Steve’s Blog

This Week in WordPress #375 on WP Builds

This entry is part 21 of 22 in the series My Podcast Appearances

I joined Nathan Wrigley and the WP Builds panel for episode 375 of This Week in WordPress, titled “It’s All Up and Down,” recorded on June 9th, 2026. The conversation ranged across recent WordPress ecosystem news with a strong focus on the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and security — including new challenges for tools like Wordfence and Patchstack as AI-generated vulnerabilities and “AI slop” continue to grow as a threat vector. People in this episode

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2026 Has Changed Everything About WordPress Security, With Austin Ginder

This entry is part 35 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Austin Ginder, a host who was overwhelmed when AI-driven hacking attempts surged in February 2026. He explains how he responded, and how he went from AI skeptic to using it as a core part of his security work. People in this episode

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WordPress Businesses Are Moving From Products to Services, With Robbie Adair

This entry is part 34 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Robbie Adair, who has run her agency through 20 years of technology shifts. She believes AI makes products less valuable and expert services more valuable than ever, as clients need help navigating new choices. People in this episode

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What Publishers Need to Know About Web Accessibility, With Amber Hinds

This entry is part 33 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Amber Hinds of Equalize Digital, who answers the accessibility questions publishers actually ask: Do audio versions of articles help? Should you offer a text-only site? This is a practical guide to making content work for everyone. People in this episode

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Paywalls and Advertising are a Perfect Combination for Publishers, With Chris Ward

This entry is part 32 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Chris Ward of The Publisher Desk, who offers a counterpoint to our many paywall guests. He argues that paywalls only work alongside a strong advertising strategy, because many readers will never pay but still have value. People in this episode

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Community + Code Podcast: Episode 23

This entry is part 19 of 22 in the series My Podcast Appearances

I was a guest on the Community + Code podcast, hosted by Chris Reynold. This ia show that explores the stories behind people who build in open source. In episode 23, I shared how I got started — from teaching in rural Georgia to building websites on the side, and eventually finding my way into the WordPress plugin world. It was a fun conversation about the winding road that leads people into open source. People in this episode

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AI is Now a Contributor to WooCommerce, With Brian Coords

This entry is part 31 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Brian Coords, WooCommerce Developer Advocate, now that AI is listed as an official WooCommerce contributor. We discuss what that means for open source projects: AI-built features, AI-written docs, and finally clearing old bug backlogs. People in this episode

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How to Use AI to Publish Better WordPress Content and Books, With Malcolm Peralty

This entry is part 30 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Malcolm Peralty, who has blogged on WordPress since before version 1.0. We talk about how writing has driven his career, why storytelling matters even in technical roles, and how AI can be a genuinely useful writing companion. People in this episode

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What Are Alternatives to Google Analytics for WordPress Users? With Derek Ashauer

This entry is part 29 of 38 in the series The PublishPress Podcast

In this episode of the PublishPress Podcast, I talk with Derek Ashauer of Conversion Bridge about alternatives to Google Analytics 4, which is hard to use and not privacy-friendly. He walks through better options, including Plausible, Fathom and Microsoft Clarity, and how to connect them to WordPress. People in this episode

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