WP Tavern

Latest Episodes:

#174 – Joe Dolson and Jonathan Desrosiers on WordPress Accessibility: Core Commitment or Canonical Plugin Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Joe Dolson and Jonathan Desrosiers. We're talking about the concept of canonical plugins in WordPress, focusing on accessibility. We discuss what canonical plugins are, their potential benefits and drawbacks, and whether accessibility features should move from Core to a dedicated plugin. The conversation explores the complexities of accessibility, legal requirements, user experience, and the importance of keeping WordPress inclusive while ensuring essential features remain discoverable and maintained. Whether you're a developer, a site owner, or someone interested in the ethical questions at the heart of open-source software, this episode is for you.

#173 – Tom Willmot and Jon Ang on Building a Global Bank Website Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Tom Willmot and Jon Ang. This episode was recorded at WordCamp Europe, and we're talk about how Human Made built and manage the Standard Chartered Bank’s global WordPress platform. We discuss the scale and complexity of serving 70 countries, 500+ CMS users, and hundreds of millions of monthly page views, concentrating upon compliance, accessibility, multilingual strategies, and deep customisations built on the block editor. The conversation also covers Human Made’s open source contributions, the shift in enterprise perceptions of WordPress, and how close partnerships make massive, mission-critical WordPress projects possible. If you’re curious about how WordPress powers mission-critical web infrastructure for some of the world’s biggest organisations, or how you might pitch WordPress for enterprise use, this episode is for you.

#172 – Reyes Martínez and Héctor De Prada on Website Maintenance for WordPress Agencies and Freelancers Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Reyes Martínez and Héctor De Prada. They're here to discuss the essential tasks involved in maintaining multiple WordPress websites, especially for freelancers and agencies. They explore the importance of ongoing updates, security, backups, uptime monitoring, and client education, highlighting proactive website care as a valuable business opportunity. They also introduce their tool, Modular DS, which helps automate and centralise maintenance tasks, and share practical advice on selling care plans, building recurring revenue, and the evolving landscape of web maintenance. If you’re a freelancer or agency owner looking to scale up your business, perhaps you offer care plans to clients, or are considering adding maintenance plans to your services, this episode’s for you.

#171 – Felix Arntz on How Speculative Loading Is Speeding Up Your WordPress Website May 28, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Felix Arntz who discusses speculative loading, a new WordPress 6.8 feature designed to make websites faster by preloading pages before users navigate to them. Felix explains how it works, why WordPress uses a conservative default setting for broad compatibility, and how more eager configurations are possible with plugins or code. The episode also covers how performance gains, though seemingly small, add up at scale and are carefully measured using large datasets. Felix highlights the balance between speed improvements and environmental considerations, and shares insights into the data-driven work of the WordPress Performance Team. If you’ve ever wondered how large-scale, browser-level improvements make their way into WordPress Core, or simply want to know if there’s a way to make your own WordPress site that much faster, this episode is for you.

#170 – Chris Reynolds on WordPress and Drupal: Differences and Similarities May 21, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Chris Reynolds. He's a developer advocate at Pantheon, and we're talking about the similarities and differences between the WordPress and Drupal communities. Chris discusses Pantheon's dual focus on both platforms, their approaches to managed hosting, and community event structures. The conversation covers Drupal’s recent community-driven innovations, like Drupal CMS and “recipes”, and how the Drupal Association’s organisation compares with WordPress' governance. If you’re curious about how open source projects organise themselves, how their communities navigate growth and challenge, and what WordPress can learn from Drupal (and vice versa), this episode is for you.

#169 – Wes Tatters on the Evolution of Internet Communities and WordPress Open Source May 14, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Wes Tatters, and he's here to discuss the evolution of the internet, from early tech days and community-building on platforms like CompuServe, to the emergence of open-source projects and the rise of WordPress. Wes reflects on the transition from closed platforms to owning content and highlights the importance, and challenges, of online communities. He touches on the impacts of social media, AI, and the self-correcting nature of internet communities, while examining the strengths and growing pains within the WordPress ecosystem. The conversation underscores the enduring value of openness, collaboration, and listening. If you’re interested in how the history of the internet directly shaped WordPress, the open web, and the communities we build today, this episode is for you.

#168 – Hari Shanker on Understanding and Showing WordPress Contributions May 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I talk with Hari Shanker about the thriving WordPress community in India, and the innovative WordPress Contribution Health Dashboards project. Hari discusses his background, the growth of WordPress among India’s youth, challenges in tracking contributions across teams, and the effort to build visual dashboards to help all contributors understand where help is needed in the project. The episode highlights the need for community feedback, technical support, and automation to make contribution data more accessible and impactful for the entire WordPress ecosystem. If you’ve ever wondered how to make your WordPress contributions matter even more, or how the project could be better supported by data-driven insights, this episode is for you.

#167 – Bud Kraus on Podcasting and Finding Inspiration in WordPress Stories Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Bud Kraus. He's a WordPress educator, content creator, and host of the “Seriously, BUD?” podcast. Bud shares his journey from web design to WordPress teaching, explaining what inspired his transition toward podcasting and content creation. We discuss Bud’s show format, tech stack, and why he values unexpected, personality-driven conversations over strictly WordPress-focused discussions. We also get into the evolution and accessibility of podcasting, how he approaches guest interviews, and the importance of curiosity and listening skills. Bud also opens up about the joys and challenges of editing, working with guests from diverse backgrounds, and why he keeps his podcast focussed on the WordPress community’s personal stories, rather than purely technical topics. If you’re curious about podcasting, interested in the art of conversation, or are thinking of starting your own show, this episode is for you.

#166 – Ryan Welcher on What’s New for Developers Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Ryan Welcher. This was recorded at WordCamp Asia in Manila, and centres upon his developer relations work with Automattic, and his popular "Block Developer Cookbook" workshop. We discuss some recent new features in WordPress Core, including the Block Bindings API, Plugin Template Registration API, and Data Views, as well as the growing focus on documentation and developer experience in the WordPress community. We also touch on the impact of AI on WordPress development and the importance of interactive, engaging workshops at WordCamps. If you’re interested in what’s new in WordPress development, want to understand where the project is heading, or are curious about the real impact of recent changes and features, this episode is for you.

#165 – Aaron D. Campbell Why Open Standards and WordPress Matter Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

On the podcast today we have Aaron D. Campbell, and we're here to talk about the significance of open standards and open source in the digital world. Aaron shares his 18-year journey contributing to WordPress, and expresses excitement about its future as an open, viable counterbalance to closed platforms. We discuss the history and current state of the internet, emphasising the importance of choice and interoperability. The conversation covers the impact of proprietary platforms and highlights efforts to promote open standards, ultimately Aaron argues for a more open, and collaborative, web for innovation and societal benefit. If you're curious about the role of open systems and the future they shape, and why the open web matters now more than ever, this episode is for you.

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