Podcast
WP Builds
Hosted by Nathan Wrigley · EN
Web site building with WordPress. In this podcast we follow the hopeless exploits of David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley as they try, and fail, to understand WordPress.
They know that they love building websites with WordPress, but the complexities of this awesome web building solution are always out of reach.
Not only are they not clever enough, but they just don't try all that hard
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
475 – Human creativity still matters in the age of AI
1w ago01:02:56Tap to summarizeWell this is a different episode from the normal things we get into on WP Builds. It's about the intersection of human creativity and AI, sparked by a handmade zine (I did not know what that was) titled "Human Creativity in the Age of AI." Tess talks about the emotional and practical significance of creative processes versus AI-generated output. We explore how AI is 'democratising' access to creative tools, the shifting definition of art, and the ethical concerns around replacing human skills. Then there's the whole thing about the value of human ideas, imperfection, and individuality, even as AI capabilities rapidly advance and reshape artistic expression. Like I say, not your typical WP Builds podcast episode, but fun nonetheless!
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This Week in WordPress #379
2w ago01:34:06Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on current trends and challenges in the WordPress ecosystem, with a key theme being the pervasive influence of AI, public perceptions across age groups, and ethical considerations. The discussion explored WordPress developments such as accessibility resources, core testing needs, and analysis of market share decline. Several points were raised, including major migrations like CERN’s adoption of WordPress, job cuts at Elementor, the shifting visibility of WPBeginner in search, WordPress education initiatives, and sustainability in web development. Join Nathan Wrigley, Simon Pollard, and Mike Johnston!
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474 – Exploring the AI generation gap: why young people seem skeptical about AI
2w ago00:44:39Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on generational attitudes towards AI, with a particular emphasis on skepticism among young people, how younger generations ideologically distrust big tech and perceive AI as "cheating," especially in creative fields like art and music. We also explored concerns about job displacement, changes in workplace efficiency, and the impact of AI on creative industries. Towards the ens we get into the inevitability of adopting AI to remain competitive, the environmental impact, and potential backlash against AI-driven content, alongside reflections on authenticity and the growing influence of major tech companies.
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This Week in WordPress #378
3w ago01:35:16Tap to summarizeJoin Nathan Wrigley, Michelle Frechette, Marc Benzakein, Robert Jacobi. The conversation focused on the current state and future of the WordPress community, exploring issues such as the aging user base, challenges in attracting younger contributors, industry events, and market share trends. A key theme that emerged was the impact of AI on workflows and plugin development, as well as concerns about declining community engagement and WordCamps. The discussion explored plugin update delays, marketing approaches, the importance of relationships, and various new initiatives and tools in WordPress, including contributor dashboards and AI-powered design features.
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473 – Creating visual stories in WordPress using the Shorthand plugin
3w ago00:51:13Tap to summarizeThe podcast today is all about the Shorthand plugin, a visual storytelling platform that helps create immersive, interactive content for WordPress. We find out how Shorthand enables news organisations, brands, nonprofits, and agencies to craft stories, reports, and proposals without extensive technical knowledge. The new WordPress plugin streamlines the editorial process, allowing real-time collaboration, and keeps content within WordPress. We also get into Shorthand’s adaptability for alternative use cases, such as podcasts and annual reports, and also touch on its pricing model. The episode highlighted the growing demand for richer, more engaging digital storytelling. Go listen.
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This Week in WordPress #377
4w ago01:33:21Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on the upcoming WordPress 7.1 release, new features, and community developments. A key theme that emerged was the challenge of organising and sustaining local WordPress events, including strategies for attracting speakers and attendees. The discussion explored multilingual support in the Make WordPress Slack, event funding and marketing attribution, and the pros and cons of paid event roles. Security concerns, recent supply chain attacks, and regulatory changes affecting EU site operators were also addressed. The episode concluded with announcements about meetups, resources, and a personal note highlighting a band performance.
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472 – Selling Products in YouTube Videos With WooCommerce
Jun 1800:42:28Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on the integration between WooCommerce and YouTube, enabling merchants to showcase and sell products directly through their YouTube channels. We discussed how the Google for WooCommerce plugin simplifies syncing WooCommerce inventory with YouTube, allowing product overlays within videos and store tabs on channels. The discussion explored the importance of authenticity and trust in influencer marketing, YouTube’s role as a powerful search and shopping platform, and practical requirements for using these features. A key theme that emerged was making social commerce accessible and streamlined for merchants. Go listen...
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This Week in WordPress #376
Jun 1601:33:24Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on WordPress news and broader tech topics. Key themes included grill brush injuries!!!!, the US government’s ban on new AI models, debates around social media harm and age restrictions, and reflections on recent WordPress developments such as the CERN website migration from Drupal, WordPress Mercantile’s redesign, and the Five for the Future initiative’s new pledge and profile pages. The discussion explored WordPress event formats, plugin security vulnerabilities, and community engagement challenges, highlighting the need for volunteer enjoyment and adaptation as WordPress evolves. Go listen...
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471 – Miriam Schwab discusses Angie AI and Elementor’s future in WordPress
Jun 1100:43:35Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on Angie, Elementor’s AI-driven tool for WordPress, highlighting its integration, ease of use, and ability to generate custom code snippets and widgets without requiring Elementor’s page builder. A key theme that emerged was the evolving role of AI in web development, blending rapid AI-generated first drafts with refinements through traditional interfaces. The discussion got into how Angie facilitates both creativity and efficiency, supports best WordPress practices, and safeguards site changes through sandboxing. Several points were raised, including Angie’s token-based access model and its fast-growing adoption with over 30,000 active installs.
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This Week in WordPress #375
Jun 901:29:05Tap to summarizeThe conversation focused on WordPress community updates, recent trends in plugin and security landscapes, and user concerns over AI integration and site management practices. A key theme that emerged was the impact of AI on plugin vulnerabilities and security workflows, with organisations like Wordfence and Patchstack adjusting policies in response to AI-driven threats. The discussion explored declining contributions within the WordPress project, responses to major WordPress events, and controversy surrounding plugin installations and repricing by companies. Several points were raised, including community engagement, transparency, and the importance of user consent in product changes.
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