Remkus de Vries on Friesian Roots, Strongman Training, and WordPress Performance |

Send us Fan MailAn unexpected conversation with a strong man who is a Friesian making websites faster. The conversation starts with Bud welcoming Remkus and asking about his unique name and background. Remkus explains that he is from the Netherlands, particularly from a region called Friesland, which has its own distinct language and culture. He elaborates on the geography of Friesland and clarifies that it's not just about islands but also consists of a significant mainland portion. Remkus also mentions Friesian horses and cows, which are quite famous.The conversation shifts to Remkus's passion for powerlifting and strongman competitions. Remkus shares how he got into powerlifting due to a back injury and how it transitioned into strongman competitions about seven years ago. He describes the physically demanding tasks involved in strongman training and emphasizes its importance for his mental well-being. Remkus breaks down his training regimen and mentions that he works out several times a week at a home gym and a friend’s barn equipped with specialized machines.Bud and Remkus reminisce about their childhoods, touching on early memories, school experiences, and the influence of family and environment. Remkus talks about his time as a high school exchange student in the United States, which he believes was a pivotal year that allowed him to reinvent himself. He shares his journey from struggling to find the right academic path back in the Netherlands to eventually working in his parent's auto body repair and taxi business.The discussion moves on to family life, where Remkus talks about his wife, children, and their dynamics. Remkus mentions that his wife is a content creator who assists him with business tasks. They discuss child-rearing philosophies, noting that while Remkus tends to be more strict, his wife is more forgiving, and they both see eye to eye on essential parenting aspects.Finally, the conversation covers Remkus’s professional endeavors with WordPress. He details his focus on performance optimization, consultancy, and a startup called Scanfully, which monitors site health and performance. They talk about Remkus’s plans to create educational content for WordPress users and his podcast and newsletter. The episode concludes with Remkus recommending Johnny Harris for a future interview due to his recent life changes and expertise in WordPress development.