#228 – Priscilla Collado Ramirez on Reducing WordPress Beginner Anxiety

More from WP Tavern All episodes →

1. 

   10 Sep 2026 · 43 min

   #233 – Chris Reynolds on Building Trust With Project Contracts for Reliable AI Development

   The conversation focused on AI-assisted development in WordPress, exploring how large language models like Claude can be both powerful and unpredictable. We talked about the need for guardrails, structured project contracts and reviewer agents, to ensure outputs are reliable, secure, and accessible. We also explored the changing nature of developer work, the increasing playfulness and accessibility of technology, and the challenges of trusting AI-generated code. Several points were raised, including concerns about losing foundational skills, the future of developer roles, and the ongoing…

2. 

   2 Sep 2026 · 44 min

   #232 – Aaron D Campbell on Navigating WordPress Security in the AI Era

   The conversation focused on the rapidly evolving landscape of WordPress security, emphasising the impact of AI on both attack complexity and defence strategies. We talked about the accelerating pace at which vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited, prompting the need for proactive, collaborative efforts within the WordPress and hosting communities. We also got into layered security, industry-wide information sharing, and the importance of open source in strengthening defences. Go listen...

3. 

   26 Aug 2026 · 33 min

   #231 – Damon Cook on How WP Trend Watcher Keeps Him Up to Date With WordPress

   On the podcast today we have Damon cook to talk about WP Trend Watcher, a locally run tool that aggregates, summarises, and curates WordPress news using AI and human review. We discussed the challenge of keeping up with the rapid, ever-changing WordPress ecosystem, and how automation can help cut through information overload. We also explored the workflow that combines AI-generated summaries with a "human in the loop" approach for quality and context, transparency about editing time, and the potential for trend analysis over time. Towards the end we got into possible broader applications…

4. 

   19 Aug 2026 · 34 min

   #230 – Adrian Sticea on Navigating the Decline of WordPress Work on Upwork and the Rise of New Opportunities

   I'm talking today with Adrian Sticea about the decline in freelance WordPress work available through Upwork, highlighted by a viral LinkedIn post and graph showing work drying up from 2023 onward. We get into the many reasons behind this shift, the impact of AI making developers more efficient, increased marketplace competition, economic uncertainty, and new website-building platforms. We also explored how relying on a single platform can be risky, and emphasised the long-term value of building direct relationships and networks for sustainable business in the evolving WordPress ecosystem.

5. 

   12 Aug 2026 · 47 min

   #229 – Amy Kamala on Art, Tech, and Open Source: A Journey Through WordPress and Community

   The conversation focused on Amy Kamala’s diverse journey from art to technology, her extensive experience in hosting, web development, and team leadership, and her active contributions to the WordPress project. We got into the intersection of creativity and logic in tech roles, as well as the personal and professional fulfilment derived from community involvement and open source contribution. The discussion also explored Amy’s path to being a WordPress team rep, her experiences with sponsorship, and the deeper sense of meaning and human connection that drives ongoing participation in the…

6. 

   29 Jul 2026 · 39 min

   #227 – Maciek Palmowski on Testing Secure WordPress Hosting: Does the Marketing Match Reality?

   Maciek Palmowski is on the podcast today to discuss his WordCamp Europe presentation on whether "secure hosting" lives up to its claims in the WordPress ecosystem. He described penetration tests of multiple providers, revealing that the majority of WordPress-specific vulnerabilities made it through hosts’ defenses. He emphasised that simply seeing "secure hosting" on a landing page means little without WordPress-aware security layers. He also talks about the fact that different hosts using the same tools still produced different results, and that bold security claims in marketing often mask…

7. 

   22 Jul 2026 · 41 min

   #226 – Jessica Lyschik on Why Accessibility in WordPress Themes Is Easier Than You Think

   Today's conversation with Jessica Lyschik focused on WordPress theme accessibility, highlighting that achieving "accessibility-ready" standards is easier than many developers assume. We talked about the moral and practical importance of accessible websites, not just for legal compliance but to create a better web for everyone. We explored how recent updates to guidelines, particularly for block themes, make technical implementation more straightforward, with WordPress Core handling much of the work. We also discussed the benefits of adopting good habits early, the role of documentation, and…

8. 

   15 Jul 2026 · 35 min

   #225 – Milan Petrović on the Risks of Legacy PHP in WordPress and Why Upgrading Matters for Security

   Today, I'm joined by Milan Petrović, and the podcast is focused on the impact of PHP versioning in the WordPress ecosystem, emphasising the risks of running outdated PHP and the security and performance benefits of PHP 8.x. We get into the challenge of supporting legacy code versus urging progress toward modern standards. And the importance of developers, hosting companies, and end users being proactive about updates. We talk about tools like the Vulnerability Lab plugin which demonstrate real-world effects of outdated PHP and highlighted the need for gradual, community-driven improvements…

9. 

   8 Jul 2026 · 32 min

   #224 – David Snead on Building Trust and Collaboration in the Hosting Industry With the Secure Hosting Alliance

   Today on the podcast, the conversation focused on cross-industry collaboration to improve security and abuse response in the hosting industry. We talk about the Internet Infrastructure Forum (IIF), a platform-agnostic initiative aiming to facilitate real-time intelligence sharing among hosts, registrars, and others. We also get into the importance of sharing actionable data to combat issues like fake shops, and how smaller hosts especially benefit. We explored challenges around legalities, trust, and scaling participation, as well as the role of trust seals for hosts demonstrating commitment…

10. 

    1 Jul 2026 · 31 min

    #223 – Ivana Ćirković on How WordPress Credits Bridges Education and Industry in the WordPress Ecosystem

    On the podcast today we explore the WordPress Credits initiative, and its strategic importance in integrating young talent into the WordPress ecosystem through structured university programs. We discuss the alignment of the program with modern workforce demands, the benefits for businesses in recruiting pre-trained contributors, and the need for universities to update curricula in partnership with the WordPress Foundation. We also get into the demographic challenge facing the WordPress community and the critical necessity of proactive outreach to ensure generational renewal and the continued…