Archives: Episode

  • #210 – Zach Stepek on the Interconnected WordPress Ecosystem, Partnerships and Trust

    #210 – Zach Stepek on the Interconnected WordPress Ecosystem, Partnerships and Trust

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Zach Stepek about the evolving nature of partnerships in the WordPress ecosystem. Zach shares his journey through various tech roles, his discovery of WordPress, and his passion for WooCommerce. They discuss the interconnected roles of agencies, product companies, and hosting providers, the impact of short-term profit-driven thinking versus…

  • #209 – Simon Pollard on Navigating the New Normal for WordPress Community and Events

    #209 – Simon Pollard on Navigating the New Normal for WordPress Community and Events

    In this episode of WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, Nathan Wrigley chats with Simon Pollard about the changing landscape of WordPress Meetups and community events. Simon reflects on the vibrant pre-pandemic community, its sudden decline during COVID-19, and the ongoing struggle to rebuild momentum. The conversation explores how evolving priorities, scattered social media, and the rise…

  • #208 – Behind the Scenes at the CloudFest Hackathon

    #208 – Behind the Scenes at the CloudFest Hackathon

    In this WP Tavern episode, Nathan Wrigley explores the CloudFest Hackathon, an event bringing together open source enthusiasts to collaborate on innovative projects in just three days. Carole Olinger, the Hackathon lead, details the organising process and project selection, talking about cross-CMS collaboration and sustainability. Contributors like Javier Casares, Matthias Pfefferle, Milana Cap, and others…

  • #207 – Rob Ruiz on WP Rig and the Future of Theme Development

    #207 – Rob Ruiz on WP Rig and the Future of Theme Development

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Rob Ruiz, current maintainer of WP Rig, a free WordPress theme development toolkit and starter theme. Rob Ruiz shares his journey from designer to theme developer, discusses the benefits of WP Rig for both beginners and agencies, and highlights how it teaches best practices, supports modern tools, and adapts…

  • #206 – Jonathan Desrosiers on WordPress Sustainability, Community Engagement, and Release Strategies

    #206 – Jonathan Desrosiers on WordPress Sustainability, Community Engagement, and Release Strategies

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley speaks with Jonathan Desrosiers about tying WordPress releases to flagship community events like WordCamps. They discuss the logistical challenges, especially around scheduling, international holidays, and global contributor coverage. The conversation explores the evolving WordPress community, impacts of COVID, renewed excitement for building, and initiatives to involve younger contributors. They touch…

  • #205 – Matt Cromwell on Redefining WordPress Product Growth in a Crowded Ecosystem

    #205 – Matt Cromwell on Redefining WordPress Product Growth in a Crowded Ecosystem

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Matt Cromwell about Matt’s new agency, Roots and Fruit, which is aimed at helping WordPress product businesses grow sustainably. They discuss shifts in the WordPress ecosystem, the importance of focusing on the entire product experience (not just code), and how saturation and increased competition mean success requires more…

  • #204 – Russell Aaron on the Hidden Settings Page You Never Knew Existed options.php

    #204 – Russell Aaron on the Hidden Settings Page You Never Knew Existed options.php

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Russell Aaron about the little-known WordPress admin page “options.php.” Russell Aaron explains what the page does, displaying and allowing edits to the entire wp_options table, and discusses its usefulness and risks. They cover why it exists, who can access it, why it’s not linked in the admin menu,…

  • #203 – Miriam Schwab on Elementor’s Decade of Growth and the Future With AI

    #203 – Miriam Schwab on Elementor’s Decade of Growth and the Future With AI

    In this episode, Miriam Schwab discusses her journey in the WordPress space, from running an agency to founding Strattic, which was later acquired by Elementor. Now serving as Elementor’s Head of WordPress, she shares insights on Elementor’s growth, their careful approach to major updates, and their deep dive into AI innovation, including tools like Angie…

  • #202 – Charly Leetham on Using WordPress to Enable a Digital Nomad Life

    #202 – Charly Leetham on Using WordPress to Enable a Digital Nomad Life

    In this episode of WP Tavern, Nathan Wrigley chats with Charly Leetham about her journey as a digital nomad using WordPress. Charly shares how evolving technology allowed her to build a flexible, location-independent tech support business. She discusses the freedoms and challenges of living on the road, remote work essentials like Starlink for internet access,…

  • #201 – Marc Benzakein on How Life Has Changed During the Internet Era

    #201 – Marc Benzakein on How Life Has Changed During the Internet Era

    In this episode of the WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, Nathan Wrigley and Marc Benzakein reminisce about the early days of the internet, sharing personal stories from dial-up and BBS boards to today’s always-connected world. They discuss how internet use shifted from a niche hobby for tech enthusiasts to an essential part of daily life, touching…

  • #200 – Corey Maass on His Real-Life AI Tools and Workflows in WordPress Development

    #200 – Corey Maass on His Real-Life AI Tools and Workflows in WordPress Development

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Corey Maass about how AI tools have transformed web development, especially for client projects. Corey Maass shares his ever-changing tech stack, the impact of AI on productivity and creativity, and how tools like Claude Code and Copilot are saving time and changing traditional workflows. They discuss the philosophical…

  • #199 – Brian Coords on WooCommerce’s Challenges and Innovations in a Changing WordPress Landscape

    #199 – Brian Coords on WooCommerce’s Challenges and Innovations in a Changing WordPress Landscape

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Brian Coords, Developer Advocate at WooCommerce, about his career path, WooCommerce’s recent rebranding, and its approach to developer relations. They discuss how WooCommerce balances its open source ethos, support challenges, and global reach, as well as the platform’s growing focus on AI and enhanced integration with WordPress Core. Brian…

  • #198 – Muntasir Sakib on Bridging the Gap Between WordPress Plugin Development and Marketing Success

    #198 – Muntasir Sakib on Bridging the Gap Between WordPress Plugin Development and Marketing Success

    In this episode of WP Tavern, Nathan Wrigley talks with Muntasir Sakib about the crucial importance of marketing in the WordPress plugin ecosystem. Muntasir shares insights from his experience growing popular plugins and discusses how product success today depends not just on great development, but on early, strategic marketing, ongoing community engagement, partnerships, and prioritising…

  • #197 – Johanne Courtright on Enhancing Gutenberg: Agency-Driven Block Editor Innovations

    #197 – Johanne Courtright on Enhancing Gutenberg: Agency-Driven Block Editor Innovations

    In this episode, Johanne Courtright chats with Nathan Wrigley about her journey in WordPress development, focusing on enhancing the block editor (Gutenberg). She discusses her project, Groundworx, which adds features and custom blocks tailored for agencies and advanced users, such as improved breakpoints, colour palettes, and navigation options. They explore the challenges of shifting to…

  • #196 – Topher DeRosia on How Public Contributions Shape Careers in WordPress

    #196 – Topher DeRosia on How Public Contributions Shape Careers in WordPress

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Topher DeRosia about the impact of doing things in public within the WordPress community. Topher shares how openness, community involvement, and generosity have shaped his career and personal life, reflecting on organic reputation and the balance between commercial and philanthropic forces in open source. They discuss the importance…

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