WP Tavern

On the podcast today we have Michelle Frechette and Jonathan Desrosiers, and we're here to unravel the key differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. We explore the historical development, technical distinctions, and user experiences of both platforms, including issues of ownership, ease-of-use, open-source philosophy, community contributions, and the evolving feature sets. The discussion also touches on branding confusion, community perceptions, and the value of both approaches, emphasising that the right choice depends on individual needs rather than a strict rivalry between the two versions. If you’ve ever wondered which version of WordPress is right for you, why the project seems split into two variants, or how community and commerce intertwine in the WordPress ecosystem, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley interviews Bob Dunn about his journey from hosting Do the Woo, a WooCommerce-focused podcast, to launching OpenChannels.fm, a broader podcast network covering the open web, open source, and technology makers. Bob discusses the motivations behind the rebrand, his multi-channel and multi-host format, challenges with managing a growing podcast network, the technical side of production, and the evolving sponsorship model. He shares insights on maintaining flexibility, expanding to new topics and voices, and his ongoing commitment to staying engaged while giving others a platform to host and share content. If you’re interested in open source, podcasting, or building community-driven content, this episode is for you.

Karla Campos, the lead organizer for WordCamp US 2025, shares her decade-long journey in the WordPress community. She dives into the intricate planning and logistics of organizing the event, emphasizing the importance of dedicated volunteers. Karla discusses new initiatives like WP Trail Buddies to help newcomers feel welcome and the excitement around new features such as the hackathon. She highlights efforts to engage students and create a friendly, community-focused atmosphere that sets WordCamp apart from corporate tech conferences.

In this episode, Nathan Wrigley talks with Mariya Moeva from Google about Site Kit, Google's official WordPress plugin. Mariya shares her journey from studying classical Japanese literature to leading SiteKit's development, emphasising its goal of making Google tools accessible and easy for WordPress users. They discuss how Site Kit integrates services like Analytics and Search Console, its popularity, support structure, recent features like Reader Revenue Manager, and future plans including more actionable insights for site owners. Mariya also highlights Google's motivation to support the open web and WordPress community. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by analytics dashboards, or are looking for ways to make data more practical and valuable inside WordPress, this episode is for you.

Adam Silverstein, a WordPress core committer and developer relations engineer at Google, shares how emerging browser APIs are reshaping the WordPress experience. He discusses innovations like the Popover API, CSS carousels, and speculative loading that enhance accessibility and performance. Adam also delves into modern image formats, browser-based AI, and the importance of collaboration among browser vendors. His insights are invaluable for developers and site owners eager to leverage these transformative features for a better web experience.

Charlotte Bax, a sustainable web designer and founder of the climate tech startup Enor Toolbox, dives into making websites eco-friendly. She shares her transformative journey from lifestyle blogging to prioritizing sustainability in web design. Key topics include optimizing images, choosing green hosting, and advanced tactics like grid-aware websites. Charlotte also highlights WordPress's potential in promoting digital sustainability and encourages listeners to implement practical steps to cut their websites' carbon footprints. It's a call to action for greener online practices!

On the podcast today Nathan Wrigley talks with Héctor de Prada, co-founder of Modular DS and an organiser of the WordPress Meetup in León, Spain. Héctor shares his motivations for fostering local WordPress communities, details how the team organises popular, well-attended Meetups, and explains their strategies for inclusive topics, sponsorship, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. They also discuss the importance of variety in event formats, supporting new organisers, and the positive impact Meetups have on networking and opportunities within their local tech ecosystem. If you’ve ever thought about starting a WordPress Meetup in your city, or want to bring new energy to an existing group, this episode is for you.

On the podcast today we have Jennifer Schumacher. Jennifer shares her journey from freelance web developer to agency leader, focusing on the mistakes agencies often make, like unbillable support hours, poor design handoffs, and scope creep, and how to learn from them. She emphasises the importance of process improvement, mental health, honest reflection, and open conversations within the WordPress community to avoid repeated mistakes, find balance, and create healthier agency cultures. Jennifer also highlights the value of sharing experiences and continuously adapting, rather than seeking perfection. If you’ve found yourself frustrated with agency workflows, or are hoping to build a healthier business in the WordPress ecosystem, this episode is for you.

Joe Dolson, a part-time core contributor focused on accessibility, and Jonathan Desrosiers, a full-time contributor from Bluehost, dive into WordPress accessibility. They explore the controversial concept of canonical plugins, weighing the benefits of keeping accessibility features in the core versus moving them to dedicated plugins. The discussion touches on upcoming accessibility legislation, the moral imperative behind inclusive web design, and the potential for AI to enhance user experiences. Their insights highlight the critical balance between compliance and usability in the WordPress ecosystem.

Tom Wilmot, co-founder of Human Made, and Jon Ang, an experienced professional at the same agency, dive into the complexities of building Standard Chartered Bank’s global WordPress platform. They discuss managing compliance and accessibility while serving 70 countries and hundreds of millions of monthly views. The duo highlights the rising acceptance of WordPress in enterprise environments, agile collaboration strategies, and the importance of multilingual support. Their insights reveal how partnerships and customizations can transform large-scale financial projects into seamless user experiences.