home pod will not handle any personal requests

The device used to configure the HomePod needs to be on the local Wi-Fi network when you make a request. From Use Personal Requests on HomePod - Apple Support:

You can make personal requests only when:

• Your iOS device is signed in with the same Apple ID as HomePod.
• Your iOS device is set as the primary device for Share My Location.
• HomePod and your iOS device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

HomePod only knows about one user for this feature, there is no 'we' about it.

tt2

You can set it up with whatever device you like. A newer model with the most updated software is the best idea. You don’t need to have the device nearby. It needs the device you set it up with to be on the same wifi network.

So if you recently changed phones and no longer have the original device you set it up with, this could be a reason it won’t take personal requests. Siri will respond with something like “in order to take personal requests, the iOS device associated with this HomePod needs to be on the same wifi network”

I got interrupted on my last reply before you posted again to say it’s now working. 👍