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An unexpected conversation with a brilliant designer, developer, and entrepreneur who is downright down to Earth. 

Brian Gardner joins Bud on the "Seriously Bud" podcast for an engaging conversation covering various aspects of his life and career. Brian recounts his recent new experience attending an NFL playoff game in Phoenix, followed by clarifying his Chicago roots despite a Southern California birthplace. Their dialogue meanders through Brian's academic journey, where he humorously admits to being a less-than-stellar student, leading to his relocation to California and subsequent return to Chicago. This shift eventually steered him towards a passion for computers and laid the groundwork for his involvement in WordPress.

The discussion transitions into Brian's significant contributions to the WordPress community, detailing the inception and growth of StudioPress and the influential Genesis framework. Brian narrates how he transitioned from customizing a real estate WordPress theme into creating premium themes, with his successful sale leading to the establishment of StudioPress. Despite a brief separation, Brian returned to WP Engine, the company that acquired StudioPress, indicating a strong relationship with his creations and the broader WordPress ecosystem.

Brian highlights personal aspects of his life, including his family dynamics, his wife’s impressive academic achievements, and their shared love for Disney. He describes their frequent visits to Disney World and how his wife balances his creative temperament with her meticulous spreadsheets as a chief operating officer. Additionally, Brian mentions his son’s budding interest in photography and his involvement in sports marketing and media at Grand Canyon University, reflecting on how his son has charted his own creative course.

The conversation also touches on Brian's aversion to flying and a memorable instance of opting for a road trip from Disney World due to anxiety. This leads to a broader discussion about his evolving attitude towards flying and how recent experiences have somewhat alleviated his fears. Embracing honesty and vulnerability, Brian shares how these personal challenges have shaped his life and work, creating subtle but vivid links between his professional resilience and personal growth.

In closing, Brian reflects on his future aspirations beyond the WordPress sphere, contemplating over projects like Minimology, a minimalist lifestyle brand. He also questions the concept of retirement and expresses his desire to remain active and impactful. The episode wraps up with Brian recommending Chris Pearson, founder of Thesis, a notable counterpart in the WordPress community, for a future podcast interview, promising an enlightening contrast to his own narrative. This conversation showcases Brian’s journey, struggles, achievements, and continued passion for innovation.

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An unexpected conversation with a guy who didn't know what he wanted to do until he found marketing and marketing found him.

The podcast episode with Abhishek Garg on "Seriously Bud" delves into a range of topics spanning pronunciation, personal history, and professional journey. Abhishek clarifies the correct pronunciation of his last name within the Indian context, marking the beginning of an open, friendly dialogue. When asked about meeting his spouse, Abhishek narrates the series of events leading to their engagement, emphasizing the blend of love and mutual family agreement that characterized their relationship. 

Abhishek provides insights into his upbringing in Delhi, mentioning that he was not particularly studious and instead found interest in topics like aliens and the Illuminati. His career started with a job at MobiKwik, where he quickly transitioned from customer service to a rewarding career in marketing, beginning a significant transformation in his professional life where he now utilizes his skills at InstaWP. 

The discussion shifts to his passion for cricket and table tennis, revealing Abhishek’s commitment to physical activity as a way of managing his high energy levels and ensuring a good night’s sleep. He shares his approach to playing cricket, including his weekend matches and the strategic planning required in the sport. 

Music also plays a significant role in Abhishek's life; he describes his love for playing the guitar, which he views as a hobby and a form of meditation. He emphasizes the tranquility and personal satisfaction he derives from playing music, despite not being a professional guitarist. 

Towards the end of the episode, Bud and Abhishek touch on the topic of future podcast guests, with Abhishek recommending Anamika for her expertise in accessibility within WordPress. Their conversation concludes with mutual appreciation and an open invitation for Bud to visit India, wrapping up the episode on a warm, friendly note.

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An unexpected conversation with a woman who is an irrepressible gadget geek and is a hoot wherever she goes.

Robbie Adair discusses her familial relationships, early life, and career journey in an engaging interview with Bud, touching upon significant personal and professional experiences. She reveals her family dynamics, mentioning her brother who worked with her at her web agency, and another sibling who passed away young. Robbie also reminisces about her parents, their life in Texas, and her father's extensive career as a heavy equipment mechanic, which took him worldwide. 

In high school, Robbie navigated numerous changes, moving frequently and attending multiple schools. Despite being initially shy, she chose to forge a new identity upon moving to a large high school in San Antonio, taking up extracurricular activities like ROTC and theater, which eventually led her to become more outgoing and socially adept. Her adaptability continued in college, where she initially pursued a theater major despite her interest in computer science, a decision she made after a conflict with academic advisors. 

Robbie's career in technology began with learning HTML in its early days while still in college. She balanced this with her theater studies and later transitioned to building websites professionally. She recounted her first jobs in web development and shared humorous experiences about creating early web designs and animations. Her career quickly evolved as she offered training and consultancy, then founded a media agency, which combined web development and video production services. 

Exploring her personal life, Robbie shared her journey with her wife, Mikel, whom she met in college. Robbie described their initial connection, their challenges as a same-sex couple in the early 90s in East Texas, and their path to self-acceptance and openness about their relationship over the years. They eventually married in New York before federal legalization of same-sex marriage, and their relationship has been a cornerstone of Robbie's life.

Robbie also reflected on the evolving acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within communities, particularly in the tech world. She acknowledges the progress made but notes that challenges remain, especially considering cultural and religious contexts. Besides her professional work, Robbie enjoys various hobbies like woodworking, leatherworking, and flying drones, which help her unwind and stay creative. Her vibrant personality and dedication to her multiple roles come through clearly in her anecdotes and reflections shared with Bud.

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An unexpected conversation with a guy who probably knows it's not a good idea to walk dogs and ride his bike at the same time.

Here, we have an unexpected conversation between Bud and Leo, a personable and engaging guest from Indonesia. Initially, Leo discusses his name pronunciation and his move from Jakarta to Bogor, emphasizing Jakarta's traffic and pollution contrast with Bogor's cooler, hilly environment. The discussion then shifts to Leo's education, detailing his 14-year stint at a Catholic school and his tertiary education journey spanning Indonesia and Malaysia in the field of Business Management and International Business.

Leo also shares details about his personal life, including his experiences with owning and managing two large dogs, a Golden Retriever and a mixed Kintamani-Terrier, during the pandemic. He humorously describes how walking his dogs often appears as though the dogs are walking him. The conversation touches on Leo's cycling hobby, where he reveals his long-term commitment to cycling since 2008 and his adaptation to indoor training due to a busy schedule.

As the chat continues, Leo mentions a cultural stigma towards dating apps in Indonesia and discusses his reluctance to rush into relationships. He also talks about his limited but meaningful use of social media platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram while admitting not being an early adopter of newer platforms like Blue Sky. In the professional context, Leo talks about his journey with Hostinger and his work with WordPress, narrating how his role as a writer evolved after covering updates for WordPress 5.9, eventually enjoying a fruitful career despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Photography is another passion for Leo, where he enjoys capturing landscapes, streets, and transportation objects, often using a full-frame mirrorless camera. He has traveled to the United States for WordCamp events, where he visited places like Portland, Oregon, and the tri-state area around Maryland. Leo shares his reaction to seeing the White House, which he found larger than expected compared to media portrayals.

Towards the end, Bud queries Leo about his acquaintances, leading to the recommendation of Nadia Maya Ardiani, a significant contributor to the WordPress training team in Indonesia. Leo believes she has interesting stories that would add value to the podcast. The episode concludes on a high note with mutual appreciation between Bud and Leo, reflecting the camaraderie shared during the interview.

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An unexpected conversation with a bootstrapping serial entrepreneur who is always looking for something new to do.

In this episode, Andrew Palmer shares details about his complex personal life and entrepreneurial journey. He begins by discussing his familial relationships, highlighting his connections with an ex-wife and an ex-partner. He maintains a friendly relationship with his ex-wife, with whom he has a daughter, and lives with his ex-partner due to their enduring friendship. Andrew then delves into his family history, revealing that his father moved from Belfast to Glasgow soon after his birth, something Andrew recently discovered through his sister’s genealogical research.

Our conversation shifts to Andrew's childhood, which was marked by frequent relocations and working from a young age due to his family’s financial situation. He recalls experiences with an abusive stepfather that led to him and his twin brother being taken in by foster parents. Andrew speaks fondly of his foster parents, who provided him much-needed stability until welfare stopped supporting them, forcing him to live with his biological father, a strict man he barely knew. This tumultuous upbringing eventually led Andrew to become self-reliant at a very young age.

Andrew discusses his early career, revealing that he worked in various roles, including as a waiter and a motorcycle courier. His career took a turn when he found a job as a private detective, working on both domestic and industrial espionage cases. He shares interesting anecdotes about phone tapping for Barclays Bank and retrieving stolen blueprints for a lift company. Throughout the conversation, Andrew emphasizes his resilience and adaptability in navigating a variety of challenges across different industries.

As an entrepreneur, Andrew explains his approach to building and selling businesses. He co-founded Elegant Marketplace with minimal initial investment and, despite some partner challenges, successfully sold it to InMotion Hosting. He talks about his latest venture, Bertha AI, an AI tool for WordPress. Despite facing a major setback when ChatGPT launched, causing them to lose all subscribers, Andrew remains optimistic and continues to work on the project. His entrepreneurial spirit is defined by his short-term commitment to projects, driven by a constant search for new challenges.

Towards the end of our chat, Andrew reveals personal interests such as playing guitar and golf. He shares light-hearted stories about his experiences with these hobbies, including his brief stint at golf where he once had a nine handicap. His multifaceted life experiences, from personal struggles and professional achievements to his hobbies, paint a picture of a resilient and dynamic individual who continually reinvents himself.

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An unexpected conversation with a woman from Kherson, Ukraine, trying to stay safe while running a WordPress business in the middle of a war.

This episode features an interview with Anna Hurko, a Ukrainian currently in Romania due to the war in her homeland. Host Bud welcomes Anna, acknowledging his mispronunciation of her name and discusses her experiences during the war and her current location. Anna shares the difficulties faced by her family in Ukraine, including frequent bomb attacks, and her efforts to stay safe while continuing her work remotely in Romania.

Anna details her professional involvement in WordPress, mentioning her position as the CEO of Crocoblock and the development of plugins for dynamic websites. She explains the challenges of preparing for significant events like Black Friday while managing strategic planning and sponsorships for WordCamps. Anna also highlights the active Spanish WordPress community's influence on her and her dedication to learning new languages to connect better with customers worldwide.

Throughout the conversation, Anna talks about her personal interests, such as playing the guitar and painting, and her methods for learning languages through immersion and audio courses. Despite her busy schedule and the ongoing war, Anna emphasizes the importance of maintaining hobbies and finding joy in small things, such as being able to sleep through the night without alarms.

On a more personal note, Anna reveals her past attempts at finding a serious partner, the difficulties posed by her busy life and geographic mobility, and her high standards influenced by a previous relationship with a Ukrainian diplomat. She also touches upon the personal and professional challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war, expressing hope for a natural and meaningful connection in the future.

The interview concludes with discussions about the possible outcomes Anna envisions for Ukraine post-war, including economic recovery and territorial sovereignty. Bud asks Anna for recommendations on future podcast guests, leading to mentions of prominent figures from the WordPress community. They end the conversation on a positive note, expressing hope to see each other at future WordCamps in Europe or the United States.

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An unexpected conversation between me, myself, and I as I put a bow on my first year as a podcaster. 

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An unexpected conversation with a young entrepreneur who is never going to work a day in his life.

The podcast episode titled "40 - Adrian Tobey" features a conversation between Bud and Adrian Tobey. Bud starts the episode by asking Adrian about fixing foundation cracks with expansion polyurethane foam, leading to Adrian recounting how he tackled a water leakage issue in his basement after a significant snowmelt in Canada. He explains the process of using epoxy and polyurethane foam kits to seal the cracks, which he found to be more cost-effective than hiring a professional.

The discussion moves to Adrian's current residence in Niagara Falls, where he enjoys the picturesque view and proximity to wine country, which influenced their decision to settle there. Adrian shares his and his wife's passion for wine, detailing their visits to various wine regions during their travels. Bud learns about Adrian’s past, including his schooling at the University of Toronto, where he met his wife, and his transition from studying computer science to founding Groundhog, a WordPress plugin business.

Adrian elaborates on Groundhog’s value proposition, emphasizing its flat-rate pricing and self-hosting features as an alternative to costly SaaS CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce. He touches upon his previous venture, Formlift, and his early start in the WordPress plugin business while still in university. The conversation also delves into Adrian’s personal hobbies, particularly his love for building elaborate Lego sets, including the Titanic.

Bud steers the talk into lighter subjects like Adrian’s hobbies and their shared enjoyment of Legos. Adrian discusses his collection and ongoing projects, mentioning the intricacies of building large sets like the Titanic. The conversation turns to sports, local interests, and childhood, providing a glimpse into Adrian’s personal life and upbringing.

Towards the end, the question of future family plans arises, with Adrian expressing his and his wife's intention to have children soon. The episode closes with a recommendation for Greg Franklin as a potential guest for the show and a spirited discussion about hosting future WordCamp events in Niagara Falls, highlighting its appealing aspects compared to other Canadian cities.

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An unexpected conversation between two guys who know what it's like to struggle with mental illness.

This episode of "Seriously Bud" features a heartfelt conversation between Bud and Cory Miller. The dialogue opens with Bud welcoming Cory and discussing their mutual unfamiliarity, leading into talks about Cory's origins in Oklahoma City and connections with notable people in the tech community. As they delve deeper, Cory shares his story of how he met his wife, Lindsay, highlighting their enduring marriage of 13 years and reflecting on the complexities and challenges of long-term relationships.

The conversation transitions into more profound territory as both Cory and Bud open up about their personal battles with mental health. Cory discusses his experiences with depression and burnout, emphasizing the importance of professional therapy and support in managing mental health challenges. Bud reciprocates by sharing his own prolonged struggle with depression, including his recurring thoughts about suicide, and the genetic predisposition to depression in his family. 

Bud and Cory reflect on the value of sharing their mental health struggles publicly, aiming to break the stigma surrounding these discussions. Cory mentions his early experiences in 2015 when he decided to openly discuss his mental health issues, a decision driven by a desire to obliterate the stigma and encourage others to seek help. Bud recalls being inspired by Cory's openness, leading him to share his own mental health journey for the first time on air.

As the conversation shifts back to lighter topics, Bud and Cory discuss their families, travel experiences, and professional endeavors. Cory talks about his role as Chief Evangelist at A2 Hosting, focusing on helping agencies through coaching and building long-term relationships. He also mentions his family's upcoming cruise and past travel adventures, sharing amusing anecdotes about his experience with travel logistics.

The episode closes with Bud and Cory emphasizing the importance of not suffering in silence and seeking professional help for mental health issues. They leave listeners with a powerful message: everyone experiences pain, but no one should go through it alone. They also discuss potential future guests for the show, with Bud expressing interest in having Kimberly Lopari and Brian Gardner on future episodes.

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An unexpected conversation with an outgoing introvert who lives in the middle of nowhere.

Aaron Campbell appeared on "Seriously Bud" and discussed his journey as an outgoing introvert, clarifying that being shy and being introverted are not the same. Aaron finds social interactions rewarding but also exhausting, and emphasized the importance of understanding one's own energy dynamics. He talked about his struggle with running a business while realizing his introverted nature, ultimately finding balance by conserving energy for meaningful interactions.

During the conversation, Aaron shared personal anecdotes about his upbringing in San Diego, his move to Seminole, Oklahoma, and his close relationship with his sister and grandparents. He explained that his relocation was motivated by the need to care for his grandparents, and praised the benefits of working remotely in the WordPress space, which allowed him to support his family while staying connected to his professional endeavors.

Aaron and Bud also discussed their personal interests, such as Aaron's recent immersion in Magic: The Gathering with his son. Aaron detailed how this new hobby grew quickly into a significant part of their lives, highlighting the importance of shared activities in maintaining strong family bonds. Additionally, they touched on other hobbies like riding dirt bikes and UTVs, revealing Aaron's appreciation for high-speed activities.

In the latter part of the interview, Aaron reflected on his professional journey within the hosting industry. He currently serves as the Director of Product at A2 Hosting and has previously worked with major companies like Endurance International Group and GoDaddy. Before entering the hosting industry, Aaron ran his own web development agency, which gave him valuable insights into the needs of clients seeking to establish their online presence.

The episode wrapped up with a discussion about Aaron's television preferences, particularly his anticipation for the final episode of "Only Murders in the Building." He recommended Sarah Glenn for a future interview on "Seriously Bud," highlighting her contributions to the WordPress community through events like WordCamp US and State of the Word. Aaron expressed his admiration for Bud's unique perspective and concluded with a mutual appreciation for the conversation.