems
 • Acrylic water walls, fire features, and custom vessels
 • Educating builders on acrylic engineering and installation
 • Common mistakes contractors make with acrylic integration
 • The future of luxury acrylic pool design

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how some of today’s most ambitious aquatic projects come together, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Read more in Pool Magazine: The Acrylic Pool Authority: How Jason Jovaag and HammerHead Aquatics Became a Go-To Name

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The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation has become one of the most closely watched aquatic projects in the country. With the nation's 250th anniversary fast approaching, crews are racing to complete a controversial overhaul of the iconic six-million-gallon landmark in time for July 4th celebrations. But will the solution being implemented today solve the pool's long-standing problems, or simply improve its appearance in the short term?

In this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, host Joe Trusty sits down with aquatic consultant Tim Auerhahn, Chairman of Aquatic Council, LLC, whose comments on the project recently appeared in The New York Times. Together, they discuss the unique challenges of maintaining the historic reflecting pool, why algae and water clarity issues have persisted for decades, and whether coating the basin with a polyurea lining is the right solution.

Auerhahn shares his concerns about the lack of peer-reviewed data supporting the material's use in a project of this nature, questions surrounding UV exposure, chemical resistance, fading, adhesion to historic granite, and the long-term implications of altering one of America's most recognizable monuments. The conversation also explores how modern filtration, circulation, ozone, and UV technologies could potentially address the underlying causes of the pool's ongoing water quality problems.

The discussion examines the balance between preservation and practicality, the challenges of restoring a 102-year-old aquatic landmark, and whether the accelerated timeline has left enough room for the careful review typically associated with projects of this historical significance.

Whether you're a pool professional, watershape designer, preservation enthusiast, or simply curious about one of the most ambitious aquatic renovations in recent memory, this episode offers an inside look at the technical questions surrounding the future of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Topics Discussed:

• Why the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is so difficult to maintain
 • The lessons learned from the 2012 rehabilitation project
 • Algae blooms, water clarity, and circulation challenges
 • Rhino Pipeliner 5000 and the use of polyurea coatings
 • Concerns over peer review, UV exposure, and chemical resistance
 • Historic preservation versus accelerated project timelines
 • Will the project be completed in time for July 4th?
 • What a long-term solution for the reflecting pool might look like
 • The balance between restoration, aesthetics, and preservation

Read our article in Pool Magazine:

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool May Meet Its Deadline—But Will It Solve the Problem?

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On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Wally Glowicki, Senior Director of SaaS for PoolCorp, to discuss the rapidly expanding Pool360 ecosystem and how it’s reshaping the way pool companies operate. From route optimization and service management to water testing, customer engagement, retail strategy, and the new JobTread integration, Glowicki explains how Pool360 is evolving far beyond online ordering into a connected digital platform designed to help pool pros grow more efficiently and profitably. If you want insight into where pool industry technology is heading next, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Read More in Pool Magazine: Pool360 PoolService Is Evolving To Help Pool Companies Scale Faster and Operate Smarter

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Pool safety starts long before anyone ever jumps into the water.

On this episode of the Pool Magazine Podcast, Joe Trusty sits down with Jeremy Brongo, owner of Florida State Fence, to discuss one of the most overlooked — but most important — layers of protection around residential swimming pools: safety barriers and fencing. 

During Water Safety Month, the conversation takes a deep dive into the real-world role pool fences play in preventing accidental drownings, particularly involving young children. Jeremy explains why simply having “a fence” around the yard doesn’t necessarily mean a homeowner is compliant with code, and breaks down many of the misconceptions surrounding Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. 

The discussion also explores the critical details many homeowners never think about — from climbable fence designs and improperly functioning gates to self-latching hardware, outward-swinging gate requirements, pool alarms, and the hidden dangers created by nearby furniture, AC units, and pool equipment. Jeremy shares firsthand insight into the kinds of safety risks his company encounters regularly and explains why ongoing maintenance of a barrier system is just as important as the initial installation itself.

Topics Covered Include:

• The importance of pool barriers in preventing accidental drownings
 • Florida Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act requirements
 • Common misconceptions about pool fence compliance
 • Pool fence height and spacing requirements
 • Climbable fence designs that violate code
 • Self-closing and self-latching gate requirements
 • Why pool gates must swing outward
 • Using the home as part of a pool barrier system
 • Hidden backyard hazards homeowners overlook
 • Common pool barrier maintenance mistakes
 • How often pool fences and gates should be inspected
 • When pool fencing should be planned
 • Balancing pool safety with backyard aesthetics
 • The importance of layered protection around pools

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