Liquid Weekly Podcast: Shopify Developers Talking Shopify Development

Hosted by Karl Meisterheim

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Jun 2026

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Each episode hosts Karl and Taylor discuss the latest news and techniques for Shopify development. Hear about current projects, listen to interviews with developers and take your theme and app development skills to another level.

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June 11, 2026Episode 681 hr 9 min

068 - Stop Blaming the Theme: What's Really Killing Your Shopify Store's Speed

Shopify performance specialist Izaac Barratt of Baseline Commerce joins Karl and Taylor for a deep dive into site speed optimization. The conversation covers the full spectrum from LCP and INP fundamentals to the real-world friction of app bloat, AI coding habits, and what actually moves the needle for conversion rates. A must-listen for any theme developer, app developer, or agency working with high-traffic Shopify stores.SponsorThe Support Heroes - https://www.thesupportheroes.com/?utm_source=liquid_weekly&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorshipsSubscribe to Liquid WeeklyDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/Find Izaac Barratt OnlineLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izaac-barratt — where he posts performance tips, resources, and his ongoing series on the nine performance fix bucketsBaseline Commerce: baseline-commerce.com — Izaac's site speed optimization consultancyTimestamps01:23 – Intros; welcoming guest Izaac Barrett02:48 – Izaac's origin story: animation, Newgrounds, and e-commerce05:36 – What drew Izaac to performance optimization06:00 – First site speed project: 12 seconds to 2 seconds, conversion doubled10:00 – LCP fundamentals: above-the-fold prioritization and perception18:00 – Preloading, lazy loading, and how to get them wrong20:43 – Liquid's preload tag, sections_index, and reducing JavaScript dependency26:38 – Telling AI to prioritize HTML/Liquid and CSS over JavaScript31:01 – Async vs. defer vs. render-blocking scripts explained35:28 – Apps and performance: identifying problem apps, merchant conversations39:15 – Advice for app developers on loading strategy and user interaction cycles41:42 – INP (Interaction to Next Paint) explained: what it is and why it's hard to fix43:30 – Shopify/research report: 34ms of INP = 3.5% drop in CVR46:06 – How to debug INP: Chrome DevTools performance tab and CrUX data53:20 – Izaac's LinkedIn series: nine buckets of performance fixes56:17 – Dev Changelog1:02:44 – Picks of the WeekDev Changelog- Next-Generation Events — Developer Preview: https://shopify.dev/changelog- ⚠️ Expiring Offline Access Tokens Required for All Public Apps — January 1, 2027: https://shopify.dev/changelog- Shop Minis — March/April 2026 Update: https://shopify.dev/changelog- Customer Account UI — Feature Preview: https://shopify.dev/changelog- App Home as a UI Extension: https://shopify.dev/changelog- llms.txt / agents.md in Shopify Themes: https://shopify.dev/changelogPicks of the WeekKarl:The Dark Journey: The Tragedy of the Donner Party by Allan Eckert – A true history of the ill-fated 1846 wagon party, written by one of Karl's favorite frontier authors; dark but compelling, especially for history enthusiasts. https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Journey-Allan-W-Eckert/dp/1931672539Izaac: Page Speed Impact Estimator fastersite.ai – A tool for estimating the performance gains of removing specific scripts and assets before actually doing the work; great for benchmarking and scoping conversations with clients.Taylor:The Will of the Many by James Islington – A sci-fi novel recommended by Taylor's brother (a bookseller); follows a teenager hiding his royal lineage in a Roman Empire-style society that literally harvests people's will to gain power. Book two also out. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58416951-the-will-of-the-many

May 28, 2026Episode 671 hr 9 min

067 - Preorders, Selling Plans, and AI Ops with Sandesh Kulai

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page are joined by Sandesh Kulai, founder of STOQ by Artos Software.Sandesh shares his journey from building early Shopify apps to working at Shopify, then returning to app development full-time with Artos Software. The conversation dives into the real complexity behind preorders, back-in-stock alerts, selling plans, deferred payments, storefront integrations, and supporting apps across a wide range of Shopify themes.Sandesh also gives a behind-the-scenes look at Engine Room, Artos Software’s internal AI-powered operations dashboard, and shares practical advice for app developers on treating the business itself like a product.STAY CONNECTEDSubscribe to Liquid Weekly for more expert insights:https://liquidweekly.com/EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSSandesh’s Shopify Origin StoryBuilt for Shopify RecognitionFrom Back-in-Stock to PreordersSelling Plans Beyond SubscriptionsWhy Preorders Are More Than a Button ChangeStorefront and Theme Support24/7 Human SupportEngine Room and AI OperationsBuilding the Business Like a ProductFIND SANDESH ONLINE & RESOURCESLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeshkini/Twitter/X: https://x.com/heysandy801STOQ: https://www.stoqapp.com/STOQ on the Shopify App Store: https://apps.shopify.com/back-in-stock-restock-alertsTIMESTAMPS00:00 - Cold Open: Fighting Operational Slowdowns with Engine Room00:52 - Introduction & Sandesh’s Birthday03:02 - Built for Shopify Recognition at Editions.dev07:50 - Rails, React, and the STOQ Tech Stack08:52 - Sandesh’s Origin Story: Apps, Shopify, and Product Management12:10 - From Restock Rocket to STOQ13:36 - Why Preorders Are More Complicated Than a Button Change15:16 - Selling Plans, Purchase Options, and Deferred Payments18:38 - Deposits, Partial Payments, and Charging Customers Later20:45 - Using Preorders and Waitlists for Better Inventory Decisions21:36 - Conversion Analytics for Preorder Campaigns24:32 - Listening to Merchant Feedback and Expanding Product Direction28:12 - Supporting Storefronts, Themes, App Embeds, and Selectors30:50 - Building 24/7 Human Support33:01 - Scaling Support from Founders to a Team39:58 - Engine Room: Artos Software’s Internal AI Dashboard41:12 - Tracking Merchant Sentiment, Reviews, Web Vitals, and Escalations44:15 - Using AI to Keep the Team Focused on What Matters46:02 - Co-Founder Dynamics and Long-Term Partnership52:47 - Advice for App Developers: Treat the Business Like a Product54:13 - Shopify Dev Changelog Highlights01:01:49 - Picks of the WeekDEV CHANGELOGMore admin intents now support Settings: https://shopify.dev/changelog/more-admin-intents-now-support-settings[action required] Ship and pickup in one order now available in feature preview: https://shopify.dev/changelog/ship-and-pickup-in-one-order-feature-preview[action required] App deployment in CI/CD is now available for all apps: https://shopify.dev/changelog/app-deployment-in-cicd-is-now-available-for-all-appsPublish and unpublish product variants independently from product: https://shopify.dev/changelog/publish-and-unpublish-product-variants-independently-from-product[action required] Bots and agents should identify themselves via Web Bot Auth: https://shopify.dev/changelog/bots-and-agents-should-identify-themselves-via-web-bot-authTarget discounts to specific markets: https://shopify.dev/changelog/target-discounts-to-specific-marketsShopify App Pricing: charge for usage, recurring subscriptions, or both: https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopify-app-pricing-charge-for-usage-recurring-subscriptions-or-bothPICKS OF THE WEEKKarl: A retro Radio Shack 1680 chess computer from 1996.Sandesh: Setting up a Mac Mini to experiment with Hermes and personal AI agent workflows.Taylor: The SDA Toronto guide built with Trudy MacNabb for people heading to Shopify.dev, including events, restaurants, work spots, and local recommendations.

May 14, 2026Episode 661 hr 9 min

We Surveyed Shopify Developers — The Results Surprised Us

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page break down the results of the first-ever Liquid Weekly Shopify Developer Survey.They dive into who makes up the Shopify developer community—from freelancers and agency devs to app builders—and explore what developers are working on, what they want to learn, and what challenges they’re facing. The conversation covers the growing demand for AI workflows, ongoing struggles with Shopify’s rapid pace of change, and concerns around client acquisition in an evolving landscape. They also discuss the role of events like Shopify .dev, opportunities for community connection, and how Liquid Weekly can better serve its audience moving forward.SponsorThe Support Heroes - https://thesupportheroes.com/?utm_source=liquid_weekly&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorshipsTimestamps00:00 Introduction01:00 Survey Overview and Goals04:00 Who Responded: Freelancers, Agencies, and App Devs09:00 What Developers Are Working On (Themes vs Apps)12:00 Global Breakdown of the Shopify Dev Community17:00 Shopify .dev Attendance and Barriers (Cost, Travel, Visas)23:00 Community Events and Alternatives to .dev31:00 What Developers Want More Of (AI, Themes, Apps, Business)37:00 Staying Grounded Amid AI Hype40:30 Demand for Marketing and Client Acquisition Content42:45 What Developers Are Struggling With43:00 Keeping Up with Shopify’s Pace of Change48:00 AI Uncertainty and Productivity Pressure51:30 Client Acquisition and Pricing Challenges54:30 Dev Changelog1:01:30 Picks of the WeekResourcesState of JS Survey (Referenced concept): https://stateofjs.com/Shopify Developer Community Events (Various global meetups)Shopify Partner Dashboard (App submission updates discussed)Dev Changelog • New app submission experience in the Shopify Partner Dashboard (AI-assisted pre-checks and faster reviews) • Storefront Catalog MCP updated to support Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) • ⚠️ Action Required: Automatic CSS subsetting for stylesheet Liquid tag • ⚠️ Action Required: Deprecation of checkout metafields in favor of cart and order metafields • Expanded app uninstall reason options for better analytics • Analytics metrics now available via Admin GraphQL API • Multiple product discounts can now apply to a single cart line⸻Picks of the WeekKarl: Rebel Ice Cream – Keto-friendly, low sugar ice cream (surprisingly good, dangerously easy to overeat)Taylor: GitHub – Leveraging actions, PR templates, and workflows to improve dev productivity (despite recent hiccups)⸻Sign Up for Liquid WeeklyDon’t miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this:👉 https://liquidweekly.com

April 30, 2026Episode 651 hr 20 min

065 - From Themes to SaaS: Anne Thomas on Cart to Cart, Design Packs, and Community

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page are joined by Anne Thomas, co-founder of Design Packs. Anne shares her journey in the Shopify ecosystem, her recent foray into backend development with Supabase and Claude AI, and the launch of her new podcast, Cart to Cart.The conversation dives into the nuances of building with Shopify's flexible theme blocks, managing design systems, and the realities of using AI for coding and QA. Anne also discusses her community-building efforts with "Women Unified in Commerce".STAY CONNECTEDSubscribe to Liquid Weekly for more expert insights: https://liquidweekly.com/EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Anne's Background & Side Projects: From starting with Shopify themes in 2014 to building a horse-riding tracking app. Cart to Cart Podcast: Anne introduces her new podcast co-hosted with Trudy McNabb, Brenda Storer, and Diana Birsan. Women Unified in Commerce: Insights into the grassroots community meetups Anne and Trudy host in Toronto. Developer vs. Merchant Feedback: How the Design Packs team navigates and balances feedback. Theme Blocks & Design Systems: A deep dive into Shopify's flexible blocks, modern theme architecture, and CSS overrides. AI in the Dev Workflow: The realities of using AI tools like Claude and Cursor's Bugbot for writing code and PR reviews.FIND ANNE ONLINE & RESOURCES LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annethomas8/ Twitter(X): https://x.com/alfalfaanne Design Packs: https://design-packs.com/ Cart to Cart Podcast: https://cart2cartpodcast.com Women Unified in Commerce: LinkedIn Group TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction & Anne's Background 03:30 - Building with Supabase & Claude AI 08:40 - The "Cart to Cart" Podcast 30:30 - "Women Unified in Commerce" Meetups 37:50 - Balancing Merchant and Developer Feedback 43:30 - Navigating Shopify's Flexible Theme Blocks 50:15 - Design Systems & CSS Overrides in Themes 58:15 - AI Realities: Coding, QA, and Automated PR Reviews 01:09:40 - Dev Changelog Highlights 01:14:10 - Picks of the WeekDEV CHANGELOG ActionBar removed on mobile: TitleBar primary action now renders as an icon button - https://shopify.dev/changelog/primary-action-icon-replaces-actionbar-on-mobile New CSS variable for mobile safe area insets - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-css-variable-for-mobile-safe-area-insets Automated testing for Shopify UI extensions with @shopify/ui-extensions-tester - https://shopify.dev/changelog/automated-testing-for-shopify-ui-extensions-with-shopify-ui-extensions-tester New discount fields in the Storefront API's cart types - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-discount-fields-in-the-storefront-cart-graphql-api Shopify AI Toolkit: Connect your AI tools to the Shopify platform - https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopify-ai-toolkit-connect-your-ai-tools-to-the-shopify-platform Shopify Scripts will be deprecated on June 30, 2026 - https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopify-scripts-will-be-deprecated-on-june-30-2026 (non-dev) Checkout Blocks: Order value limits available on all plans - https://changelog.shopify.com/posts/checkout-blocks-order-value-limits-available-on-all-plansPICKS OF THE WEEK Karl: Simple Truth low-carb crisp crackers and reading the book Dune. Anne: Swapping the morning doomscroll for a daily crossword puzzle. Try https://www.dictionary.com/games/crossword to start. Taylor: Taking the kids to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

April 16, 20261 hr 6 min

Episode 64 - When Shopify Functions Fail Silently: The 10KB Limit Nobody Told You About

Karl and Taylor are back for a solo episode packed with updates. Taylor breaks down major changes to the Shopify Theme Editor, a big B2B announcement that flipped the script on Plus-only features, and a raft of Dev Changelog items. Karl shares a real-world debugging war story about a Shopify Function that was silently discarding all its input — and the 10KB metafield limit that caused it.SponsorThe Support Heroes - https://thesupportheroes.com/?utm_source=lwSubscribe to Liquid WeeklyDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/Timestamps- 00:00 – Intro & Slim Jim nostalgia- 01:00 – Season 3 check-in- 02:20 – Shopify Theme Editor overhaul walkthrough- 08:00 – Markets in the Theme Editor: a common merchant gotcha- 09:30 – Session restore, Rollouts scheduling in the editor- 12:00 – Shopify SimGem (AI shopper simulation) overview- 15:00 – Karl's PromoParty Pro debugging war story- 19:00 – Shopify Functions: silent failures & the 10KB metafield limit- 22:00 – Dev Dashboard function logs deep dive- 26:00 – Discount function limits (25 per shop) & Functions vs. Shopify Scripts- 31:00 – Checkout extensibility, web components, and useful constraints- 33:00 – Shopify Dev Dashboard updates: Plus shops, role-based access- 36:00 – Headless Shopify app, Storefront API tokens & cart metafields- 37:00 – AuthCrate.shop by Dylan- 39:00 – Cart metafields copying to order metafields- 41:00 – Shopify Partner Town Hall recap- 43:50 – **The Big One: B2B features now available on non-Plus plans**- 50:00 – Taylor's table and chair rental business & Roth IRAs for kids- 56:00 – Dev Changelog rundown- 57:00 – Picks of the WeekResources- [PromoParty Pro](https://apps.shopify.com/promo-party-pro) – Karl's free gift with purchase app (co-built with Curt and Paul)- [AuthCrate.shop](https://authcrate.shop) – Dylan's tool for managing custom Shopify app authentication- [Shopify Headless App](https://apps.shopify.com/headless) – For generating Storefront API tokens without a custom app- [Shopify Dev Dashboard](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/tools/partner-dashboard/dev-dashboard) – The developer-focused dashboard within the Shopify Partner portal- [Shopify Partner Town Hall Summary (SDA)](https://shopifydevalliance.com) – Taylor's recap in the SDA communityPicks of the WeekKarl: Quest Bake Soft Protein Frosted Cookies – Low-carb, keto-friendly cookies that actually taste good. 1g net carbhttps://www.questnutrition.com/collections/cookiesTaylor: Granola AI – AI-powered meeting notes that listens locally without needing a bot invite. Works across Zoom, Slack, Teams, and Google Meet. Great for end-of-day debriefs when you're too tired to write things down yourself.https://www.granola.so/

April 2, 2026Episode 631 hr 7 min

Episode 63 - Jordan Finneran with Pimsical

In this episode, Jordan Finneran, founder of Pimsical and Shopify Build Award winner, shares his journey into Shopify app development and his deep expertise in Shopify POS and inventory management.Discover the challenges of retail operations, the impact of Stocky's upcoming deprecation, and how developers can leverage Cloudflare and Shopify Flow to build powerful, scalable apps for merchants.Keep up with the latest in Shopify Development NewsSubscribe to the Liquid Weekly Newsletter - https://liquidweekly.com/Timestamps00:00 The "Pause" vs. "POS" Debate01:00 Welcome & Introduction of Award-Winning Guest02:37 Pimsical: The Origin of the Name04:25 Jordan's Origin Story: Bitten by the Shopify Bug07:23 The Evolution of the Shopify Platform09:30 Strategies for Keeping Up with API Changes11:41 The Apps: Warehouse Integration and StockTake15:10 Why Stocky is Going Away & Its Impact on Retail19:50 Realities of Retail Inventory Management22:25 Organizing Local POS Meetups for Merchants28:20 Automating Tasks with Shopify Flow35:20 Why AI and Inventory Data Don't Mix (Yet)38:35 Building Apps on Cloudflare Workers and D147:20 The Deprecation of Stocky & Planning for August54:05 Shopify Dev Changelog01:01:40 Picks of the Week & Closing ThoughtsDev ChangelogShop Minis February 2026 update - LinkFlow getting article and market data - LinkRun POS apps offline! - LinkRemoved Checkout ID from checkout and order webhooks - Link[action required] inventorySetScheduledChanges mutation is being removed with no replacement - Link[action required] Clearer standards for app listing images - Link[action required] ShopifyQL returns fields deprecated and replaced with sales reversals fields - LinkCheckout and Customer Account UI extensions available by default in new development shops - LinkPicks of the WeekTaylor - The Starship and the Stone book series - LinkKarl - Lego excavator 60420 - LinkJordan - Altera, Shopify app alternative to Matrixify and supporting more data types - LinkResourcesShopify Developer Documentation - https://shopify.dev/Shopify POS Development Resources - https://shopify.dev/docs/posCloudflare Workers - https://workers.cloudflare.com/Find Jordan OnlineWebsite - https://www.pimsical.app/LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanfinneran/Twitter(X) - https://x.com/JordanFinnersKey TopicsEvolution of the Shopify platform and GraphQLNavigating the complexities of retail inventory and POSThe upcoming deprecation of the Stocky appLeveraging Cloudflare Workers and D1 for app hostingBuilding deep integrations using Shopify Flow

March 19, 2026Episode 611 hr 12 min

Episode 62 - Sammy Isseyegh of DiscountKit

In this episode, Sammy Isaiah, co-founder of Discount Kit, shares insights into Shopify app development, the evolution of Shopify POS, and the innovative Discount Kit Live platform. Discover how these tools are transforming e-commerce experiences for developers and merchants alike.Keep up with the latest in Shopify Development NewsSubscribe to the Liquid Weekly Newsletter -https://liquidweekly.com/Support HeroesFor more information about the sponsor of this episode, Support Heroes, check out: http://thesupportheroes.comTimestamps00:00 Discount Kit Live: Enhancing User Experience06:29 The Role of Agencies and Developers in Shopify09:37 Technical Insights on Discount Management12:15 Future Prospects and Community Engagement15:25 Building the Foundation for User Experience18:36 Innovations in Cart Functionality21:52 Data Management Challenges22:58 Exploring Shopify Functions27:52 Transitioning to Point of Sale (POS) Development45:15 The Birth of Pause Cues47:33 Exploring the Functionality of Pause Cues50:26 The Impact of POS on Merchants52:25 The Developer Experience with Shopify POS56:24 Updates and Changes in Discount Kit59:25 Changelog Highlights and Community Feedback01:04:17 Picks of the Week and Closing ThoughtsFind Sammy OnlineTwitter - https://x.com/sammyIsseyeghLinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/sammyIsseyeghShopify App Store - https://apps.shopify.com/discount-kitDev Changelog- Legacy customer accounts are now deprecated - https://shopify.dev/changelog/legacy-customer-accounts-are-deprecated- New APIs to read and write shipping options in delivery profile - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-apis-to-read-and-write-shipping-options-in-delivery-profile- Manage dev previews on your dev store without leaving admin - https://shopify.dev/changelog/manage-dev-previews-on-your-dev-store-without-leaving-admin- JSON metafield values limited to 128KB - https://shopify.dev/changelog/reduced-metafield-value-sizes- Shopify Dev Forums discussion: https://community.shopify.dev/t/metafield-values-limited-to-16kb/29775/39 - Bare query strings no longer bust the cache for assets - https://shopify.dev/changelog/bare-query-strings-no-longer-bust-the-cache-for-assets- Enhanced discounts support in the Shopify Functions Cart - https://shopify.dev/changelog/enhanced-discounts-support-in-the-shopify-functions-cart- New analyticsQueryable capability for Metafield Definitions - https://shopify.dev/changelog/new-analyticsqueryable-capability-for-metafield-definitions Picks of the WeekTaylor - Resend https://resend.com/Karl - Ghostty - https://ghostty.org/Sammy - Greptile - https://www.greptile.com/ResourcesShopify Developer Documentation -https://shopify.dev/Discount Kit App - https://apps.shopify.com/discount-kitShopify POS Development Resources - https://shopify.dev/docs/posShopify Functions GitHub Repository - https://github.com/Shopify/shopify-function-templateShopify WebAssembly API - https://shopify.dev/api/wasmReptile AI Code Review Tool - https://reptile.ai/Ghosty Terminal Emulator - https://ghosty.app/Key TopicsShopify app development evolutionIntroduction of Discount Kit Live platformShopify POS advancements and developer toolsImpact of Shopify updates on merchants and developersStrategies for building scalable Shopify appsSEO KeywordsShopify, Shopify POS, Discount Kit, Shopify apps, e-commerce, app development, Shopify functions, POS development, discount management, Shopify updates

March 5, 2026Episode 611 hr 0 min

Episode 61 - Scott Austin of Jade Puma

In this episode, Karl and Taylor sit down with Scott Austin, owner of the San Diego-based Shopify agency Jade Puma. Scott shares his journey from previous career at Microsoft to building an agency that thrives on efficiency, radical honesty, and zero red tape.We dig into Scott's unique agency model. He strictly bills hourly in arrears, refuses to do fixed-bid contracts or scopes of work, and only works directly with decision-makers. Scott also breaks down his content marketing strategy via his own show, the Shopify Solutions Podcast, and explains how he standardizes client builds using custom apps and themes.Episode Highlights The "Leaf in a Stream" Philosophy: Scott discusses his self-awareness as a business owner and why avoiding bureaucracy makes him highly effective. Hourly Billing & No Contracts: Scott completely abandoned fixed-price projects and scopes of work to eliminate scope creep. He notes that this decision doubled his revenue. Standardizing Processes: Standardizing on specific themes and building custom internal apps saves hours of development time per store. The Truth About AI: Scott views artificial intelligence as a powerful daily tool. However, he emphasizes that it currently possesses "zero intelligence" and is not a threat to his job.Find Scott Online Email: scott@jadepuma.com Website: https://jadepuma.com Podcast: https://www.shopifysolutionspodcast.comTimestamps 00:00 - Introduction 03:50 - Scott's Origin Story: From Microsoft to Shopify 11:50 - Defining Freelance vs. Agency 16:50 - Why Small Agencies and Direct Decision-Makers Win 22:00 - Content Marketing & The Shopify Solutions Podcast 30:00 - Scott's Perspective on AI and the Future of Tech 35:35 - Agency Best Practices & Tool Standardization 42:40 - Pricing Strategy: Hourly Billing in Arrears 50:15 - Dev Changelog Highlights 54:15 - Picks of the WeekDev Changelog [action required] Reduced metafield value sizes - https://shopify.dev/changelog/reduced-metafield-value-sizes Use the Admin API and bulk operations in Shopify CLI - https://shopify.dev/changelog/use-the-admin-api-and-bulk-operations-in-shopify-cli Improved app logs and monitoring - https://shopify.dev/changelog/improved-app-logs-and-monitoring Shopify-account web component for storefronts - https://shopify.dev/changelog/shopify-account-web-component-for-storefronts Webhook subscriptions now support a name field for identification - https://shopify.dev/changelog/webhook-subscriptions-now-support-a-name-field-for-identificationPicks of the Week Karl: The sci-fi movie "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1341338/ Scott: Metaobject Pages, a feature from 2023 that simplifies dynamic page building and content sorting - https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/custom-data/metaobjects/connecting-to-your-online-store/webpages Taylor: Cloudflare Workers, which are proving highly effective for small projects and AI integrations - https://workers.cloudflare.com/Stay ConnectedSubscribe to Liquid Weekly for more expert insights: https://liquidweekly.com/

February 19, 2026Episode 601 hr 7 min

Episode 60 - Brendan Quigley of Three Acres

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page talk with Shopify partner Brendan Quigley (founder of Three Acres) about building a sustainable solo business. Brendan shares his path into Shopify development, lessons from freelancing, and practical financial strategies—including YNAB and Profit First—to create more control and stability.They also discuss moving from one-off projects to retainer/membership models for predictable income, strengthening long-term client relationships, setting clear expectations, scaling thoughtfully, and managing time well. The episode wraps with Brendan’s perspective on selling expertise, improving productivity, and protecting work-life balance.*Support Heroes*For more information about the sponsor of this episode, Support Heroes, check out: http://thesupportheroes.com/?utm_source=liquid_weekly&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sponsorshipsTimestamps00:00 Exploring Money and Business02:21 Brendan's Journey into Shopify Development04:37 The Journey of Freelancing06:40 Building a Business in E-commerce09:09 The Power of Automation and Scripting15:23 Understanding Finances as a Solopreneur27:12 Implementing Profit First for Business Success29:44 Membership Models and Client Relationships36:05 Understanding Project Tiers and Workflows38:47 The Importance of Time Management in Client Projects39:48 Building Relationships with Clients43:35 Scaling Your Business Effectively47:22 Utilization Rates and Work-Life Balance52:51 Transitioning to the Changelog and New Developments01:07:06 LW podcast intro video.mp4Dev ChangelogAll changelog updates are posts on the forum - https://community.shopify.dev/c/changelog/28 Shop Minis January 2026 update - https://shopify.dev/changelog/shop-minis-january-2026-update Automatically copy cart metafields to orders at checkout completion - https://shopify.dev/changelog/automatically-copy-cart-metafields-to-orders-at-checkout-completion New: Persist cart metafields to orders with `cartToOrderCopyable` - https://community.shopify.dev/t/new-persist-cart-metafields-to-orders-with-carttoordercopyable/29264 Increasing the app block limit to 30 for theme app extensions - https://shopify.dev/changelog/increasing-the-app-block-limit-to-30-for-theme-app-extensions Picks of the WeekKarl - Quest Protein ChipsTaylor - Waste King L-8000 1HP Garbage disposal affiliate link https://amzn.to/45OnoIKBrendan - YNAB - https://www.ynab.com and Raspberry Pi + Pihole - http://pishop.us/ or https://pishop.ca/ AND https://pi-hole.net/SEO KeywordsLiquid Weekly Podcast, Shopify, Brendan Quigley, finances, budgeting, solopreneur, Profit First, YNAB, development, entrepreneurship, business model, membership, client relationships, pricing, freelancing, productivity, time management, scaling, services, deliverablesSubscribe to Liquid WeeklyDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/

February 5, 2026Episode 591 hr 36 min

Episode 59 - NYC Editions Meetup Recap

In this episode of the Liquid Weekly Podcast, hosts Karl Meisterheim and Taylor Page recap Taylor's trip to New York City for the exclusive Shopify Winter Editions meetup. They break down the "Agentic Commerce" hype, the realities of the new Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), and why the best way to optimize for AI is actually just using Standard Category Metafields.The episode features on-the-ground interviews with key Shopify staff members, including Liam Griffin, Darius (Senior Product Lead, Dev Platform), and Eitan (Shopify Flow team), offering deep dives into the new developer tools, Shop Minis, and the future of Shopify Flow.Interviews & Highlights Liam Griffin: Discusses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for developers, using AI for mundane tasks like REST-to-GraphQL migration, and the "Pokemon generation" explosion of Shop Minis (including a virtual sommelier!). Darius: Breaks down the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), how the Catalog API works with agents, and why "Agentic Engine Optimization" isn't about hacks—it's about clean data and taxonomy. Eitan: Covers the "Flow 3.0" feel with new Sidekick-generated workflows, the highly anticipated testing layer, and moving toward declarative UIs.Timestamps00:00 Introduction, Stickers, and Winter Storm Stories06:40 Taylor’s NYC Editions Trip Recap20:45 Key Takeaways: Agentic Commerce & UCP Realities31:00 Live Demo: Shopify Flow Sidekick Generation & Testing Layer38:30 Developer Tip: Running Queries from Dev Docs in GraphiQL43:00 Interview: Liam Griffin (Dev MCP, Shop Minis, Dev Forums)55:20 Interview: Darius (Universal Commerce Protocol, Metaobject Limits, Catalog API)01:07:50 Interview: Eitan (Shopify Flow Updates)01:20:30 Dev Changelog Highlights01:25:00 Picks of the WeekDev Changelog New article list input settings for themes: Link Migrate metafields with Shopify App Import custom data definitions: Link [Action Required] Shop Minis development now requires partner account permissions: Link [Action Required] Standardization of asset_url version params: Link Shopify App extensions now support Admin and Theme App Extensions: Link [Action Required] Ensuring POS UI extension stability by hardening callback handling: LinkPicks of the Week Karl: MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge – An interactive live-action game that turns the water park lodge into a questing adventure. Taylor: DJI Mic 3 – Wireless microphones that offer professional audio quality and ease of use for field recordings and interviews.Sign Up for Liquid WeeklyDon't miss out on expert insights and tips—subscribe to Liquid Weekly for more content like this: https://liquidweekly.com/