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An unexpected conversation with a handlebar mustache who speaks multiple languages and makes dinner every night.

The conversation with Robert Jacobi traverses a range of topics from the personal to the professional. It starts with a lighthearted discussion about his handlebar mustache, a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns, and his multilingual capabilities. Robert explains his bilingual roots, having first learned Polish as a child and picking up several other languages over the years, including German, French, Italian, and Russian. He vividly describes his upbringing in Chicago's Oak Park neighborhood and his time studying finance and German in Vienna, Austria. 

Transitioning to his career, Robert reveals his brief stint in finance, which lasted only 48 hours, and how he shifted to the technology sector. He details his early work creating databases and websites at the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute, which laid the groundwork for his substantial career in web development and cybersecurity. 

The conversation also delves into Robert's personal life, including his European lineage, his fondness for European travel, and his family. He discusses meeting his wife, who was a barista at Starbucks, and how they developed a deep friendship before eventually getting married. His wife currently manages a surgical unit at a veterinary emergency hospital, a role that Robert helps make easier by preparing meals at home. 

Robert's musical tastes are eclectic, ranging from classical Mozart and 1980s industrial music to modern pop tunes. He enjoys using cooking as a form of relaxation after a busy day. The interview highlights Robert's extensive travels, both for work related to WordPress conferences and for personal pleasure, though he admits that trips to Asia are particularly exhausting. 

Finally, the script circles back to his ongoing involvement in the WordPress community. As the Chief Experience Officer at Blackwall, a web security company, Robert emphasizes the importance of security solutions for hosting companies. The interviewer expresses gratitude for the conversation and eagerly anticipates future interactions at WordPress events.

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An unexpected conversation with a childhood entrepreneur who admidts to being 110% nerd. 

The conversation begins with Zach Hendershot discussing his passion for gravel cycling, which he finds to be a perfect blend of road cycling and mountain biking. He appreciates how it allows for exploration and avoids traffic dangers while being less intensive than mountain biking. Bud mentions his own late discovery of cycling and their mutual love for experiencing places at a slower pace. Zach also shares his enthusiasm for discovering historical locations through cycling, likening the experience to train travel where hidden destinations become accessible.

Moving into Hendershot’s background, he discusses his roots in Dayton, Ohio. Growing up in a transitioning manufacturing town influenced by Wright Patterson Air Force Base, he experienced both the boom of new suburbs and the challenge of finding post-manufacturing industries. Hendershot retains strong ties with his childhood friends from Ohio, despite geographical distances.

The conversation diverts to Zach’s education at Miami University where he met his wife. Their initial interaction was rocky, but they eventually connected through mutual friends. His wife’s career evolved from teaching Latin in Ohio to working in internal audit in Denver after obtaining her CPA. Zach shares anecdotes from their early years, emphasizing their compatibility in parenting their daughter and following careers that allowed them a dynamic lifestyle.

Zach elaborates on his professional journey, explaining how his passion for technology led him to start various entrepreneurial ventures in the tech industry. His early fascination with technology and programming gave him a clear career direction. Eventually, he co-founded Miruni, a SaaS product using AI to help agencies manage and update WordPress websites more efficiently by automating mundane tasks.

Finally, the discussion touches on Zach’s current lifestyle in Denver, where he indulges in outdoor activities like hiking and biking, consistent with Colorado’s lifestyle. In his personal life, Zach balances work with family activities and travel plans, including a trip to London and Paris with his daughter. The conversation wraps up by contemplating the evolving role of AI in technology and Zach’s aspirations for future innovations in the tech indu

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An unexpected conversation with a guy who arranged charters to fly rock stars around and was once carded for being too old to buy wine at Walmart. 

In this episode of Seriously, Bud, the guest is Michael Lofton, who has an intriguing background in aviation and music. Michael unfolds his aviation journey, starting with flying a Cessna as a teenager, leading to a longer career in private aviation. He mentions his early musical interests and shares a humorous anecdote about being carded while buying wine at Walmart.

Michael shares a remarkable segment about his career shift from teaching flying and inspecting aircraft to running flight charters for various rock bands. It began from an unexpected phone call from a musician's agent, leading him to organize tours for notable artists like Jimmy Buffett. Michael dives into the challenges of arranging large aircraft with adequate passenger capacity and financial backing for these tours. 

The conversation moves to some entertaining and less glamorous aspects of his job, including managing the needs and sometimes destructive behaviors of rock bands on tour. He discusses the complexities of securing aircraft and the synchronicities in his career, such as how he was almost involved in Ricky Nelson's ill-fated flight.

Michael references his book, "Flying Rocks," which details his experiences and mishaps during these flights. He explains his motivation behind writing it for his grandchildren, ensuring his adventurous life stories are documented. The book serves as a fascinating expose on the less-known backstage occurrences of the private aviation industry.

Michael's journey eventually led him to New Hampshire to be closer to his family, particularly his grandkids. He describes the transition from his aviation career to working in digital marketing and SEO, a skill he developed out of necessity. He closes by suggesting potential future guests for the show, including his son, who is a WordPress expert, and Jonathan Watson, a fellow WordPress professional with a podcast on Lord of the Rings.

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An unexpected conversation with a world's leading authority on privacy, who received her law degree when she was 21. 

This episode features Bud and Donata Stroink-Skillrud as they discuss Donata's remarkable journey of achieving a law degree at the age of 21. Donata shares her accelerated educational path, beginning with early learning encouraged by her grandfather, then skipping grades and taking Advanced Placement classes, and finally completing college and law school faster than usual. Her story highlights a blend of curiosity, determination, and strategic planning.

Bud and Donata delve into her career trajectory, where after law school, she initially had a hard time finding a job at large law firms but eventually found her niche in business law and privacy law. This interest blossomed during her time at a software development firm, and later led to her founding Termageddon, a service that generates and updates privacy policies and other legal documents for websites.

The conversation extends to Donata's personal background, including her early life in Lithuania under her grandparents' care before moving to the United States. She reflects on her active childhood full of outdoor activities and her family's eventual reunion in New Jersey and Illinois. These formative experiences played a role in shaping her dynamic and driven personality.

Bud and Donata also touch on her work with the American Bar Association, representing them at the United Nations where she addresses various legal issues including privacy. They discuss the complexities and chaotic nature of privacy laws in the US, highlighting the patchwork of state-specific regulations that businesses must navigate.

Finally, the episode explores Donata's life outside of work, including her marriage to Hans and their shared business and personal experiences. Donata emphasizes maintaining a balance between work and personal life and shares their mutual interest in travel and adventure, reflecting a rich, well-rounded life story that underscores the importance of setting personal and professional goals and diligently working toward them.

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An unexpected conversation with a web development instructor who is working on a Bachelor of AI degree. 

Matt Graham, a longtime resident of Ontario, Canada, joined the show from Whitby, just east of Toronto. Despite being Canadian, Matt playfully claims he doesn’t have much of an accent—likely  due to watching American TV. Unlike many Canadians, he doesn’t closely follow hockey, though he enjoys watching it socially. His real sports passion lies with baseball, especially the Toronto Blue Jays. Matt joked about needing to give up his citizenship for not being a hockey fan, a common theme among some of his Canadian WordPress peers.

In addition to working in web development, Matt is also an educator and a lifelong learner. He teaches at his local community college, offering courses in JavaScript, PHP, HTML/CSS, and more. After some career reflection and guidance, he decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence with the goal of eventually earning a master’s in applied AI. He sees AI as both a practical tool in his daily coding work and a critical part of tech’s future, noting that tools like ChatGPT have become integral to how he thinks, creates, and solves problems.

Family life is important to Matt, who shares a home with his wife—an elementary school teacher—and their two sons. His youngest son is completely blind and on the autism spectrum. Matt discussed the challenges and remarkable technologies his son uses in school, including Braille Note devices and screen readers like JAWS and NVDA. He praised how much more accessible education has become in recent years thanks to digital tools and emphasized how far things have come since even five years ago.

When he's not teaching or coding, Matt is passionate about cooking - especially low-and-slow barbecue. He shared his love for smoking meats like pulled pork, brisket, turkey, and chicken, often using a pellet grill that feeds compressed wood chips automatically. While he avoids sugary sauces, he does season with salt, pepper, and herbs and sometimes adds butter under poultry skin for extra flavor. He even taught Bud about "spatchcocking," which involves removing the bird’s spine to cook it evenly and faster.

As a WordPress veteran of over 20 years, Matt is currently exploring new professional opportunities. His ideal role would be as a solutions architect, helping businesses figure out what’s possible with WordPress and other web technologies. He emphasized that while AI is rapidly advancing, it still needs experienced humans to guide and implement it effectively. Matt also gave a shout-out to potential future guests, including Shanta Nathwani and Kira Howe, and promised Bud some poutine and a beaver tail if he returns to Ottawa.

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An unexpected conversation with an irrepressible dynamo whose magnetic smile brightens the world. 

In this engaging interview, Marieke van de Rakt discusses various aspects of her life, starting with her childhood memories in the Netherlands, her educational journey, and her academic achievements. Marieka reveals that she recently discovered she has ADHD, which affected her attention in school but didn't stop her from excelling as a student. Her academic endeavors culminated in a PhD in criminology, although she eventually transitioned into a career in education and online marketing, closely intertwined with her husband's venture, Joost, a company she later joined. 

She also touches on her family life, recounting how she and her husband Joost met during a school event and how their relationship evolved. They have four children, and Marieka talks about the challenges and joys of balancing family responsibilities with her work commitments. She also mentions how connected Dutch people tend to be and how her children navigate their parents' recognition in the tech world. Despite their public profiles, Marieke emphasizes her intent to provide a normal, grounded upbringing for her children. 

Marieke offers insights into Dutch culture, particularly around education and child-rearing, noting that Netherlands-based children are among the happiest. She discusses the national preference for thinking outside the box, which she believes fosters creativity and innovation. Additionally, Marieke outlines her professional engagements: working at Emilia Capital, teaching online marketing, and participating in local politics, which she describes as focused on practical, community-oriented issues such as urban landscaping and public health. 

Her explanation of local Dutch politics reveals a more collaborative and less adversarial political environment compared to other countries, with a focus on practical, day-to-day concerns. She finds joy in making a tangible difference in her community. Marieke also expresses aspirations to travel more extensively once her youngest child completes his education, with Africa as a top destination on her bucket list.

Throughout the conversation, Marieke's down-to-earth personality and commitment to her many roles come across vividly. She also humorously notes her passion for engaging with her community, her family’s green initiatives, and her own aspirations to explore more of the world. The interview ends with a recommendation to speak with her husband, Joost, for his perspective, adding another layer to the understanding of this dynamic duo.

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An unexpected conversation with a guy who survived high school by reading furtively on his way to becoming a solutions architect.

The interview with Dan Knaus delves into his rich and diverse life experiences, spanning several U.S. states and culminating in his current residence in Canada. Dan begins by describing his early years, having been born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and growing up in Chatham. He discusses his high school years in New Jersey during the tumultuous 1970s, noting his early interests in literature and technology. He highlights his experience in a summer program at Oxford, where he met his former wife, an event marked by a humorous anecdote about skinny dipping and nettles.

Dan's professional journey is equally varied, covering his transition from an academic path to freelance web development, which eventually led him to WordPress. He provides insight into his role as a solutions architect at Multi Dots, an enterprise agency, and shares his philosophy on problem-solving and project development. Dan also reflects on his teaching experiences, predominantly focused on literature and writing rather than technology.

Family life is a central theme, as Dan discusses raising his four daughters and their respective educational and professional paths. He touches upon the family's move to Canada due to his former wife's job, and his children’s dual Canadian-American identities. Despite splitting up a couple of years ago during the pandemic, Dan maintains a positive outlook on his family’s achievements and future.

Throughout the interview, Dan offers a glimpse into his personal interests, such as his fondness for reading existentialist authors in high school and his early fascination with programming. He also reminisces about his diverse educational background, which took him from North Carolina to Milwaukee, and eventually to England for his summer program at Oxford.

The interview concludes with Dan's thoughts on the cities he has lived in, his continued involvement in the WordPress community, and a light-hearted discussion about the various people and places that have shaped his life. He ends on a hopeful note, looking forward to future engagements and travel, particularly within the vibrant WordPress community.

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An unexpected conversation with a woman who is passionate about giving back more than she receives. 

Stacey L. Carlson, originally from Gothenburg, Nebraska, discusses her unique life journey in this episdoe of Seriously, BUD? She describes her early move to Lincoln, Nebraska, and her experiences living in different states such as Dallas and New Jersey. Stacey shares her challenging teenage years, including dropping out of high school due to family circumstances and later returning to complete her education. Her first computer in 1994 transformed her life, leading her to teach herself various tech skills, including website building and identifying software bugs, which eventually landed her a job at Micrografx. She also recalls meeting her husband through a Bulletin Board System (BBS) and their mutual interest in video games and technology.

Stacey recounts her professional journey, which included creating a popular website about Micrografx and working at Text Expander before joining Jetpack as an agency partner manager. In early 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led her to take some time off for treatment. However, her determination and support from her company, Automatic, helped her bounce back. She played a pivotal role in launching an affiliate program for several Automattic products, including WordPress.com, Jetpack, and WooCommerce.

The interview also delves into Stacey's personal life, including her marriage in 2001 and raising two children who have different interests from their tech-savvy parents. She discusses her love for photography, specifically macro photography, and the unique perspectives it offers. Her involvement in WordPress is highlighted, including attending numerous WordPress conferences and WordCamps across the globe.

Stacey also talks about her approach to dealing with cancer, emphasizing the importance of normalcy and the support she received from her workplace. She reflects on the impact of her diagnosis on her family and how they managed the challenging times together, sharing the lessons she learned about resilience and adaptability.

Towards the end of the interview, Stacey offers insights into her work-life balance, her passion for video games, and her future plans. She expresses her admiration for the WordPress community and her commitment to giving back more than she received. Finally, she looks forward to continued involvement in tech and WordPress, underlining her love for what she does and her belief in the positive impact of her work.

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An unexpected conversation with an engaging life-long learner, co-founder and CTO of Human Made. 

In this engaging conversation, Joe Hoyle, CTO and co-founder of Human Made, discusses his work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of managing work hours effectively. Joe shares that he now strives to work only about eight hours a day, having put in grueling 12-hour work days in his earlier career. The conversation touches upon his responsibilities managing a global web agency that specializes in high-level WordPress implementations for large-scale enterprises, emphasizing a more strategic and less hands-on coding role while maintaining a strong technical foundation.

Joe also delves into his personal life, highlighting the joys and challenges of raising young children while balancing professional responsibilities. He mentions that although he now finishes work by mid-afternoon, his free time is largely dominated by family activities. Joe and his wife Daphne have two young children, and they make a conscious effort to ensure quality family time, steering clear of too much television and engaging them in various enriching activities.

The discussion explores Joe's unique upbringing, characterized by a non-traditional lifestyle with his hippie parents who opted for a nomadic, minimalist way of living. Joe and his siblings were raised in a setting devoid of many modern comforts, traveling and living in tents or vans, which has shaped his present outlook on life and work. The non-conventional upbringing led him to discover computers and self-teach coding, eventually pivoting into a career in web development and enterprise-level WordPress solutions.

Joe and his wife, both avid travelers, prefer staying in different parts of the world for extended periods to soak in local cultures genuinely. This wanderlust has influenced their family decisions significantly, including moves to Berlin, Canada, and annual stays in South Africa. Such long-term stays allow them not just to explore but to build community and deep-rooted connections in various parts of the globe.

Concerning the WordPress community, Joe affirms his continued passion for the platform, participating in events like WordCamp Europe and WordCamp US. He reflects nostalgically on the growth of Human Made, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the fast-evolving tech landscape. The conversation is both reflective and forward-looking, touching upon future technological advancements like AI and their potential to reshape the industry.

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An unexpected conversation with a world-traveling entrepreneur who knows how to cook and do laundry for seven. 

Miriam Schwab shares her extensive journey in this engaging conversation with Bud. They reflect on the year-long delay in their discussion, and Miriam details her life starting from her upbringing in Toronto. She humorously discusses the Jewish community she grew up in and the varied synagogues she attended, explaining her transition from schools and how her family eventually relocated to Israel. Despite initial struggles with the language and adjusting to a new culture, she eventually found her footing, attending university, starting a family, and embarking on a professional journey in Israel.

Miriam describes her early career, including editing patents, which allowed her to utilize her English literature degree while remaining connected to her passion for technology. After having three children, she sought more flexibility and professional growth, leading her to transition from editing patents to starting her business, initially offering copywriting and eventually specializing in building websites through self-taught skills in HTML, CSS, and WordPress. Her transition from providing basic websites to becoming a significant figure in Israel’s WordPress community showcases her ambition and adaptability.

As WordPress evolved, so did Miriam’s business, positioning her agency as one of the early adopters and leading service providers in Israel. Her efforts in personal branding, speaking engagements, and organizing local WordPress conferences significantly contributed to her success. Eventually, she sold her agency to a Canadian firm and began her second business, Strattic, focusing on a new method of hosting and deploying WordPress websites, with advancements that caught the attention of Elementor, leading to its acquisition.

At Elementor, Miriam took up the mantle as the Head of WordPress Relations, a role she is passionate about, thriving in an environment that values hybrid work and community engagement. She delves into the work culture at Elementor, emphasizing its international presence and inclusive approach despite its predominantly Hebrew-speaking office in Tel Aviv. Her role not only involves technical and architectural oversight but also active participation in the WordPress community worldwide, attending and speaking at numerous conferences.

Towards the end, they touch upon more personal aspects, particularly her experience as a mother of seven children. Miriam candidly shares her shift from managing young children to enjoying her time with her adult children and their partners. She expresses excitement about the prospect of becoming a grandmother and her continued passion for learning and engaging with diverse communities. Despite her extensive achievements, Miriam remains grounded and humorously brushes off grandiose titles, focusing instead on her next steps and personal growth.

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