The Episode That Made Pool Pros Love with Their Shirts

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Featuring Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel — Gold Sponsor of the Mentor of the Year Award

Some episodes age like fine wine.
 This one… aged like a perfectly balanced LSI reading.

Andrea and Paulette crack open a legendary conversation from the Talking Pools archives — the day Don Douglas of Revd Up Apparel stopped by and changed the way the pool industry thinks about clothes, branding, and what “professional” really looks like in the field.

This isn’t just an interview.
 It’s an origin story.
 It’s a cautionary tale.
 It’s a fashion show, a chemistry class, and a public service announcement wrapped in laughs and storytelling the way only Andrea and Paulette can deliver.

And yes — Revd Up Apparel is also a proud Gold Sponsor of the Talking Pools Mentor of the Year Award. The company that built chemical-resistant gear for pool pros is also helping build the next generation of leaders. That connection hits different now.

🌊 Episode Overview

Don takes us back to the beginnings of Revd Up Apparel — before the fulfillment center, before the fan-favorite custom jerseys, before they were outfitting half the industry — to the moment he realized pool techs deserved gear that could survive chlorine splashes, muriatic acid droplets, and the occasional “customer who swears their dog doesn’t bite.”

Andrea and Paulette take the conversation into beautifully chaotic territory, weaving together topics every pool pro deals with:

💧 Chemical safety myths that need to die already
💧 The hair-care advice every parent wishes they learned sooner
💧 Why pre-wetting your hair is the unsung hero of avoiding green-tips
💧 Branding as a small pool business: looking legit vs. looking lost
💧 Why your shirt shouldn’t bleach faster than your chlorine does

There’s education, heart, and a little “pool-pro trauma bonding,” the kind that makes our industry one big family.

🔥 Listener Takeaways (Emotion First, Info Always)

• Your uniform matters more to your brand than your truck wrap. Don explains why custom, chemical-resistant apparel can make even a one-person route look like a franchise.
• Revd Up Apparel isn’t just selling shirts — they’re solving problems pool pros have lived with for decades.
• Never, ever mix unknown chemicals. The stories shared in this episode might tighten your stomach. They’re meant to.
• Pool safety is everyone’s job — Andrea and Paulette speak from experience, urging listeners to watch the water, trust their gut, and speak up.
• Hair care isn’t vanity — it’s chemistry. Pre-wetting hair reduces metal absorption and chlorine-related discoloration.
• Parents: listen closely. Your awareness around the pool is the most important piece of safety equipment your child has.
• You can order a single shirt. Revd Up’s fulfillment model is built for both big teams and solo operators.
• Your appearance sets the tone. Pool pros don’t just maintain water — they maintain trust.

🎨 Design Contest Alert!

This episode originally launched the now-legendary Revd Up listener design contest. If you weren’t around then, you’ll understand why it became a fan favorite. Think crea

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