Open Channels FM

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Navigating the Future of Partnerships and AI in the Open Web

Zach Stepek and Carl Alexander discuss the changing landscape of partnerships and web development communities, emphasizing the importance of…

https://openchannels.fm/navigating-the-future-of-partnerships-and-ai-in-the-open-web/

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Inside the Checkout Summit: What WooCommerce Events Mean for the Ecosystem

In this episode, James Kemp, Katie Keith, and Rodolfo Melogli discuss the revival of in-person WooCommerce events like…

https://openchannels.fm/inside-the-checkout-summit-what-woocommerce-events-mean-for-the-ecosystem/

AI’s Impact on Human Interaction with the Open Web AI's rapid evolution is reshaping web interactions, with automated traffic outpacing human engagement. This shift raises concerns about content value, as creators struggle to balance utility and genuine human experience online.

AI’s Impact on Human Interaction with the Open Web

AI's rapid evolution is reshaping web interactions, with automated traffic outpacing human engagement. This shift raises concerns about content value, as creators struggle to balance utility and genuine human experience online.

Open Channels FM, a Media Partner for CloudFest 2026 and the Hackathon For the third year in the row we are proud to be a media sponsor for both the CloudFest Hackathon and CloudFest.

For the third year in the row we are proud to be a media sponsor for both the CloudFest Hackathon and CloudFest.

Expanding Your Skills Stack During the Rapid AI Shift Hosts Carl Alexander and Zach Stepek discuss the challenging yet empowering transition in careers, emphasizing the need to adapt skillsets, leverage AI tools, and focus on personal branding in a rapidly changing environment.

Expanding Your Skills Stack During the Rapid AI Shift

Hosts Carl Alexander and Zach Stepek discuss the challenging yet empowering transition in careers, emphasizing the need to adapt skillsets, leverage AI tools, and focus on personal branding in a rapidly changing environment.

Preparing Your WooCommerce Store for the AI Era: Data and Catalog Management As WooCommerce continues to evolve in its integration with AI technologies, one theme stands out: the importance of structured and accessible data for store success. Conversations in a recent episode illuminated how a well-managed product catalog is the backbone of leveraging AI features, both now and in the future. Store owners and developers are urged to revisit their catalog, ensuring that critical fields and information are not only present but accurate.

Preparing Your WooCommerce Store for the AI Era: Data and Catalog Management

As WooCommerce continues to evolve in its integration with AI technologies, one theme stands out: the importance of structured and accessible data for store success. Conversations in a recent episode illuminated how a…

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What’s New at CloudFest Hackathon 2026: Trends, Changes, and Creative Energy

In this episode enjoy a chat about the CloudFest Hackathon 2026's history, future initiatives, and community engagement,…

https://openchannels.fm/whats-new-at-cloudfest-hackathon-2026-trends-changes-and-creative-energy/

How Freelancers Can Tame Digital Distractions Starting conversations around strategies to reduce digital distractions, emphasizing boundaries for emails, social media habits, and personalizing routines for better focus.

How Freelancers Can Tame Digital Distractions

Starting conversations around strategies to reduce digital distractions, emphasizing boundaries for emails, social media habits, and personalizing routines for better focus.

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Open Channels New YouTube Channel and Newsletter

Host Bob Dunn announces a new YouTube channel and a new newsletter and roundup.

https://openchannels.fm/open-channels-new-youtube-channel-and-newsletter/

Omnisend Continues Their Support of Open Channels FM Omnisend continues to sponsor us, offering a powerful marketing platform for ecommerce. They provide easy migration support and so much more.

Omnisend Continues Their Support of Open Channels FM

Omnisend continues to sponsor us, offering a powerful marketing platform for ecommerce. They provide easy migration support and so much more.

Empathy For some of us it comes naturally. For others, it may need to be learned.

Empathy

For some of us it comes naturally. For others, it may need to be learned.

Open Source vs SaaS: The Freedom Debate In this clip, hosts Dave and Robert discuss the balance between personal convenience and the ideals of open source technology.

Open Source vs SaaS: The Freedom Debate

In this clip, hosts Dave and Robert discuss the balance between personal convenience and the ideals of open source technology.

AI Sidekick Features for WooCommerce Merchants Co-host Katie Keith asks if WooCommerce will ever get a built-in AI assistant like Shopify’s Sidekick. James LePage explains that while it’s not in core just yet, all the building blocks are nearly here, and soon, adding a custom AI agent to your WooCommerce store could be as fast as installing a plugin. Here’s a clip about the future of AI agents in WordPress and WooCommerce.

AI Sidekick Features for WooCommerce Merchants

Co-host Katie Keith asks if WooCommerce will ever get a built-in AI assistant like Shopify’s Sidekick. James LePage explains that while it’s not in core just yet, all the building blocks are nearly here, and soon, adding a custom AI agent to your…

How Instant Access to Information Has Changed Patience and Learning A reflection on the internet's impact on patience and learning. It highlights how instant answers have reshaped our experiences, often sacrificing depth for speed in knowledge acquisition.

How Instant Access to Information Has Changed Patience and Learning

A reflection on the internet's impact on patience and learning. It highlights how instant answers have reshaped our experiences, often sacrificing depth for speed in knowledge acquisition.

Elementor Rebranding >

Communicating Transparently Around Challenges Communication isn’t just about communicating around the good things, the shiny things.

Communicating Transparently Around Challenges

Communication isn’t just about communicating around the good things, the shiny things.

How AI Is Changing the Way Developers Work The rise of AI tools is revitalizing programming for developers, making coding enjoyable, but also increasing workload and emphasizing the need for visibility in contributions.

How AI Is Changing the Way Developers Work

The rise of AI tools is revitalizing programming for developers, making coding enjoyable, but also increasing workload and emphasizing the need for visibility in contributions.

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An Inside Look at Building Consistent Brand Experience in the Digital Ecosystem

In this episode, Adam Weeks interviews Jessica Malamud, who discusses Elementor's significant rebranding efforts…

https://openchannels.fm/an-inside-look-at-building-consistent-brand-experience-in-the-digital-ecosystem/

Building Better Habits for Freelancers and Creators Discover practical productivity tips as hosts Bob and Cami tackle balancing good and bad habits for freelancers and solo creators.

Here we go! Hosts @webcami.bsky.social and @bobwp.com are starting a monthly episode on habits for freelancers and small businesses. The good habits, and yes, the bad habits.

openchannels.fm/building-bet...

Our Tech Stack <creator meanderings> Sometime ago I created a list of my own tech stack over on my personal site. Had a lot of feedback about how people appreciated it. So I decided, why not do it here as well. Except instead of it including the site and it's inner workings, I chose to focus more of the studio/podcasting gear and a few of our other services I use to run Open Channels FM.

Our Tech Stack

Sometime ago I created a list of my own tech stack over on my personal site. Had a lot of feedback about how people appreciated it. So I decided, why not do it here as well. Except instead of it including the site and it's inner workings, I chose to focus more…

Roadmap 2026 — Charting the stars of the open social web The 2026 roadmap focuses on making WordPress easier to discover and interact with across the Fediverse. Key areas include better search and recommendations through FASP support, Starter Packs to he…

Roadmap 2026 — Charting the stars of the open social web – ActivityPub for WordPress activitypub.blog/2026/02/11/r...

The Blackout. Off the Grid. During the day I thought about this tiny experience of a blackout

The Blackout. Off the Grid.

During the day I thought about this tiny experience of a blackout

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Navigating AI’s Impact on the Open Web, Freedom, and the Future of Technology

In their Open Web Conversations podcast, Dave Lockie and Robert Jacobi banter about the evolving AI landscape,…

https://openchannels.fm/navigating-ais-impact-on-the-open-web-freedom-and-the-future-of-technology/

The Overlooked Backbone of Open Source: Voluntary Work Amid Modern Pressures In a tech-centric era, volunteer-driven open source projects face a precarious future. As pressures mount, these unsung heroes risk burnout, jeopardizing our digital safety and stability. How long can they hold on?

The Overlooked Backbone of Open Source: Voluntary Work Amid Modern Pressures

In a tech-centric era, volunteer-driven open source projects face a precarious future. As pressures mount, these unsung heroes risk burnout, jeopardizing our digital safety and stability. How long can they hold on?

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AI Meets Woo: The Future of Ecommerce is Already Here

In this episode of Do the Woo, hosts Katie and James discuss WooCommerce and AI with guest James LePage, exploring new features, tools, protocols, and the future of…

https://openchannels.fm/ai-meets-woo-the-future-of-ecommerce-is-already-here/

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"On the face of it, we have abundance. The internet brought us abundance. Sounds great, but not all great." – Nathan Wrigley

https://openchannels.fm/hey-what-do-you-think-about-the-internet-and-what-we-might-have-lost/

Open Channels FM New YouTube Channel The rebranded content will feature audio and video episodes. Founder BobWP will share the backstory soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Open Channels FM New YouTube Channel

The rebranded content will feature audio and video episodes. Founder BobWP will share the backstory soon. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Never Say Never When you say never say never about something, how sure can you be?

Never Say Never

When you say never say never about something, how sure can you be?

Jerks and Flows https://openchannels.fm/jerks-and-flows/

Open Source at the Heart of Europe’s (and the World’s) Digital Future From Code & Compliance and the EU Open Source Academy Awards and Policy Summit, to multiple FOSDEM devrooms, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) engaged directly with the community throughout the week, convening conversations, contributing expertise, and reinforcing the importance of open governance in an increasingly regulated digital landscape.

Open Source at the Heart of Europe's (and the World's) Digital Future - Open Source Initiative https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-at-the-heart-of-europes-and-the-worlds-digital-future