‘good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you happen to be hiding out there on the globe today! Coming to you LIVE from…’

Welcome to Episode 663 – Ringing in WordPress 2026: 2025’s Chaos Recap & Predictions That’ll Blow Your Mind

Today we will not be doing our usual show as it is the holidays and we have always put family first this time of year. We have instead pre-recorded this for you, and we will be visiting the ideas we had last year of what would happen, what would come down the pike for us, tell you what we have actually seen over the past 12 months, and then we will be diving into what we think will becoming down the pike for the next 12 exciting months!
https://wppluginsatoz.com/wp-plugins-atoz-the-now-future-of-wordpress-through-our-lenses/

Just a couple of familiar things before we take off….

Reminders:

• Remember that sparklers are only for OUTside, not the living room!
• Don’t leave your partner unattended for too long, the intrusive thoughts may win them over when you are not looking and you will find them sliding down the outside stairs on a dumpster bin lid!
• Fizzy water and juice makes great pop for kids – fizzy water, juice, plus adult juice makes a great wobbly pop!
• We hope you make a SERIOUS racket at midnight – after all, when else do adults get to make crazy noise with pots and pans and those spinny loud things just because a clock strikes a certain time of night?!? Or is it morning?

That’s it for reminders – if I missed anything important be sure to let me know and I will add it to next year’s reminders! ;)

Remember that you can send anything pertinent my way at amber@wppro.ca!

Who’s Our Featured Artist This Week?

Artist: 

Grok! He is always our artist these days, and I think it is awesome!

WordPress Tips

Stop working and get your butt outside to go and have some fun in the snow – or if you got rain, get your butt down to the skating rink or something with your family and/or friends! Have some fun and be ridiculous – make funny faces at people while stuck in traffic, and spin around in circles holding hands with someone in a field until you are both so dizzy you fall down!

Just have some silly fun for a bit with zero regrets – we all need it!

Donations and Support

If you are interested in donating you can do so through time, talent, or treasure – or all 3!! – through out website wppluginsatoz.com. Click on the ‘Treasure Donations’ link on the left hand menu, or on the ‘Time, or Talent‘ pages to find out more!

How to reach us:

We have a real brick and mortar address where you can send in art and/or notes – you can find the address in our show notes!

WP Plugins A to Z
C/O John Overall 
20-754 E Fairview Rd. 
Victoria, BC  V9A 5T9  
Canada

We also have virtual addresses too!

John:

• My website: http://www.johnoverall.com/  
• WordPress Emergency Support: http://wppro.ca/wpemergency
• email: john@wppro.ca

Amber:

• email: amber@wppro.ca

Put on your lenses – and GO!!

John talking points to present:

LAST YEAR

what did I cover pretty much everything I went from using dictation to using more AI to create my content

Overview of WP Plugins A to Z in the Past Year

Over the past year (2025), you’ve revitalized the WP Plugins A to Z podcast with a mix of classic plugin review episodes, in-depth interviews (starting from Interview 63 onward), and the new “Plugin Pulse: Unplugged” solo series. The show has focused on practical plugin discoveries, WordPress ecosystem insights, emerging trends like AI integration, security/performance best practices, and community discussions—often blending reviews with news, tips, and rants on repository issues, vulnerabilities, and industry drama.

Main Podcast Formats

Classic Plugin Review Episodes

These core episodes review 2-3 plugins per show, rating them (often with “Dragons”), alongside WordPress news (vulnerabilities, updates), tips, and Q&A. Examples include:

• Media management and duplication tools (e.g., Media Cloud for CDNs, CodingBunny Easy Duplicate Post).
• Elementor enhancements (e.g., Unlimited Elements, Prime Slider Addons).
• Dashboard customization and maintenance checks (e.g., Name Your News, Outdated Plugin Notifier).

Interview Series (Episodes 63–77)

In-depth conversations with WordPress developers, agency owners, and tool creators, exploring their products, journeys, and opinions on the ecosystem.

Notable guests and focuses:

• Shawn DeWolfe (Web321): AI image tools, Gravity Forms integrations, community issues.
• Derek Ashauer (Conversion Bridge): Analytics and conversion tracking.
• Ryan Logan (InfluenceWP): Community deals, changelogs, and anti-scam efforts.
• Vasyl Martyniuk (Advanced Access Manager): Internal security and access controls.
• Jonathan Denwood (WP-Tonic): Hosting for LMS/membership sites, AI, and governance.
• Phil Storey (Glow): Agency maintenance plans and SaaS dashboards.
• Robert Devore (Devio Digital): AI-powered plugin creation, open-source principles.
• Lars Koudal (CleverPlugins): Security Ninja, SEO Booster, plugin empires.
• Steven Puri (Sukha): Productivity and flow states for developers.
• Greg Zakowicz (Omnisend): Email/SMS automation for e-commerce.
• Quintin Russ (Webslice): Performance benchmarking and hosting.
• Hans Skillrud (Termageddon): Auto-updating privacy policies.
• James Welbes (Apex/Etch): Alternatives to traditional WordPress building.
• Corey Maass (Gelform): AI in pro-grade plugins, marketing challenges.

Plugin Pulse: Unplugged Series

A more casual, solo-hosted format with rants, news bites, wildcard recommendations, and lighter reviews. Episodes 1–6 covered:

• AI-assisted spam tools for Gravity Forms.
• E-commerce alternatives (e.g., Fluent Cart).
• Utility fixes (e.g., Enable CORS, dev environment flags).
• Broader discussions on plugin repository flaws, Shopify integrations, Black Friday strategies, and evangelism.

Key Themes Covered Across Episodes

Plugin Discoveries and Practical Tools

Heavy emphasis on enhancing functionality: Elementor widgets, media/CDN optimization, spam prevention, duplication/cloning, outdated plugin detection, CORS fixes, and emerging e-commerce options (e.g., Fluent Cart as WooCommerce alternatives).

Security, Compliance, and Maintenance

Recurring focus on vulnerabilities (monthly reports), internal access risks, privacy laws (Termageddon), auto-updates, backups, changelogs, and agency care plans (Glow).

Performance and Developer Tools

Discussions on speed optimization (PHP benchmarking, hosting), AI for rapid development (Plugin Pal, Post Calendar), and productivity (flow states, distraction blocking).

Marketing, E-commerce, and Community

Email/SMS automation, conversion tracking, SEO strategies, community platforms (InfluenceWP), deals/giveaways, and evangelism amid perceived declines in WordPress “cool factor.”

Emerging Trends and Critiques

AI integration (code generation, image tools, content risks), repository discovery issues, governance drama (Automattic conflicts), open-source principles, and alternatives (Etch, static sites).

Recurring Elements

• Consistent affiliate shout-outs (Termageddon, Rank Math, Bunny.net, Glow).
• WordPress news updates (releases like 6.7–6.9, vulnerability stats).
• Practical tips (e.g., security best practices, SEO myths, avoiding AI penalties).
• Community calls: Evangelism, better plugin discovery, and contributions.

The show has delivered a strong mix of hands-on reviews and expert insights, positioning it as a go-to resource for practical WordPress enhancement while tackling bigger ecosystem questions.

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS

I created 2 new segments for the show doing interview show and limiting it except that must relate to WordPress i some way
have done more development in last twelve months than I did in the previous 2 years

Have dove deeply into AI and actually started creating plugins for real see my git hub here https://github.com/Ahkonsu

looks like my prediction of subscriptions service plugins has not started yet but a new micro trend sorta started and that is a one off fee

OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

The expansion of the fair project and one or two real repos for plugins will come online

AI will continue to dominate until they all go broke

more developer will host thier plugin at github and other repos

many people who had been doing website creating will move to creating products like plugins and SAAS

I see more new growth in WordPress again it will expand but I think it will not be Gutenberg leading the way unfortunately much will be driven by etch and the other builder like breakdown and elementor

here is the rundown of what I did with the podcast

Amber talking points to present:

LAST YEAR

…I predicted that WordPress was going to collapse, because it was losing their cornerstone coders and losing people who had been there since the beginning.

LUCKILY I was wrong, and what we got instead was a fresh intake of people, and because Mullenweg did this crazy thing in court and he is STILL dragging in on, MANY people are bouncing right back with these new ideas on what can be done to make WordPress better. WordPress was absolutely heading towards a stalling, though I don’t think this will be an issue now with all the fresh ideas and fresh blood coming in.

REGARDING REPOSITORIES popping up all over the place – I was right to predict that last year for sure! We now have many repositories for the plugins all over the place as we realized having multiple places is a good idea.

WORDPRESS vs GUTENBERG – I think that WordPress is simply split down the middle at this point, maybe a little more on the Classic look of WordPress side, though it seems fairly equal so far as I can tell for whether people use the Gutenberg or the Classic Press look for sites. I have noticed that the Classic is a lot more intuitive for business types as it looks so similar to so many other things used in the business world, so I don’t think Gutenberg will ever win over the Classic the way that Mullenweg wanted. I am not sad about this in the least.

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS

…the biggest change I think is the introduction of AI into every aspect of our work and life. I was not expecting the AI to be introduced to absolutely everything right down to kids toys so fast – there are so many safeguards that have been bypassed!
I have seen people using to help them build all kinds of things, and sometimes it is fantastic, although sometimes it is horrific – if you don’t already understand code, you cannot use the AI to build something in code for you because you cannot check over their work.
AI’s still hallucinate, and they now regularly lie.
I have seen things over this last year on how they can now get AI more powered with less space because they don’t need the hardware as much; we as a society are moving towards light based chips. To understand this, I have here a fantastic article for you! A New Kind of Computer

OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

…I think the world is going to stay focused on AI. We have not come even close to the peak of the AI trend and capability, and I think that AI will remain the biggest thing to grow and change over the next 12 months. I think it is going to be an equal mix of great and horrible – for everything up to and including SEO work.
I think that SEO work will become simultaneously easier and harder because while we get to use AI now, it will become so convoluted by the AI’s in charge of it that only AI’s will be able to fully comprehend it, so we the SEO workers will become just the managers of the AI, learning how to get them to understand what it is that we are looking for.
I also think that building sites is not going to go the way of the AI like so many people are saying – the number of times I have created EXACTLY what a client wants, just to have them come in and tell me how they want this, this, that and this changed – or they say they don’t really care, so I build a BEAUTIFUL site for them, and they come in and want me to start from scratch… this is the way of the human. And while an AI won’t feel frustrated at any of that, the AI will also not be able to produce that for the human. So no, I think proper site creation jobs will be safe.

GROK’S OVERVIEW OF ME:

For those who are interested go ahead and give it a read! I thought it was interesting for sure! ;)

Overview of Amber’s Year on WP Plugins A to Z: Relatable Rants, Plugin Gems, and Community Glue

In 2025, you (Amber) were the vibrant pulse of the WP Plugins A to Z podcast’s bi-weekly core, infusing episodes with your pragmatic reviews, signature rants, and listener-focused Q&A that made complex WordPress tools feel approachable for solo users, agencies, and devs alike. While the year leaned into John’s solo interviews and unplugged rants, your segments (across 20+ episodes like 609, 618, 620, and the relaunch in 641) spotlighted 15+ plugins with honest Dragons ratings, emphasizing free/low-cost options for productivity, security, and content. You drove the show’s relaunch energy, curated news for the “N3W$ 4 Y0U” newsletter, and handled submissions via amber@wppro.ca, turning abstract tips into actionable wins. Your style—candid, self-deprecating, and grounded in real-world frustrations (like forgetting Christmas plugins “because I’m like that”)—balanced John’s tech-deep dives with everyday wisdom, fostering a sense of camaraderie amid WP’s chaos (e.g., vulnerabilities, Automattic drama).

Amber’s Plugin Spotlights: Practical Picks for Everyday WP Warriors

Your reviews were the show’s user-centric heartbeat, often demoing free tiers live with integration tips, caveats for non-devs, and Dragons ratings that cut through hype. You focused on tools solving immediate pains like spam, workflows, and blocks, rating based on ease, value, and growth potential.

• Productivity & Dashboard Tweaks: Name Your News (Ep 641, 5 Dragons) for custom RSS feeds in the admin—”Crazy useful for keeping up to date on things pertaining to your site… Highly recommend if news is something you are regularly searching for (like me!)”; Temporary Access, Magic robots.txt, and Inactive Logout (Ep 581, all 5 Dragons) for secure, temporary logins and SEO basics without bloat.
• Security & Form Guards: Email Verification (Ep 542, 4 Dragons) via third-party credits for spam-proof sign-ups across Woo, Gravity Forms, and more—”At first, I thought this was really kind of a not great way to do it, but… it could save you a lot of time, a lot of frustration”; WP Fingerprint (Ep 488, 3 Dragons) for tracking user sessions lightly.
• Content & UI Enhancers: Wicked Block Builder (Ep 542, 4 Dragons) for Gutenberg custom blocks—”Very useful; I have a feeling that this newer plugin is going to grow… it seems pretty on the ball right now”; Spice Post Slider (Ep 542, 4 Dragons) for mobile-friendly post carousels—”I didn’t find it overly exciting… but I do see the usefulness… great to keep in your arsenal for, oh, I need this right now”; Ninja Toastify (Ep 609) for non-intrusive notifications.
• Niche Utilities: Essential Addons for Elementor (Ep 488, 4 Dragons) for quick widget boosts.

You often paired reviews with WP tips, like setting alarms for deep dives to avoid burnout (Ep 641: “Trust me, this happens to the best of us—and for the super patient family and friends…”).

Amber’s Rants & Segments: The Fun, Frank Kickoff to Bi-Weeklies

Your “Amber’s Rant” openers were episode staples, blending hype with humor to hook listeners before news rundowns and tips—think high-energy welcomes that teased plugins, WP drama, and tech trends.

• Rant Highlights: Ep 620 (Outer World): “We’ve got a couple of great in-depth plugins to cover for you, some recent news in both the WordPress World and the Tech World…”; Ep 609 (Falling For): Same formula, plus dives into seasonal effects; Ep 618 (Holiday Magic): A lighter twist on non-regular shows, focusing on festive embeds; Ep 623 (Pulling Together): Emphasizing workflow harmony; Ep 612 (Don’t Get Stung): Warnings on bad plugins amid vuln spikes; Ep 615 (Leaning Into) and 621 (Whisperer): Broader ecosystem chats.
• News & Tips Flow: You unpacked headlines like RSS security (Ep 641: “Are RSS feeds a security risk at all?”) and plugin ignores leading to hacks (Ep 542: “Makes sense… I’ve done that a couple of times already”), always tying back to practical fixes.
• Q&A Leadership: You owned these, turning listener emails into gold—Ep 542 probed client red flags (“Cheap as in they’re broke… or cheap as in they change their mind 10 times?”) and dev dating analogies (“That’s actually really good advice. I don’t think many people would think about [it]”); Ep 641 covered RSS basics (“How would you get an RSS feed…?”) and paid feeds. Your questions drove depth, like clarifying payments: “So if that happens, do you start the project?”

In the 2024 State of the Word recap, your talking points captured the “pastel coloured whirlwind” of WP shifts, AI pitfalls, and community cuts.

Amber’s Community Pulse: Submissions, Newsletters, and Listener Lifeline

You were the show’s engagement engine, making it feel personal and inclusive—directing devs to submit plugins for review (amber@wppro.ca or john@wppro.ca) and curating “N3W$ 4 Y0U” (Issue #6: “Send them on into me at amber@wppro.ca! Welcome to… a little bit of everything”).

• Relaunch Role (Ep 641): You powered the “We Are Back Baby” vibe, reviewing plugins, dropping tips, and teasing bi-weeklies (every other Monday, 12:30pm PT). Quotes like your RSS deep-dive follow-ups showed your knack for demystifying tech.
• Broader Impact: Transcripts (e.g., Eps 540, 542) are “complete verbatim of John and Amber’s discussion,” underscoring your co-equal banter. You amplified affiliates (e.g., WPPro hosting) and encouraged YouTube Q&A subs, building loyalty amid 2025’s fast WP pace.

———- end here