Welcome to this episode of 'Within WordPress' featuring Matt Cromwell, co-founder of Give WP and senior director of customer experience at Stellar WP. Join us as we explore Matt's journey in WordPress, his various roles, and his highly insightful views on product ownership and AI implementation. Matt discusses his podcast, WP Product Talk, the insights it brings to WordPress product owners, and a special upcoming presentation at WordCamp US. Dive into an engaging discussion on the implications o...
Aug 11, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode, we are joined by Juan Hernando, who shares his extensive experience in the WordPress community. We explore Juan's journey from a front-end web developer to his current role in community engagement at Weglot and as a program manager on the global community team at WordPress.org as well as his involvement with WordCamp Europe. Juan discusses the challenges and rewards of transitioning from client work to focusing on community and events, highlighting the importance of localization...
Aug 11, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Join us in this engaging episode as we welcome Mark Westguard, founder of WS Form, a powerful WordPress form plugin. Mark takes us through his journey from running an agency since 1996 to transitioning into product development with WS Form. He shares insights on the plugin’s evolution over the past seven years, highlighting its unique features, challenges faced, and the importance of customer feedback in driving innovation. Discover how WS Form stands out in a saturated market, the role of AI in...
Jun 27, 2025•57 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Join us in this insightful episode of 'Within WordPress' as we welcome back Raquel for the second time. We delve deep into her experience organizing the inspiring PressConf event, which featured two conference days and unique activities like a VIP day and a gathering day. Raquel shares her personal journey, the challenges, and the uplifting moments of the event. She also provides insights into the selection process for speakers, emphasizing vulnerability, human connection, and future tech in Wor...
Jun 05, 2025•58 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' the focus is on AI's evolving role within the WordPress ecosystem. Host engages in a detailed conversation with James LePage, AI Lead at Automatic and co-team lead for WordPress.org's AI team. They discuss the recent announcement of the formation of the AI make team coinciding with WordPress's 22nd anniversary. James shares his journey from founding WPAI to its integration with Automatic, the challenges and triumphs of developing AI tools for WordPress, and...
May 30, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Alex, the founder of ScaleMath, to explore topics ranging from effective YouTube greetings to the ongoing advancements in AI for content creation. Alex shares his journey from being a WordPress user in 2012 to founding a Content & Marketing partner providing strategy, product, customer experience, UX, and more. We delve deep into the role of AI in revolutionizing content research, creation, and optimization, and discuss the development o...
May 09, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the world of email marketing with Tadas from Omnisend. We discuss the importance of flexibility, the critical role of data, and how Omnisend helps e-commerce businesses thrive. Tadas sheds light on the core functionalities of Omnisend, including capturing customer data, automation, segmentation, and personalized messaging. We also explore the common misconceptions about email marketing and why having multiple, targeted automations can significantly b...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Join us for an engaging episode of 'Within WordPress,' where we talk to Milana Cap, a well-known figure in the WordPress community. In this episode, Milana shares her journey, insights, and tips on various advanced WordPress topics such as WP-CLI, Interactivity API, and HTML API. From her unique approach to presentations to her thoughts on the future of WordPress development, Milana provides invaluable guidance for both new and seasoned developers. Don't miss out on these expert insights that ca...
Mar 28, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' I sit down with Kevin Geary, CEO of Digital Gravy, to discuss the future of WordPress development. Kevin introduces 'Etch,' a new visual development environment that integrates coding and design, geared towards professionals and aspiring professionals. We explore the limitations of current page builders, the importance of a unified workflow, and the game-changing potential of Etch. Kevin also shares insights on the current state and future needs of WordPres...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this episode, we welcome back Ian Svoboda from the Generate Press team to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in WordPress block editing. Dive deep into the advancements made in Generate Blocks 2.0, from enhancing usability with global and local styles to overcoming technical debt. Ian shares how the team navigated limitations within the block editor, their unique solutions, and insights for developers looking to extend WordPress functionalities. Tune in to understand how you can pu...
Mar 21, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode of Within WordPress , we sit down with Wes Tatters, the mastermind behind Rapyd Cloud, to talk about what really goes into top-tier WordPress hosting. Wes shares his journey through the tech world—from the early days of the internet with platforms like BuddyBoss to building high-performance hosting solutions tailored for WordPress. We break down the real challenges of handling high-traffic WordPress sites, the common pitfalls that slow them down, and how Rapyd Cloud is working to...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode of Within WordPress, we feature Christos, a performance engineer at Presidium. Join us as we explore the intricate details of WordPress caching. From backend layers like Redis and Varnish to the front-end optimizations using plugins such as WP Rocket, we cover it all. Learn about the challenges and strategies for achieving optimal performance in WordPress websites, including handling logged-in users, capacity planning, and more. Whether you're a developer or a site owner, this ep...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Dive into the world of WordPress development with Derek Ashauer, a seasoned developer since 2005. From starting with static HTML sites to creating comprehensive plugins like Sunshine Photo Cart and Conversion Bridge, Derek shares his journey, insights, and the passion that drives his work. Learn about the evolution of his development process, the intricacies of conversion tracking, and how his products aim to simplify complex tasks for agencies and developers alike. Whether you're a developer or...
Feb 24, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' we sit down with Tammy, a key figure in the WordPress community. Tammy shares insights from her extensive journey spanning over 12 years, discussing the evolution of BuddyPress, her pivotal role in the Gutenberg project, and her latest venture as a co-founder of Guildenberg. We delve into the challenges of theme development, the importance of usability testing across cultures, and the excitement surrounding new WordPress features like data views. Tammy also...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Join us in this episode of 'Within WordPress' as we dive deep into the world of WordPress performance and AI with Felix Arntz, a senior software engineer at Google and WordPress core committer. Felix shares his insights on crucial topics including how he and his team work to improve WordPress performance, contribute to existing plugins, and advocate for new features. Discover how large-scale data sets like Crux and HTTP Archive are utilized to gauge and enhance site performance, and explore the ...
Feb 19, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this insightful episode of 'Within WordPress,' we welcome the illustrious Nathan Wrigley from WPBuilds , a very well-recognized figure in the WordPress podcasting world. Nathan shares his passion for the WordPress ecosystem. We learn how he got sucked in the world of WordPress, but we talk a great deal about his evolution of his podcasting career, gear preferences, and the challenges and triumphs of creating engaging content. We also touch a bit on the future of WordPress and pioneering proje...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' I talk to James Kemp, the new Core Product Manager for WooCommerce. James shares his journey from founding IconicWP to joining WooCommerce, detailing his previous roles and responsibilities. We discuss the future direction of WooCommerce, focusing on the 'More in Core' initiative aimed at integrating essential plugins into the core product. James elaborates on the decision-making process behind adding new features, handling community feedback, and maintaini...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Join us in a fun conversation with plenty of learnings for everyone with Rytis Lauris, co-founder and CEO of Omnisend. In this episode of 'Within WordPress,' Rytis shares insights into Omnisend's journey from a digital marketing agency to a leading marketing automation platform. We discuss the importance of focusing on solving problems rather than pushing marketing speak, effective use of automation in marketing, and the nuances of integrating with WordPress and WooCommerce. Learn about Rytis' v...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode, Tom shares his unique upbringing and how it fostered an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. He discusses his initial ventures in web design, his foray into starting @humanmadeltd and the evolution of the company. Focusing on enterprise WordPress hosting and product innovation, he explains the philosophy behind their events and the inception of Altis. Tom also explores the importance of data liberation and the challenges faced in the enterprise space, emphasizing the signifi...
Nov 01, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Join us in this comprehensive Within WordPress episode as we explore the journey behind NitroPack with co-founder Mihail Stoichev. We talk about NitroPack's evolution from its beginnings in 2013 to its significant leap into WordPress optimization in 2019. We delve into NitroPack's core philosophy, the importance of user-friendly design, sustainability, and its commitment to open source. We talk about the exceptional customer support and lessons learned from experiences in both open-source and cl...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode of Within WordPress, we explore the journey and experiences of Jean Baptiste Marchand-Arvier, JB for short, co-founder and CEO of WP Media, renowned for their WordPress performance solutions such as WP Rocket. Our discussion delves into the evolution of caching plugins, the philosophy of making web performance seamless and user-friendly, and the challenges of integrating SaaS solutions in open-source environments. The conversation also touches on the impact of technological advan...
Oct 11, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Join us in this episode of 'Within WordPress' as we chat with Cristian Raiber, a prominent figure in the WordPress community. Cristian shares his journey from starting a local agency in Romania to founding the WPChill brand, which now runs several successful WordPress plugins. Discover how he navigated the challenges of the market, his pivot from themes to plugins, and his transformative journey from avid gamer to dedicated entrepreneur. Along the way,Cristian offers valuable insights on busines...
Sep 06, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode of Within WordPress, we sit down with Marc Benzakein, a familiar name to many in the WordPress community. Marc and I discuss his journey from ServerPress, creators of the popular Desktop Server, through its closure in 2022, to his current role at MainWP. We delve into the challenges and triumphs of product development, the impact of COVID on the WordPress community, and the innovation happening at MainWP. Additionally, Marc shares insights on fostering mentorship within the WordP...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Welcome to 'Within WordPress,' the podcast that delves into the vibrant WordPress community! In this episode, we sit down with Maciek Palmowski, Security Community Manager at PatchStack, as we explore his journey from development to developer relations and his passion for various CMS technologies. We discuss the multifaceted uses of headless CMS and static site generators like Statemik, Astro, and Frontmatter CMS, comparing their innovative features to those of WordPress. We also touch on the fu...
Jun 28, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Join us in this episode of 'Within WordPress' as we sit down with Alex Standiford to explore his innovative Siren Affiliates plugin. Alex shares his fascinating journey through the WordPress ecosphere, emphasizing his work with Siren Affiliates and how it's transforming affiliate marketing within WordPress. We'll also touch on his extensive networking at WordCamps, his unique four-year adventure living in a camper across the U.S., and his passion for the open web and platforms like Mastodon. Add...
May 31, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Join us on the Within WordPress podcast as we talk with Emma Young, Head of Content at Hostinger. Emma shares her fascinating journey from personal blogs to leading a content team, her upbringing in a tech-savvy family, and insights into the WordPress community. We explore her experiences at various WordCamps, organizing WordCamp Europe, the importance of open source, and the excitement around new WordPress features. Get ready for an engaging discussion filled with humor, tech insights, and Emma...
May 17, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 34
This comprehensive conversation delves into the world of WordPress security through the lens of Tom Raef, a seasoned security expert with a history dating back to the inception of personal computing. The podcast covers Tom's journey into website security, emphasizing his manual approach to cleaning infected websites and the evolution towards automation to enhance efficiency. The discussion pivots to the most common hacking methods, including the surprising predominance of stolen session cookies ...
May 09, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode of Within WordPress, we welcome back Noel Tock for an in-depth discussion on the current state of WordPress, its market share, and future opportunities. Noel reflects on his keynote presentation at WordCamp Asia, focusing on the evolution and maturity of WordPress, the importance of product marketing, and the need for a strategic overhaul of the plugin ecosystem. They delve into the challenges of onboarding, the potential for creating a more unified and streamlined user experienc...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this podcast episode I sit down with Patricia Brun Torre from Switzerland. We talk about her WordCamps, I mean, how could we not, but we discuss GatherPress thoroughly as well. GatherPress is a plugin aiming to offer an alternative to Meetup.com for organizing WordPress events. Patricia also discusses the vitality of the WordPress community, her personal journey from leaving her job to contribute to WordPress, and her latest project, Interaction.site, designed to assist individuals in managin...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this podcast episode of Within WordPress, Roger Williams shares his journey through the realm of web development, beginning with his early interest in building websites without coding, to his experiences with various content management systems, ultimately leading to his engagement with WordPress. Roger's career trajectory takes him from GoDaddy to freelance website and SEO services, to his latest role at Kinsta, where he focuses on evangelizing Kinsta's managed hosting solutions to the WordPr...
Apr 12, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 30
