Akshat Choudhary is the founder of WP Remote, which is an awesome and successful backup service for WordPress sites. But you won't hear him boasting about that. Akshat doesn't talk much. He's a self-professed shy guy. He's not someone you'll always be hearing from on YouTube, social media, podcasts. Instead, Akshat is an engineer who loves to focus on building great products. We dig into Akshat's story on this episode and how his quiet, quality work has produced a legion of loyal customers and fans.

• 00:00 Introduction to Akshat Choudhary and WP Remote
• 04:41 The Importance of Office Culture in Tech Companies
• 09:44 Navigating the WordPress Ecosystem: Products and Target Audiences
• 14:39 The Journey of Building a Startup: Early Experiences
• 19:44 Partnerships with Hosting Companies: Strategies and Challenges
• 25:02 Quality Over Quantity: Business Philosophy and Pricing Strategy
• 30:02 The Power of Public Persona
• 30:25 Challenges of Operating from India
• 31:11 Understanding the North American Market
• 33:28 Balancing Marketing and Product Development
• 33:51 Navigating AI's Impact on Business
• 36:16 Top-Down vs Bottom-Up AI Implementation
• 44:44 Visual Regression Testing: A New Product Launch
• 51:22 The Complexity of Visual Regression Testing
• 55:08 Crafting High-Quality Software
• 59:59 Engaging with the Community

Our guest is Karim Marucchi from the Crowd Favorite agency and the FAIR project. 

With Karim's help, we're going to try and tell two stories in this episode.

The first story is Karim's life working with some of the biggest agencies in the world, and selling projects to some of the largest companies in the world. He tells the story of how he sat down and sold Steve Jobs on a website project. 

The second story is about the value of open source and WordPress to those big enterprise customers. Karim is working really hard at the moment with the FAIR project. We'll explain what that is. The FAIR project is part of Karim's efforts to bring the benefits of open source to big enterprise customers.

[00:00:00] - Introduction
[00:01:21] - Early career and transition
[00:05:17] - Big breaks: Nissan and Pixar
[00:07:38] - Acquisition and rapid growth
[00:09:25] - European expansion and IPO
[00:11:16] - Integration work and lessons
[00:13:40] - Entering open source and WordPress
[00:16:00] - Crowd Favorite and Alex King
[00:17:49] - Bridging publishing and enterprise
[00:20:00] - Composable and modular architectures
[00:21:18] - Enterprise value: ownership and cost
[00:24:23] - System architecture role and compliance
[00:26:08] - CRA and supply chain security
[00:28:36] - Enterprise practices: updates and SBOM
[00:33:00] - Introducing the FAIR project
[00:33:56] - Enterprise examples and collaboration
[00:39:23] - FAIR adoption and partners
[00:41:06] - Linux Foundation governance model
[00:45:03] - Goal: trusted WordPress supply chain
[00:45:55] - FAIR roadmap: ecosystem and policies
[00:47:56] - Defining moment for the coming decades
[00:49:38] - Follow-up and closing

Evan Prodromou is often called "The father of the Fediverse". It's amazing how much overlap there is between the aims of WordPress and Fediverse. These two communities should work together more! The Fediverse consists of independent social networking platforms including Mastodon (micro-blogging), PeerTube (videos), Pixelfed (images) and more. 

Just like WordPress, most of the Fediverse runs on open source code. And just like WordPress, you get to create content that isn't swallowed by corporate algorithms. And you can build successful business or communities on your platforms that you own control.

We talk with Evan about the origins and evolution of the Fediverse. Evan has played a key role in building several early Fediverse sites such as Wikitravel, Identi.ca, and StatusNet. He also helped to develop Activity Pub which the key protocol that enables Fediverse to talk to each other.

Find out more about Evan: https://evanp.me. 

• 00:00 The Birth of the Fediverse
• 03:06 Evan's Journey in Open Source and Social Networking
• 05:56 The Evolution of Protocols and Privacy
• 08:55 Philosophical Underpinnings of Open Systems
• 12:05 Meta's Threads and Its Impact on the Fediverse
• 15:08 From Identica to Threads: A Historical Overview
• 18:07 The Role of Standards in the Fediverse
• 21:13 Commercial Interest in the Fediverse
• 25:04 The Power of Newsletters and Social Feeds
• 28:07 Hyperlocal Connections in the Fediverse
• 30:03 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Social Networks
• 32:58 Building Community through Fediverse Instances
• 38:12 Innovations and Future of the Fediverse
• 42:12 Encouraging WordPress Community Engagement with the Fediverse

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, Raquel joins Dan and Steve to chat about bringing PressConf to life. PressConf is the spiritual successor to Pressnomics, a business-focused WordPress conference. Raquel tells the PressConf story and shares her lessons for other event organizers, including Dan who was part of the WordCamp Canada team.

Raquel talks about what it’s really like to organize large events, the ups and downs along the way, and why community is at the heart of it all. We dive into the behind-the-scenes details: how sponsorships work, how to make speakers feel safe and supported, and why global representation matters so much. Raquel shares what made PressConf 2025 such a success and what’s next for her events.

Check out PressConf 2026: https://pressconf.events

Timestamps: 

00:00 The Birth of PressConf
03:04 Organizing Large Events: Challenges and Strategies
06:07 The Unique Experience of PressConf
09:07 Sponsorship Dynamics in Smaller Conferences
12:02 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability
15:01 The Global Reach of PressConf
17:57 Reflections on the Success of PressConf 2025
29:11 Navigating Visa Challenges for Events
30:51 Funding Models for Conferences
34:51 Balancing Ticket Prices and Sponsorships
36:22 Understanding Event Costs
39:07 PressConf's Future and Expansion Plans
41:21 Attracting New Audiences and Diversity
45:31 The Future of PressConf and Open Source Events
49:38 The Role of the Host in Event Success
51:01 Building Trust in Event Organization
56:32 Looking Ahead to PressConf 2026

In this episode, I talk with Than Taintor from the Human Made agency and Zeshan Ahmed from Green Street News. Together they've been part of the project to revamp the Green Street News website. 

Green Street News is a major real estate publisher. They're based out of the UK, but have recently been expanding to Europe, Australia, and North America. That's meant a lot of changes to their business and their WordPress platform. This project had significant challenges, including codebase over a decade old. There was also a large volume of content, with over 100,000 articles split across multiple regions. There were also membership and scaling challenges as the Green Street team sends several highly-popular newsletters multiple times every day.

00:00 Introduction to HumanMade and Green Street

03:23 The Evolution of the Green Street Codebase

06:41 Architectural Decisions for Regional Content Management

10:48 Scaling Challenges with High Traffic

14:42 Implementing the Block Editor for Content Creation

18:15 Transitioning to Digital: The Evolution of Green Street News

20:51 Membership Management: Navigating Complex Systems

24:00 Modernizing Legacy Systems: The Ship of Theseus

27:20 AI in Action: Auto-Tagging Content

32:37 Expanding Horizons: Future Growth Plans

35:52 Data Privacy: Safeguarding Sensitive Information

38:01 Recommendations: Influential Voices in Publishing

Kimberly Lipari is CEO of Valet, a WordPress agency. She had made the very intentional choice to remain a small agency. We talk about how Kimberly balances work and family life, plus the importance of human touch in agency work.

Kimberly introduces me to the tools that Valet relies on. She does a great job of selling me on the Bricks page builder that I've never used before. She thinks it has a lot advantages for WordPress agencies.

We discuss the evolution of Valet, and also her new project, The Modern Webmaster, aimed at empowering clients with knowledge about web development.

Check out Kimberly's agency at Valet.io.

• 00:00 Introduction to Valet and Its Meaning
• 02:01 Understanding Valet's Clientele
• 04:33 The Intentionality of a Small Agency
• 06:32 Balancing Work and Family Life
• 08:50 Revenue Streams and Client Relationships
• 10:12 Consulting and Problem Solving
• 11:23 Applying Engineering Skills to Web Projects
• 15:51 The Flexibility of WordPress
• 16:54 Tools for Managing Client Sites
• 19:06 The Importance of Human Touch in Maintenance
• 22:54 The Role of Staff in Client Management
• 24:11 Addressing Security Concerns
• 28:01 Exploring Client Needs and Solutions
• 30:06 Exploring Page Builders and Themes
• 39:19 The Evolution of Valet and Agency Life
• 49:14 The Modern Webmaster
• 57:26 Empowering Clients Through Knowledge

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, Steve Burge chats with Jamie Marsland.

Jamie is known for his YouTube work on the PootlePress channel and now the official WordPress channel. A few years back, he had a regular job in publishing, but a career change unlocked a whole new wave of creativity.

First, they talk about how AI has changed Jamie’s writing. It helps him create content faster and even build apps like PootleWriter to make writing and publishing easier.

Then, they dive into YouTube, which has become a big outlet for Jamie’s creativity. He’s passionate about teaching and helping beginners with WordPress. Jamie shares how building trust through video has helped him grow and how he’s using what he’s learned to make WordPress better on YouTube.

Check out Jamie's work at https://www.pootlepress.com.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
• 03:01 The Transition from Traditional Publishing to Digital
• 06:00 Unlocking Creativity with AI
• 11:53 The Development of PoodleWriter and Other Apps
• 18:04 The Impact of YouTube on Creative Expression
• 23:58 Teaching and Training in the WordPress Community
• 26:48 The Mission Behind the YouTube Channel
• 28:59 Growth and Strategy of WordPress YouTube Channels
• 31:57 Balancing Community and Consistency on YouTube
• 33:40 Recommendations for Launching a YouTube Channel
• 35:55 Building Trust Through Video Content
• 37:53 The Future of AI in Video Content Creation
• 41:07 AI's Impact on WordPress and the Future
• 45:09 The Challenge of Competing with New Tools 
• 48:02 The Exciting Future of Content Creation 
• 52:53 The Value of Traditional Media in a Digital Age

Simea is part of a digital agency called Morntag, based in Switzerland. Her agency helps people navigate between different worlds. Many of Simea's customer are traditional print publishers and they need her help to navigate the online world including WordPress, AI and YouTube. Also the customers often need to work in different linguistic worlds including English, French, Italian, multiple versions of German, and more.

Find out more about Simea's work at https://morntag.com. Her WordPress-to-PDF service is at https://pressdify.com.

Timestamps from this episode:

• 00:00 Introduction to Montag and Multilingualism
• 06:21 Navigating Multilingual WordPress Challenges
• 12:36 From Print to Digital: The Evolution of Montag
• 18:50 Client Needs: Balancing Print and Digital
• 23:58 The Impact of AI on Publishing and Digitization
• 24:12 Bridging the Gap: From Print to Digital
• 26:12 Family Business Dynamics in Tech
• 27:06 The Meaning Behind Montag
• 28:02 Understanding Client Needs Beyond Platforms
• 29:30 The Role of Pressdify in Digital Transition
• 32:09 Exploring the Capabilities of Pressdify
• 36:55 AI's Impact on Publishing
• 42:49 Adapting to New Technologies in Publishing
• 45:23 Complementary Tools for Enhanced Usability
• 49:59 Influential Voices in Publishing

Some key takeaways from this episode:

• Montag is based in Switzerland and serves clients in the DACH region (Germany, Austraia, Switzerland).
• WordPress is not inherently built for multilingual sites so it requires plugins and often consulting work.
• Clients often come to Morntag from a print-first mindset, needing digital solutions.
• The transition from print to digital can be challenging for traditional publishers.
• AI's impact on publishing is a growing concern for clients.
• Flipbooks sound like a good idea for PDF magazines, but are not favored by users who prefer responsive web designs.
• The future of publishing will require adaptation to new technologies. Montag started as an Adobe training company and transitioned to web design.
• Clients often seek solutions for pain points rather than looking for specific platforms such as WordPress.

Luke Fretwell is one of the most creative and pioneering people I've met in open source. He's enjoyed a 25+ year career that has covered multiple projects, collaborations, and businesses. The through-line for all Luke's projects has been making government better through technology. 

Luke created GovPress, a very popular WordPress theme focused for governments. He built Proud City, a WordPress-based SaaS service for government. His latest work includes ScanGov to track the quality of government websites, and Proudly Serving, a collectively written playbook that helps governments build people-centered digital public services.

• LukeFretwell.com: Luke's personal site.
• Govfresh.com: Luke's consultancy
• ProudCity.com: a WordPress-based platform for local governments
• ProudlyServingBook.com: local government digital services handbook
• ScanGov.org: Government digital experience monitor
• Chatcivic.ai: Government AI chatbots

Timestamps:

• 02:53: The Journey from Journalism to Technology
• 10:15: Connecting Technology and Government
• 12:09: The Birth of GovFresh
• 16:12: Launching Proud City
• 24:27: Navigating the Government Market
• 24:55: Navigating Government Procurement Challenges
• 28:05: Innovating in Government Tech: The Innovator's Dilemma
• 29:28: Introducing ScanGov: A Civic Tech Initiative
• 36:13: The Future of Civic Tech and Open Source
• 41:24: AI in Government: ChatCivic and Its Potential
• 53:17: Civic Leadership and Influential Voices

Carol Cavaleiro lives in Brazil and supports journalists across North and South America through her work at Indiegraf.

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, Carol discusses her journey from co-founding the fact-checking agency AusFatos in Brazil to becoming a product director at Indiegraf, a Canadian publishing platform.

We talk about misinformation, and the importance of community journalism to get genuine information to people. Carol and her clients need to use innovative ways to reach people including WhatsApp, audio versions of articles, and in-person events.

More about Indiegraf: https://indiegraf.com/

• 00:53 The Founding of AusFatos and Its Impact
• 03:33 The Evolution of Misinformation and Fact-Checking
• 08:31 Transitioning to IndieGraph and Product Development
• 13:07 Building a User-Friendly Platform for Publishers
• 18:47 The Role of Newsletters in Modern Publishing
• 22:52 Expanding into Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities
• 27:41 WhatsApp as a Communication Tool for Publishers
• 31:57 The Importance of Independent Distribution Systems
• 35:14 Navigating Security and Content Ownership
• 40:43 Spotlight on Innovative Publishers