Post Status Podcasts

In this podcast episode, host Michelle Frechette interviews Mary Hubbard, the newly appointed Executive Director of WordPress. They discuss Mary’s professional journey, including her roles at Automattic and TikTok, and her recent move to the Pacific Northwest. The conversation covers her experiences with e-commerce, technology, and parenting. Mary shares her excitement about the WordPress community and her vision for its future. The episode also touches on the evolution of technology, the importance of adaptability, and personal anecdotes, creating a lively and insightful dialogue about leadership and innovation in the tech world.

• The Power of Context in Leadership: Mary emphasizes the importance of understanding context in leadership and decision-making. By knowing the "why" behind decisions, team members can navigate challenges more effectively, even if they don't always agree with the direction. This context-sharing fosters trust and clarity, making everyday tasks easier and enabling better decision-making.
• Being a Supportive and Approachable Leader: Mary shows the value of being available and responsive to her team. She is proactive in offering help, as shown when she reached out to Michelle during the co-release coordinator role process. This type of outreach helps people feel seen and supported, contributing to a positive team dynamic.
• Being Comfortable with the Unknown and Seeking Help: Mary highlights that it's okay not to have all the answers. She encourages others to reach out when they don’t know something, emphasizing that asking questions is an important part of learning and improving. This openness to seeking help fosters a growth-oriented environment, where curiosity and learning are welcomed.

• TikTok
• Automattic
• WordPress
• WooCommerce
• WordPress.com
• TikTok shop
• eBay Motors
• Walmart
• Instagram
• Saved by the Bell
• StellarWP
• Built With
• Granola
• Roblox
• Kadence 
• Mark Westergaard
• WS Form
• Zoom
• State of the Word
• Press Conf
• CloudFest
• DeLonghi 
• Nespresso

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

• Mary Hubbard (Executive Director, WordPress, Automattic)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the "Get Hired" podcast, host  Nicky Bulmer and co-host Michelle Frechette interview Tatiane, an experienced WordPress developer. Tatiane shares her journey in WordPress development, emphasizing her skills in creating and customizing themes and plugins. The discussion covers Tatiane’s approach to handling feedback, collaborating with teams, and optimizing WordPress sites. Nicky and Michelle provide Tatiane with resume and interview tips, highlighting the importance of clear communication and showcasing both technical and soft skills. The episode concludes with practical advice for job seekers, reinforcing the podcast’s mission to enhance job application materials and interview skills.

• Cover Letters Should Be Concise & Tailored – A strong cover letter shouldn’t just repeat the resume. Instead, it should highlight why your skills and experience are a great fit for the specific role and company. Less is often more—focusing on one key project or skill that directly relates to the job can make a stronger impact than listing everything.
• Confidence & Clarity Matter in Interviews – Candidates should confidently communicate their skills, especially when discussing technical expertise. Using specific language, such as naming programming languages or frameworks, helps interviewers understand the depth of knowledge. Additionally, if an interviewer has an accent or uses unfamiliar words, repeating for clarification or asking them to rephrase is a good strategy.
• Continuous Improvement & Adaptability Lead to Success – Surrounding yourself with the language, culture, and best practices of your industry (as Tatiane did with English) makes growth easier. Being open to feedback, refining application materials, and improving communication skills over time can significantly increase job prospects.

• The Events Calendar 
• Liquid Web
• Dungeons and Dragons
• GitHub 
• WPIncludes.me

All-in-one marketing for WordPress - From popups to email & SMS, automation & more, Omnisend helps you turn first-time visitors into lifelong subscribers. Spend less on ads, connect more with your audience.

• Tatiane Pires (Founder and Software Developer, SmartCoding.dev)
• Nicky Bulmer (Technical Hiring Coordinator, Liquid Web)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this podcast episode, host Michelle Frechette and guest Marcus Burnette discuss the importance of contributing to the WordPress community. Michelle highlights updating WordPress.org profiles and the "Five for the Future" initiative. Marcus introduces his project, The WP World which connects WordPress users by aggregating profile information and event details. They explore features like business directories, user ratings, and privacy options. The episode emphasizes the value of community engagement, showcasing contributions, and leveraging tools like The WP World to foster connections and enhance the WordPress ecosystem.

• WP World Enhances WordPress Community Connections – WP World is a platform that helps WordPress professionals showcase their contributions, connect with others, and enhance their visibility in the WordPress ecosystem. It complements WordPress.org profiles by allowing users to add more details and interact with community members.
• Community Engagement is a Priority – Beyond just networking, WP World fosters deeper engagement through features like WP Speakers, interactive maps, and a focus on celebrating community members. The discussion highlighted the value of making meaningful connections in the WordPress space and how WP World serves as a tool to strengthen those relationships.
• WP World Encourages Contribution Tracking – The platform makes it easier for WordPress professionals to log and showcase their contributions within the ecosystem. By maintaining an updated profile, users can highlight their involvement in various WordPress-related projects, events, and communities.

• Five for the Future
• WP World
• wordpress.org
• Bluehost
• Bluehost Cloud
• GitHub 
• Slack
• Gravatar
• StellarWP
• WP Speakers
• Hero Press
• Press Conf 
• Stellar Spark

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

• Marcus Burnette (Founder, The WP World)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, host Michelle Frechette interviews Stephanie Hudson from StellarWP about Stellar Pay, a new payment gateway plugin for WordPress users. Stephanie, the Product Marketing Manager, discusses her background in web development and marketing. They explore Stellar Pay's features, including its integration with Stripe, subscription management, and no additional fees for essential features. They also address e-commerce challenges like shipping and taxes and future plans for Stellar Pay, including potential PayPal integration. Additionally, Stephanie teases the upcoming launch of Stellar Sites, a new website solution combining the best features of popular platforms with WordPress's power.

• Stellar Pay Simplifies E-Commerce: Stellar Pay is designed for those who either actively run e-commerce businesses or avoid it because they find it difficult. The tool aims to make the process easier and more accessible.
• Free and Easy to Get Started: Users can download Stellar Pay for free from the website. Signing up directly on the site comes with added benefits like onboarding tips and extra resources to help users get started.
• Stellar Pay Provides E-Commerce Tips: The team behind Stellar Pay offers a newsletter that provides useful insights and strategies for running an online store successfully. Michelle encouraged users to subscribe for ongoing guidance.

• StellarWP
• Stellar Pay
• Liquid Web
• Give WP
• The Event Calendar
• SolidWP
• Learndash
• Restrict Content Pro
• Devin Walker
• Stripe
• Joel Butler
• PayPal
• Poodle Press
• Ben Ritner 
• WP Accessibility Day
• Solid Academy
• Jono Alderson

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

• Stephanie Hudson (Product Marketing Manager, StellarWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the "Get Hired" podcast, Nicky Bulmer and Misty Combs interview Corey Maass, a WordPress developer, discuss the hiring process for WordPress developers. Corey shares his extensive experience in WordPress development, emphasizing the importance of community, communication, and continuous improvement. The conversation covers optimizing WordPress sites, handling client feedback, and the significance of authenticity in interviews. Nicky and Misty provide feedback on Corey's resume and portfolio, highlighting the need for clarity and measurable achievements. The episode offers valuable insights into job seeking, negotiation, and presenting oneself effectively in the tech industry.

• The Importance of Staying True to Yourself in Job Searches: The panel emphasizes that not every job or company is a good fit for everyone. It's more important to be authentic and align with roles that reflect your values and personality rather than trying to conform to something you're not. However, desperation during challenging times can complicate this, making it harder to prioritize alignment over necessity.
• Every Job is a Learning Experience: Even if you accept a role that isn't ideal, you can use it as a stepping stone. Challenging or mismatched experiences still offer valuable lessons about what to look for (or avoid) in the future, help grow your skillset, and shape your career trajectory.
• Shifting Hiring Trends and Perceptions: The job market's expectations are constantly changing. For example, job-hopping is more accepted in tech compared to other industries, and long tenures at one company are sometimes viewed as stagnation. Different generations and industries value different qualities, making it crucial to stay adaptable and aware of trends in your field.

• Liquid Web
• Omnisend
• Corey Maass’ Portfolio

All-in-one marketing for WordPress - From popups to email & SMS, automation & more, Omnisend helps you turn first-time visitors into lifelong subscribers. Spend less on ads, connect more with your audience.

• Nicky Bulmer (Technical Hiring Coordinator, Liquid Web)
• Misty Combs (Human Resource Director, Liquid Web)
• Corey Maass (Founder, OMGIMG)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, host Michelle Frechette interviews Taco Verdonschot from Progress Planner, a tool designed to gamify WordPress website maintenance. They highlight the tool's features, including its free and upcoming pro versions, and emphasize its role in making website upkeep engaging and fun. Taco announces a limited-time pre-launch sale, offering the planner at a discounted rate. They also discuss the importance of user feedback and community engagement, and preview upcoming content, including a discussion with Stephanie Hudson about Stellar Pay. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to try the Progress Planner.

• Gamification for Website Management: Progress Planner uses a gamified approach to motivate users to maintain and improve their websites. By assigning points for tasks like updating content, writing new posts, or fixing technical SEO issues, the plugin makes website management engaging and enjoyable. This concept mirrors successful apps like Duolingo, which transform routine tasks into rewarding challenges.
• Practical Features with Growth Potential: The plugin focuses on high-impact tasks that enhance website performance, such as setting up foundational site elements or optimizing content. It also plans to introduce integrations with third-party tools like JIRA and onboarding wizards, offering users more flexibility. Future features may include personalized task recommendations, progress tracking for agencies managing multiple sites, and expanded customization options, making it even more versatile.
• Community Feedback and Accessibility:User feedback is central to the development of Progress Planner. The team actively invites suggestions and critiques to refine the tool and better address user needs. Additionally, its pricing model—offering a pre-launch discount and a free tier—makes it accessible to a wide audience. With its colorful bird-themed branding, the plugin presents an approachable and motivating experience for website owners.

• Progress Planner
• Joost van Valk
• Marieke van de Rakt
• Fitbit
• Duolingo
• WordCamp Asia
• Marcus Burnette
• TheWPWorld
• wordpress.org
• Gravatar
• WPSpeakers.com
• Hero Press
• Stephanie Hudson
• StellarWP
• StellarPay

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

• Taco Verdonschot (Founder, Progress Planner)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, host Michelle Frechette interviews Ian Stewart, a seasoned WordPress enthusiast and lead at WordPress.com. They discuss Ian's journey with WordPress since 2006 and his role at Automattic. The focus shifts to "Studio," a local development environment for WordPress. Ian highlights Studio's features, including ephemeral sites and an AI assistant, which simplify development and enhance learning. They also discuss the educational potential of Studio and its future developments. The episode underscores the importance of community feedback and continuous improvement in the WordPress ecosystem.

• Focus on Data Liberation: Ian emphasizes the importance of making it easy for users to export data and move away from WordPress.com if they choose. This includes offering flexibility in database options and ensuring there are clear workflows for migrating data from Studio.
• Encouragement for Open-Source Contributions: Ian highlights that Studio is open-source and encourages users to contribute by reporting issues, suggesting features, or even forking the repository to experiment with new ideas.
• WordPress.com’s Growing Feature Set: Ian addresses the misconception that WordPress.com doesn’t support plugins or themes. He encourages users to explore the pro-level tools available on WordPress.com, such as Studio, which help users manage and customize their sites more effectively.

• Blogger
• Drupal
• ThemeShaper.com
• Corey Miller 
• Automattic
• WordPress.com
• Jamie Marsland
• Studio 
• Steve Jobs
• WP Environment
• Docker
• Composer 
• GitHub
• SQLite 
• Suno AI
• Taco Verdo
• Progress Planner

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

• Ian Stewart (Lead, WordPress.com)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode, Michelle Frechette chats with Bernard Mayer, the Senior Director of Communications and Creative at Omnisend. Bernard, based in Vilnius, Lithuania, shares his diverse background and insights into Omnisend's innovative marketing strategies, focusing on email and SMS marketing. The discussion highlights the importance of effective customer engagement and the significant impact of automated emails. Bernard also delves into his involvement with the WordPress community, particularly through WordCamps, and emphasizes the value of creativity and community in marketing. The episode concludes with excitement for the upcoming WordCamp Asia and its enriching experiences.

• The Value of Organizing and Attending WordCamps: Both Bernard Meyer and Michelle Frechette emphasized the benefits of organizing and attending WordCamps. While it's a lot of hard work, the sense of accomplishment, networking opportunities, and camaraderie with other organizers make it a fulfilling experience. Bernard highlighted how it allows remote collaborators to meet in person, which adds an exciting dimension to professional relationships.
• Creative Marketing Through Humor and Engagement: Bernard discussed Omnisend’s approach to marketing, which involves using humor, music videos, mockumentaries, and playful storytelling. These creative strategies make their marketing campaigns memorable and engaging, showing that a bit of fun can effectively capture an audience's attention.
• The Accelerated Nature of Event Preparation: Both speakers noted how quickly time seems to pass when preparing for large events like WordCamp Asia. Bernard highlighted the rapid pace from early-year planning to the event date, while Michelle described it as a snowball effect that builds momentum. This reflects the importance of staying organized and proactive during event planning.

• Omnisend
• StellarWP
• Rytis Lauris
• WPCoffeeTalk
• WordCamp Asia
• WordCamp Germany
• WordCamp US
• Suno AI
• The PIC

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

• Bernard Mayer (Sr. Director of Communications & Creative, Omnisend)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, host Michelle Frechette interviews Mark Westguard from WS Form. Mark discusses the new styling system and enhanced accessibility features, emphasizing user customization and flexibility. The episode also highlights upcoming events, community engagement, and the importance of user feedback.

• WS Form Updates and Community Engagement: Mark Westguard highlighted the updates and improvements made to WSForm, a WordPress form builder. He expressed enthusiasm for users testing these updates and providing feedback.
• Community Emphasis on Constructive Feedback: Both Mark and Michelle emphasized that feedback is welcome, but it should be communicated respectfully, avoiding negativity.
• Mark’s Hard Work on WSForm: Mark noted that creating the latest updates for WS Form involved four months of work. He’s eager for users to explore the new features and looks forward to receiving feedback. His dedication to continually improving the product was a key point of the discussion.
• Focus on Accessibility and Learning: Throughout the conversation, there was an emphasis on making tools like WS Form accessible and easy to use for everyone.

• WS Forms
• Admin Bar
• WPML
• Kevin Geary
• Mark Szymanski 
• WP builds
• Bob WP
• Do the Woo
• PressConf
• WordCamp Europe
• Ian Stewart
• WP studio

A2 Hosting offers solutions for WordPress and WooCommerce that are both blazing fast and ultra-reliable. WordPress can be used on ANY Web Hosting plan from A2.  You can deploy WordPress easily on Shared, VPS, or Dedicated Hosting plans. A2 also offers Managed WordPress and WooCommerce Hosting. Take a look at a2hosting.com today!

• Mark Westguard (Founder, WS Form)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧

In this episode of the Post Status Happiness Hour, host Michelle Frechette interviews Raquel Manriquez and Carol Stambaugh. They discuss their new venture, Press Conf, a conference focused on the business side of WordPress. Raquel, a former community manager for Elegant Themes, and Carol, co-owner of RadiateU, share their motivations for creating this event. They emphasize the need for a business-centric conference within the WordPress community, contrasting it with the user-focused WordCamps. Press Conf aims to foster deep connections among attendees through a single track of sessions and an intimate setting. The episode highlights their commitment to inclusivity, meaningful networking, and authentic conversations.

• Press Conf addresses a significant market gap by being the first WordPress conference specifically focused on business aspects, filling an unmet need in the community for business-oriented professional development.
• The conference prioritizes meaningful engagement through intentional design choices like single-track sessions, no recordings, and an intimate setting - all aimed at fostering authentic discussions and deeper connections among attendees.
• Careful curation is central to the event's strategy, from thoughtfully selected speakers to a sustainable pricing model, ensuring high-quality content and long-term viability while delivering value to participants.
• The conference emphasizes building an inclusive community that welcomes both industry veterans and newcomers, focusing on fostering constructive dialogue and relationships within the WordPress business ecosystem.

• PressConf
• Elegant Themes
• WPWonder Women
• RadiateU
• Jeremy Saxey
• WordCamp Phoenix
• PressNomics
• Sally Strebel
• Joshua Strebel
• Doc Popular
• WP Speakers
• The WP World
• Marcus Burnette
• wp.org
• Troy Dean
• Alex King
• Chris Lema
• Karim Marucchi
• Dave Ryan
• Bluehost
• Nathan Atkinson
• Nathan B Weller
• Brian Richards
• Matt Medeiros

Build and manage professional sites with secure managed hosting on WordPress.com. Beautiful themes, built-in SEO, and payment tools, and access to over 50,000 plugins. Everything you need for your business, plus 24/7 support from WordPress experts. 

• Raquel Manriquez  (Community, ElegantThemes)
• Carol Stambaugh (Co-Founder, RadiateWP)
• Michelle Frechette (Director of Community Relations, Post Status)
• Olivia Bisset (Intern, Post Status)

The Post Status  podcast is geared toward WordPress professionals, with interviews, news, and deep analysis. 📝

Browse our archives, and don’t forget to subscribe via iTunes, Google Podcasts, YouTube, Stitcher, Simplecast, or RSS. 🎧