PODCAST · business
Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama
by Lee Matthew Jackson
For agencies and developers who want fewer WordPress headaches. Lee Matthew Jackson brings practical advice, real-world problem-solving conversations, and the occasional dad joke… all to help you build smarter, deliver faster, and enjoy the work again. PS: Troll-free zone. If you want a fight, go to X.
Episodes
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#407 - Don't be an Agentic AI Agency - Lee Matthew Jackson
AI is amazing. I use it daily as a sounding board, a bug finder or fixer, to summarise meetings, create action lists and more. As someone with (self-diagnosed) ADHD, being able to have AI create notes and actions for me is a “game changer”, as the cool kids say. However, I am disappointed that…
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#406 - Build what you know - Dan Maby & Nathan Wrigley
Dan and Nathan jump on the show this week to share with me their pride and joy, PodcasterPlus Blocks. A WordPress plugin that lets podcasters build customisable, automated podcast websites using modular blocks that pull content directly from RSS feeds, enabling design freedom without having to…
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#405 - The forgotten many - Gen Herres
Accessibility is often an after thought to a web build, even considered optional. We assume that most people are able to access our content and at best slap on a third party accessibility widget to tick a box. Gen Herres, my guest today, challenged several of my limiting beliefs... more people…
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404 - Form and Function - Sam Sayer
What do you normally sacrifice when delivering for a client whilst trying to stay within the budget AND meet deadlines!? Look, we're all small businesses here, how on EARTH do we deliver quality without overwhelm? I am sure we'd love nothing better than to tinker till we hit perfection but that...
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403 - Marketing till you drop - Rob Cairns
I can't doomscroll for 5 seconds without some "marketing guru" telling me what I should be doing to market my business. It's bloody exhausting! You might remember I burned out trying to do everything back in 2023 and I nearly closed down this very podcast as a result! Rob Cairns is a long time...
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402 - More than just a "WordPress" - Great Opomu
Posts, pages, categories, media, WordPress has you covered. But when it comes to complex builds where do you turn? Great Opomu suggests... WordPress!? Whaaat!? Well I happen to agree if I am honest, I was saying this in 2016! WordPress and the ecosystem has done a LOT of growing up since then.…
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401 - What you do isn’t the niche - Alex Curtis
When asked what you do, what do you say? "I build websites" or "I am a web developer". Heck even "I build websites in the XYZ industry". Sounds nice and nichey right!? Well maybe not. Alex Curtis joins us today and shares his own experience of niching down. He shares what he does, who he does it...
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400 - Uno reverso niche-o - Adam Lowe
I having banged on for years about niching down have to admit that today's epic guest, young Adam Lowe is right when recommends we consider becoming a little more generalist! Why? Because like it or loath it, AI, machine learning, automation and other tools are making building websites a…
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399 - Why most WordPress devs are musicians - Zach Stepek
"Why are most WordPress developers musicians" was a throw away comment from Zack during a random online natter. What was likely meant in jest sent my mind in circles. If it was a movie you'd see flashbacks of all the podcasts I have done in the past and behind most folks being interviewed…
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398 - How to get unstuck - Philip Vandusen
Feeling stuck, and don't know how to get... well... unstuck!? What does stuck even look like? How do you know you're stuck? Why is this opening so confusing? What's with all the questions? Let's face it, running a creative business is hard work. We wanna do that thing we love (be creative) but we...
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397 - Your passion can make it pay - Davinder Singh Kainth
Finding it a slog to market your business, plugin or theme? You might be missing the secret ingredient... Passion. In today's episode I chat with my good pal Davinder where he unpacks his experience of creating content focused on WordPress and how it naturally grew into a profitable business…
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396 - Does AI help or hinder - Lee Matthew Jackson
AI streamlines your processes and makes you more productive right? I learned the hard way that it can seriously affect the quality of my output, my happiness and my reach! In this episode I share how AI nearly led to me completely shutting this podcast down, and how my relationship with AI is...
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395 - When your hobby becomes your job - Lee Matthew Jackson
You know that thing you love doing that lights you up? What happens when it becomes your job and you feel completely overwhelmed by it? In this episode I share how Trailblazer FM once fulfilled me, then became a burden. How trying to monetise a hobby robbed me of the joy of creation, and led me…
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51:2 Can automation prevent burnout? - Cat Burchmore
Overwhelmed, overworked, on the brink of burnout? Agency life is known for its fast pace and demanding clients, and I know from personal experience how burnout can completely de-rail you. As I slowly return recovery, I invited Cat Burchmore onto the podcast to help me learn how I could prevent...
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51:1 Journey of a freelancer to agency owner - Brent Weaver
Struggling to break out of the feast and famine cycle? Do you feel like you're constantly putting out fires and not making the progress you want in your business? Brent is a seasoned agency owner who started his first digital agency at the tender age of 17. In this episode, he shares his journey…
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50:7 Is time tracking actually holding you back? - Ilia Markov
Time tracking is often seen as a necessary evil - something that takes time away from doing client work or feels like micromanaging employees. In this episode I interview Ilia from Toggl to discover why those assumptions are wrong. We discuss real-world examples of how time tracking provides...
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50:6 Hard-won lessons from an agency leader - Jon Tsourakis
Running an agency is tough, but invaluable lessons can be learned from those who've spent years growing in the trenches. In this episode, I sat down with Jon Tsourakis, a veteran agency owner of over 15 years, who doesn't look a day over 30. (Had to say that in case he reads this.) As the founder...
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50:5 Stop getting buried by search engines - Jason Barnard
Do you feel like your website or brand is lost in the endless sea of search engine results? Does it seem like no matter what you do, you just can't break onto page one or get those coveted top rankings? Well, today's guest, Jason Barnard is here to help you finally stop getting buried by search...
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50:4 Your ideal clients' obvious choice? - Helen Knight
Are you struggling to attract high-paying clients who see the immense value in what you offer? Do you find yourself exhaustively pitching potential clients who just don't get what makes you different? In this eye-opening episode, Helen Knight joins us to share her proven framework for positioning...
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50:3 The low cash growth hack - Zara and Aaron - Choppity
Struggling to build your business? Cash strapped and wish you had investment? What if I told you, you already have everything you need to build an exciting and growing business? Meet Zara and Aaron, the founders of Choppity. They are building their business in public, keeping costs razor thin and...
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50:2 Most free courses get ignored. But these don't! - Shiven Dhania
The vast sea of online courses makes it challenging for any one course to stand out. But what if there's a method that not only grabs attention but also ensures course completion, builds trust, and positions you as an expert they can't wait to buy from? In this episode, we unravel the secret…
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50:1 The website manual that makes clients stick - Kyle Van Deusen
Do you ever feel like your web agency is stuck in a cycle of one-and-done projects? You deliver an exceptional website, only to watch the client fade away, turning what could have been a fruitful, ongoing collaboration into a fleeting transaction. But what if there was a way to turn that one-time...
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49:8 - Make a living designing logos - Ian Paget
Struggling to make logo design pay? In this episode, we meet Ian Paget, the man behind Logo Geek, who turned his passion for logo design into profit. I ask: What does it take to go all in on logos? What can we learn from others? How can we improve our skills? How do we keep motivated? Ian…
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49:7 From kitchen table to agency exit - Simon Penson
Struggling to grow your agency or finding it tough to reel in new clients? Perhaps you feel conscious that your agency isn't yet what you'd hoped it would be? Simon Penson's journey is sure to inspire you. His own agency journey began at his kitchen table, of all places, where he faced and…
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49:6 The power of a mindset shift - Daniel Daines-Hutt
Ever felt like you're on a never-ending hamster wheel of agency life? Trying to build a business that will support the life you want for you and your family, but never quite getting there? You're not alone. Many of us are caught in this relentless cycle, believing that success is just around the...
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49:5 Privacy policies got you down? - Hans Skillrud
Creating website policies can feel pretty overwhelming. It’s easy to think copying and pasting templates will do, but this shortcut can put both agencies and clients at risk. In this episode, I was really pumped to chat again with Hans from Termageddon. He walks us through his journey of building…
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49:4 Streamlining WordPress website maintenance - Florain Salman
Do you get anxious when updating your client's WordPress website, wondering what will break? Do you spend hours running tests in staging, before finally pushing everything live? In this episode, we explore WordPress maintenance and look at a solution designed to help developers and designers…
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49:3 Bridging gaps, building community - Michelle Frechette
Meet Michelle Frechette, a trailblazer in the WordPress community who is bridging gaps and building connections in ways you wouldn't imagine. Michelle, the Director of Community Engagement for StellarWP at Liquid Web, takes us on a journey from her first encounter with WordPress to her current…
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49:2 Newsletter success: Learn from the best - Shiven Dhania
Find yourself ignoring newsletters you receive? Think that having your own newsletter is therefore a waste of time? Think again. I was challenged when our guest Shiven shared insights into building your own newsletter and audience that I had never considered. Full show notes:...
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49:1 Zero setup, max efficiency: WordPress Playground - Adam Zielinski
Fed up installing fresh copies of WordPress to test themes, plugins or code? What if you could spark up a blank WordPress instance directly in your browser in seconds, without even needing a host? Watch the video: Today we dive into the exciting world of WordPress Playground with special guest…
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48:8 - How we use ChatGPT in our web agency - Lee Matthew Jackson
Introducing ChatGPT to our entire team has been a game-changer! While some folks worry AI will take their jobs, our team is thriving with enhanced productivity and an improved work-life balance. Discover how we're leveraging AI to supercharge our efficiency in coding, content creation, email...
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48:7 - Fit with small, steady steps - Lee Matthew Jackson
As an agency owner, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of running your business. But what happens when your work starts to take a toll on your health and happiness? For many agency owners, the answer is a frustrating cycle of too much work and not enough time for self-care. But…
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48:6 - How to implement regular stand-up meetings - Lee Matthew Jackson
Feel like the internal communication at your agency is a little bit of a mess? Perhaps you're missing deadlines, upsetting clients, or duplicating your efforts internally. In this episode, Lee shares how stand-up meetings in his agency help solve these problems. Full show notes:...
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48:5 - The Mastermind Effect: Agency Transformation - Lee Matthew Jackson
Imagine a mastermind group that catapults your business to new heights, helps you make bold moves, and pushes you to reach your full potential. Lee shares his own incredible journey of growth and transformation, thanks to the power of these game-changing meetups. Full show notes:...
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S48E4 - Toxic clients & mental health - Lee Matthew Jackson
Ever felt swamped, stressed, or on edge due to tough clients? In this honest and unplanned episode, our host Lee gets real about how his mental health has been impacted by tricky client relationships. Tune in to hear his personal story, insights, and advice on dealing with toxic clients and...
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S48E3 - Optimise support, win client's hearts - Lee Matthew Jackson
Are you having a tough time providing top-notch support to your clients? In this episode, Lee spills the beans on how his agency, Event Engine, turned their messy support system into one with a perfect 100% client happiness rating. Discover the super simple process they put in place to bring…
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S48E2 - Track communication, convert more leads - Lee Matthew Jackson
Have you ever been excited to receive a new lead in your inbox, only for the communication to fizzle out over time? As a web agency owner, this can be a frustrating experience. In this episode, Lee shares his agency's solution to this problem. By implementing a simple process using a CRM, they…
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S48E1 - Selling value, not just websites - Lee Matthew Jackson
Are you tired of trying to sell your web design services to potential clients, only to be met with hesitation and skepticism? It can be difficult to convince someone to invest a large sum of money in your services when they don't really know you yet. But what if there was a better way? Full show...
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S47E5 - Defining success for your agency - Candy Phelps
Are you tired of constantly comparing yourself to others in your industry? Do you struggle with defining success for yourself and staying motivated to achieve your goals? In this episode, Lee and Candy dive into the world of pricing, money, and success in the agency and freelancer space. Full…
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S47E4 - Employees and benefits - Lee & Candy
📈 Candy explores hiring and compensating employees. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode, we discuss…
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S47E3 - Business planning and projections - Lee & Candy
📈 Candy shares how to develop a business plan. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode, we discuss the common...
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S47E2 - Pricing for web design - Lee & Candy
📈 Candy shares how to price for web design projects. It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this episode we break down…
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S47E1 - Pricing in a weak economy - Lee & Candy
📈 Candy shares the effects of macroeconomics on freelancers and agencies It's all over the news; countries are entering or on the brink of recession. We've teamed up with Candy Phelps to explore essential financial skills freelancers and agency owners should flex during these times. In this...
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S46E13 - An otherworldly site builder - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 A visual builder that produces fast-loading WordPress websites. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case....
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S46E12 - Conjuring membership magic - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 Protecting content within WordPress for members only. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show...
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S46E11 - Adding hocus pocus to a website - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 No-code animations and effects in WordPress. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes:...
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S46E10 - Attack of the clones - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 Moving a large WordPress website from one host to another. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full...
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S46E9 - Supernatural search engine optimization - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 How to manage SEO in WordPress. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show notes:...
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S46E8 - Battling a gruesome WordPress database - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 How to clean a slow and bloated WordPress database. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case. Full show...
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S46E7 - Cobwebs in the WordPress admin - Lee Matthew Jackson
🎃 Make it easier to access and sort data in the WordPress admin. In this series, Lee looks at a range of WordPress tools that can add value to both the development process and client interactions. For each episode, Lee will define a problem, discuss his agency's solution, and share a use case....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
For agencies and developers who want fewer WordPress headaches.
Lee Matthew Jackson brings practical advice, real-world problem-solving conversations, and the occasional dad joke… all to help you build smarter, deliver faster, and enjoy the work again.
PS: Troll-free zone. If you want a fight, go to X.
HOSTED BY
Lee Matthew Jackson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama have?
Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama currently has 451 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama about?
For agencies and developers who want fewer WordPress headaches. Lee Matthew Jackson brings practical advice, real-world problem-solving conversations, and the occasional dad joke… all to help you build smarter, deliver faster, and enjoy the work again. PS: Troll-free zone. If you want a fight, go...
How often does Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama release new episodes?
Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama publishes regularly with 451 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama?
You can listen to Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama?
Trailblazer FM: WordPress without the drama is created and hosted by Lee Matthew Jackson.
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