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WP Tavern

by WordPress Tavern

The WP Tavern Jukebox is a podcast for the WordPress community. We interview people who are pushing change in how WordPress evolves. Plugins, Blocks, Themes, Community, Events, Accessibility and Diversity; we try to cover all the bases. Subscribe to be updated when we bring you new content.

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Episodes

  1. #237 – Robert Abela on WordPress Security and the Battle Against AI Threats

    The conversation focused on insights from the 2026 WordPress Security Survey by Melapress, featuring guest Robert Abela. We talked about persistent concerns among WordPress users, with 78 percent of survey participants expressing security worries and nearly 68 percent having experienced at least...

  2. #236 – Brian Coords on WordPress as the Source of Truth

    Today, I'm joined by Brian Coords from Automattic, and the podcast is focused upon the intersection of WordPress block themes, AI, and agency workflows, using the concept that "the site is the source of truth." We talk about the value of leveraging WordPress' built-in systems, like patterns and...

  3. #235 – Rob Pugh and Tony Arcangelini on Bringing Podcasting to Jetpack

    The conversation focused on Jetpack’s new podcasting features for WordPress, discussing how creators can now easily publish, distribute, and manage podcasts directly from their sites. We talk about the integration with newsletters and social sharing, enabling creators to distribute content…

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  4. #234 – K. Adam White on Migrating to Blocks With Artisanal Care and Enterprise Efficiency

    Today I'm talking with K. Adam White from Human Made about large-scale content migrations to WordPress’ block editor, especially for enterprise clients. We discuss the use of patterns and bespoke tooling to transfer complex layouts from other CMS platforms, like Sitecore, while maintaining...

  5. #233 – Chris Reynolds on Building Trust With Project Contracts for Reliable AI Development

    The conversation focused on AI-assisted development in WordPress, exploring how large language models like Claude can be both powerful and unpredictable. We talked about the need for guardrails, structured project contracts and reviewer agents, to ensure outputs are reliable, secure, and...

  6. #232 – Aaron D Campbell on Navigating WordPress Security in the AI Era

    The conversation focused on the rapidly evolving landscape of WordPress security, emphasising the impact of AI on both attack complexity and defence strategies. We talked about the accelerating pace at which vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited, prompting the need for proactive,...

  7. #231 – Damon Cook on How WP Trend Watcher Keeps Him Up to Date With WordPress

    On the podcast today we have Damon cook to talk about WP Trend Watcher, a locally run tool that aggregates, summarises, and curates WordPress news using AI and human review. We discussed the challenge of keeping up with the rapid, ever-changing WordPress ecosystem, and how automation can help cut...

  8. #230 – Adrian Sticea on Navigating the Decline of WordPress Work on Upwork and the Rise of New Opportunities

    I'm talking today with Adrian Sticea about the decline in freelance WordPress work available through Upwork, highlighted by a viral LinkedIn post and graph showing work drying up from 2023 onward. We get into the many reasons behind this shift, the impact of AI making developers more efficient,...

  9. #229 – Amy Kamala on Art, Tech, and Open Source: A Journey Through WordPress and Community

    The conversation focused on Amy Kamala’s diverse journey from art to technology, her extensive experience in hosting, web development, and team leadership, and her active contributions to the WordPress project. We got into the intersection of creativity and logic in tech roles, as well as the...

  10. #228 – Priscilla Collado Ramirez on Reducing WordPress Beginner Anxiety

    Today, the podcast is focused on Priscilla Collado Ramirez’s journey with WordPress, highlighting how overwhelming the platform can be for beginners due to the abundance of options and limited guidance. Priscilla discussed her experience leaving WordPress 17 years ago and returning as an…

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  11. #227 – Maciek Palmowski on Testing Secure WordPress Hosting: Does the Marketing Match Reality?

    Maciek Palmowski is on the podcast today to discuss his WordCamp Europe presentation on whether "secure hosting" lives up to its claims in the WordPress ecosystem. He described penetration tests of multiple providers, revealing that the majority of WordPress-specific vulnerabilities made it…

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  12. #226 – Jessica Lyschik on Why Accessibility in WordPress Themes Is Easier Than You Think

    Today's conversation with Jessica Lyschik focused on WordPress theme accessibility, highlighting that achieving "accessibility-ready" standards is easier than many developers assume. We talked about the moral and practical importance of accessible websites, not just for legal compliance but to...

  13. #225 – Milan Petrović on the Risks of Legacy PHP in WordPress and Why Upgrading Matters for Security

    Today, I'm joined by Milan Petrović, and the podcast is focused on the impact of PHP versioning in the WordPress ecosystem, emphasising the risks of running outdated PHP and the security and performance benefits of PHP 8.x. We get into the challenge of supporting legacy code versus urging…

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  14. #224 – David Snead on Building Trust and Collaboration in the Hosting Industry With the Secure Hosting Alliance

    Today on the podcast, the conversation focused on cross-industry collaboration to improve security and abuse response in the hosting industry. We talk about the Internet Infrastructure Forum (IIF), a platform-agnostic initiative aiming to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing among hosts,...

  15. #223 – Ivana Ćirković on How WordPress Credits Bridges Education and Industry in the WordPress Ecosystem

    On the podcast today we explore the WordPress Credits initiative, and its strategic importance in integrating young talent into the WordPress ecosystem through structured university programs. We discuss the alignment of the program with modern workforce demands, the benefits for businesses in...

  16. #222 – Destiny Kanno, Anand Upadhyay, Maciej Pilarski on How WordPress Education Programs Are Growing

    The podcast focused on the rapid growth of educational initiatives in the WordPress community over the past eight months. We talked about the development and distinctions among three primary programs: the WordPress Credits Program (university-level, contributions for academic credit), Campus...

  17. #221 – Rahul Bansal on Using AI Everywhere at rtCamp

    In this episode of the WP Tavern Jukebox podcast, the conversation focused on agency growth, lessons from rtCamp’s journey, and the changing agency landscape due to AI. We discussed the importance of hiring complementary skill sets when starting an agency, and the necessity to niche down for...

  18. #220 – Cathy Mitchell on Why WordPress Events Matter: Community, Connection, and Giving Back

    Today the podcast focuses on the unique openness and camaraderie of the WordPress community, particularly through volunteer experiences at WordCamp events. A key theme under discussion was how involvement in such communities combats loneliness and provides a sense of belonging and purpose…

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  19. #219 – Austin Ginder on How AI Is Exposing Hidden Threats in WordPress Plugin Updates

    Nathan Wrigley interviews Austin Ginder about recent WordPress plugin supply chain attacks. Austin explains how attackers are acquiring legitimate plugins, inserting malicious code or update mechanisms, and compromising thousands of sites. AI tools have enabled Austin to detect these issues and...

  20. #218 – Luke Carbis on the Future of WordPress Plugins: AI, Ethics, and New Directory Standards

    Nathan Wrigley interviews Luke Carbis about the evolving challenges in the WordPress plugin ecosystem, including the surge in plugin submissions fuelled by AI, difficulties with plugin discoverability, and potential marketplace reforms. Luke shares ideas like different WordPress.org-account...

  21. #217 – Leonardo Losovic on Affordable and Accurate WordPress Translations Using AI

    Nathan Wrigley interviews Leo Losoviz, focusing on translating WordPress sites using AI-powered tools, including his Gato AI Translations for Polylang plugin. They cover the evolution from manual, costly translations to efficient, high-quality AI solutions, the legal and business cases for...

  22. #216 – Matt Schwartz on Exploring AI’s Impact in WordPress Agencies (Part 2)

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley and Matt Schwartz continue their discussion about how WordPress agencies can harness AI. They cover practical applications like connecting AI to agency documentation, implementing guardrails with MCPs, using AI for internal tools and QA, and the evolving impact on...

  23. #215 – Matt Schwartz on Exploring AI’s Impact in WordPress Agencies (Part 1)

    Nathan Wrigley and Matt Schwartz discuss the evolving impact of AI on WordPress agencies, focusing on how AI can streamline agency processes beyond just building websites. They explore the importance of revisiting workflows, creating AI vision documents, leveraging AI for proposals, internal...

  24. #214 – Robby McCullough on Beaver Builder, AI Hype, and Evolving WordPress Workflows

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Robby McCullough, co-founder of Beaver Builder, about the evolving landscape of WordPress page builders amidst the rise of AI. They reflect on Beaver Builder’s 12-year journey, discuss initial skepticism toward page builders, and the recent surge in...

  25. #213 – Malcolm Peralty on Managed WordPress Hosting and AI Innovation at Pressable

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Malcolm Peralty from Pressable, about his tech and WordPress career, experiences with Drupal and Acquia, and his current role as a technical account manager. They discuss Pressable’s hosting services, their focus on optimising WordPress performance, and...

  26. #212 – Anne Bovelett on How Web Accessibility Boosts Traffic, SEO, and Revenue

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Anne Bovelett, about the economic and human impact of web accessibility in WordPress. They discuss how improving accessibility offers significant SEO, traffic, and revenue benefits, referencing research showing up to a 23% increase in organic traffic and...

  27. #211 – Elliott Richmond on WordPress Content Creation, Education, and Pizza Plugins

    Elliot Richmond discusses his 20+ years with WordPress, from early b2 days to founding a successful pizza delivery business powered by WordPress and WooCommerce. He shares plans for a pizza plugin and licensing model, and explains his new partnership with Automattic, creating educational...

  28. #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...

  29. #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...

  30. #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…

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  31. #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...

  32. #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...

  33. #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),...

  34. #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...

  35. #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...

  36. #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…

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  37. #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...

  38. #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...

  39. #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…

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  40. #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…

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  41. #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...

  42. #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...

  43. #195 – Saumya Majumder on How Cloudflare Outages Impact the Web and WordPress Performance Solutions

    In this episode, Saumya Majumder joins Nathan Wrigley to discuss innovations at BigScoots, focusing on high-performance WordPress hosting and Cloudflare-powered architecture. They unpack the recent global Cloudflare outage, the complexities of internet infrastructure, and Cloudflare’s…

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  44. #194 – Devin Walker on Leading Jetpack: Challenges, Vision, and the Future

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Devin Walker, the new Artistic Director (Head) of Jetpack at Automattic. Devin shares his background in WordPress, the challenges and opportunities of leading Jetpack, and his plans to bring focus, simplify the experience, and improve both functionality...

  45. #193 – Roger Williams on How We Might Reimagine Sponsoring WordPress Contributions

    In this episode, Roger Williams joins Nathan Wrigley to discuss the complexities and evolution of sponsored contributions in the WordPress community. They explore how companies like Kinsta can support WordPress and other open source projects, balancing philanthropic goals with business realities....

  46. #192 – Joshua Bryant on How Dow Jones Is Supercharging WordPress Editorial Workflows

    In this WP Tavern Jukebox podcast episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Joshua Bryant about how Dow Jones uses WordPress in a headless setup to power major news sites like the Wall Street Journal. Joshua shares how his team decoupled the Gutenberg editor, embedding it in a React application for...

  47. #191 – Arnas Donauskas on AI-Powered Troubleshooting for Websites

    On the podcast today we have Arnas Donauskas from Hostinger. Arnas shares how Hostinger uses AI to help users build, fix, and optimise WordPress sites, automatically detecting errors, applying fixes, and improving performance. He highlights their AI’s 70% success rate in resolving issues…

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  48. #190 – Seth Rubenstein on Block Composability in WordPress’ Future

    In this episode of WP Tavern, Seth Rubenstein from Pew Research Center talks with host Nathan Wrigley about advanced WordPress development, focusing on block composability in Gutenberg. Seth explains how new APIs, Block Bindings, Block Bits, and the Interactivity API, are making WordPress more...

  49. #189 – Weston Ruter on Unlocking WordPress Performance

    In this WP Tavern episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Weston Ruter at WordCamp US in Portland. Weston shares insights from his presentation on WordPress performance, discussing improvements made by the Core Performance Team, including lazy loading, enhanced responsive images, and speculative...

  50. #188 – Bud Kraus on Teaching and Using WordPress With Low Vision

    In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Bud Kraus at WordCamp US 2025. Bud shares his experience living and working with macular degeneration, a condition affecting his central vision. He discusses the adaptations he makes to use computers and WordPress, his approach to teaching and content...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The WP Tavern Jukebox is a podcast for the WordPress community. We interview people who are pushing change in how WordPress evolves. Plugins, Blocks, Themes, Community, Events, Accessibility and Diversity; we try to cover all the bases. Subscribe to be updated when we bring you new content.

HOSTED BY

WordPress Tavern

CATEGORIES

news technology

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does WP Tavern have?

WP Tavern currently has 237 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is WP Tavern about?

The WP Tavern Jukebox is a podcast for the WordPress community. We interview people who are pushing change in how WordPress evolves. Plugins, Blocks, Themes, Community, Events, Accessibility and Diversity; we try to cover all the bases. Subscribe to be updated when we bring you new content.

How often does WP Tavern release new episodes?

WP Tavern publishes regularly with 237 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to WP Tavern?

You can listen to WP Tavern 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 WP Tavern?

WP Tavern is created and hosted by WordPress Tavern.
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