Webmasters.FM

By Brian CoordsTechnology

Webmasters.FM episodes

November 05WordPress Agentic Workflows ft. Ian Svoboda
Brian Coords talks with software engineer and WordPress consultant Ian Svoboda about using AI agents in real client work. Ian shares his Claude Code and Codex review loop, how he gives agents practical access to WordPress and tests their changes, and examples from WooCommerce and large site migrations. They also discuss which plugins still earn their place, when clients need WordPress, and why developers should sell business results rather than code.
Links
Ian Svoboda’s website
Learn WordPress Theme Development
Ian Svoboda on X
Ian’s previous Webmasters.FM episode
Chapters
00:00 Ian Svoboda’s path from WordPress builds to AI agents
02:05 From Copilot experiments to agentic development
04:11 Why cross-model code review catches more
06:06 Terminal sessions, agent confidence, and reusable project rules
10:57 Letting agents communicate through panes and shared state
13:03 Giving agents safe, practical access to WordPress sites
16:13 Using WordPress APIs to accelerate client work
17:41 Testing a site migration across hundreds of pages
19:33 Custom WooCommerce features without plugin sprawl
22:44 When to fork a plugin instead of buying another
25:03 Which software products are vulnerable to vibe coding?
27:03 Small bets, custom tools, and measuring time with agents
30:55 Why complex business problems still need specialized products
33:08 Choosing WordPress, static sites, and the right client experience
36:24 SpaceFast for agent-made artifacts and presentations
39:04 Building agent workflows that survive model changes
41:05 Why developers should sell outcomes, not code
44:18 Ian’s upcoming workshop and where to follow him
46 min
November 02Building a WooCommerce Agency in the AI Era ft. Jonny Martin
Brian Coords speaks with Jonny Martin, founder of Built Mighty, a WooCommerce-focused development agency, about how AI is changing development and what agencies must do to stay valuable. Martin explains Built Mighty's AI-driven migration workflow, its Mighty Migrate service, why block themes can improve performance, and how smaller agencies can grow by specializing and delivering more value.
Links
Built Mighty
Mighty Migrate
Jonny Martin on LinkedIn
Chapters
00:00 From Magento merchant to WooCommerce specialist
03:25 The 30-day challenge that made AI central to development
06:12 AI workflows: plan first or prototype first
08:21 Why AI-generated work still needs review and testing
10:32 Where agencies remain essential for high-stakes stores
13:05 Delivering more value as AI lowers build costs
16:15 How Mighty Migrate turns designs and stores into WordPress
20:33 Block themes, performance scores, and the practical stack
24:48 Choosing the right AI tools and simplifying WooCommerce
28:40 Advice for smaller agencies: specialize in repeatable work
32:32 More opportunity, stronger client relationships
36 min
October 27Building show.fm: Podcasting, AI, and Open RSS ft. Nathan Wrigley and Dan Maby
Brian Coords talks with Nathan Wrigley and Dan Maby, co-founders of show.fm, about building a platform that brings podcast planning, booking, publishing, and related workflows together. They explain their human-first approach to AI, commitment to open RSS and creator ownership, and how customer feedback is shaping studio, editing, and distribution features.
Links
show.fm
Nathan Wrigley on WordPress.org
WP Builds
Dan Maby on WordPress.org
Dan Maby’s website
Chapters
00:00 Meet Nathan Wrigley and Dan Maby
01:16 The podcast workflow problem behind show.fm
04:20 Helping podcasters get beyond episode three
06:16 Planning and architecture before scaling the product
08:49 How AI fits into development, with human oversight
13:48 AI that supports podcast makers, not replaces them
18:38 Podcasting, WordPress, and open publishing
22:01 RSS, ownership, and the video-versus-audio debate
24:45 Audio-first studio plans and customer feedback
29:29 WordPress distribution, the rebrand, and show.fm’s guest network
37 min
September 14Modern WordPress Theme Development with WP Rig ft. Rob Ruiz
In this episode, Rob Ruiz and Brian Coords discuss the evolution of WordPress development, focusing on WP Rig, a modern theme framework. They explore how AI, automation, and best practices can streamline theme creation, improve quality, and address future challenges in content management and developer workflows.
Links
Rob Ruiz on X - https://x.com/robcruiz
WP Rig - https://wprig.io/
WP Rig on X - https://x.com/wprigio
Chapters
Chapters
0:00 Introduction to Rob Ruiz and WP Rig
1:22 WordCamp US experience and key takeaways
3:33 What is WP Rig and why use it?
7:26 The importance of a toolkit for modern theme development
10:52 AI and agentic frameworks in theme creation
9:09 Handling updates and dependencies in WP Rig
14:17 Building components and plugins with WP Rig
16:45 The open component registry and plugin ecosystem
19:33 Supporting classic and block themes
22:09 Creating custom blocks and build system integration
24:40 Building admin UI and settings pages with WP Rig
28:16 Ensuring opinionated and consistent development workflows
38:31 Content management challenges and future solutions
39:51 The role of content storage and JSON in AI-driven development
41:12 Managing plugins, media, and clutter in WordPress
44:47 Getting involved with WP Rig community and resources
47 min
July 01WordPress and Woo Themes with Ollie and AI/MCP ft Mike McAlister
In this episode, Mike from Ollie shares insights on the evolution of WordPress site building, the role of AI, and how Ollie is simplifying website creation for users. Discover how Ollie integrates design, AI, and user experience to empower developers and non-coders alike.
Links
OllieWP
WooCommerce
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ollie and its evolution
02:04 Key features of Ollie and design touches
03:47 Balancing no-code and developer control
05:45 WooCommerce support and block themes
07:33 Future of WordPress and AI integration
09:04 Designing with AI and content generation
11:09 Challenges with WooCommerce blocks
13:05 Custom landing pages and product templates
14:59 Improving user experience and micro-interactions
16:38 The importance of UI and micro friction points
18:34 AI in content editing and site management
20:14 The role of developer tools and customization
22:25 AI features in Ollie and future plans
24:03 Balancing AI automation with user control
25:56 The sustainability and energy impact of AI
27:51 The importance of user-friendly interfaces
29:49 The future of content editing in WordPress
31:42 Closing thoughts and where to find Ollie
41 min
March 27Fostering Healthy Conversations around Contribution ft. Nik McLaughlin
In this episode, Nik McLaughlin and I explore the complexities of community feedback, open source contribution, and the responsibilities of platform maintainers. We discuss how to foster trust, handle criticism, and improve collaboration within the WordPress ecosystem.
Links
Nik on Twitter
Brian on Twitter
WordPress 7.0
WordPress AI Connectors Need More Friction, Not Less by Marcus Burnette
Nik's Original Thread
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:18 Community Feedback and Engagement
05:40 Understanding User Perspectives
08:29 The Value of Feedback
14:16 Navigating Negative Feedback
19:20 Open Source Responsibilities
24:02 The Dynamics of WordPress and User Expectations
27:46 AI Integration and Community Concerns
29:43 Community Conversations and Feedback Dynamics
35:14 Navigating Technical Bureaucracy in Open Source
41:13 The Time Investment in Open Source Contributions
44:42 Building Trust in Collaborative Environments
49:25 Transparency and Community Engagement in Development
55 min
March 04Vibe Coding for 100k Users & WordPress’s AI Roadmap ft. Matt Medeiros
In this conversation, Matt Medeiros discusses his recent experience creating a community-driven app during a significant blizzard, leveraging Cloudflare and Cloud Code for development. He reflects on the impact of AI on software development, the importance of trust in tech, and the evolving landscape of web development tools, particularly in relation to WordPress. The discussion also touches on the future of websites in an AI-driven world and the potential for more competition in providing tech solutions to local governments.
Links
Matt's Video
The WP Minute
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Celebrity Status
08:52 Technical Choices and Cloud Platforms
13:15 The Future of Software Development
19:02 The Importance of Trust in a Competitive Landscape
23:50 The Evolution of WordPress and AI Integration
28:45 The Role of AI in Development and Trust Issues
36 min
January 19What’s Possible with WooCommerce MCP w/ Nik McLaughlin
In this episode, host Brian Coords and Skyverge’s Nik McLaughlin discuss the future of WooCommerce and the impact of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) on the WordPress ecosystem. They explore how AI is streamlining e-commerce development and enhancing user interactions, while also addressing critical challenges like privacy and interface design. Nik highlights the necessity of community collaboration and encourages listeners to actively participate in shaping these emerging technologies.
Links
Using a Local Model with MCP Tutorial
Nik's Website
Nik on Twitter
SkyVerge Woo Extensions
Chapters
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nik McLaughlin and Skyverge
02:11 The Impact of AI on WooCommerce
07:55 Understanding Model Context Protocol (MCP)
11:20 Practical Applications of MCP in E-Commerce
21:33 Privacy Concerns and Local Models
29:38 Future Directions for WooCommerce and MCP
43 min
January 14Checkout Summit: A Conference for WooCommerce Devs ft. Rodolfo Melogli
In this conversation, Brian Coords interviews Rodolfo Melogli about the upcoming Checkout Summit, focusing on the WooCommerce community and the importance of in-person conferences. Rodolfo shares his journey in the WordPress space, the need for networking opportunities, and the unique vibe of the conference set in Sicily. They discuss the diverse audience of WooCommerce, the challenges of content planning, and the exciting lineup of speakers for the event.
Links
Rodolfo on X
Checkout Summit
Business Bloomer
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to WooCommerce and Rodolfo's Journey
06:16 The Importance of In-Person Conferences
11:28 Diverse Audiences in WooCommerce
16:36 The Checkout Summit: A Unique Experience
22:35 Speakers and Content at the Checkout Summit
26 min
October 30, 2025Optimizing Woo Checkout for Black Friday ft. Ian Misner
In this conversation, Ian Misner discusses his work with Kestrel and the importance of checkout processes in e-commerce, particularly through their product CheckoutWC. He highlights the features that differentiate CheckoutWC from WooCommerce's default checkout, the significance of conversion rates, and the need for extensibility and customization in WooCommerce. Ian also shares insights on preparing for Black Friday sales and the balance between user experience and developer extensibility.
Links
CheckoutWC https://www.checkoutwc.com/
Kestrel on Woo https://woocommerce.com/vendor/kestrel/
Ian on Twitter https://x.com/ianmisner
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Ian Misner and Kestrel
02:05 The Importance of Checkout in E-commerce
05:52 Features and Benefits of CheckoutWC
11:31 Optimizing Checkout for Higher Conversions
15:11 Extensibility in WooCommerce and CheckoutWC
16:43 Navigating Third-Party Code Challenges
18:08 Payment Gateway Integrations and Compatibility
20:00 Balancing Extensibility and Customization
23:06 User Experience vs. Developer Flexibility
29:49 Preparing for Black Friday Success
35 min