Crossword

Radical Speed Month

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 01 May 2026 04:07:59 +0000

Luke has a change of heart about Matt’s renewed involvement and Jonathan gushes over Desktop Mode. They discuss the Presence API and the new WordPress.org Janitors channel. Jonathan makes a basketball reference that goes over Luke’s head.

Bridges

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:05:58 +0000

Jonathan and Luke are back and kickoff the season with an uncomprehensive recap of recent events. Luke offers his thoughts on Matt’s reemergence into the project and Jonathan offers his take on where the opportunity is for WordPress in the new world of AI.

Bonus: WordCamp Asia

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:43:17 +0000

Luke goes solo to WordCamp Asia and records a bonus episode of Crossword. He narrates his contributor day experience, monologues delightfully through day one and two, and, sadly, avoids all cricket references.

A special thanks to Kinsta for sponsoring this episode.

Finale

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:55:30 +0000

Luke and Jonathan bring season 10 to a close. Jonathan attempts to reflect on the Crossword decalogy and Luke isn't having it. They end up talking about AI instead which, of course, was much more interesting.

Perspectives with Miriam Schwab

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:11:17 +0000

Miriam Schwab joins Luke and Jonathan to discuss the Elementor ecosystem, what other product companies can learn from its growth, and how Elementor thinks about its relationship with the wider WordPress project. Luke asks a question about dependency, Jonathan geeks out about ecosystem thinking, and Miriam welcomes ideas from listeners.

Newsroom

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 21:59:13 +0000

Jonathan and Luke talk through the upcoming end of the Crossword season. They discuss WP Engine’s new offering and offer their speculations. Luke brings up the new Agent Skills project and steps up onto his soapbox.

Perspectives with Jonathan Desrosiers

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:56:30 +0000

Jonathan and Luke have a chat with Jonathan Desrosiers, WordPress Core Committer and Principle Software Engineer at Bluehost. They discuss a recent episode of Crossword and a preview of Desrosiers's now published blog post. Wold asks for clarity on do-acracy vs meritocracy and the three discuss the importance of both active and passive contributions. Desrosiers offers his guidance for new contributors.

Big Picture Goals

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:16:38 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss plugin piracy then segue into the WordPress project’s goals for 2026. Luke has mixed feelings about the AI emphasis and Jonathan resurrects the idea of WordPress as an operating system, to Luke’s chagrin.

Perspectives with Jeff Paul

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:31:45 +0000

Luke and Jonathan catch up with Jeff Paul, VP of Open Source Solutions at Fueled and an active contributor to the WordPress project for the past decade. They discuss Jeff's contribution journey, their shared agency experiences, and thoughts on the upcoming 7.0 release. Luke introduces the concept of cool and dodgy versions of WordPress and Jeff shares guidance for newcomers to contribution.

New Year

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:57:31 +0000

Luke kicks off Crossword with a surprise and Jonathan rolls with it. They discuss fresh WordPress drama, the plugin review team’s use (or non-use) of AI, and Luke shares his take on AI in WordPress plugins.

Perspectives with Rae Morey

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:48:59 +0000

Luke and Jonathan enjoy a conversation with Rae Morey, publisher of The Repository. Rae shares her origin story and they discuss the top stories of 2025. Luke expresses his optimism for 2026 and Jonathan asks Rae about the sustainability of The Repository itself. Oh, and AI, of course.

Perspectives with Tammie Lister

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 23:05:43 +0000

Tammie Lister joins Luke and Jonathan to discuss vibe coding, product thinking, and breaking free from a designer typecast into a reputation for product engineering. They also discuss the importance and relevance of WordPress, themes, and cricket.

Bonus: Geeking Out

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 01:29:18 +0000

Luke and Jonathan start talking immediately after the previous episode and decide to record again. Luke geeks out about the Notes feature, his experiments with it, and subsequent contribution attempt. Jonathan enjoys the show.

Six Dot Nine

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 04:06:53 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk through the WordPress 6.9 update and their highlights. Jonathan attempts to make a point about comparing WordPress updates to other ecosystems and Luke isn’t having it.

State of the Word

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:43:53 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss Matt’s keynote and the reversal in their expectations going into the event. They share their surprise at a particular data point and Luke offers a few highlights from his recent experience at Enqueue in Sydney.

More FAIR

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 02:21:31 +0000

Luke and Jonathan are back from an unplanned break and pick up with Luke’s growing interest in the FAIR project. Jonathan asks questions about how things work and expresses his present, yet softening cynicism. They also talk about the Internet Archive’s new project with Automattic.

Attribution

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:38:23 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss the copying of plugins and the history of doing so in the WordPress ecosystem. Jonathan realizes what’s been bothering him about it all and Luke points out the difference between stated and practiced values. They also start to talk AI browsers.

Epiphany

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:38:56 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss WooCommerce and the opportunities (and challenges) for newcomers like FluentCart. Luke shares the four things he thinks an ecommerce product needs and Jonathan enjoys Luke’s unexpected breakthrough.

Dodgy Themes

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:24:17 +0000

FAIR 1.0 has been released! Jonathan and Luke discuss the implications of the project, modifying the WordPress admin’s “featured plugins”, and the impact of a federated ecosystem. Luke thinks Jonathan failed the challenge.

Perspectives with Matt Mullenweg

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 04:41:21 +0000

Jonathan and Luke speak with Matt. Yep, that Matt. They talk about jazz, blogging, photography, and the infuriating, heartbreaking, grey-hair-making drama that’s engulfed the WordPress community over the last year.

Yorker

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:44:56 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss their nervousness going in to their recording with Matt Mullenweg. They share the preparation process, the questions they wrestled with, the approach they decided to take, and how the experience went.

Teleportation

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 23:26:13 +0000

Luke and Jonathan are back for Season 10 of Crossword. They open with a recap of WordCamp US and Matt’s “State of the Word” address. They discuss their approach to guests for the upcoming season, introduce this season’s sponsors, and look ahead to the upcoming WordPress 6.9 release.

Shownotes:

Finale

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:41:44 +0000

Luke and Jonathan recap Season 9 of Crossword, preview Season 10, and share their thoughts on what they’re looking forward to over the next 6 months of WordPress. No cricket is discussed, but a recurring pun does make an appearance.

Perspectives with Mary Hubbard

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 02:33:34 +0000

Mary Hubbard is the Executive Director of the WordPress Project and brings a rich background in ecommerce and social media to her self-described work as a product-focused “connector”. Mary joins Luke and Jonathan to discuss the open versus closed web, what the WordPress ecosystem can learn from platforms like TikTok, and the importance of digital literacy in a world of AI. Mary helps Luke make a new connection, Jonathan geeks out about the Art of Gathering, and birds join in from the Australian coast.

Perspectives with Sam Sidler

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 02:52:12 +0000

Sam Sidler's writing on delta.blog has been a topic of discussion on this season of Crossword. Sam joined Luke and Jonathan to discuss a wide range of topics, from governance and the benevolent dictator model to Five for the Future and the FAIR project, and finally landing on Sam's predictions for the future of WordPress. Multiple puns are worked in, Jonathan and Luke argue about altruism, and Sam reminds everyone that he's not a lawyer.

Options, Not Decisions

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:31:22 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss recent coverage of Crossword and how Luke’s words sound in print. They also discuss the Secure Hosting Alliance and riff on an idea for a new hosting company. Luke expresses his frustration with the complexity of WordPress today and Jonathan wonders if the upcoming 6.9 and 7.0 releases might bring new hope.

Mad Kings

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 01:35:07 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss DHH’s recent comments about Matt and their own experiences with gaslighting. They also re-explore their consternation with Matt’s “inclusivity” in his decision making. Luke talks about his work on the recently renamed Plugins Team and Jonathan expresses his discomfort with the lack of clear commercial incentives.

Perspectives with John Gruber

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:33:59 +0000

John Gruber's Dithering podcast with Ben Thompson was the original inspiration for Crossword's 15-minute format. Five years later, John joins Luke and Jonathan for a wide-ranging conversation covering open versus closed platforms, the history and impact of Markdown, and a missed opportunity in WordPress. Luke goes on about the good old days, Jonathan starts thinking about a rival platform, and John makes a prediction for the ten-year follow-up episode.

The Formula

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:31:51 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk through Nilay Patel’s recent interview with Matt on Decoder. Luke shares the “formula” he observed in Matt’s responses and Jonathan pushes back on Luke’s assumptions about the “we” in community. They discuss a premium plugin directory, low ticket sales for WordCamp US, and Jonathan attempts a cricket reference.

Perspectives with Lesley Sim

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 04:24:59 +0000

Jonathan and Luke catch up with Lesley Sim to explore her experience creating products in the WordPress ecosystem, starting with Newsletter Glue, and now EventKoi. They discuss her and Ahmed's approach to building EventKoi as an ecosystem plugin and their thinking about early decisions. Luke reflects on what he found inspiring about their approach to design and Jonathan asks questions about their plans for growing the EventKoi ecosystem. Ultimate Frisbee is also discussed.

Five for the Future

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 23:59:46 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss Five for the Future in context of a recent chat at WordCamp Europe. Luke shares a refreshingly optimistic take on what the program is and Jonathan shares a surprisingly cynical take on behind-the-scenes motivations. They discuss contribution incentives and the ways that counting to 5% (or any target) can backfire.

Perspectives with Zach Stepek

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 02:44:27 +0000

Zach Stepek welcomes Luke and Jonathan as guests to do a deep dive into the world of Woo. They discuss the history of WooCommerce and the tension between open-source ideals and monetization. Zach shares highlights from his new role at BigScoots and his perspective from contributing to the hosting team. They debate the current state of WordPress, dark patterns, and what the future might hold for WooCommerce. Oh, and an attempt is made at a cricket reference.

Sense of Community

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:50:00 +0000

Luke waxes poetic about WordCamp Brisbane and Jonathan ruminates on the value of continuity in the WordPress community. They discuss Automattic’s recent acquisition of Clay and then Luke puts Jonathan on the spot with the WPCC.

It’s only FAIR

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:23:00 +0000

Federated and Independent – that’s the plan. After a brief catchup on Apple news, Jonathan and Luke discuss the FAIR initiative, its implications for the plugin directory, and how hosts might contribute to its success.

That Tracks

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 22:13:32 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss Samuel Sidler’s recent coverage of BlackRock’s devaluation of their Automattic investment. Luke gripes about AI art styles, zones out once as Jonathan talks about financial incentives, and attempts a joke about Trac. They wrap up by discussing Five for the Future and Jonathan shares his usual offering of optimism for what might come about at WordCamp Europe.

Perspectives with Weston Ruter

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 01:40:17 +0000

Luke and Jonathan catch up with a long-time friend and former colleague Weston Ruter to reminisce about their agency days before talking through Weston's ten-year tenure as a Core Committer and the legacy of his work on the Customizer. From there, they cover the early days of the WordPress Core Performance Team and Weston's time at Google, culminating in his contributions to the Optimization Detective project. They also discuss AI—how could they not? Weston’s development practices come up too, along with their mostly shared optimism about the future of the Open Web.

New AI Team

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:43:48 +0000

Luke doesn’t think there’s much to talk about regarding the new AI team, but Jonathan thinks otherwise. They discuss the team, the potential impact, and Luke’s theory about the actual value of AI in WordPress. They also talk about trust, safety, and emojis.

A Year After

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 23 May 2025 01:29:44 +0000

Luke and Jonathan explore Open Web idealism through the lens of their WordCamp experiences. Luke shares his reservations about Basel and they talk through their hopes (and concerns) for WordCamp US. Also, is WordCamp Brisbane really the best WordCamp?

Bad Manners

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 15 May 2025 23:33:11 +0000

Luke expresses his frustration for AI generated email replies to human reviews of AI generated plugins. We talk through the last episode’s description evolution—first with AI, now without—and unpack what happens in a world where appreciation seems to be going extinct, right alongside Luke’s sanity.

Back from Break

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 08 May 2025 23:05:03 +0000

We’re back with a new season, new website (not on WordPress?!), and two new sponsors. We catch up on news from over the break, including WordPress 6.8, Gravatar, and the Jubilee. Jonathan feels some nerves and Luke complains about AI.

CloudFest

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:46:12 +0000

This season finale is the first episode of Crossword to be recorded in person. Jonathan and Luke are recording from CloudFest in Germany. They discuss the highlights of the conference itself, including how Luke jumped up on stage unannounced, meeting Mary Hubbard, and what is coming next.

Sabotage?

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:50:47 +0000

Matt Mullenweg’s latest actions have Jonathan confused. They discuss Matt’s proposals to slow down releases, his ominous warnings about the future of WordPress, and the unsettling disconnect between his words and actions. Is this a calculated tactic, or a sign of deeper trouble?

Crossword Century

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:19:06 +0000

Jonathan and Luke celebrate the 100th episode of Crossword! Join them as they reminisce about the past five years, revisit some of their favorite moments and biggest disagreements, and reflect on how much has changed in the WordPress world – and in their own lives.

WordCamp Asia, Sponsorships, and Hard Yakka

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 08:18:41 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss the latest news from WordCamp Asia, particularly the absence of any significant controversy at the event. They also talk about the importance of community contributions, the need for clear guidelines for sponsorships and explain what hard yakka means for anyone not from Australia.

Politics, Sentiment, and Alternatives

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 05:19:22 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan talk about the intersection of politics and WordPress including the recent dismantling of 18F. They also discuss the WordPress Sentiment Analysis Report and the WordPress alternatives that they have been dabbling with.

The Rise of the Repository

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:05:15 +0000

In the wake of the current uncertainty in the WordPress community, the repository has become a valuable source of objective reporting that is not found elsewhere. Jonathan and Luke discuss the importance of independent journalism, the challenges of covering a complex and emotionally charged conflict, and the vital role the repository plays in holding powerful figures accountable.

Invasion or Innovation?

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:01:19 +0000

The WordPress plugin repository is seeing an influx of AI-generated plugins, and Luke is on the front lines. He and Jonathan discuss the challenges of reviewing AI-generated code, and the potential implications for the future of the plugin repo. Is this a threat to the ecosystem, or a sign of exciting new possibilities?

WordPress Therapy

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:22:34 +0000

Jonathan seeks WordPress therapy from Luke, grappling with a growing sense of unease about the state of the project. They discuss the challenges of navigating a rapidly changing landscape, the importance of finding opportunities amidst the chaos, and the need for honest conversations about the future of WordPress.

Foundations

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 06:15:55 +0000

From Post Status's non-profit transformation to the emergence of the WPCC, the foundations of the WordPress ecosystem are shifting. Maybe. Jonathan and Luke discuss the potential for positive change, or further fragmentation.

Hedging Bets

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:11:29 +0000

Luke asks Jonathan if he has started investing time in other platforms and technologies in light of recent events. Jonathan shares his evolving perspective on WordPress and the open web. They also grapple with quantifying the real-world impact of this series of events.

Breaking Toys

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:31:57 +0000

Automatic is reducing its contributions to WordPress core, and Luke suspects it's a strategic move by Matt to exert control. Jonathan explores alternative interpretations, but both agree that this action carries significant risks for the future of the project.

Back to Business?

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 01:38:39 +0000

Crossword returns for Season 8. Jonathan and Luke catch up after the holiday break, review the news, and decide not to talk about cricket. Is the WordPress community finally getting back to business, or are there more surprises in store?

The Price of Criticism

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:18:13 +0000

Luke expresses fear of being "canceled" from the WordPress community for criticizing Matt Mullenweg. Jonathan questions the likelihood of such retribution, but Luke points to the banning of Ryan McCue and others as evidence of Matt's willingness to silence dissent. Is there a price to pay for speaking truth to power in the WordPress world?

Centralization, Governance, and Commercialization

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:05:49 +0000

What does a healthy future look like for WordPress? Luke shares three key takeaways from a WordCamp Sydney hallway track: the importance of centralization, the need for better governance, and the potential benefits of commercializing WordPress.org. Do Jonathan and the wider community agree?

De-escalation

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 23:10:29 +0000

Is the WordPress drama finally winding down? Jonathan senses a de-escalation, but Luke points out there are still some unsettling loose ends. They discuss new data on WordPress growth, the departure of more plugins from WordPress.org, and the lingering questions about the future of the project.

Identity Crisis

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 22:00:00 +0000

Matt Mullenweg's actions have sparked an identity crisis within the WordPress community. Luke and Jonathan grapple with the realization that their sense of belonging and purpose is intertwined with a project that might be slipping away. Can they find a way to reconcile their personal investments with the unsettling reality of WordPress today?

Threshold

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 03:54:34 +0000

Luke has reached a point of acceptance about the future of WordPress, but that doesn't mean he's giving up. Join the conversation as he and Jonathan explore the different paths forward, from Matt Mullenweg's potential departure to the emergence of a more unified and empowered community.

Stages

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 03:26:29 +0000

Matt Mullenweg’s actions over the past few weeks raises a fundamental question: What does success look like for an open-source project? Luke and Jonathan discuss the weekends’ events, ask more questions than they answer, and work through the stages of grief.

Problemattic

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 04:17:23 +0000

Even the most optimistic members of the WordPress community are feeling down. In this episode of Crossword, Jonathan and Luke grapple with the emotional weight of Matt Mullenweg's actions, including a bizarre new login requirement on WordPress.org, and question whether a "war" is truly the best path forward.

Departure

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:13:38 +0000

Josepha Haden Chomphosy, a leading voice in the WordPress project, has stepped down. Luke
sees this as a canary in the coal mine, but Jonathan remains optimistic that there are better times ahead. Can Matt turn it around or is this the beginning of a mass exodus?

Tithe & Taxes

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 03:59:36 +0000

WP Engine mirrored the WordPress.org repository, sparking a conversation about centralization and control. In this episode, Luke and Jonathan discuss the technicalities of mirroring, the potential for fragmentation, and whether Matt Mullenweg's invitation for others to "step up" is sincere.

Fallout

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:31:21 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss the far-reaching consequences of Matt Mullenweg's actions against WordPress Engine. From individual developers to large agencies, they examine how this conflict impacts the livelihoods of those deeply embedded in the WordPress ecosystem. Is this the kind of leadership WordPress needs going forward?

Scorched Earth

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 06:19:31 +0000

Existential wasn't hyperbole. In this episode, Luke and Jonathan react to the breaking news of WordPress.org cutting off access to WP Engine servers, effectively crippling over a million websites. They unpack the potential motivations and ramifications of this unprecedented move by Matt Mullenweg.

Existential Threat

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 03:54:26 +0000

Is WordPress facing an existential threat? In the premier of Season 7, Luke and Jonathan discuss Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine. They explore the implications of Matt’s recent actions, whether or not the benefit of the doubt applies, and the ramifications to the broader community.

WordCamp Asia 2024

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 02:50:09 +0000

In this episode Jonathan and Luke reflect on their experience at WordCamp Asia, explore Luke's vision for the Plugin Review Team and how to improve developer relations in the WordPress community.

The new role of themes

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 11:23:47 +0000

In this episode, Luke and Jonathan discuss the role of WordPress themes in 2023, how block themes and the Full Site Editor have changed the landscape and where the line between themes and plug-ins should be. They also reflect on their current projects.

Repository Considerations

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:16:01 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan talk about the ramifications of cloning the WordPress Plugin repository onto WordPress.com. How to do it in a way that keeps plugin developers onside, and as a bonus, Jonathan read the whole Terms of Service so you don't have to.

Mullenmusk

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:21:06 +0000

In this episode Jonathan and Luke discuss the latest round of #WPDrama after WordPress.com cloned the WordPress.org plugin repository.

Intrusive Ads

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 23:01:15 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan disagree on who is to blame for intrusive ads inside of the WordPress admin Dashboard. They also cover some of the best practices and motivations of plugin developers, plus how to stop annoying the users.

WordPress Security

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:10:23 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan explore the complex world of WordPress plugin security and what really happens when a vulnerability is identified. The system could be better, but how do we fix it?

Good Plugins

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 04:09:17 +0000

In this episode Joshua Wold fills in for Jonathan, discusses plugins, the value of good design in the onboarding process and what makes a strong product founder. Luke tries to bait him with comments about developer supremacy, but Joshua never took the bait.

Best Events

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:42:38 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan discuss their early WordCamp experiences and which is the best of the major WordCamps. They also discuss the latest news about the upcoming WordPress admin interface.

Open Source Business

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:25:22 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan share their vision for what open source business practices could look like. Jonathan even disagrees with Luke on wage transparency for no apparent reason.

WordPress 6.3

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 03:44:58 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about the highlights of WordPress 6.3, the steady transformation from blogging platform to operating system and the need for a contributor focused event in similar fashion to Apple's WWDC.

Welcome Back

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 23:42:20 +0000

Luke and Jonathan break into the new season talking about WordPress hosting, conflicts of interest, the importance of onboarding and the products that do it well (Luke also seems to have no idea what season we are recording).

Finale

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Sat, 20 May 2023 11:06:13 +0000

In the season final Luke and Jonathan discuss their future as professional e-sports athletes before returning to reality and talking about what happens when your product's functionality comes to the WordPress core.

8 down: while( have_posts() )

WordCamp Evolution

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Sat, 13 May 2023 11:48:48 +0000

In this episode Luke and Jonathan talk about WordCamps, how they are evolving and how they can foster the development of the WordPress community into the next generation. They also talk about the WordPress/Furry connection and Luke's hidden musical talent.

11 across: Pre-designed layout

Reminiscing

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 04 May 2023 04:24:47 +0000

As WordPress turns 20 Jonathan and Luke reminisce about how WordPress has grown. They also explore the rapid leaps forward we are now experiencing due to AI. If you listen closely, you will also hear Luke get embarrassed by the name of one of his earliest companies.

6 Down: Twenty Twenty-Two was inspired by…

Opportunities & Ecommerce

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:06:33 +0000

In today's episode of cynic versus fanboy, (uh, I mean Crossword ) Luke and Jonathan discuss the gap between WooCommerce and Shopify plus the opportunities in the ecosystem.

**10 Across**: Open this on GitHub

Guildenberg

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:05:23 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about Guildenberg, why Luke doesn't love the name, WordCamp Asia, and the downside of hosts buying WordPress plugins.

5 Down: Translation, but shorter.

End of Year

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 19:00:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about cricket, look back at WordPress in 2022, touch on ClassicPress, and look ahead to 2023.

9 Across: Stringify JSON

State of the Word

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:10:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about remote work, then jump into State of the Word, sharing highlights, exploring Luke's reawakening interest in WordPress, and finding something to disagree on in the end.

3 Down: 5.9

Charming

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 09:15:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss a particular update in WordPress 6.1, why we'd like to see more hosting providers, and the voice of WordPress.

7 Across: WCEU22 was in…

WordPress vs. SvelteKit

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 23:11:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan discuss rebuilding a WordPress web-app as a standalone SaaS using the FKIT stack.

2 Down: A built-in post type

More on FKIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFP7rUYtOOg

Free Riders

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 01:37:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about hosts, free riders, and plugin monetization, then take a sharp turn into murder mysteries in WordPress.

4 Across: Days since the last…

Links:

https://jonathanwold.com/hosts-and-the-free-rider-problem/

Digital Gardening

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 08:33:00 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss how the “reverse chronological order” orientation of WordPress affected the web, and a “Digital Gardening" metaphor that might help fix it.

1 Down: Home of GiveWP, LearnDash, and RCP

Links:

https://maggieappleton.com/garden-history

Yesterweb

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 07:20:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan open Season 5 debating nostalgia, discussing the 5 minute install, and announcing an acquisition.

1 Across: Serverless compute

Links:

https://yesterweb.org/

Clarity

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 02:01:00 +0000

In the last episode of Season 4, Luke and Jonathan discuss Clarity and what a better future might look for ads in the WordPress admin.

Happy New Year

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:44:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan wax lyrical about broken pipes, skiing, the current state of the WordPress community, and the WordPress 2022 release cycle.

State of the Word 2021

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 08:32:00 +0000

Luke reflects on the 2021 State of the Word, while Jonathan holidays on a Mexican beach.

The Metaverse

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:02:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about the Facebook, the Metaverse, WordPress, and the Open Web. Luke begins to change his mind about Zuckerberg and Facebook.

Multi-User Editing

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:26:00 +0000

Forget multi-site, we want multi-user! Luke and Jonathan look beyond the (unfailingly distant) full site editing horizon, toward a day when we can edit a post, nay, design an entire WordPress site collaboratively, contiguously, and concurrently.

Perspectives with Aaron Gustafson

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 06:12:00 +0000

Aaron Gustafson is a Principal Program Manager on the Microsoft Edge team, focused on their work on Progressive Web Apps and developer UX. He's also a spec editor at the W3C and Editor-in-chief of A List Apart. Aaron joins Luke and Jonathan to talk about the Open Web and share his perspective (and some guidance) with the WordPress community.

Proposals, Pods, and Post Types

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 01:12:00 +0000

Jonathan attempts a no-code FSE site build, and Luke is skeptical about FSE landing this year.

Early Days

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:06:00 +0000

Luke starts off with a surprise. Then we talk about Andrea Middleton, WordPress acquisitions, and whether we're still in the early days of WordPress.

Ugly

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:57:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan talk about themes, an ugly web, and Gutenberg / Classic Editor reviews.

More Acquisitions

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:40:00 +0000

We're back, baby! Luke and Jonathan discuss the recent Yoast acquisition, and compare it with ACF's new home.

Tavern Buffet

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 06 May 2021 03:13:00 +0000

Luke and Jonathan catch up after an unplanned hiatus and jump right into enjoying the WP Tavern buffet.

The WordPress Guy

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 01:47:00 +0000

Kicking off with Season 4, Jonathan and Luke chat about the new Wix ad campaign. Then, they disagree about the future of comments in WordPress.

Perspectives with Andrea Middleton

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 06:57:00 +0000

Andrea Middleton is a Community Organizer for the WordPress project. She shares how she first got involved with WordPress and how she ended up working with Community. We cover WordCamps, Meetups, COVID-19, and what it all might mean for the future of WordPress and the WordPress Community.

Singing a Different Tune

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 12:09:00 +0000

We wrap up Season #3 with some poignant reflections, then jump into our favorite topic for the moment: Full Site Editing. Luke changes his mind and Jonathan is looking forward to Season #4.

Full Site Editing?

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 12:16:00 +0000

Jonathan and Luke discuss the recently published timeline for Full Site Editing, and compare it to the rollout of Gutenberg. Also in this episode: GameStonk and Clubhouse.

An American Web

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:24:00 +0000

Recent events have called into question our Open Web idealism. Should we have an outlet valve for some of the worst of the web? How should the Web be legislated and policed? Should it be possible to access illegal content? And importantly… what role does Open Source have in all of this?

Motivations

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 12:21:00 +0000

We discuss WordPress.com and their recent announcement of a "website building service." Luke thinks it's a bad idea and questions Automattic's intentions. Jonathan tries to take his Automattic hat off and share his perspective.

Perspectives with Kent Bye

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:15:00 +0000

Kent is a philosopher, oral historian, experiential journalist, and the host of the Voices of VR podcast. He joins Luke and Jonathan to chat about WordPress and what the web might look like 10 years from now, reimagining the 2D browser window as a 3D canvas.

You can find Kent Bye on:

Themes Again

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 12:01:00 +0000

It seems we just can't get away from talking about Full Site Editing. In this episode, Luke and Jonathan announce the first Crossword livestream, as well as theme quirks in Twenty Twenty One and the Customizer.

WordPress in Space

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 11:54:00 +0000

Live coverage of the WordPress 5.6 launch! Luke and Jonathan discuss their willingness to press that Update button, then shift track to explore what it might be like to apply the constraints of time and space to the Web.

Themes in Twenty Twenty

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 02:15:00 +0000

We talk about weather and wine, then jump into themes. Why is it still so hard to choose a theme? What are we using for our own projects now? What might themes look like in a year?

Perspectives with Francesca Marano

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 10:42:00 +0000

Francesca leads the WordPress Core Team at Yoast, and is serving as an advisor for the all women / non-binary all-star team behind WordPress 5.6. Francesca shares her WordPress journey thus far, especially in the realm of contributing to core, and we dive into topics such as open-source organizational structures, selfish vs. selfless contributions, gatekeeping or siloing in the project, and her vision for a unified WordPress Admin.

Jam Session

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 11:28:00 +0000

We talk about our recent experiences with the Plugin Review Team and postulate about the next 10 years of WordPress and the web.

Full Site Editing

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 02:02:00 +0000

We discuss the current state of full site editing and our uncertainty about what happens next. We bring up headless, brainless, and the opportunity for more vertically focused businesses built on WordPress.

What if Gutenberg never happened?

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 01:15:00 +0000

Someplace, in an alternate timeline, our beloved WordPress editor never received its most controversial update. In a parallel universe Gutenberg never happened, and the WordPress editor is still "Word in a box". In this episode, Jonathan and Luke consider what life would be like for the poor souls who live there.

Virtually Virtual

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 01:17:00 +0000

What happens to the WordPress community without in-person WordCamps? Jonathan and Luke reflect on their virtual event experiences to-date, and imagine what that experience might look like a year from now.

Warm Up

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 01:22:00 +0000

In a frazzled restart to the show, Luke and Jonathan lament the complexities of podcasting setups, discuss the state of virtual WordCamps and meetups, then discuss the WordPress 5.6 release.

Perspectives with Peter Saint-Andre

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:57:00 +0000

Peter Saint-Andre works on Strategic Partnerships at Mozilla. He shares his perspective on WordPress and what "Open Web" means. We talk about creativity and accessibility, risks and opportunities for both WordPress and the Open Web, the importance of democratizing commerce, and the role of community. Also, Peter shares a personal story about Matt.

Acquisitions and Ecosystems

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 11:37:00 +0000

We discuss the acquisition of Restrict Content Pro by iThemes, the ecosystems being built by WP Engine, GoDaddy, and Liquid Web, and our sense that no one is doing it well - yet.

Blank Canvas

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 12:06:00 +0000

WordPress is our go-to tool for building new sites, in part because it doesn't restrict creative expression. Even if that means we can publish horrid designs. In this episode, we discuss the idea of an ugly web, and whether the future of WordPress will make the web more self-same, or even uglier?

Perspectives with Marieke van de Rakt

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:31:00 +0000

Marieke van de Rakt, CEO of Yoast joins the discussion. We talk about Yoast, advertising mistakes, growing a plugin business, and the opportunity for a WordPress "App Store".

WordPress™

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:05:00 +0000

We talk about the recent controversy over the WordPress app in iOS. Luke expresses his frustration about Automattic's ownership of the app and we discuss the challenges of contributing to funded "Open Source" projects.

Enforcing Directory “Guidelines”

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 11:56:00 +0000

episo

Perspectives with Ryan Singer

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 05:34:00 +0000

Ryan Singer, Head of Strategy at Basecamp, joins us to talk about his book, Shape Up. Luke loves the book. Jonathan, apparently, has a "problem" with it. Ryan shares his perspective on WordPress and we discuss how the concept of shaping could work for the WordPress project.

P2 2

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 10:02:00 +0000

We discuss our conversation with an upcoming guest, premiering later this week. Then we jump into the release of P2, which we're both excited about, and Luke laments its currently non-public code base.

Gut Punch

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 11:32:00 +0000

Matt Mullenweg's review of the new Unsplash WordPress plugin has made waves. Who doesn't love a little #WPDrama? We skip the licensing issue and instead discuss whether a one-star plugin review is the right way for a leader, and maybe a competitor, to express their concern.

Housekeeping

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 12:57:00 +0000

From time to time, we might address a little bit of Crossword meta. A quick update from us on getting in touch and the fifteen minute limit.

Advertising in the Block Directory

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 12:31:00 +0000

We discuss retargeted advertising, whether or not it should exist, and the implications of the current directory guidelines on innovation in the Block Directory.

Hamilton’s Open Web

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:03:00 +0000

EPZ

Kids, Jetpack, and WeChat

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 11:54:00 +0000

What's the equivalent of TikTok in the WordPress world? We discuss WordPress as the go-to publishing tool for creativity, and compare Jetpack's sordid privacy record with Chinese social media.

Google and WordPress

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 11:26:00 +0000

Luke rants about Google. Then we talk about the recent history between WordPress and Google and what we both think about their involvement in the WordPress project.

A Design System for WordPress

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:02:00 +0000

We discuss some proposed changes to the WooCommerce Dashboard design, the trend for WordPress plugins to embrace their own design language (separate to the WP Admin), and the idea of creating a Design System for WordPress.

WWDC and the Plugin Repository

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 12:15:00 +0000

Season #2 premier - episodes now 15 minutes long! We jump straight into a discussion of WWDC, Hey.com, and the WordPress plugin directory.

Season Finale

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 05:55:00 +0000

We discuss Season #1 and explore the wide range of topics we're interested in covering in Season #2.

COVID-19, Virtual Events, and Gradients

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 03:07:00 +0000

We discuss COVID-19 (and how Luke was wrong), the opportunity for virtual events, the recent introduction of full screen editing on by default in WordPress 5.4, and gradients in Gutenberg.

WP Notify

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 03:06:00 +0000

Jonathan Bossenger joins us to discuss the WP Notify project and better ways of introducing new features in WordPress.

WordCamp Asia and Themes

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 03:05:00 +0000

We discuss the cancellation of WordCamp Asia and then, to happier matters, the first "Future of Themes" meeting, including what an easier-to-use WordPress means for the builder ecosystem.

Democratizing Commerce

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 03:05:00 +0000

We discuss the idea of "Democratizing Commerce" and what it actually means. Also, we're looking forward to WordCamp Asia.

The Block Directory

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 03:04:00 +0000

We discuss the upcoming Block Directory for WordPress and the guidelines regarding premium and "freemium" submissions.

Notifications in WordPress

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 03:04:00 +0000

We discuss the "WP Notify" proposal and the impact of notifications through the lens of WordPress as an Operating System.

Ecosystems and Marketplaces

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 01 Jan 2020 03:03:00 +0000

We discuss ecosystems and marketplaces in WordPress, looking back on 2019 and ahead to 2020. Where are the opportunities? What might it mean for the Open Web?

The Future of Themes

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:02:00 +0000

We discuss Gutenberg and the future of WordPress themes with Rich Tabor.

The WordPress Roadmap

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 03:01:00 +0000

A review of the WordPress Core projects scheduled for 2019 and a discussion of what's to come in 2020.

Advertising in the WordPress Admin

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 02:58:00 +0000

"Black Friday" offers a chance to discuss ads in WordPress and what improving the experience might look like.

Pilot

Jonathan Wold & Luke Carbis — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 02:39:00 +0000

Our Pilot episode, covering the WordPress 5.3 "Kirk" release.