The WP Minute+

Hosted by Matt Medeiros

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Episodes

168

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Aug 2026

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About the show

For long-form interviews, news, and commentary about the WordPress ecosystem. This is the companion show to The WP Minute, your favorite 5-minutes of WordPress news every week.

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60 recent

September 7, 2026Episode 17446 min

The Agency Model Isn’t Dead. It’s Evolving.

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Are agencies still relevant in the age of AI? On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt Medeiros and Cory Miller unpack the tension between AI, WordPress, and the future of agency work. They discuss why agencies still matter, how AI is changing client expectations, and how Hosting.com’s new agency partnership network aims to connect customers with trusted providers. From care plans to vertical specialization to the risk of losing curiosity in the AI era, this conversation explores what it means to be a technologist right now. Editor’s note: Hosting.com is a pillar sponsor of The WP Minute. Takeaways: AI is changing the sales process, but it has not eliminated the need for expertise. Agencies win by becoming guides, not just vendors. Industry specialization matters more as clients expect proof, not just promises. Care plans and ongoing support still have a strong role in the agency model. The best use of AI is to augment human judgment, not replace it. Hosting.com’s agency network is built to create referrals and relationships, not exclusivity. Important links: Hosting.com Hosting.com’s Agency Partnership Application Connect with Cory: LinkedIn | Twitter/X The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

August 31, 2026Episode 17231 min

CMS Conf Takes You Outside the WordPress Bubble

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Are you stuck inside the WordPress bubble? In this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Eric talks with Maciek Palmowski, organizer of CMS Conf, about why CMS communities benefit from looking outside their own ecosystem. Maciek explains how working at Kinsta and expanding into application hosting helped push him to explore other platforms, conferences, and communities. They also discuss what CMS Conf aims to create in Gdynia, Poland: a space where WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and newer API-first systems can learn from one another. The event takes place from November 12-14, 2026. Takeaways Maciek became a “CMS tourist” after working at Kinsta and seeing the value of exploring beyond WordPress. CMS Conf is designed to bring together people from multiple CMS communities, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and newer platforms. WordPress’s real strength is often the ecosystem around it: community, events, and shared culture. Systems like Astro and Statamic show how different CMS approaches can create better out-of-the-box experiences. The goal of CMS Conf is to help attendees break out of their bubble, stay curious, and learn from other communities. Important links CMS Conf website ( Click here for a 25% ticket discount ) Why I'm Organizing CMS Conf Connect with Maciek: LinkedIn | Twitter/X The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

August 24, 2026Episode 17134 min

What’s New With Woo? (July 2026 Member Meetup)

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Our July 2026 WP Minute Member Meetup was dedicated to all things WooCommerce . Developer Advocate Brian Coords joined us to demonstrate a variety of new and experimental features. He also shared Woo’s plan to address the existing backlog of bugs and other issues. The goal is to produce a stable eCommerce platform that also meets modern demands. We also looked at AI’s role in Woo and WordPress. Brian provided insight on the future of agentic commerce, store management features, and customer interactions. Takeaways: WooCommerce is focusing on cleaning up backlog issues to improve user experience. AI submissions in open source can be both beneficial and challenging. The goal is to reduce the number of open issues significantly. User experience is crucial for retaining customers in WooCommerce. WooCommerce aims to improve UI consistency across its extensions. Block themes are being developed to enhance the WooCommerce experience. AI integration is being explored for better store management and analytics. The future of e-commerce may involve AI-driven purchasing experiences. Important Links: Woo Developer Blog WooCommerce is the foundation of our entire ecosystem WooCommerce 11.0: What’s coming for developers Unifying extension settings in WooCommerce The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

August 17, 2026Episode 17035 min

Why Real-Time WordPress Is the Future

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by Jared Rethman , creator of WPSignal , a tool that adds real-time infrastructure to WordPress. It started as an idea for powering Google Docs-style collaborative editing . But Jared shares how this technology can transform WordPress development and what it means for the platform's evolution. He also reflects on the diminishing importance of technical hurdles for future developers and the opportunities for those willing to push boundaries . Key Takeaways: Real-time infrastructure turns WordPress into a live, interactive app instead of a static site. Infrastructure is the real moat, not just the feature set. WordPress keeps evolving because its architecture is flexible and API-driven. AI speeds up building, but it also compresses the traditional learning curve. WordPress’s future depends on adaptability more than a fixed identity. Hype around AI can distract from the core technical skills that still matter. Reliable infrastructure will separate real solutions from flashy ideas. Important Links: WPSignal WorldHouse Connect with Jared: LinkedIn The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

August 10, 2026Episode 16937 min

Building Smarter Hosting for the AI Era

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support The web hosting industry is changing rapidly. On this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast, Matt is joined by ScalaHosting CTO Vlad Georgiev . Vlad shares thoughts on the evolving role of hosting companies, the implications of A I in software development, and the significance of maintaining a solid grasp of programming fundamentals . You’ll learn why the company’s SPanel is key to their strategy. There’s also plenty of talk about the future of WordPress and open-source. Editor’s Note: ScalaHosting is a Foundation+ of The WP Minute. Takeaways: Relying on AI too heavily can create a knowledge gap, especially in development and security. Open-source AI models are likely to become important infrastructure as commercial AI gets more expensive, creating new opportunities for hosting companies. Faster performance comes from smart hardware choices, not just packing in more cores. Security should be treated as a core foundation of modern hosting and WordPress. Community-driven product development helps ensure tools evolve based on real user needs. Long-term wins come from investing in quality infrastructure and optimized stacks rather than chasing short-term cost cuts. WordPress remains well positioned for AI integration because of its maturity, flexibility, and ecosystem. Important Links: ScalaHosting SPanel The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

August 3, 2026Episode 16748 min

Don’t Use AI? You Might Not Get the Job.

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support This is a tough time to find development work, and Eric’s guest on The WP Minute+ podcast knows it all too well. Andrew Norcross is a seasoned developer , having run his own agency and led NASA’s transition to WordPress. These days, he’s looking for work . He doesn’t use AI, and at least one potential employer has turned him down because of it. Is that fair? Eric and Andrew take a hard look at the job market for web professionals. You’ll find insights into what AI can and can’t do, the craft of coding , and the importance of critical thinking . They also examine how corporate culture often prioritizes speed over quality. It’s a much-needed discussion that impacts all of us. Takeaways: The job market for web professionals is changing rapidly. AI is complicating the job search for developers. Andrew's journey into WordPress was accidental but transformative. Developers need to maintain critical thinking skills despite AI’s assistance. Job interviews are increasingly focused on AI usage. The balance between using AI and preserving coding craftsmanship is crucial. Understanding client needs is a key part of development work. The coding profession requires problem-solving and creativity. Some developers now prioritize paychecks over passion for coding. The WordPress plugin ecosystem is facing saturation and declining sales. The future of work in tech is unpredictable and challenging. Developers are navigating a complex landscape of opportunities and risks. Important Links: Connect with Andrew: GitHub | LinkedIn | Website Flashback: Read the outline of Andrew’s WordCamp Philadelphia 2011 presentation The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

July 27, 2026Episode 16837 min

Why WordPress 7.1 Will Improve Your Workflow

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Some WordPress releases are more transformative than others. WordPress 7.1 looks to be a watershed moment , with long-awaited features like responsive styling coming to the Block Editor. But there’s much more to the story. This week’s episode of The WP Minute+ podcast provides a behind-the-scenes look at what’s new, as release lead Anne McCarthy joins Eric to demo new features. You’ll also find tidbits on some items that didn’t make the cut , like collaborative editing , and how those decisions are made. Anne also shares her experience as a first-time release lead and the responsibilities involved. And you won’t want to miss a few hidden gems that Anne uncovers. Takeaways: WordPress 7.1 introduces powerful and long-awaited features. Anne’s first experience as a release lead has been both challenging and rewarding. The new responsive styling feature allows for better control over how content appears on different devices. The command palette offers quality-of-life improvements for users. Classic Block deprecation is a thoughtful process, considering user needs and historical usage. Collaborative editing remains a challenge due to server technology limitations and legal responsibilities. User experience is a priority, especially in the age of AI. The evolution of WordPress aims to maintain familiarity while introducing new functionalities. The new media cropper simplifies image editing before uploading. Hidden features like the 'On This Day' widget encourage user engagement. Custom icons can now be registered for the icon block. Testing the beta version can prevent future issues at scale. Performance improvements save time for users across the platform. The collaborative effort in development is vital for WordPress's success. Important Links: Try the latest version in WordPress Playground Collaborative Editing: Outreach Efforts | Research Summary and Insights Roadmap to WordPress 7.1 Anne’s Experience as a Release Lead Related: The WP Minute’s Matt Medeiros shares a rundown of new features in WordPress 7.1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoHdkzm6s6w ★ Support this podcast ★

July 20, 2026Episode 16624 min

Using WordPress Playground for Serious Business

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support You may have heard of WordPress Playground , but have you explored what it can do ? WordPress developer and core contributor Elliott Richmond has some real-world examples that might surprise you. He joined Eric Karkovack on this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast to share his experience using Playground for a client training session. Elliott also digs into other potential use cases and how this browser-based WordPress install is changing his workflow . After this episode, yours may change too! Takeaways: WordPress Playground allows for browser-based WordPress instances. Blueprints enhance the functionality of Playground for prototyping. Playground is useful for client training and reducing anxiety around new tools. Setting up Playground can be straightforward with proper documentation. Using GitHub for version control with Playground is powerful. Playground can be used for testing different PHP and WordPress versions. The drag-and-drop feature simplifies plugin and theme testing. Playground can speed up the process of sharing demos with clients. Elliot emphasizes the community aspect of sharing knowledge in WordPress. Important Links: WordPress Playground Using WordPress Playground and Blueprints to Train Clients on Block Themes Connect with Elliott: LinkedIn | Twitter/X | YouTube The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

July 13, 2026Episode 16533 min

What’s the State of Your Business in 2026? (June 2026 Member Meetup)

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support The WP Minute’s June 2026 member meetup asked a simple question: What’s the state of your business in 2026? Eric Karkovack and Kurt von Ahnen led a discussion of what’s working , what’s not , and what’s changed this year. We dig into AI’s impact on the market, the importance of resilience , and why foundational knowledge is still valuable. It’s timely advice for freelancers, agencies, and product makers who want to stay ahead of the game. Takeaways: The economy has seen ups and downs, affecting business operations. Resilience and consistent effort can lead to eventual success. AI is changing the landscape, but human expertise remains crucial. Building relationships and reputation is key to business growth. Freelancers should focus on their core competencies to thrive. AI can be a distraction from essential business practices. Foundational knowledge in web development is still important. Clients often prefer expert solutions over DIY approaches. Marketing strategies must adapt to changing consumer needs. The future of business looks hopeful with the right strategies. Important Links: A gency Action Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★

July 6, 2026Episode 16340 min

How To Teach WordPress Like a Pro

Thanks Pressable for supporting the show! Get your special hosting deal at https://pressable.com/wpminute Become a WP Minute Supporter & Slack member at https://thewpminute.com/support Teaching is the focus of this episode of The WP Minute+ podcast. Allie Nimmons joined Eric to share her tips for helping others learn WordPress . Allie’s journey has been unique, moving from studying theater to becoming a web designer . She leaned on those experiences to teach others via a series of LinkedIn Learning courses and one-on-one coaching . Tune in to get an inside look at Allie’s teaching methods and her advice for technically-minded professionals working with clients. Takeaways: Allie's background in theater enhances her public speaking skills. Clients often feel intimidated by WordPress; empathy is key. Identifying common client questions can improve teaching methods. Creating courses requires understanding the audience's perspective. Clients often struggle with maintaining design consistency on their sites. Page builders can be overwhelming due to the multitude of options available. It's crucial to educate clients on the differences between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org. Training should start early in the client relationship, even during the proposal phase. Understanding a client's learning style can enhance the training process. Providing ongoing support and reassurance helps build client confidence. Documentation and video resources can be beneficial for client training. Building a strong relationship with clients can lead to referrals and repeat business. Clients need to feel comfortable asking questions without fear of judgment. Investing time in client education can lead to better website management and satisfaction. Important Links: Connect with Allie: Website | LinkedIn Web Pro Geeks WordPress Essentials Course on LinkedIn Learning The WP Minute+ Podcast: thewpminute.com/subscribe ★ Support this podcast ★