EP485 – So Limitless and Free
The end of an era. This is the last episode of WPwatercooler.

WordPress from Install to Publish. WPwatercooler is a live video and audio roundtable discussion from WordPress professionals from around the industry who offer tips, best practices, and lively debate on how to put the content management system to use. WPwatercooler is part of the WPwatercooler Network
Hosted by WordPress developer Jason Tucker, the weekly panel includes the following WP experts as well as over 500 guests since 2012.
∙ Jason Tucker – podcast host, web developer, and IT Director
∙ Steve Zehngut – Zeek Interactive
∙ Sé Reed – web developer, speaker, small business advocate and Internet geek.
∙ Jason Cosper – Sr. Performance Engineer at Liquid Web
Feedback for our shows can be provided here:
https://www.wpwatercooler.com/feedback/
The end of an era. This is the last episode of WPwatercooler.
On this episode, Jason Tucker and Sé Reed discuss the concept of who “owns” the WordPress open-source project and the broader question of who controls WordPress, highlighting the tension between the open-source community’s ideals and the reality of centralized control. The episode concludes with a call for transparency and accountability in the WordPress community, particularly…
On this episode, the WPwatercooler panel, consisting of Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper, delves into the impact of AI on website creation and the broader WordPress ecosystem. They discuss the practical uses of AI for automating tedious tasks, such as generating filler content and structuring web pages, while acknowledging the potential downsides, including…
On this episode of WPwatercooler titled “Gutenberg It’s Complicated,” the panel discusses the complexities and challenges faced by contributors to the Gutenberg project, focusing on a tweet by Ari, a longtime contributor who expressed his frustration with the increasing complexity of the codebase. Ari’s difficulties, after returning from a break, in understanding the evolved code…
On this episode of WPwatercooler titled “Lies, Damned Lies, and Analytics,” the discussion revolves around the complexities and alternatives to using web analytics tools for website management. The hosts, Jason Tucker and Jason Cosper, delve into the fallout from changes to Jetpack stats, prompting users to consider paying for previously free services. They explore the…
On this episode of WPwatercooler, the panel dives into the evolving landscape of web hosting, specifically focusing on the shifts and trends in WordPress hosting. The discussion kicks off with anecdotes about showing up to parties on the wrong day, cleverly seguing into the main topic of different types of web hosting environments. They explore…
In this episode of WPwatercooler, titled “To Bot or Not to Bot,” hosts Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper dive into the implications and ethical considerations of utilizing bots, specifically ChatGPT, in the realm of WordPress development. The discussion kicks off with an anecdote from Sé, who experimented with using ChatGPT to solve a…
On this episode of WPwatercooler, the panel, including Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, Jason Cosper, and guest Courtney Robertson, delve into the much-anticipated WordPress 6.5 release. Courtney, serving as the episode’s expert, outlines the significant changes and features coming with the update, emphasizing the introduction of the font library for block themes, improvements in image handling,…
On this episode of WPwatercooler titled “WordPress: What’s The Alternative?”, the hosts Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper delve into the diverse landscape of website creation platforms, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of WordPress compared to alternatives like Webflow, Ghost, and traditional site builders like Squarespace and Wix. The conversation pivots around ease of…
On this episode of WPwatercooler Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, Jason Cosper, and guest Mika Epstein delve into the complex world of software piracy within the WordPress ecosystem. The discussion begins with an introduction of the hosts and quickly moves into the nuances of what constitutes software piracy, how it impacts the WordPress community, and the…
On this episode of WPwatercooler, titled “The Great Escape: WordPress Data Liberation Project,” Jason Tucker and Jason Cosper discuss the significance of data portability in WordPress. They delve into the recent push towards data liberation, enabling content to move freely between different Content Management Systems (CMS), including the import and export of data from WordPress…
On this episode of WPwatercooler, the panel, consisting of Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, Jason Cosper, and Nyasha Green, delves into the necessity of building custom WordPress blocks, a task propelled not just by choice but by the evolving needs of WordPress itself. They share personal anecdotes, challenges, and successes in navigating the block-based landscape of…
On this episode of WPwatercooler the panel, consisting of Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper, delves into the evolving nature of blogging and blogging in the WordPress ecosystem. They discuss the shift from traditional blogging to various modern formats, like microblogging on social media platforms. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the…
On this episode we delve into the concept of digital permanence and the lifespan of websites. They discuss the recent decision by Google to discontinue certain website services, impacting businesses and users who relied on them. This leads to a broader conversation about the impermanence of digital platforms and the risks of relying on third-party…
On this episode of WPwatercooler, titled “EP471 – Reflecting on the State of the Word 2023,” the hosts Jason Tucker, Sé Reed, and Jason Cosper engage in a reflective and critical discussion on various aspects of WordPress and the WordPress community. They discuss the State of the Word 2023, with Sé Reed sharing her thoughts…