The SDM Show discusses all things Business, Marketing and WordPress. This show was formerly known as The SDM Business, Marketing and WordPress Show.
With the hype around generative AI, many business owners are turning to AI tools with the hope of quickly and cheaply building their websites. But is relying on AI to code and design your web presence actually a smart business move? In this episode, Rob Cairns dives into the critical pitfalls of using AI website…
In this episode, Rob Cairns sits down with Aaron Argueta, co-founder and CMO of Bailey’s CBD for Pets. They dive deep into the realities of launching, scaling, and marketing a brand in a heavily scrutinized, high-risk niche. Aaron shares how he and his co-founder transitioned from the cannabis industry to pet wellness, navigating severe banking…
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with Nate Baldwin, founder of WP Foreman, an all-in-one WordPress management platform tailored for agencies and freelance web professionals. Nate shares his journey from professional chef to IT support and web development, eventually managing client websites on ManageWP for over a decade. Rob…
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with Casey Burridge from GravityKit to discuss how website owners, agencies, and businesses can turn raw form data into fully functional web applications. Casey shares his journey into WordPress—from teaching English in China and running personal blogs to working in ad-tech analytics and…
In this episode, Rob Cairns dives into recent major tech disruptions—including the European Google Cloud outage and the widespread PHP vulnerability fallout ("PHP Armageddon")—to highlight a critical vulnerability facing businesses today: the absence of a proactive backup and contingency plan. Rob explains the real business costs when websites are taken offline or crash, how customer…
In this milestone 700th episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with longtime friend, agency owner, and digital strategist Cami MacNamara. Rob and Cami look back at how podcasting and client work have evolved since the show's humble beginnings during COVID-19 lockdowns. They dive into the critical discipline required to run a…
The SDM Show: Closing the Brand Narrative Gap with Todd JonesIn this monthly segment of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with regular co-host and copywriter Todd Jones to break down the concept of the Brand Narrative Gap.They explore how the explosion of AI, rising paid acquisition costs, and shifts in organic visibility…
Rob Cairns steps away from WordPress security discussions to share a personal list of the podcasts currently in his regular listening rotation. While he spends his days immersed in web tech and marketing, his personal playlist leans into tech news, hockey, business storytelling, and media insights.
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns is joined by recurring co-host Ryan Waterbury (One Dog Solutions) to cut through the hype around "vibe coding" and explore how digital agencies are actually leveraging AI today. Rob and Ryan dive into real-world agency workflows, the economics of closed vs. open-weight AI models, hardware…
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns tackles one of the most common debates in web development: Is WordPress inherently insecure, or should you switch to another platform? Rob pulls back the curtain on digital security to explain why platform-hopping won't protect you from vulnerabilities. The core issue rarely lies with the…
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with good friend Ryan Logan to celebrate the second anniversary of InfluenceWP. They dive deep into the WordPress ecosystem, candidly discussing the realities of creator burnout, avoiding online drama, navigating the affiliate model, and prioritizing mental clarity.
Rob Cairns reflects on the journey of The SDM Show as it approaches its 700th episode milestone and outlines an updated, sustainable release schedule designed to balance business growth, personal life, and consistency.
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with longtime productivity strategist, speaker, and author Mike Vardy to discuss his career journey, evolution in the productivity space, and his latest book, Productiveness. They dive into moving past rigid metrics and system obsession, focusing instead on bringing humanity, trust, and flexibility into…
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns breaks down the number one mistake businesses make when sending email newsletters and marketing blasts: using a do-not-reply address. Drawing from a real-world example, Rob discusses why treating email like one-way broadcast media harms customer engagement and relationship-building. He explains how opening two-way conversations with…
In this episode of The SDM Show, Rob Cairns sits down with marketing strategist and monthly co-host Bridget Willard to dissect the unique blind spots SaaS companies face when marketing their products. Bridget shares why she recently eliminated outside distractions to double down on SaaS, the critical importance of understanding your true billable worth, and…
