WP Builds
Join Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley as they explore the world of WordPress, sharing what they love about the platform. Each episode covers everything from plugins and themes to hosting solutions, along with interviews and insights from people in the WordPress community. Designed for developers and site builders alike, the podcast offers a friendly, informative take on WordPress news and tools.
Episodes
486 - Unlocking WordPress automations with Uncanny Automator
On the podcast today we have Ken Young.
Ken joins us from Toronto, Canada, and has a background in e-learning, plugin development, and WordPress automation. As a founder of Uncanny Owl, Ken and his team first made waves in the WordPress world with their focus on e-learning and LearnDash integrations before expanding into broader automation solutions.
Ken is here to talk about all things automati
This Week in WordPress #385
485 - WP Builds hijack - how show.fm simplifies podcasting for WordPress creators
So today is like no other podcast episode I've ever aired on WP Builds. There's no intro, and I'm not the host, although I am in it!
Today marks the launch of show.fm, a podcast app that I've been building with my friend Dan Maby. It ready, the best app (truly) in the podcasting world, and ready for you to become a 'Founding' member!
Rather than me talk with Dan we decided that it would be nice
484 – Behind the scenes of PressConf: the business-focused WordPress event coming to Europe
Before we get into the podcast, a few words from me.
You might have noticed that there's been no new podcast episodes for a while. In the 10 years (and over 900 episodes) of this podcast, the most that I've ever taken off was a couple of weeks for Christmas and the summer holidays. So what's changed? A LOT!
With a good WordPress friend (Dan Maby) I've launched a SaaS app called show.fm. It's an
This Week in WordPress #384
Join Nathan Wrigley, Rhys Wynne, Raquel Manriquez, Steve Burge. The conversation focused on major WordPress updates, including the 7.2 roadmap with new security features and collaborative tools like suggestion mode and the Presence API. Several points were raised about the surge in plugin submissions driven by AI and evolving review processes. The discussion explored upcoming community events such
483 - Why accessibility should be every WordPress developer’s priority with Danielle Zarcaro
Nathan Wrigley talks with Danielle Zarcaro about accessibility in web development, particularly within WordPress. Danielle shares the journey from English studies to web development and specialisation in accessibility, discussing the challenges, misconceptions, and incremental ways to improve website accessibility. They emphasize the importance of starting small, focusing on templates, and making
482 - WPOCC: Rebranding, and surveying the WordPress community
The conversation focused on the rebranding of the WP Community Collective to the WP Open Community Collective (WPOCC) to avoid trademark conflicts and better reflect its broader open source focus. We chat about the current holding pattern in the WordPress community amid ongoing legal and industry uncertainty. We also explore the results of the recent State of the Community survey, highlighting bot
481 - A new video hosting solution for WordPress users and Vimeo refugees
The conversation focused on Livid, a newly launched video hosting platform positioned as a strong alternative to Vimeo, especially for users facing steep price increases following Vimeo’s acquisition by Bending Spoons. A key theme that emerged was Livid’s streamlined migration tools, including a free exporter and a robust WordPress plugin, making it easy to transfer and replace Vimeo content. The
480 - Community, uncertainty, and adaptation in the age of AI
The conversation focused on WordPress's recent market share decline, with data showing a dip from a 36% peak in 2022 to 33% in 2026. Casey and I discussed the rise of alternative platforms like Shopify and Webflow, the impact of AI-driven site building, and WordPress' marketing challenges compared to competitors. We got into how plugin developers and agencies must reassess products and business mo
This Week in WordPress #383
Join Nathan Wrigley, Rhys Wynne, Marc Benzakein, Bud Kraus. The conversation focused on recent WordPress news, including a surge in security vulnerability reports, new AI-related regulations in the EU, and the latest WordPress 7.0.3 and 7.1 releases. A key theme that emerged was plugin and site security, especially in response to AI and evolving threats. The discussion explored community initiativ
479 - How Clonable automates and personalises multisite translation for WordPress
The conversation focused on Niels Arts and his work on Clonable, a SaaS solution for managing multilingual websites. One concept discussed was how Clonable allows site owners to create separate versions of their websites in different languages, keeping them synchronised while permitting specific local changes. We also chatted about the technical method of scraping and translating site content auto
This Week in WordPress #382
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Cami MacNamara, Alex Standiford. The conversation focused on recent developments in the WordPress ecosystem, including highlights from version 7.1, a new accessibility community initiative, and a modern revamp of the WordPress admin using AI. The discussion explored WordCamp events, educational initiatives, and marketing strategies for agencies and freelanc
478 - Inside WordPress 7.1: responsive styling, new blocks, media modal and behind-the-scenes changes
Birgit Pauli-Haack and Anne McCarthy joined this “At The Core” episode to highlight what's ahead in WordPress 7.1. Anne, as release lead, outlined major features like responsive styling, persistent admin bar, and improved inline notes. Birgit emphasised practical upgrades such as the new image crop modal and customisable viewports. Both guests celebrated the retention of the Classic Block after st
This Week in WordPress #381
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Marc Benzakein, Zach Stepek. The conversation focused on major WordPress developments, including the release of WordPress 7.0.2 and its AI-discovered vulnerability, updates in WordPress 7.1 beta 3, and the introduction of new Gutenberg features like playlist and tabs blocks. A key theme that emerged was the growing impact, both positive and challenging, of
477 - Classic themes to Block Editor: lessons from a WordPress plugin business
Today were talking about the creation and evolution of the Slidy Panel WordPress plugin, designed to offer customisable slide-in panels for block-based sites. We discussed the challenge of plugin naming and adapting to block directory requirements, and the impact of AI on the web development industry. We also got into the need for human expertise in bespoke website creation. Towards the end, we ex
476 - Amber Hinds on restoring faith in WordPress: hard work, accessibility, and long-term plugin success
The conversation focused on Amber Hinds’ personal journey restoring faith in the WordPress community during challenging times. A key theme was how Amber’s Accessibility Checker plugin has succeeded thanks to her relentless long-term effort, deep expertise in accessibility, and a strategic focus on higher-budget clients like agencies and enterprises. The discussion explored Amber’s commitment to in
This Week in WordPress #380
Join Nathan Wrigley, Sé Reed, Marc Benzakein, Alex Standiford. The conversation focused on current trends in the WordPress ecosystem, including the decision to retain the classic block, the release of an open source documentary, and concerns over declining plugin sales and community participation. A key theme that emerged was the shifting landscape caused by AI and changing community dynamics, wit
475 - Human creativity still matters in the age of AI
Well this is a different episode from the normal things we get into on WP Builds. It's about the intersection of human creativity and AI, sparked by a handmade zine (I did not know what that was) titled "Human Creativity in the Age of AI." Tess talks about the emotional and practical significance of creative processes versus AI-generated output. We explore how AI is 'democratising' access to creat
This Week in WordPress #379
The conversation focused on current trends and challenges in the WordPress ecosystem, with a key theme being the pervasive influence of AI, public perceptions across age groups, and ethical considerations. The discussion explored WordPress developments such as accessibility resources, core testing needs, and analysis of market share decline. Several points were raised, including major migrations l
474 - Exploring the AI generation gap: why young people seem skeptical about AI
The conversation focused on generational attitudes towards AI, with a particular emphasis on skepticism among young people, how younger generations ideologically distrust big tech and perceive AI as "cheating," especially in creative fields like art and music. We also explored concerns about job displacement, changes in workplace efficiency, and the impact of AI on creative industries. Towards the
This Week in WordPress #378
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Marc Benzakein, Robert Jacobi.
The conversation focused on the current state and future of the WordPress community, exploring issues such as the aging user base, challenges in attracting younger contributors, industry events, and market share trends. A key theme that emerged was the impact of AI on workflows and plugin development, as well as concerns about
473 - Creating visual stories in WordPress using the Shorthand plugin
The podcast today is all about the Shorthand plugin, a visual storytelling platform that helps create immersive, interactive content for WordPress. We find out how Shorthand enables news organisations, brands, nonprofits, and agencies to craft stories, reports, and proposals without extensive technical knowledge. The new WordPress plugin streamlines the editorial process, allowing real-time collab
This Week in WordPress #377
The conversation focused on the upcoming WordPress 7.1 release, new features, and community developments. A key theme that emerged was the challenge of organising and sustaining local WordPress events, including strategies for attracting speakers and attendees. The discussion explored multilingual support in the Make WordPress Slack, event funding and marketing attribution, and the pros and cons o
472 - Selling Products in YouTube Videos With WooCommerce
The conversation focused on the integration between WooCommerce and YouTube, enabling merchants to showcase and sell products directly through their YouTube channels. We discussed how the Google for WooCommerce plugin simplifies syncing WooCommerce inventory with YouTube, allowing product overlays within videos and store tabs on channels. The discussion explored the importance of authenticity and
This Week in WordPress #376
The conversation focused on WordPress news and broader tech topics. Key themes included grill brush injuries!!!!, the US government’s ban on new AI models, debates around social media harm and age restrictions, and reflections on recent WordPress developments such as the CERN website migration from Drupal, WordPress Mercantile’s redesign, and the Five for the Future initiative’s new pledge and pro
471 – Miriam Schwab discusses Angie AI and Elementor’s future in WordPress
The conversation focused on Angie, Elementor’s AI-driven tool for WordPress, highlighting its integration, ease of use, and ability to generate custom code snippets and widgets without requiring Elementor’s page builder. A key theme that emerged was the evolving role of AI in web development, blending rapid AI-generated first drafts with refinements through traditional interfaces. The discussion g
This Week in WordPress #375
The conversation focused on WordPress community updates, recent trends in plugin and security landscapes, and user concerns over AI integration and site management practices. A key theme that emerged was the impact of AI on plugin vulnerabilities and security workflows, with organisations like Wordfence and Patchstack adjusting policies in response to AI-driven threats. The discussion explored dec
470 – Alex Standiford on using AI for personal knowledge management and team productivity
Today, the podcast is focused on the practical and personal impact of AI in daily workflows and business operations. One theme that emerged was the creation of a custom AI-powered journaling and knowledge management system, Navigator, used for personal insights, team collaboration, and onboarding. The discussion explored how AI provides a “second brain,” enhances memory, and enables more intention
This Week in WordPress #374
The conversation focused on WordPress 7.0’s release, highlighting major features such as the new WP AI client, a modernised dashboard, improved revision tracking, enhanced gallery blocks with lightbox effects, and refined responsive controls. We also get into the delay and removal of collaborative editing due to technical challenges, discussion on performance, host involvement, and future release
469 – Lovekesh Kumar introduces the WPM Package Manager
Nathan Wrigley interviews Lovekesh Kumar, a WordPress engineer at rtCamp, about WPM, a new, secure, Go-based package manager for WordPress plugins and themes. Lovekesh explains the pain points of managing plugins in enterprise environments, especially regarding premium plugins and security. WPM centralises package management, resolves dependencies, handles private and public plugins, and verifies
468 – Marcus Burnette launches utility plugin suite called WellPlayedWP
Nathan Wrigley interviews Marcus Burnette, about his new project, wellplayedwp.com, a membership platform offering a growing library of eclectic WordPress, Elementor, and WooCommerce plugins under a single license. They discuss Marcus’ background in the WordPress community, the inspiration behind the project, pricing strategies, and the types of plugins available. Marcus also touches on his educat
This Week in WordPress #373
This episode covers the delay of WordPress 7.0 and the removal of real-time collaborative editing from its release, citing technical and performance challenges. The discussion explores newly emerging features in WordPress, including the rapid development of custom post type and custom field management in Gutenberg, AI’s growing influence in the ecosystem, supply chain security efforts, and innovat
467 – Exploring Goose Commerce, a new Elementor based AI eCommerce solution
Nathan Wrigley interviews Giles Beckley, creator of WP Goose (Goose Commerce), a new WordPress e-commerce plugin designed natively for Elementor with a unique desktop app and built-in AI functionality. Giles explains the platform’s benefits: custom database structure (not custom post types), streamlined management via the desktop app, security features, and granular styling through Elementor widge
This Week in WordPress #372
This episode covers key developments in the WordPress ecosystem, including recent security issues with plugins, upcoming features in WordPress 7, and experiments from Automattic developers such as reimagining WP Admin as a desktop OS. The panel discusses the importance of AI governance, new community initiatives like WordPress Student Clubs, and notable product launches, including a suite of utili
466 – James Welbes on AI, WordPress, and new opportunities
Nathan Wrigley interviews James Welbes, about his journey in the WordPress space, his early frustrations and eventual embrace of WordPress, and the transformative impact of AI on web development. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI, its effect on productivity, and the culture shifts occurring as people interact more with AI tools. James shares his experiences building apps with AI, the changing
This Week in WordPress #371
This episode covers the delay of WordPress 7.0 due to performance concerns with collaborative editing, the introduction of a new contributor tool for WordCamp events, insights from the latest State of WordPress Agency report highlighting increasing challenges and agency burnout, and a new initiative at Automattic allowing selected staff a month to pursue independent projects. Additional topics inc
465 – Creating interactive experiences in WordPress with the Tilbuci plugin
In this episode, Nathan interviews Lucas Santos Junqueira from Brazil, about his innovative tool and WordPress plugin, Tilbuci (pronounced "Chabousi"). The plugin enables users to create interactive, animated “movies” inside the WordPress dashboard, similar to museum exhibits or advanced infographics. Lucas explains its origins, features, and versatility, including collaborative creation, export o
464 – Why Brian Gardner is betting big on Block Themes
In this episode, Nathan interviews Brian Gardner about his pioneering work in WordPress theming, the rise and impact of the Genesis Framework, and the shift toward block-based themes. They discuss the promise, challenges, and slower-than-hoped adoption of block editing, as well as its design flexibility through patterns. The conversation also explores the influence of AI tools like Miles on WordPr
463 – Understanding how Cloudflare boosts WordPress security and performance with Jonathan Jernigan
In this episode, Nathan chats with WordPress educator Jonathan Jernigan about Cloudflare, what it is, how it works, and why it's valuable for website owners. Jonathan explains Cloudflare’s role as both a firewall and content delivery network, enhancing security and performance by blocking threats and replicating sites globally. They discuss practical use cases like reducing spam, setting firewall
462 – Debating AI’s impact with Jamie Marsland: content, creativity, slop and the future of WordPress
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley and Jamie Marsland debate the impacts of AI on WordPress and broader society - spoiler alert: Nathan wins!! ;-). Jamie shares insights on the new Claude WordPress.com integration, highlighting AI’s growing contextual awareness and its effect on website creation, content, and business strategy. Nathan challenges with concerns about content overload, authenticity, and
461 – From support to CEO: Jon Penland’s journey at Kinsta
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Jon Penland, CEO of Kinsta, about his career journey from self-education in tech to leading a rapidly growing company. Jon shares insights on the importance of curiosity, hard work, and adaptability in career growth. They discuss Kinsta’s involvement in the WordPress community, their approach to AI and hosting advancements, and the vital role of collabora
This Week in WordPress #369
In this episode of TWiW, the panel discusses WP Engine’s acquisition of WPackagist, recent rapid-fire WordPress security updates, and highlights educational initiatives within the WordPress community. They also explore an agency’s strategic use of AI, preview upcoming features in WordPress 7, and cover the expanded functionality of the Ollie theme for WooCommerce. Additional topics include the rel
460 – Turning WordPress Blogs Into eBooks With Naweed Chougle
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Naweed Chougle about eBook Crafter, a WordPress plugin that lets users transform their blog posts into editable, customisable ebooks. Naweed explains the inspiration for the plugin, its key features, like using the block editor to repurpose and edit content before exporting, and future plans including additional file formats and self-publishing integratio
This Week in WordPress #368
Join us for the 'This Week in #WordPress' show, with Nathan Wrigley, Taco Verdonschot, Bud Kraus, Dan Knauss, Steve Burge. Wow, that's a LOT! This episode covers the latest developments in WordPress, including updates in WordPress 7.0 and Gutenberg 22.6, new featured plugin initiatives to boost discoverability, and discussions around advanced developer certifications. The panel explores AI’s growi
459 – Ben Pines on building a sustainable WordPress business with authentic marketing
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Ben Pines about founder-led marketing, particularly in the WordPress and SaaS spaces. Ben explains how traditional marketing tactics like SEO and paid ads are less effective due to AI-generated content, and advocates for a personal, trust-building approach where founders consistently share authentic insights. He describes how he helps founders develop a m
458 – Unpacking the clever Content Area Block with Ian Svoboda
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Ian Svoboda, an experienced WordPress developer, about his Content Area Block plugin. They discuss the inspiration behind the plugin, which allows multiple editable content areas within WordPress templates, solving a long-standing challenge for editors and developers. Ian explains the technical hurdles in developing the plugin and how it improves the edit
This Week in WordPress #367
In this lively episode of TWiW, the panel dives into a range of WordPress topics, from the excitement around WordPress 7.0 Beta 1 and collaborative editing to hot debates about JavaScript usage and the dominance of Cloudflare. The conversation also covers AI’s expanding role in the ecosystem, open-source developments, cybersecurity concerns, and the importance of password managers. The episode is
457 – Building a human-centred web by saying NO to AI: Andy Bell on ethics, agency life, CSS and the open web
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Andy Bell, an expert in CSS and web design, about his journey from traditional design to becoming a sought-after CSS specialist. They discuss the evolution of CSS, the importance of leaning into web standards, and the challenges of agency work with high-profile clients. Andy also opens up about a tough 2025, the impact of AI on the industry, his agency’s
This Week in WordPress #366
This episode of TWiW covers the latest in WordPress, with a strong focus on AI advancements, new products, and features expected in WordPress 7. The discussion includes updates on community events, challenges with in-person meetups post-pandemic, and the integration of AI tools for site management and design. The hosts also touch on debates around sponsored talks at WordCamps, the evolution of com
456 – WordPress vulnerabilities and the power of AI-powered malware detection
In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Thomas Raef about WordPress website security. Thomas shares his journey founding We Watch Your Website, discusses the prevalence of attacks on US WordPress sites, and explores how hackers increasingly use stolen credentials and AI-powered methods. The episode gets into AI tools for both attackers and defenders, highlighting strategies like behav
This Week in WordPress #365
This episode with Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Marc Benzakein, Rhys Wynne explores the renewed importance of blogging and owning your content in 2026, discusses WordPress's educational initiatives and their overlapping complexities, reviews recent updates including the 6.9.1 release and a new Wayback Machine plugin, and gets into the prevalence of AI in WordPress development. Panelists deba
455 – Inside podcasting’s evolution: Seth Goldstein on trends, tools, and finding your audience
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with podcasting veteran Seth Goldstein about his 15+ years in the industry. They discuss how easy podcasting has become, the importance of having a plan and process, and how podcasts can serve brands and businesses beyond immediate monetisation. Seth shares insights on podcast production, discoverability, the role of websites and WordPress, pitfalls of AI-gene
454 – Innovative serverless solutions for WordPress with Carl Alexander and Paul Carter
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Carl Alexander, creator of Ymir (a scalable WordPress hosting technology), and Paul Carter from BuiltFast, about their new partnership. They discuss Carl's perseverance in developing Ymir, the technical benefits it brings to scalable WordPress hosting, and how BuiltFast plans to make this technology accessible to more users. The episode explores the chang
This Week in WordPress #363
This Week in WordPress #363 with Nathan Wrigley, Jess Frick, Marc Benzakein, Marcus Burnette. This episode covers a range of WordPress-related topics, including the upcoming release of WordPress 6.9.1, the launch of a new centralised home for WordPress education initiatives, and trusted companies and individuals in the WordPress ecosystem. The panel also dives into the evolving role of AI in WordP
453 – Does WordPress offer anything to a younger audience? With Taylor Drayson
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Taylor Drayson, a young WordPress professional who shares his journey into web development, inspired by his self-employed father. Taylor discusses projects like WP Extended, a modular plugin for WordPress agencies, and Snippet Club, his membership site offering code snippets and tutorials. He also talks about his work with WP Managed Ninja, managing commu
This Week in WordPress #362
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Andrew Palmer, Marcus Burnette for the latest episode of This Week in WordPress. This episode covers the latest developments in WordPress, including discussions on the impact and future of AI in the ecosystem, details about the upcoming WordPress 7.0 release, the drop of older PHP support, and significant changes to plugin submissions due to a surge in AI-g
452 – Exploring FolioBlocks, Michael Campanella’s WordPress gallery plugin for photographers
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Michael Campanella, a professional photographer and developer of the Folio Blocks WordPress gallery plugin. They explore the plugin’s visual gallery options, including grid, justified, masonry, carousel, video, and a unique modular gallery, designed to offer photographers greater creative control. The discussion covers Folio Blocks’ deep integration with
This Week in WordPress #361
Come and join us LIVE for the This Week in WordPress show. This week I'm with Michelle Frechette, Anne-Mieke Bovelett, Marc Benzakein and we're going to be going over the last 7 days in the WordPress space. This episode covers recent WordPress news and trends, with a strong focus on accessibility, including actionable insights for improving SEO and user experience. It explores plugin market change
451 – The realities of teaching WordPress: Dave Foy’s shift to live cohort learning
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Dave Foy about his journey from classroom teaching to creating online WordPress courses. Dave discusses the challenges of keeping tech courses up-to-date, the struggle with perfectionism, and why traditional self-paced courses often don’t deliver the best results. He shares his recent shift to a live cohort-based teaching model, which encourages action, c
This Week in WordPress #360
This episode kicks off the new year with reflections on WordPress’ most-read news of 2025, covering both community achievements and challenges. The conversation explores resolutions, AI-powered tools for WordPress and app building, plugin submission issues, and the evolving role of AI in web development. Updates touch on upcoming WordPress releases, event schedules, and initiatives like the Zeel M
450 – What just happened? Episode 5. WordPress in transition, 6.9, trademark battles, and AI
In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley and Rae Morey recap the past few months in the WordPress ecosystem. They talk about the new features of WordPress 6.9, discuss advances in AI tools and APIs, and highlight community news including sponsorship shifts, legal updates, and standout block themes like Ollie. The conversation also touches on flagship WordCamp scheduling challenges, the launch
This Week in WordPress #359
Join Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Courtney Robertson and Jesse Friedman. This episode covers highlights in the WordPress community, including upcoming events like CloudFest Hackathon, the Open Source Experience conference, and CMSConf. The panel discusses the release of WordPress 6.9, early planning for version 7.0, and new plugins. Other topics include the evolution of responsive block edi
449 – Making digital accessibility a reality: Anne-Mieke Bovelett’s CloudFest Hackathon journey
In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Anne-Mieke Bovelett about her experience leading a winning accessibility project at the CloudFest Hackathon 2025. Anne-Mieke shares her passion for digital accessibility, discusses the challenges and impact of her team's AI-powered WordPress plugin that converts infographics into accessible formats, and reflects on the need for ongoing support a
This Week in WordPress #358
On "This Week in WordPress #358," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Davinder Singh Kainth and Marc Benzakein discuss the release of WordPress 6.9, including new features like block-level collaboration and accessibility improvements. They cover WordPress community news, ongoing Black Friday deals, trending plugins, and the growing impact of AI. The episode also highlights awards within the WordPr
448 – Innovative WordPress plugin marketing: Dave Grey’s sponsorship model
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Dave Grey about Nag Me Not, a plugin and browser extension designed to clean up WordPress admin screens by removing nagging banners and ads. The conversation explores the unique approach Dave is taking to market and sell the tool, partnering with hosting providers and service companies to offer Nag Me Not as a free benefit to their customers, potentially
This Week in WordPress #357
In "This Week in WordPress Episode 357," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Steve Burge, and Marcus Burnette cover a playful Cards Against Humanity Black Friday sale, Michelle’s tech award nomination, and the upcoming WordPress 6.9 release. They discuss the return of a three-release cycle for WordPress, plans for core AI integration, and recent Cloudflare outages. Other topics include WordPress s
447 – Simplifying WordPress event calendars and ticketing with Jonathan Jernigan of Pie Calendar
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Jonathan Jernigan about Pie Calendar, a simple-yet-powerful WordPress event calendar plugin. They discuss the plugin’s evolution, including major new features like Eventbrite and ICS calendar integration for easy ticketing and syncing with external calendars. Jonathan also shares insights into his WordPress-focused community and YouTube channel. The conve
This Week in WordPress #356
In this episode, I'm joined by Taco Verdonschot, Jonathan Bossenger, Birgit Pauli-Haack to discuss WordPress 6.9, including new blocks, performance improvements, accessibility updates, and upcoming live events to help users prepare for the release. The panel pays tribute to WordPress contributor Zeel Thakkar, and covers news about a new leader at Jetpack, Black Friday deals, and community apprecia
446 – Inside Checkout Summit: Reviving Human Connections in the WooCommerce and WordPress Community
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Rodolfo Melogli about the growing isolation in the WooCommerce and WordPress communities due to remote work and AI, and his mission to “bring humans back” through in-person interaction. Rodolfo shares his journey as a WooCommerce expert, the challenges of working remotely, and the inspiration for organising Checkout Summit, a people-focused, content-rich
This Week in WordPress #355
In "This Week in WordPress #355," Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, and Rhys Wynne discuss the Kagi search engine, Michelle's job search, and WordPress updates including 6.9’s new features like collaborative editing and abilities API. The episode covers the challenges faced by open source projects like FFmpeg, security concerns with AI-powered tools such as Telex, the Global Partner Program for
445 – More fun in WordPress: How Nick Hamze uses AI to build unusual WordPress blocks
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Nick Hamze, a quirky and creative force in the WordPress community. Nick shares his unconventional journey from law school to working at Automattic, running a wildly successful Pokémon card shop, and building unique WordPress blocks using AI tools like Telex. Their conversation gets into the joy of creating weird, fun projects, the empowering possibilitie
444 – Accessibility made easier: Natalie MacLees on Aaardvark for agencies and developers
On this episode of WP Builds, Natalie MacLees joins Nathan Wrigley to talk about the new accessibility tool, Aaardvark Accessibility. They discuss Natalie’s background in web accessibility, the evolution and importance of accessible web design, and how their SaaS platform helps agencies and developers find, fix, and monitor accessibility issues across client websites. The conversation also covers
443 – AI Experiments in WordPress: a plugin search engine, customer support bots, and Block Editor integration
In this WP Builds podcast episode, Nathan Wrigley chats with Amadeu Arderiu about three innovative WordPress AI projects: ploogins.com, an AI-powered search engine for both free and premium plugins. Joinchat, a plugin that adds an AI chatbot to your site, answering queries using your website's content. And Suggerence, an experimental tool that lets users interact with, and build inside, the Gutenb
This Week in WordPress #354
This episode covers WordPress 6.9’s new features and testing guide, major UK cyber attacks, security insights, and why Malwarebytes chose WordPress. The panel discusses plugin lifetime deals, the rise of newsletters, and the pros and cons of web design trends. AI’s impact on WordPress is explored, including new agentic browser capabilities and WS Form’s integration with Elementor’s AI agent. The e
442 – Matt Cromwell on preparing WordPress products for a changing demographic and AI revolution
In this WP Builds episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Matt Cromwell about his recent article on the future of WordPress product businesses. Matt shares his evolving passion for the WordPress plugin ecosystem, discusses anxieties around the future, especially user expectations and the rise of AI, and highlights the importance of better UI/UX and partnering with marketers and designers. The episode t
This Week in WordPress #353
"This Week in WordPress #353" covers the AWS outage and its impact on major online services, WordPress security trends (including Wordfence and Patchstack reports), upcoming features in WordPress 6.9 (like block visibility controls and the accordion block), the Blocktober project by Tammie Lister, and discussions on plugin/UI design trends and product advice. The panel also celebrates WordCamp Can
441 – From developer to educator: Jonathan Bossenger talks about WordPress DevRel
In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Jonathan Bossenger, a developer advocate at Automattic, about his journey into WordPress and developer relations (DevRel). Jonathan shares how his passion for teaching led him from software development to DevRel, explains the varied roles within DevRel, and discusses the importance of both technical skills and the ability to teach and communicate effectiv
This Week in WordPress #352
This episode dives into the debate over the WordPress mascot Wapuu, discussing its value to the community versus criticisms about its professionalism. The panel explores the possibility of Ollie’s Menu Designer joining WordPress core, shares insights on plugin marketing and discoverability, highlights the new blueprint feature in WordPress Studio for easily sharing site setups, and reviews a flurr
440 – Comparing WordPress page builder accessibility: in-depth insights from Amber Hinds
In this episode of WP Builds, Nathan Wrigley interviews Amber Hinds, CEO of Equalize Digital, about her comprehensive 2025 WordPress page builder accessibility comparison research project. Amber explains her background in accessibility, the meaningful motivation behind her work, and the in-depth methodology of her study, which tested 19+ page builders for accessibility issues. They discuss the imp
This Week in WordPress #351
This episode of "This Week in WordPress" dives into the nature of randomness in computers, highlights upcoming WordPress and tech events, and discusses the WordPress 6.8.3 security release. The panel explores Tammie Lister’s "Blocktober" project, new experiments to improve plugin discoverability, and updates on WP Accessibility Day, including a new accessibility knowledge base. They celebrate the
