WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.750 Matt: Corey Miller, welcome back to the WP Minute. 00:00:02.969 --> 00:00:04.510 Cory: It's good to be on again, Matt. 00:00:04.590 --> 00:00:05.189 I missed you. 00:00:05.730 --> 00:00:08.020 Matt: We're no longer competing for the same audience anymore. 00:00:08.109 --> 00:00:09.000 Cory: Oh 00:00:09.059 --> 00:00:11.859 Matt: what a great, not that we ever competed, fisticuffs. 00:00:11.860 --> 00:00:16.069 Yes, 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:18.079 Cory: new day and I love what you do here. 00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:21.150 Of course, Matt and always, we've been friends for a long time, but also 00:00:21.509 --> 00:00:24.429 mutual supporters in the media space. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:26.829 And so thanks for that. 00:00:26.829 --> 00:00:28.800 Yeah, it's a, it's a, it's a new day. 00:00:28.990 --> 00:00:30.569 Big stuff going on and good changes. 00:00:30.840 --> 00:00:32.659 Matt: lots of stuff to talk about today. 00:00:32.709 --> 00:00:34.769 Number one, A2 was acquired. 00:00:34.849 --> 00:00:36.409 We're going to talk about that post status. 00:00:36.804 --> 00:00:41.834 Was acquired we're gonna talk about that and a couple other Mergers 00:00:41.834 --> 00:00:43.014 and acquisitions in your life. 00:00:43.014 --> 00:00:47.764 It's been a busy two or three or maybe a month I don't know you tell me how 00:00:47.794 --> 00:00:51.924 how how how are you feeling now that all of this stuff is out into the open? 00:00:52.359 --> 00:00:55.959 Cory: I used to, for years ago, like I thrive on changing all this and 00:00:55.969 --> 00:00:57.749 it was because I was initiating it. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.129 And so a lot of changes. 00:01:00.299 --> 00:01:04.790 So I'm, I'm, I'm, you know, happy thankful. 00:01:05.135 --> 00:01:08.145 In many ways for a lot of these changes, I know they're things that 00:01:08.145 --> 00:01:11.565 are good and gonna, you know, it's the next phase of a lot of things. 00:01:11.575 --> 00:01:13.895 You mentioned post data, super, super excited about that. 00:01:13.905 --> 00:01:16.485 Don't want to, I want to talk about that when you're ready. 00:01:16.745 --> 00:01:19.405 But yeah, it's been a season of change letting some things go and 00:01:19.405 --> 00:01:22.705 accepting some things overall in my personal professional life. 00:01:23.035 --> 00:01:25.675 But good, like, you know, 00:01:26.435 --> 00:01:30.155 Matt: It's always nice to, to breathe a bit of a sigh of relief, whether 00:01:30.155 --> 00:01:33.575 it's you know, all your hard work with, with post status and the 00:01:33.575 --> 00:01:37.835 WordPress community and, and getting that what I'll call taken care of. 00:01:37.865 --> 00:01:40.505 And we'll dive into that in the back half of this episode, but 00:01:40.505 --> 00:01:42.745 let's talk first about the A2 stuff. 00:01:43.025 --> 00:01:48.475 World host group is the new owner, suitor of A2. 00:01:48.905 --> 00:01:53.645 What you know, you get the news, you're like, oh man, hosting in WordPress 00:01:53.775 --> 00:01:56.025 it's a game, built it on trust. 00:01:56.305 --> 00:02:00.565 It's a game built on relationships, at least as in terms of, of WordPress. 00:02:00.625 --> 00:02:04.235 And now you go into this, what I'll call this bigger pool of 00:02:04.235 --> 00:02:06.815 talent, of technology, of assets. 00:02:07.275 --> 00:02:09.195 The team looks at you and goes, well, you're the guy with the boots 00:02:09.195 --> 00:02:10.275 on the ground with the community. 00:02:10.275 --> 00:02:11.055 What do we do? 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:16.200 How did you first like phrase this to the team or frame it to the team to say, Hey, 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:18.760 look, WordPress community, super valuable. 00:02:19.010 --> 00:02:20.420 Let's go easy here. 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:24.380 Let's not just like put out a PR release and just move on with our day. 00:02:24.380 --> 00:02:26.330 Like we, we got to do this the right way. 00:02:26.670 --> 00:02:28.040 How did you manage that? 00:02:28.790 --> 00:02:29.210 Cory: Yeah. 00:02:29.210 --> 00:02:32.570 There's been a, it's been a whirlwind of the past couple of weeks. 00:02:32.850 --> 00:02:37.910 And so, you know, I love really like and love the new leadership team I've met 00:02:38.010 --> 00:02:43.590 said dilemma, our CEO Tim, who is our chief commercial they call it commercial. 00:02:43.820 --> 00:02:44.470 It's really cool. 00:02:44.470 --> 00:02:45.050 I like it. 00:02:45.240 --> 00:02:46.760 It's product marketing cells. 00:02:46.760 --> 00:02:50.440 I believe he is where I'm lining up underneath and Some of the 00:02:50.440 --> 00:02:53.440 others, and they are very, very familiar with WordPress. 00:02:53.440 --> 00:03:01.020 In fact, I think our COO has given talks at WordCamps before they ran a agency like 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:04.050 a maintenance fixing type site called fix. 00:03:04.270 --> 00:03:04.700 net. 00:03:05.030 --> 00:03:08.560 So when they talk, it's really refreshing because you go, you 00:03:08.570 --> 00:03:09.630 know what you're talking about. 00:03:09.630 --> 00:03:12.830 And I think, you know, way more than I do on many of these things. 00:03:12.850 --> 00:03:15.330 They're in the details and the technical parts. 00:03:15.940 --> 00:03:22.000 And when I heard their vision and values, I said that, yes, that's what we need. 00:03:22.450 --> 00:03:25.830 Hosting industry, WordPress, a lot of ups and downs over the years. 00:03:26.490 --> 00:03:31.410 And, you know, people in WordPress know, you know, so, Hey. 00:03:31.920 --> 00:03:34.070 Would you get on a video with me and talk? 00:03:34.070 --> 00:03:34.910 And so he did. 00:03:34.910 --> 00:03:38.090 And I was so thankful cause you get to hear it from him, not take my word 00:03:38.090 --> 00:03:43.090 for it and everything I've seen and heard as I've continued to step, learn 00:03:43.090 --> 00:03:46.880 more, figure out where everything is kind of settling in which is so 00:03:46.880 --> 00:03:49.980 early still that it feels promising. 00:03:50.010 --> 00:03:50.780 And I like. 00:03:51.180 --> 00:03:56.300 What I'm hearing, I really do the vision is cool, the values of, I was on one 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:59.760 of our pretty extended meeting talking about all that thankful being able to 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:05.580 contribute to it and I like that and you know, my thing to seven team was let's get 00:04:05.580 --> 00:04:10.129 out and share because in the absence of good information, people make things up. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.660 You know, so that's a team thing. 00:04:12.660 --> 00:04:14.900 That's a world thing. 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:15.790 That's a human thing. 00:04:15.790 --> 00:04:20.360 If you're not communicated, you'll with people will draw their own conclusions. 00:04:20.400 --> 00:04:23.120 And I said, you know, to him and I loved how responsible he was. 00:04:23.170 --> 00:04:23.620 Let's do it. 00:04:23.640 --> 00:04:24.230 Let's jump on. 00:04:24.610 --> 00:04:28.370 And so, to hear from him directly, he's got a lot of experience. 00:04:28.370 --> 00:04:32.310 This is not just someone coming in, swoop up, got great plans. 00:04:32.835 --> 00:04:36.845 And they need, you know, companies need to make profit, including WP minute. 00:04:37.195 --> 00:04:41.365 But the other part is like, it's, it was compelling. 00:04:41.455 --> 00:04:44.905 It was new to me and I go that, yes, that too. 00:04:45.315 --> 00:04:47.565 So, and he's a great communicator. 00:04:47.805 --> 00:04:49.855 So, you can, you, you have that. 00:04:49.895 --> 00:04:51.975 I know people will be able to see that right now. 00:04:52.225 --> 00:04:57.035 I hope they do and look, and as he mentioned is just, 00:04:57.085 --> 00:04:58.415 just give us an opportunity. 00:04:59.285 --> 00:05:00.275 To do these things. 00:05:00.275 --> 00:05:03.805 We're still in early, early, early phase, but I really like to plan 00:05:04.365 --> 00:05:10.075 to not to increase product and support, not decrease to increase. 00:05:10.075 --> 00:05:13.215 That's the theme that I've heard in the hosting industry overall, 00:05:13.215 --> 00:05:14.625 you know, coming to get spot. 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:18.570 Things inevitably go down, somehow they'll start to bounce back up. 00:05:18.930 --> 00:05:22.190 It's cyclical in the hosting industry, but I loved it because they've got 00:05:22.190 --> 00:05:24.740 a plan and they're savvy and know. 00:05:25.690 --> 00:05:28.530 You can hear Seb's word directly, it's like profit comes 00:05:28.530 --> 00:05:29.820 from taking care of people. 00:05:31.260 --> 00:05:31.720 I'm in. 00:05:31.960 --> 00:05:32.750 Like, I like that. 00:05:33.150 --> 00:05:34.770 Matt: World Host Group, you can check out the website, worldhost. 00:05:35.510 --> 00:05:35.840 group. 00:05:35.850 --> 00:05:39.580 There's, I mean, 14 brands 14 hosting companies under this brand. 00:05:40.230 --> 00:05:43.930 We were talking earlier, like, look, it's, in this day and age, anyone 00:05:43.930 --> 00:05:46.380 can Google and go up the ladder. 00:05:46.450 --> 00:05:47.790 Yes, private equity. 00:05:47.810 --> 00:05:49.190 Yes, big brand. 00:05:49.200 --> 00:05:53.070 Yes, many, many brands within one brand, right? 00:05:53.070 --> 00:05:57.740 And you see this, sort of, this typical structure, this typical org chart 00:05:58.070 --> 00:06:01.270 of enterprise and PE kind of feel. 00:06:01.530 --> 00:06:05.795 But, I, I, what always gets lost, Particularly in the WordPress 00:06:05.795 --> 00:06:10.095 space is, hey man, sometimes the rubber meets the road. 00:06:10.165 --> 00:06:11.385 The business has to run. 00:06:11.395 --> 00:06:12.555 These are business decisions. 00:06:12.555 --> 00:06:14.585 Yes, PE has a particular playbook. 00:06:15.355 --> 00:06:18.645 There are playbooks that some are good, some are bad. 00:06:18.895 --> 00:06:22.775 It's far too early to tell for you because we're just announcing this stuff today 00:06:22.775 --> 00:06:27.555 on, on how they assess their portfolios, the brands in their portfolios, et cetera. 00:06:27.975 --> 00:06:28.405 But. 00:06:29.050 --> 00:06:32.520 If you're taking things at face value, you're the one talking to these people 00:06:32.670 --> 00:06:36.980 on the interior you know, we, we're trusting you, the, the, the WordPress 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:41.630 community is trusting you and, and making sure that A2 is ushered in to 00:06:41.820 --> 00:06:45.590 world host group and still, you know, playing its part in the community. 00:06:46.470 --> 00:06:47.200 Private equity. 00:06:47.710 --> 00:06:52.860 Open source, WordPress, these are things that are very delicate conversations 00:06:52.915 --> 00:06:53.645 Cory: Very delicate. 00:06:53.990 --> 00:06:54.520 Matt: right? 00:06:54.550 --> 00:06:58.990 So it's, I mean, I'm sure you're telling them Hey, this stuff is, 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:00.380 this stuff is in the crosshairs. 00:07:00.380 --> 00:07:01.850 I mean, they must know, right? 00:07:01.870 --> 00:07:05.230 Looking at the, looking at the news and knowing what's happening. 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:06.300 They must know that. 00:07:06.830 --> 00:07:10.580 And if people are hopping on the call with you and listening to you, well, 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:13.060 that's good because there could be. 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:17.950 Investors or private equity or big global brands that are like, whatever, 00:07:18.880 --> 00:07:21.880 you know, like, whatever, who cares, man, you know, we don't care, Corey, 00:07:21.880 --> 00:07:24.720 let's just, we're just trying to like onboard you and get this thing going. 00:07:25.070 --> 00:07:29.090 So, but it's good to hear that at least in this day and age, they're listening 00:07:29.390 --> 00:07:34.440 and they're, they're willing to have you as that conduit you WordPress community. 00:07:34.440 --> 00:07:36.400 And that's, you know, that's all we can ask for right now. 00:07:37.715 --> 00:07:43.325 Cory: Yeah, you know, it's it's interesting I, my first company, 00:07:43.325 --> 00:07:48.185 I Themes was acquired by a private equity backed company in Liquidweb. 00:07:48.645 --> 00:07:51.485 And I'll say today, I think I was mentioning this to someone else. 00:07:51.485 --> 00:07:55.825 I go, I don't have bad things to say about that. 00:07:56.295 --> 00:07:57.725 I was treated extremely fair. 00:07:58.110 --> 00:08:02.930 I can only speak for myself, but I, I was, cause I, you know, I kept going 00:08:03.140 --> 00:08:09.030 with them and then you see, you know, leaders like Matt Cromwell, Devin 00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:12.870 Walker, and others that are still a part of that group and doing good things. 00:08:13.210 --> 00:08:16.990 And so, you know, it's not always a nightmare horror story 00:08:16.990 --> 00:08:18.960 for anyone, team or customers. 00:08:19.350 --> 00:08:23.210 And so, you know, my part was just going, you know, let's show the 00:08:23.210 --> 00:08:26.070 humans behind this and the depth. 00:08:26.435 --> 00:08:31.325 You know, I was, I told Seb, our CEO, I said, I don't hear a lot of. 00:08:31.750 --> 00:08:36.890 You know, hosting company, CEOs, there are some, but get out in 00:08:36.890 --> 00:08:40.800 front and talk like he did, like, you know, he was actually from his 00:08:40.800 --> 00:08:43.190 home office, you know, sharing it. 00:08:43.190 --> 00:08:44.350 And I go, that's what I want. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:47.229 And there's a funny part you'll see where he talks about when he started 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.089 back at 13 years old, starting, you know, tinkering with these things 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:52.389 that like a lot of people in tech did. 00:08:52.829 --> 00:08:55.409 And I go that, that, that, that's a good signal. 00:08:56.780 --> 00:09:01.020 Understanding he's built a hosting multiple hosting companies before 00:09:01.260 --> 00:09:03.610 he's built software on teams. 00:09:03.920 --> 00:09:05.519 There's a tracker that flows into the CEO. 00:09:06.150 --> 00:09:06.430 Okay. 00:09:06.430 --> 00:09:06.940 This is it. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:10.060 Let's just take a second and say, this isn't the typical 00:09:10.060 --> 00:09:11.410 thing we've seen in the past. 00:09:11.770 --> 00:09:15.039 Not throwing shade on anyone, just going, it's just not what we've seen. 00:09:15.049 --> 00:09:16.180 And it's compelling to me. 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:16.780 It's interesting. 00:09:16.780 --> 00:09:17.479 I go, tell me more. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:20.580 I want to, you know, I'm leaning in when I'm hearing this from 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:23.209 branding to product to support. 00:09:23.599 --> 00:09:25.169 And so that's encouraging to me. 00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:26.899 Those to me are very good signals. 00:09:27.294 --> 00:09:32.514 You know, but I said, we'll say, and me too, is just test show. 00:09:32.574 --> 00:09:36.874 Let us show you, let us, you know, just give us a moment of like, before 00:09:36.874 --> 00:09:41.414 you kind of make some assumptions to see what we're going to do, because 00:09:41.414 --> 00:09:44.904 the team I've met, the commercial team everybody I met, which is really. 00:09:45.249 --> 00:09:49.909 Another great, you know, signal for me is they're excited about what Katie 00:09:49.909 --> 00:09:51.689 Richards and I do with our community team. 00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:56.359 That's, that's continuing on and, you know, WordPress in particular, 00:09:56.359 --> 00:10:01.099 everybody just acknowledges it's huge, you know, but that's a good 00:10:01.099 --> 00:10:05.029 signal that they value that part of what we're doing, reaching customers. 00:10:05.059 --> 00:10:06.899 And then again, some. 00:10:07.374 --> 00:10:11.514 Thoughtfulness, I would say, not to say in my personal past or wasn't, 00:10:11.514 --> 00:10:14.904 it's just, I really appreciate some of the thoughtfulness about what they've 00:10:14.904 --> 00:10:18.574 done and how they've communicated back what, what we're doing as it all 00:10:18.594 --> 00:10:21.964 kind of flies together with all this emerges with their bigger strategy of 00:10:21.964 --> 00:10:23.774 what they're doing and it's compelling. 00:10:24.324 --> 00:10:29.034 Matt: I have this whole other thread of thought about like AI and the safety of 00:10:29.034 --> 00:10:31.854 our, of our jobs as like marketing people. 00:10:32.074 --> 00:10:39.344 But I am feeling pretty confident that folks like you and I and Katie who truly 00:10:39.344 --> 00:10:44.184 understand the value of community and can. 00:10:44.784 --> 00:10:49.284 can really, you know, pull on the, well, the valuable threads of the community. 00:10:49.284 --> 00:10:51.024 Like, understand who the players are. 00:10:51.044 --> 00:10:55.589 Understand the needs of not only the You know, the inside baseball 00:10:55.589 --> 00:10:58.229 players of WordPress, but what the, what our customers need, what 00:10:58.229 --> 00:11:01.449 WordPress customers need you know, the customers of our customers need 00:11:01.449 --> 00:11:02.939 when they interact with WordPress. 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:07.229 And what I'm getting at is, two things, number one, we don't have to talk 00:11:07.239 --> 00:11:09.179 about it, it's just something that's on my mind, like the AI stuff is a 00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:11.909 thing, and I'm always like constantly thinking about that, but if there's 00:11:11.909 --> 00:11:12.889 a thought there for you, let me know. 00:11:12.889 --> 00:11:19.789 But really the other thing is, I'm sure, you know, folks at Worldhost and others, 00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:25.214 they They'd be foolish to look at the WordPress community and be like, Ah, 00:11:25.214 --> 00:11:27.044 yeah, we know that thing is over there. 00:11:27.174 --> 00:11:30.984 And they call it, you know, this nice little community thing, but it's whatever. 00:11:31.204 --> 00:11:33.464 They'd be foolish to approach it that way. 00:11:33.464 --> 00:11:37.824 They should be looking at it going, How can we do that WordPress 00:11:37.834 --> 00:11:41.504 community thing with these other technologies that we have? 00:11:41.754 --> 00:11:45.424 You'll, I mean, they might not, it might not get as WordPress community 00:11:45.654 --> 00:11:48.244 as long as we all stick together in the WordPress community, but they 00:11:48.244 --> 00:11:49.544 should be looking at that going, okay. 00:11:49.929 --> 00:11:50.649 That's pretty good. 00:11:50.889 --> 00:11:52.129 It's not a money maker. 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:56.779 It's hard to, you know, do the typical ROI thing on it But it's working 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.799 and how can we pull that in to other areas of our business and you know 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:04.039 Not to put too much weight on your shoulders, but you'd be the guy 00:12:04.424 --> 00:12:05.014 Cory: Ha ha. 00:12:05.024 --> 00:12:05.304 Thank 00:12:05.419 --> 00:12:05.729 Matt: That's good. 00:12:05.729 --> 00:12:10.199 It's gonna have to you know, erect that structure in you know internally 00:12:10.199 --> 00:12:15.019 to you know to world host group But yeah any thoughts big big sort 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:18.119 of pontification there but any thoughts on on those on those areas 00:12:18.594 --> 00:12:24.374 Cory: I think you know, one, we can just all assume most any hosting, I'm making a 00:12:24.374 --> 00:12:29.154 broad statement here, but most any hosting company has got to think about WordPress. 00:12:29.244 --> 00:12:30.494 Like if they don't. 00:12:31.004 --> 00:12:35.884 They're in some niche thing that, that, you know, it was like 00:12:35.904 --> 00:12:36.884 it was probably 10 years ago. 00:12:36.884 --> 00:12:39.114 I remember it was just all the hosting companies kind of 00:12:39.164 --> 00:12:41.694 started to go, what's WordPress. 00:12:42.114 --> 00:12:45.164 And I think WP Engine was a big part of that. 00:12:45.424 --> 00:12:49.204 Coming out Paisley different places, but showing. 00:12:49.609 --> 00:12:53.019 You know, professionalism and quality and the need for it. 00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:56.449 But then, you know, one day I felt like 10 years ago or so, housing companies 00:12:56.449 --> 00:12:58.609 woke up and go, someone run the numbers. 00:12:59.649 --> 00:13:03.559 And it was like, I'm just guessing, but it was like 60 percent of your infrastructure 00:13:03.609 --> 00:13:04.949 has this thing called WordPress. 00:13:05.359 --> 00:13:08.919 And and it just, that was when all of this changed because, you know, 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:11.829 when we break it down from a business sense for a second, recurring 00:13:11.829 --> 00:13:13.809 revenue, subscription revenue. 00:13:14.569 --> 00:13:18.029 Is the gold standard, you know, for businesses, how, 00:13:18.339 --> 00:13:20.419 why SAS is such a huge thing. 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:23.109 So it does, the reality is. 00:13:23.509 --> 00:13:28.069 It would be very attracted, attractive to investors. 00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:30.639 And that's what we've seen over the last 10 plus years. 00:13:30.649 --> 00:13:33.949 And WordPress is just people going, wow, this is huge. 00:13:34.329 --> 00:13:37.749 As we've grown and matured as a community, as a platform. 00:13:38.049 --> 00:13:41.089 So, you know, I just recognize and accept that, like, I think. 00:13:41.869 --> 00:13:46.199 If I can get to the space where I go, that should be a good signal back 00:13:46.199 --> 00:13:47.909 that we've grown something pretty big. 00:13:48.259 --> 00:13:50.519 It comes with new sets of challenges. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.519 Absolutely. 00:13:51.629 --> 00:13:52.389 That we've seen. 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.749 That's why I sold iThemes. 00:13:53.969 --> 00:13:56.089 I go, you know, got it. 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:59.209 He's just bought security and managed WP and all these place. 00:13:59.509 --> 00:14:01.429 And then you know, it just started like, okay. 00:14:02.029 --> 00:14:05.139 If I just do my math, they're going to, they're going to camp 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:06.409 out in backups and security. 00:14:06.409 --> 00:14:09.319 And now I think most hosting providers have some kind of 00:14:09.339 --> 00:14:10.469 backup for their customers. 00:14:10.469 --> 00:14:12.339 And so that was our chief product at the time. 00:14:12.709 --> 00:14:15.089 And that's what ultimately led me to sales. 00:14:15.089 --> 00:14:18.599 Like the industry is getting bigger and there's a lot of attention. 00:14:19.089 --> 00:14:22.279 But on the, I think, I think that's a question everybody's, you know, 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:26.959 thinking about too underneath this is, I don't even know if 00:14:26.959 --> 00:14:28.609 disruptive is the right word for AI. 00:14:29.774 --> 00:14:31.274 Matt: yeah, I totally agree. 00:14:31.469 --> 00:14:35.474 Cory: It's like, You know, you know, I've been around together a long time in this 00:14:35.474 --> 00:14:38.364 space, but I remember when the iPhone came out, you know, and you're like, 00:14:38.394 --> 00:14:42.344 that was the first year right after I think, or right before I think started. 00:14:42.834 --> 00:14:46.804 And it, in two years changed, fundamentally changed the world. 00:14:47.294 --> 00:14:51.224 And you're like, you know, at the time we're like, okay, is it responsive? 00:14:51.274 --> 00:14:52.104 Is it adaptive? 00:14:52.224 --> 00:14:53.174 How do we do this? 00:14:53.474 --> 00:14:54.364 Matt: Where's the buttons? 00:14:54.554 --> 00:14:55.064 Where's the buttons? 00:14:55.064 --> 00:14:56.034 This thing is stupid. 00:14:56.624 --> 00:14:58.714 Cory: Yeah, for our themes though, you know, you're 00:14:58.864 --> 00:14:59.324 Matt: Oh, right, 00:14:59.324 --> 00:15:01.224 Cory: wait, we're just used to monitors. 00:15:01.254 --> 00:15:03.524 Now it's a very small screen that's different sizes. 00:15:03.964 --> 00:15:07.154 And I remember going through that and look, it's better now for 00:15:07.154 --> 00:15:08.704 it, you know, going through that. 00:15:09.204 --> 00:15:12.244 And but you know, it feels like tech for me. 00:15:12.244 --> 00:15:15.364 I've always said like this, like going like this when Chachipiti was 00:15:15.364 --> 00:15:19.324 probably last year or so, I was like, when I started actually using it. 00:15:20.029 --> 00:15:23.629 I go, Oh my God, it feels like now it's going like this straight up. 00:15:23.629 --> 00:15:26.019 And I go, I can't comprehend that dimensionally. 00:15:26.254 --> 00:15:26.754 Matt: Yeah, yeah, 00:15:26.979 --> 00:15:27.619 Cory: a simple guy. 00:15:27.889 --> 00:15:28.539 I'm like. 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:31.209 It's going to change everything. 00:15:31.229 --> 00:15:31.679 I don't know. 00:15:32.654 --> 00:15:32.984 Matt: Yeah, 00:15:33.339 --> 00:15:36.819 Cory: I think most of us are, and I'm glad there's been efforts to think about 00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:42.089 how AI can be used in with WordPress to help people, but I use it every day and 00:15:42.089 --> 00:15:43.569 all day, personally and professionally. 00:15:43.949 --> 00:15:46.849 Like I go, wow, I feel a little bit old now and I feel like 00:15:46.849 --> 00:15:50.629 a little bit of a dinosaur in tech, but I go, Oh, I love this. 00:15:50.629 --> 00:15:51.559 This is my little buddy. 00:15:51.869 --> 00:15:52.089 Like. 00:15:52.484 --> 00:15:53.344 I don't call it a name. 00:15:53.344 --> 00:15:59.744 I call it chat, but like, holy cow, it has increased quality of my work. 00:16:00.154 --> 00:16:03.044 Clarity, all that in a big way. 00:16:03.044 --> 00:16:05.714 So like, yes, I think everybody's going, 00:16:07.784 --> 00:16:08.814 I don't even know what to do. 00:16:09.134 --> 00:16:14.194 You kind of try to stay with it as best you can, but yeah, incredible. 00:16:14.194 --> 00:16:16.774 And I'm glad we're at least thinking and you brought the topic up. 00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:19.739 Because I see it as a tool. 00:16:20.709 --> 00:16:21.609 Great, great tool. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.639 I don't want to protect the future. 00:16:23.959 --> 00:16:24.419 Can't. 00:16:24.819 --> 00:16:28.609 I'm gonna be dead wrong every time, but I just go, We should 00:16:28.609 --> 00:16:29.959 leverage this in some way. 00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:30.729 No doubt. 00:16:30.889 --> 00:16:31.079 You 00:16:31.079 --> 00:16:35.869 Matt: yeah, it's hard to even, I just recorded a video earlier for my YouTube 00:16:35.869 --> 00:16:41.289 channel and it's in, at this point now, like you can't predict the future 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:44.329 in five year increments right now. 00:16:44.859 --> 00:16:49.559 With, with this with chat GPT, open AI, and, and all the other stuff, like 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:51.059 Hugging Face, the open source stuff. 00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:55.719 It is a radical change that's about to happen, and you really have to look at 00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:58.089 it in, like, one or two year increments. 00:16:58.339 --> 00:17:00.719 And if you're trying to guess anywhere beyond that, good luck. 00:17:00.729 --> 00:17:04.519 Like, you, you have to be in the top 01 percent of the tech world 00:17:04.529 --> 00:17:07.629 insiders to understand what, like, what this stuff is gonna do. 00:17:08.109 --> 00:17:12.789 But how that impacts WordPress, and I think one of WordPress greatest 00:17:12.789 --> 00:17:16.629 advantages, right now anyway, is because of hosting companies. 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:19.349 I just want to talk about distribution for a moment. 00:17:20.049 --> 00:17:24.879 Like, the fact that, like, WordPress is very popular because a lot of 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:26.969 hosting companies distribute it. 00:17:27.369 --> 00:17:30.729 And I think that is You know, in today's climate of WordPress, 00:17:30.999 --> 00:17:33.159 everyone's like, Well, you know, we're just going to fork it. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.959 We're going to come up with a new one. 00:17:35.889 --> 00:17:36.169 Right? 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.629 That new one will take over. 00:17:37.629 --> 00:17:39.619 We'll have new leadership on that one. 00:17:39.929 --> 00:17:41.549 Or it'll have this feature set. 00:17:41.549 --> 00:17:42.609 We'll remove Gutenberg. 00:17:42.609 --> 00:17:43.379 It'll do this. 00:17:44.149 --> 00:17:45.499 Yeah, okay, great. 00:17:45.869 --> 00:17:46.759 Great idea. 00:17:47.369 --> 00:17:49.239 And it might be a nice hobby project. 00:17:49.569 --> 00:17:53.169 But the thing that is going to be quite nearly impossible to dethrone 00:17:55.199 --> 00:17:56.559 is WordPress distribution. 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:57.699 Right? 00:17:57.989 --> 00:17:59.589 Every host, one click install. 00:18:00.109 --> 00:18:03.029 And it's a little bit of chicken or the egg kind of thing. 00:18:03.149 --> 00:18:05.199 WordPress does have a brand. 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:07.699 As much as us, 1% ers of WordPress, 00:18:07.844 --> 00:18:08.224 Cory: Yeah. 00:18:08.449 --> 00:18:12.619 Matt: you know, say things like, Oh, there's no marketing, there's no brand. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:17.309 People still know it, therefore people request it, therefore 00:18:17.309 --> 00:18:18.749 hosting companies distribute it. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.489 Yes, it's free and it's open source, so I understand that part of it. 00:18:21.679 --> 00:18:25.239 But there's still a brand there and it's still being requested. 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:31.869 Based on like what you've done with iThemes and, you know, I totally forgot, 00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:35.679 like Liquid Web of course, like do you have a thought on like the power of 00:18:35.679 --> 00:18:40.314 distribution and how maybe people should be thinking about Maybe not forking 00:18:40.314 --> 00:18:43.454 the entirety of WordPress, but maybe coming up with something new because 00:18:43.454 --> 00:18:45.074 dethroning distribution is difficult. 00:18:45.104 --> 00:18:47.684 I don't know if you have anything, any thoughts on distribution. 00:18:48.754 --> 00:18:50.914 Cory: I'm trying to remember the book off the top of my head, but 00:18:50.914 --> 00:18:52.604 I know it was Clayton Christensen. 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:57.229 He talks about, I'll find it in a second, but basically disruption where 00:18:57.239 --> 00:19:02.689 any company or product in the sense of WordPress gets in and eventually, 00:19:03.189 --> 00:19:07.459 you know, becomes very disruptable because it's like, it's in the thing. 00:19:07.459 --> 00:19:11.289 And I, I don't think he uses this, but I think about tech debt and things 00:19:11.289 --> 00:19:14.449 like that, like, you know, when we started iThemes, there wasn't like 00:19:14.739 --> 00:19:16.559 fleshed out, Stripe didn't exist. 00:19:17.189 --> 00:19:21.349 So there wasn't fleshed out things to go automatic renewal, recurring subscription. 00:19:21.349 --> 00:19:22.479 We'd have to build that. 00:19:23.029 --> 00:19:27.359 And then we're like, got to build this, got to figure this out. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.099 And things had advanced a lot, but you go, whoa, we got to 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.579 now transition this big thing. 00:19:31.589 --> 00:19:35.269 And I'm not saying that about WordPress necessarily, but, but I think, I have to 00:19:35.269 --> 00:19:39.909 look up the name of that book, but it was really crossing the chasm, maybe, but it 00:19:39.909 --> 00:19:44.399 was this fact where companies, products get to a certain space and they're just, 00:19:44.709 --> 00:19:48.279 it's tough because they've, they've just got a lot of overhead, you know, you 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:51.839 and I have children when I was single, then when it was just Lindsay and I, and 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:55.159 now we have kids, those are different stages of my life, you know what I mean? 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.029 Matt: they were. 00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:58.109 Cory: And I think about what that with WordPress, like. 00:19:58.604 --> 00:20:01.774 You know, what, one of the incredible strengths has 00:20:01.774 --> 00:20:03.324 been backwards compatibility. 00:20:03.894 --> 00:20:08.524 Like we think about those things as a project, you know, like there's 00:20:08.524 --> 00:20:13.444 someone that doesn't want to upgrade to a different version or whatever 00:20:13.444 --> 00:20:14.654 the legacy systems are there. 00:20:14.654 --> 00:20:19.344 And then it's backwards compatible and, you know, companies don't typically 00:20:19.374 --> 00:20:23.274 do that, you know, but WordPress does are focused on inclusion. 00:20:24.084 --> 00:20:26.754 Oh my gosh, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 00:20:27.504 --> 00:20:28.304 I love that. 00:20:28.604 --> 00:20:31.004 That inspires me personally, you know, to bring that back to my 00:20:31.004 --> 00:20:35.514 community and inside my heart too, is to go, I do want to include it. 00:20:35.564 --> 00:20:37.284 You know, anybody that wants to be here. 00:20:37.484 --> 00:20:40.604 I want to welcome when Michelle for shit, say the Pac Man when you're in 00:20:40.604 --> 00:20:43.564 a group, get the Pac Man and open, always keep that Pac Man over there. 00:20:43.904 --> 00:20:46.664 So, you know, obviously WordPress has changed my life. 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:51.279 In enormous ways, it's taken me on the most incredible 18 year adventure. 00:20:51.669 --> 00:20:54.689 But I think there's realities of any software like it is like, you 00:20:54.689 --> 00:21:00.369 know, enterprise has needs, different markets have needs, do it yourselfers, 00:21:00.769 --> 00:21:03.389 agencies, that's a lot to take on. 00:21:03.409 --> 00:21:07.589 And I can't imagine that kind of weight from a project load. 00:21:08.219 --> 00:21:13.359 And so, but I mean, then we've also seen competition. 00:21:14.874 --> 00:21:19.064 Get so much better 2006 when I started my first WordPress site. 00:21:19.064 --> 00:21:20.404 I was like, what else was there? 00:21:20.544 --> 00:21:21.544 It was blogger blogger. 00:21:21.704 --> 00:21:25.824 com for a blog at the moment, but CMS and all that stuff It was mostly proprietary 00:21:25.824 --> 00:21:30.504 and all that and then WordPress hit this critical moment I've often said that like, 00:21:31.044 --> 00:21:38.484 you know, Matt Matt is a In my belief is a historical figure in our history of 00:21:38.484 --> 00:21:45.034 our planet And should be mentioned and also Mike Little for taking those steps 00:21:45.034 --> 00:21:51.374 to launch WordPress to fork B2 launch WordPress, because I was just reflecting 00:21:51.404 --> 00:21:54.404 on this, Matt, like a hundred years ago, you know, I've got a heater right here. 00:21:54.414 --> 00:21:55.794 I've got air conditioner, we get internet. 00:21:55.794 --> 00:21:59.434 I'm talking to you, you're in Massachusetts and I'm in Oklahoma and 00:21:59.434 --> 00:22:04.004 like those a hundred years, just a hundred years ago and communication. 00:22:04.464 --> 00:22:05.664 So what did the internet do? 00:22:05.664 --> 00:22:08.994 And I go, and a key figure in that is WordPress. 00:22:09.544 --> 00:22:13.874 How it helped the rapid expansion of the web still there too. 00:22:14.304 --> 00:22:20.584 But with that, it's 20, what, 23 years old now, that is crazy in software terms. 00:22:21.694 --> 00:22:22.094 Matt: for sure. 00:22:22.604 --> 00:22:26.894 I want to talk about the post status stuff, but one more question on the A2. 00:22:27.294 --> 00:22:31.194 Any, I'm sure people are listening like, okay great, they got acquired, 00:22:31.194 --> 00:22:33.824 so what's going to change immediately? 00:22:34.094 --> 00:22:35.994 Anything you know of, anything you can talk about that's 00:22:35.994 --> 00:22:37.514 going to change immediately? 00:22:37.924 --> 00:22:44.294 Price, dashboard, URLs, anything that is changing immediately on 00:22:44.294 --> 00:22:45.834 the A2 stuff with this acquisition? 00:22:46.654 --> 00:22:49.864 Cory: So the great news, one of the other signals I'm like, tell me more 00:22:49.864 --> 00:22:53.684 about this because we know the buy strategy, you know, in WordPress, 00:22:53.704 --> 00:22:55.124 we're very familiar with that. 00:22:55.474 --> 00:22:58.574 I think mostly Asian standards are extremely savvy with these 00:22:58.584 --> 00:23:01.824 things because they're affected by them, but definitely buy. 00:23:02.384 --> 00:23:04.934 But they said two additional words and build. 00:23:04.934 --> 00:23:09.184 And I go, I want to know the end build part and it is product. 00:23:09.874 --> 00:23:13.904 And I'm very compelled looking at Seb's past, the leadership 00:23:13.904 --> 00:23:16.044 team's past that flows into that. 00:23:16.044 --> 00:23:19.894 It's not just, Oh, this will do this better thing. 00:23:20.874 --> 00:23:21.934 Bring it in here and do that. 00:23:21.934 --> 00:23:24.564 It's not that it's like, no, let's build an experience. 00:23:24.614 --> 00:23:27.774 They, and he says over and over to in every communication I've talked to him. 00:23:27.774 --> 00:23:29.684 It's like, we're trying to build a sustainable, healthy 00:23:29.684 --> 00:23:31.494 business that is profitable. 00:23:31.824 --> 00:23:32.634 It needs to be profit. 00:23:32.634 --> 00:23:33.754 That's a fact of business. 00:23:34.274 --> 00:23:37.064 And I go, that and build part is interesting. 00:23:37.074 --> 00:23:39.824 Cause I think one of the key questions I want to get in front 00:23:39.824 --> 00:23:43.974 of too, and share this vision, just simply share his vision, leadership 00:23:43.974 --> 00:23:46.084 team's vision is the end build part. 00:23:46.264 --> 00:23:48.594 So product for sure that's going on. 00:23:48.924 --> 00:23:50.994 Has been going on before we were even a part of it. 00:23:51.224 --> 00:23:52.934 And then now there's plans in place for that. 00:23:52.934 --> 00:23:55.944 That will be rolling out that I, I don't even know all of them, but I 00:23:55.944 --> 00:23:58.904 know, you know, Aaron Campbell over there in product, he's actually 00:23:58.904 --> 00:24:00.244 in the bigger commercial group. 00:24:00.244 --> 00:24:03.614 And so I go, this buds well, and I'm hearing the right things. 00:24:04.064 --> 00:24:05.854 And let me think what else in the build part. 00:24:05.864 --> 00:24:09.634 So there'll be more stuff coming in the next, I don't know, three to six 00:24:09.634 --> 00:24:11.804 months that people will start seeing. 00:24:11.804 --> 00:24:15.094 My thing was just, let's share CEO. 00:24:16.664 --> 00:24:17.864 his vision and values. 00:24:18.224 --> 00:24:20.674 And then just give us a moment to show you. 00:24:20.724 --> 00:24:26.334 And if we don't, we don't, if we do, you know, but I, one, one other flag, 00:24:26.384 --> 00:24:30.004 big word, and you've used this word, but he used it and I said, I want to know 00:24:30.004 --> 00:24:31.254 everything you have to say about this. 00:24:31.254 --> 00:24:32.064 Cause I love it. 00:24:32.234 --> 00:24:32.484 Matt: Yeah. 00:24:32.714 --> 00:24:33.054 Cory: Trust. 00:24:33.554 --> 00:24:37.974 We want to build globally recognized, trusted brand. 00:24:37.974 --> 00:24:40.554 And I, and I said to him, I said. 00:24:41.199 --> 00:24:45.719 You know, hosting industry overall does not instill trust 00:24:45.719 --> 00:24:47.499 and you've worked in hosting. 00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:51.069 You know, this, it doesn't necessarily scream. 00:24:51.239 --> 00:24:52.949 Trust me, trust me, trust me. 00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:57.439 And I think that's compelling that we would even say it and 00:24:57.439 --> 00:25:00.969 put it out there because I go, there's expectations with that. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:04.359 And they aligned with what I've heard and continue to hear, learn more about. 00:25:05.069 --> 00:25:05.689 Where are we going? 00:25:05.689 --> 00:25:09.169 And I go that, Oh yes, trust it. 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.439 I want that all day, every day. 00:25:10.489 --> 00:25:15.299 I want to be in a company that that's the promise we're always shooting for is 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:19.019 and still trust because frankly speaking, it hasn't always been there in industry 00:25:19.984 --> 00:25:22.824 Matt: Yeah, no, I mean it's, it's, all you can do all you can do is try. 00:25:22.824 --> 00:25:26.744 All we can do is hope that that you steward in A2 and the WordPress 00:25:26.774 --> 00:25:28.034 community along with that. 00:25:28.384 --> 00:25:30.794 And, you know, we'll check back in about six months to a year. 00:25:31.129 --> 00:25:32.409 Cory: at please do, please do. 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.879 That's what I invite everyone. 00:25:34.109 --> 00:25:35.079 And that's what we're saying too. 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:38.499 And Seb will say that is here's our plans. 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:41.299 And then just give us a little bit of time to start showing you. 00:25:41.644 --> 00:25:42.674 The background to those. 00:25:42.674 --> 00:25:46.654 And that's all I'm asking is just give us a moment to show you these 00:25:46.654 --> 00:25:49.134 cool things I'm hearing about and learning about and involved in. 00:25:49.794 --> 00:25:50.614 And so, 00:25:52.384 --> 00:25:55.274 Matt: Speaking of giving you a moment, everyone listening to this, just 00:25:55.314 --> 00:25:58.514 take a, if you're out for a run, if you're clean, doing your dishes, 00:25:58.524 --> 00:26:04.024 cleaning your house, just stop for a moment and enjoy an exhale of relief 00:26:04.034 --> 00:26:06.294 for our good friend, Corey Miller. 00:26:06.794 --> 00:26:12.214 And you know, it's hard for me to interview you on the, about the post 00:26:12.214 --> 00:26:15.164 data stuff because listen, I mean, I, I. 00:26:15.554 --> 00:26:17.334 Again, it's not my full time job. 00:26:17.344 --> 00:26:23.079 It's a side thing with the WP minute, but my struggles of like Getting people 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:27.679 to care about the WordPress news and community, getting sponsors, finding 00:26:27.679 --> 00:26:29.809 talented people to create content, right? 00:26:29.809 --> 00:26:33.859 Making content myself and chugging that engine along every single 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:38.899 year along with a membership is, is not for the faint of heart, right? 00:26:38.899 --> 00:26:42.749 Because we were talking before, you know, you have a community site, 00:26:42.749 --> 00:26:47.909 you have a content site slash media site, and those are either, you 00:26:47.909 --> 00:26:52.144 know, Getting pulled down by the temperature of WordPress or getting. 00:26:52.804 --> 00:26:58.694 Pulled up if the temperature of WordPress is nice But it's the hard times people 00:26:58.694 --> 00:27:00.044 are like I'm so sick of WordPress. 00:27:00.054 --> 00:27:01.144 What are they doing now? 00:27:01.324 --> 00:27:05.694 And if when it's good, everyone's like oh great sign me up to your sponsorship 00:27:05.694 --> 00:27:11.129 at WP minute You've been going through this at a bigger scale with PostStatus. 00:27:11.149 --> 00:27:14.549 More members, more sponsors, more problems. 00:27:15.029 --> 00:27:20.839 Take me back to your, your time of, when you first acquired PostStatus and you 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:24.389 started thinking about the future of what you wanted to do with PostStatus. 00:27:25.124 --> 00:27:28.474 How do you decompress that now? 00:27:28.704 --> 00:27:32.034 How are you grateful, thankful, regrets? 00:27:32.604 --> 00:27:37.564 What can you share on the emotional level of starting and finishing 00:27:37.834 --> 00:27:40.034 this chapter in your life? 00:27:40.034 --> 00:27:40.884 Ha, 00:27:40.994 --> 00:27:43.534 Cory: oh man, I've been doing a lot of journaling about this, Matt. 00:27:43.544 --> 00:27:45.424 And you just said the finishing part. 00:27:46.219 --> 00:27:50.099 And I think with all these things, and it's not just post status and 00:27:50.099 --> 00:27:53.869 A2, we've had four things between Lindsay and I that we've dealt with. 00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:57.229 I've jokingly said to one of my entrepreneurial friends, I said, if you 00:27:57.229 --> 00:27:58.809 want to sell your company, touch my elbow. 00:27:58.809 --> 00:28:02.659 Because like now evidently is the hot time for me to be involved in these things from 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:06.969 A2, post status One of our startups that we had funded a couple of years ago and I 00:28:06.969 --> 00:28:13.769 ran and then her business, she merged two of her businesses together, consolidate 00:28:14.059 --> 00:28:15.399 with her partners, push forward. 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:20.359 And so I'm like, if you want it, just go ahead and just touch my shoulder, 00:28:20.369 --> 00:28:24.449 rub my elbow because evidently right now it's all coming around because 00:28:24.449 --> 00:28:26.039 it's like two week period of time. 00:28:26.409 --> 00:28:28.259 So that part, Matt, thank you for that. 00:28:28.309 --> 00:28:29.229 The finishing part. 00:28:29.624 --> 00:28:34.324 I, I have been very relieved and ready and I'm sure people as 00:28:34.324 --> 00:28:38.184 well, you know, for, for something new, a new chapter, all that. 00:28:38.594 --> 00:28:43.894 I feel proud that we were able to take Brian's work as the founder. 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:50.309 What he did and started, which is really compelling, like such an active, loyal 00:28:50.309 --> 00:28:56.919 group that wants to talk sometimes you go, okay, let's keep it in a bar, you know, 00:28:57.069 --> 00:29:00.299 overall, like a really great community that wants to stay connected, needs to 00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:03.939 stay connected and things have happened in our world and industry in life. 00:29:03.939 --> 00:29:04.374 It's like. 00:29:04.654 --> 00:29:05.734 The importance of connection. 00:29:06.224 --> 00:29:10.224 So when I left and I themes and Brian paint, actually, I pre being 00:29:11.404 --> 00:29:14.644 pinged, prying to ask him something like to ask you about something. 00:29:14.644 --> 00:29:16.254 He goes, I have something to ask you about. 00:29:16.814 --> 00:29:19.934 And I remember I go, I didn't even think about it. 00:29:20.174 --> 00:29:22.624 But what it represented was community. 00:29:22.624 --> 00:29:23.654 And I love community. 00:29:24.134 --> 00:29:25.014 I love groups. 00:29:25.264 --> 00:29:29.014 We did it at iThemes, we built a team community, we built a customer 00:29:29.014 --> 00:29:33.274 community, and then Brian had this incredible one that I was a part of. 00:29:33.284 --> 00:29:36.434 You were a part of, iThemes sponsored all that over the years because 00:29:36.434 --> 00:29:39.014 we need it and we still do it was just community and doing that. 00:29:39.014 --> 00:29:40.004 And so I don't know. 00:29:40.204 --> 00:29:41.984 I think it was just so excited to go. 00:29:42.024 --> 00:29:42.674 I like this. 00:29:42.674 --> 00:29:43.534 This is my jam. 00:29:44.034 --> 00:29:46.654 And the reality of business going through my forties, I'm now in 00:29:46.654 --> 00:29:50.034 my late forties, late Matt, like I'm getting ready to turn 49. 00:29:50.064 --> 00:29:51.824 And I started this whole thing when I was like 32. 00:29:52.114 --> 00:29:56.304 So I feel old, my friend, you know, you, when you're feeling 00:29:56.569 --> 00:29:59.379 Matt: I can go to the featured image from the Matt report that I used 00:29:59.379 --> 00:30:00.829 of you in our first interview and 00:30:00.914 --> 00:30:01.684 Cory: my God. 00:30:02.954 --> 00:30:04.014 Oh my God. 00:30:05.304 --> 00:30:07.984 But you know, when you're, you know, it's the whole cliche, but you know, when 00:30:07.984 --> 00:30:09.934 you know, you're old is when you think. 00:30:10.199 --> 00:30:15.159 People who are grown adults and professionals seem like, are they even 00:30:15.249 --> 00:30:19.839 25 and some of our C suite and I'm so energized by it, but at the same 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:23.229 time I go, and there's no bias for me. 00:30:23.229 --> 00:30:28.839 I just go, man, I feel like I've done this for a long time, but they have to, Seb 00:30:29.249 --> 00:30:34.649 goes back to 2003 like, just like Brian Mutick, our founder at A2 and like, that's 00:30:34.649 --> 00:30:38.059 the day when you know, you're old is when you think other people are now young. 00:30:38.135 --> 00:30:41.804 And the reality is they're not kids. 00:30:41.864 --> 00:30:44.634 They are grown professionals and awesome at it. 00:30:44.644 --> 00:30:46.934 And I'm not talking just about our team, about anybody. 00:30:47.324 --> 00:30:50.134 But that's where I feel like I've been in the space so long, but long story 00:30:50.134 --> 00:30:55.374 short the finishing part is, I think we, we tried to do a lot of stuff. 00:30:55.424 --> 00:30:58.184 Post its probably a little bit broke me in many ways because 00:30:58.264 --> 00:31:00.284 not nobody's responsibility. 00:31:00.284 --> 00:31:06.564 It's my own but trying to do stuff not getting the Momentum build but we did 00:31:06.574 --> 00:31:09.954 do good things if I really just step back We did good things that I still 00:31:09.954 --> 00:31:15.114 believe in that we did and then now Yost and Marika who better, you know To 00:31:15.144 --> 00:31:19.524 take on this and they've got vision for it turning a nonprofit that honestly 00:31:20.129 --> 00:31:24.339 Should have been all along because the reality, it's still a business at the 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:28.459 heart of it though, because you got to raise money and pay for that somehow. 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:32.769 This has been our ongoing thing for what, five or six years as I became 00:31:32.769 --> 00:31:37.249 part of PostDocs, and these community efforts, content efforts, I don't 00:31:37.259 --> 00:31:41.579 think people understand how much time goes into WP Minute for Matt Medeiros. 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.969 Like, I know. 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:45.089 And I probably know a fraction of it. 00:31:45.239 --> 00:31:46.859 It's like, you're thinking about it. 00:31:47.249 --> 00:31:48.089 You're working on it. 00:31:48.449 --> 00:31:52.849 And over time, I think business overall is just like, you know, I broke my foot 00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:56.369 and that caused a bunch of physical problems and had to take some time off. 00:31:56.599 --> 00:32:00.209 And post house is here when I came back and I'm thankful for that, 00:32:00.209 --> 00:32:05.019 but I am excited, relieved, you know, I'll be honest, I'm relieved. 00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:06.259 And I'm also grateful. 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:12.959 For the time and also Marika, Yost and Michelle for shed and the members and 00:32:12.959 --> 00:32:16.399 the sponsors that have supported us over the years, but we've been through a lot, 00:32:16.879 --> 00:32:20.809 you know, pandemics, economic, you don't even know how to characterize some of the 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:23.769 economic worldwide economic stuff that's been on in the last couple of years. 00:32:24.449 --> 00:32:27.579 All that to say, I have a huge empathy for entrepreneurs, even more so. 00:32:27.629 --> 00:32:28.439 I am one at heart. 00:32:28.439 --> 00:32:30.479 Still, I'm officially retired for the. 00:32:30.849 --> 00:32:31.789 For the time being, 00:32:32.109 --> 00:32:32.379 Matt: Yeah. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.919 Cory: I just want to do fun stuff. 00:32:34.139 --> 00:32:40.229 So when I called Paul Carter, CEO at A2, Hey, I'm, I'm getting ready to put 00:32:40.229 --> 00:32:44.069 Marisma out and tell everybody I'm, I'm going to, I'm going to go take a job. 00:32:44.409 --> 00:32:46.289 You know, he was so awesome. 00:32:46.389 --> 00:32:48.059 What a great place to land. 00:32:48.069 --> 00:32:50.229 He's an amazing leader and also Brian. 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:53.029 And those were my two direct reports. 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:54.499 And it was so much fun. 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:57.049 It still is, but I started having fun again, Matt. 00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.659 Matt: Yeah. 00:32:58.349 --> 00:33:01.029 Cory: And that's where, that's where I'm owning it for 00:33:01.029 --> 00:33:02.119 myself and not blaming anyone. 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:06.359 It's myself, but where something was off balance, where I got to the far place 00:33:06.369 --> 00:33:11.469 where I'm tired and maybe starting to get frustrated and that builds anger and 00:33:11.469 --> 00:33:13.049 that builds potentially to bitterness. 00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:16.699 And I could get, see myself going so dangerously close to that. 00:33:16.699 --> 00:33:18.119 And that's when I was like, okay. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:21.709 I just want to do something different for now, put it in good hands with Michelle. 00:33:22.089 --> 00:33:24.739 And then thankfully, you know, Yost and Marika being a part of 00:33:24.739 --> 00:33:26.119 that and eventually taking it on. 00:33:26.119 --> 00:33:28.529 And it's a big thing they're taking on. 00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:31.659 Let's not even say it's a big thing. 00:33:32.249 --> 00:33:34.279 It's not just financial, but it is financial. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:35.579 It's also time investment. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.739 They're turning into a nonprofit. 00:33:36.749 --> 00:33:37.709 They're not getting rich off this. 00:33:37.719 --> 00:33:40.979 They never wanted to, by the way, it was like, they know. 00:33:41.254 --> 00:33:44.244 The importance of a thing like post status in the community. 00:33:44.584 --> 00:33:49.994 So, yeah, I, I just, my, my, my plea though, is I'm going to be direct on this. 00:33:50.154 --> 00:33:55.764 Is that don't devalue the fact that you get this Slack account and you're 00:33:55.784 --> 00:33:57.174 connected to a bunch of people. 00:33:57.184 --> 00:33:58.094 Don't devalue that. 00:33:58.094 --> 00:34:01.634 Don't devalue the fact there's an organization for the commercial side 00:34:01.634 --> 00:34:03.834 of, of WordPress that we can talk. 00:34:04.934 --> 00:34:07.014 Support things like PressConf. 00:34:07.644 --> 00:34:09.054 Raquel's doing amazing things. 00:34:10.069 --> 00:34:11.239 Sign up, show up, go. 00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:13.819 We have to have a place we have every year. 00:34:13.879 --> 00:34:15.119 We couldn't get it done at Postatus. 00:34:15.529 --> 00:34:18.199 Raquel's doing it where you can meet together, gather, talk, 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:19.479 shop, like the old Pressonomics. 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:20.919 And I love that they're inspired by that. 00:34:20.919 --> 00:34:24.799 And Sally, I saw was coming and I'm making plans to be there. 00:34:25.049 --> 00:34:28.079 We're making plans to help support and sponsor. 00:34:28.369 --> 00:34:32.219 And but, and then I go to WP Minute, you know, you've been 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:33.409 doing this tirelessly, Matt. 00:34:33.409 --> 00:34:35.439 I don't know how you, I don't know how you do it, honestly. 00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:39.129 But for so long, and I just say, this isn't even a plea. 00:34:39.129 --> 00:34:43.549 It's just like, we need these things in our industry. 00:34:43.569 --> 00:34:44.559 We need WP Minute. 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.309 We need PostStatus. 00:34:45.310 --> 00:34:46.199 We need PressConf. 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.649 Support them. 00:34:48.229 --> 00:34:51.429 If not, you're not investing in your own career or business or ecosystem. 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.569 Frankly speaking. 00:34:52.569 --> 00:34:53.299 Now I can say that. 00:34:53.789 --> 00:34:54.509 Because my hands are done. 00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:56.569 I'm advocating on you all's behalf. 00:34:56.584 --> 00:34:58.014 Matt: yeah, yeah, no, 00:34:58.259 --> 00:34:59.969 Cory: You and I have talked about this over and over, Matt. 00:35:00.649 --> 00:35:02.809 It's, these things are vital. 00:35:02.809 --> 00:35:03.649 They connect us. 00:35:04.139 --> 00:35:05.879 They serve and support us in some way. 00:35:06.359 --> 00:35:12.429 And then it's like, you know, we all have to go digging for begging, pleading 00:35:12.439 --> 00:35:16.609 for sponsorship money for people to pay the very low cost of membership. 00:35:17.329 --> 00:35:18.179 Just do it. 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:21.719 And if you're in the place with your business by 10 or whatever they are 00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:26.149 from WP minute, whatever they are for posts, do it, show up and support it. 00:35:26.449 --> 00:35:28.449 Because this is the thing that's crazy. 00:35:28.769 --> 00:35:30.089 And I think that maybe some of this is. 00:35:30.354 --> 00:35:34.844 Part of the conversation going on bigger in WordPress, but it's, if you 00:35:34.854 --> 00:35:38.334 benefit from it, actually support it. 00:35:38.604 --> 00:35:42.034 I think that's a core part of the message I feel here, but 00:35:42.034 --> 00:35:43.374 I do see it on a bigger level. 00:35:43.384 --> 00:35:47.314 It's just, if you're benefiting from it, step up, show it just 00:35:47.364 --> 00:35:50.544 because there's not a buy button, you know, but hit the buy button, 00:35:50.904 --> 00:35:52.564 hit the join button and support it. 00:35:52.574 --> 00:35:53.084 And then. 00:35:53.714 --> 00:35:57.334 If you do find support, tell the people you use, tell the vendors, the hosting 00:35:57.334 --> 00:35:58.404 companies, the plug in companies. 00:35:59.044 --> 00:36:00.424 I can't live without WP Minute. 00:36:00.844 --> 00:36:01.614 Go sponsor. 00:36:02.514 --> 00:36:07.124 And I would also say if you're an agency owner, you have, I believe, 00:36:07.294 --> 00:36:10.524 you're the VIPs for all of the companies we're talking about. 00:36:10.604 --> 00:36:13.214 The sponsors that would come for WP Minute or elsewhere. 00:36:13.564 --> 00:36:16.574 Because you are the core customer that we all want to talk about. 00:36:16.854 --> 00:36:18.994 Name a hosting company that doesn't have a partner program. 00:36:19.674 --> 00:36:20.784 You know, for agencies. 00:36:21.184 --> 00:36:23.844 So let your voice be known. 00:36:24.684 --> 00:36:25.984 And this is the thing. 00:36:25.984 --> 00:36:29.344 I think we have so many innovative, incredible people, brilliant minds 00:36:29.344 --> 00:36:32.154 and awesome humans in WordPress. 00:36:32.704 --> 00:36:35.814 But we don't always see the value of this. 00:36:37.154 --> 00:36:40.474 I, even if it's Slack, but now Raquel's got the Priscon where we 00:36:40.474 --> 00:36:42.664 can go and go together and talk shop. 00:36:43.134 --> 00:36:46.764 But agency owners, it's in, this is something I'm borrowing 00:36:46.764 --> 00:36:50.954 from Shrevel back in the day is cooperation over competition. 00:36:51.624 --> 00:36:54.944 And you can quickly see, it's like, you and I, we joke about this. 00:36:55.334 --> 00:36:55.634 Okay. 00:36:55.634 --> 00:37:00.464 Were we frenemies at Postatus and I remember Sarah Tavern, you know, we're 00:37:00.464 --> 00:37:01.754 all getting in our little frenemies. 00:37:01.884 --> 00:37:05.884 It was so fun, lighthearted because we're all doing our best. 00:37:06.344 --> 00:37:07.824 you know, and hopefully pushing each other. 00:37:08.254 --> 00:37:14.454 But that comp cooperation part now, now, now is the time to lean in now. 00:37:14.884 --> 00:37:18.944 If you don't, you are not investing in the ecosystem that 00:37:18.944 --> 00:37:20.234 supports your career or business. 00:37:20.514 --> 00:37:25.524 Matt: yeah, yeah, I mean, obviously, I couldn't agree with you any, any 00:37:25.524 --> 00:37:30.114 more, there's, there's so much to be said in, in the WordPress space. 00:37:30.114 --> 00:37:33.834 And I know I've talked about this a lot, but it's rare that you and I will 00:37:33.834 --> 00:37:37.494 talk about this publicly to really like share, share how we think about it. 00:37:37.494 --> 00:37:37.734 But. 00:37:38.534 --> 00:37:42.534 Yeah, it, it is it's just a strange place, the WordPress, like, the 00:37:42.534 --> 00:37:45.064 WordPress business sphere, right? 00:37:45.064 --> 00:37:49.824 And especially when you look at, like, the media side of it, because there are so 00:37:49.824 --> 00:37:56.294 many people who value you know, the, the work that, that we do at the WP Minute, 00:37:56.294 --> 00:37:59.684 and again, I can't thank Eric Karkovac enough, who writes for me, Raquel, who 00:37:59.684 --> 00:38:04.514 helps me with the community stuff at the WP Minute, but all that, that content In 00:38:04.514 --> 00:38:08.664 the WordPress space, people value it like they want it, I should say, they want it. 00:38:08.964 --> 00:38:13.284 But they, but it's hard to find people who will invest in it, right? 00:38:13.334 --> 00:38:14.864 Money to keep it going. 00:38:15.234 --> 00:38:18.504 And as soon as it goes away, people are like, well, why aren't you covering, 00:38:18.514 --> 00:38:21.704 like all of the stuff happening in, in the WordPress world these days. 00:38:21.704 --> 00:38:23.494 It's like, well, you should be covering it more. 00:38:23.494 --> 00:38:24.784 You should be saying this about it. 00:38:24.784 --> 00:38:26.054 You should be interviewing these people. 00:38:26.054 --> 00:38:26.784 But they're like, whoa! 00:38:27.524 --> 00:38:32.844 I'm no big media conglomerate with a legal war chest, you know, to back 00:38:32.884 --> 00:38:35.264 me up if I mistakenly say something. 00:38:35.284 --> 00:38:37.604 And, by the way, this is not a full time job. 00:38:37.774 --> 00:38:40.014 I don't know how Ray does it from the repository. 00:38:40.165 --> 00:38:40.635 Cory: Oh, I know. 00:38:40.635 --> 00:38:41.505 I told her that yesterday. 00:38:41.505 --> 00:38:42.265 I was chatting with her. 00:38:42.484 --> 00:38:44.754 Matt: yeah, she's doing fantastic work, right? 00:38:45.394 --> 00:38:48.484 You know, and it's just, and then there's just, there's so many 00:38:48.484 --> 00:38:53.184 people in the, in doing WordPress newsletters, doing WordPress podcasts. 00:38:53.504 --> 00:38:54.354 And that's awesome. 00:38:54.604 --> 00:39:00.064 I take the, the, the little money that I bring in from the WP minute and 00:39:00.074 --> 00:39:04.124 I've sponsored other smaller creators and their newsletters and their 00:39:04.134 --> 00:39:06.154 podcast to just like keep them going. 00:39:06.704 --> 00:39:10.034 And You know, but at the same time, what that does is it sort of like 00:39:10.164 --> 00:39:15.214 there are people who start and stop and then just, you know, fade away. 00:39:15.214 --> 00:39:19.664 And, and I know that happens, but in the WordPress space, it, it is. 00:39:20.704 --> 00:39:24.224 Pretty detrimental to like people caring about this kind of content. 00:39:24.714 --> 00:39:28.434 And that's why, again, like Corey said, like you reach out to these other 00:39:28.434 --> 00:39:30.984 newsletters and these folks who are starting up their podcasts and their 00:39:30.984 --> 00:39:32.484 YouTube channels and you support them. 00:39:32.484 --> 00:39:36.104 Like if it's not post status, if it's not the WP minute, then pick somebody 00:39:36.104 --> 00:39:40.494 else, you know, please you know, to, to support them because this content 00:39:40.524 --> 00:39:42.924 is extremely, extremely important. 00:39:42.964 --> 00:39:43.304 Right. 00:39:43.374 --> 00:39:44.554 Especially in today's climate. 00:39:45.429 --> 00:39:50.339 And, again, further that, against the backdrop of where AI is headed 00:39:50.809 --> 00:39:53.839 you know, news around the world. 00:39:53.859 --> 00:39:59.539 I mean, it's already been impacted by AI and like other algorithms, especially on 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:03.939 social media platforms, but all of this news stuff is, is everyone's going to 00:40:03.949 --> 00:40:07.009 have, you know, the summary of their news. 00:40:07.449 --> 00:40:08.319 On their phones. 00:40:08.429 --> 00:40:09.909 It's going to shoot over to their email. 00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:11.639 It's all going to be AI generated. 00:40:11.659 --> 00:40:14.889 It's going to be curated to exactly what you want. 00:40:15.909 --> 00:40:19.439 And what that means is, yeah, the listicles that happen in WordPress, the 00:40:19.439 --> 00:40:23.019 newsletters that go out of the top 10 stories, it ain't going to matter anymore. 00:40:23.629 --> 00:40:25.539 Because you're going to get it somewhere else. 00:40:25.769 --> 00:40:31.214 But what you won't get Not yet anyway, is that the human breakdown, right? 00:40:31.214 --> 00:40:34.824 The, the breakdown from, you know, the, the individual who curated that 00:40:34.824 --> 00:40:39.204 news and information and is giving it to you in, with their angle on it. 00:40:39.434 --> 00:40:39.754 Right? 00:40:40.184 --> 00:40:43.624 10 year, ran an agency for 10 years, been podcasting about WordPress for 00:40:43.624 --> 00:40:46.894 15 plus years, worked at a hosting company, worked at Gravity Forms, 00:40:46.894 --> 00:40:48.124 worked in the audio industry. 00:40:48.304 --> 00:40:53.469 So all of that leads up to my opinion on X, Y, Z, right? 00:40:53.499 --> 00:40:57.409 And then the 12 other people who are doing that based on their experiences in 00:40:57.409 --> 00:41:02.769 life and that, that's the next frontier, you know, like that's the next frontier. 00:41:02.769 --> 00:41:07.519 Like the new stuff, see ya, but the human side of it and you were 00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:09.989 you know, I'll still continue to consider you a journalist. 00:41:10.029 --> 00:41:12.259 Like that's where your backgrounds in, right? 00:41:12.259 --> 00:41:16.459 So you're looking at that going, yeah, reporting like the, the cut and 00:41:16.459 --> 00:41:18.619 dry, you know, black and white stuff. 00:41:18.620 --> 00:41:18.639 Yeah. 00:41:19.269 --> 00:41:20.739 The, the AI's just gonna give it to you. 00:41:20.769 --> 00:41:24.009 Here's what happened today, , here's what happened today. 00:41:24.069 --> 00:41:27.009 And then we're gonna look for a human to say, okay, can you tell me, 00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:28.359 like, what do you think about it? 00:41:28.959 --> 00:41:29.499 So 00:41:29.725 --> 00:41:33.755 Cory: That's what I value about you and Krogsgard is that your 00:41:33.755 --> 00:41:37.225 opinions helps me calibrate my own, 00:41:37.549 --> 00:41:37.879 Matt: mm-hmm 00:41:37.905 --> 00:41:41.835 Cory: you know, like maybe I won't agree a hundred percent, but that 00:41:41.835 --> 00:41:46.425 perspective, the commentary is, is the, is the place because it is, 00:41:46.435 --> 00:41:50.115 like you said, all those experiences wrapped into one to share something. 00:41:50.455 --> 00:41:55.615 And even if you don't agree, it gives you a baseline to figure out your own opinion. 00:41:55.615 --> 00:41:56.235 I think we. 00:41:56.510 --> 00:42:03.120 Don't fully recognize that always that having you on here, your YouTube channel, 00:42:03.120 --> 00:42:06.020 your podcast that you've been doing over the years, how much work is there 00:42:06.020 --> 00:42:10.070 where you're given a really thoughtful opinion and perspective on things to 00:42:10.070 --> 00:42:13.960 help form like, like you too, you and Crutch were some of the first people 00:42:13.970 --> 00:42:18.490 I would call outside of iThemes to ask your input and feedback on things. 00:42:18.520 --> 00:42:19.010 Why? 00:42:19.830 --> 00:42:24.780 For those reasons, you know, and why I supported both of you 00:42:24.950 --> 00:42:28.000 in different projects over the years and want to continue to. 00:42:28.565 --> 00:42:30.525 And the new news that we're, you know, sharing. 00:42:30.525 --> 00:42:34.045 So, because we recognize it, but it's something that, you know, 00:42:34.705 --> 00:42:39.495 it's just like when we put this together, you had post that as Slack. 00:42:40.155 --> 00:42:40.715 Okay. 00:42:40.835 --> 00:42:42.925 You had to be watching or have it on your phone. 00:42:43.315 --> 00:42:45.755 You know, you've got your own Slack at WP Minute. 00:42:46.195 --> 00:42:48.665 And then, which by the way, sorry, I didn't do that on yours. 00:42:48.665 --> 00:42:49.445 Cause I'm a member. 00:42:49.565 --> 00:42:49.925 I am 00:42:49.929 --> 00:42:49.989 Matt: Yeah. 00:42:50.365 --> 00:42:54.035 Cory: of WP Minute, but like, and also the Admin Bar, which I forgot 00:42:54.045 --> 00:42:56.835 to say earlier, but that time. 00:42:57.340 --> 00:42:59.150 And I don't even remember, Matt. 00:42:59.190 --> 00:43:02.510 I hope it was not late for you, but I was like, okay, ping and then there's 00:43:02.520 --> 00:43:07.370 a response and things come in and then scheduling and then prepping for all this. 00:43:07.410 --> 00:43:11.230 I mean, what do you have three, four hours now into this plus, but you can't even 00:43:11.230 --> 00:43:13.350 say that because it's like, start here. 00:43:13.350 --> 00:43:13.520 Okay. 00:43:13.530 --> 00:43:14.220 Have the conversation. 00:43:14.220 --> 00:43:15.140 Something comes in over here. 00:43:15.140 --> 00:43:15.330 Okay. 00:43:15.330 --> 00:43:15.960 I got to go back. 00:43:16.270 --> 00:43:17.490 Wait, has Corey responded over here? 00:43:17.490 --> 00:43:17.990 Come back. 00:43:18.240 --> 00:43:21.080 And you're like, that's just to do this piece of content. 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:23.450 Then you have post and then you have promotion. 00:43:23.750 --> 00:43:26.790 That's a lot of work to deliver the quality you've done for 00:43:26.800 --> 00:43:28.110 consistently for so long. 00:43:28.970 --> 00:43:29.100 You 00:43:29.164 --> 00:43:29.904 Matt: No, I appreciate it. 00:43:32.194 --> 00:43:34.934 I want to hit, I want to hit you with a more direct question 00:43:34.954 --> 00:43:37.084 on on running post status. 00:43:37.114 --> 00:43:38.954 What, what, what was the most challenging? 00:43:38.964 --> 00:43:43.394 This is, this is me as somebody who runs, you know, a small media site with 00:43:43.394 --> 00:43:45.974 a, with a membership site, though my membership's a little bit different. 00:43:45.974 --> 00:43:48.844 It's really, if you like, If you want to support me, you can donate 00:43:48.844 --> 00:43:50.304 and you get access to a slack. 00:43:50.504 --> 00:43:53.324 I'm not really promising anything on the membership side. 00:43:53.334 --> 00:43:56.044 Like, I'm not holding any kind of like internal membership 00:43:56.094 --> 00:43:57.524 meetups or anything like that. 00:43:57.784 --> 00:43:59.594 I know post status was a lot more formal on that. 00:43:59.804 --> 00:44:02.634 What do you think was the most challenging when you were at 00:44:02.634 --> 00:44:04.074 the, at the head of that ship? 00:44:04.474 --> 00:44:05.764 From the business perspective. 00:44:06.150 --> 00:44:08.960 Cory: I generally go, but I'm going to answer this specifically. 00:44:09.070 --> 00:44:10.440 There's two problems in business. 00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:13.050 I always said every entrepreneur deals with his money and people 00:44:13.110 --> 00:44:14.510 and they're intimately connected. 00:44:14.980 --> 00:44:15.390 Matt: Sorry. 00:44:16.205 --> 00:44:22.525 Cory: yeah, but the money side was sponsorships to one, pay all the bills. 00:44:22.645 --> 00:44:27.635 And then second, Try to offer more value, increased quality to our members 00:44:27.935 --> 00:44:30.955 and our sponsors and sponsorship. 00:44:31.055 --> 00:44:34.775 That was one of the biggest second we rolled out the business accounts 00:44:34.775 --> 00:44:38.905 was asking people to show up and sign up and support it because we all 00:44:38.905 --> 00:44:40.755 need it and have one voice together. 00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:43.800 Or at least a common, one common place to have a voice. 00:44:44.300 --> 00:44:49.080 So sponsorship money and then subpar underneath money is membership. 00:44:49.080 --> 00:44:53.350 We just couldn't get that, you know, it was always heavily advertising support. 00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:59.130 70 30, I think when I initially came on and we try to balance out a better And, 00:44:59.130 --> 00:45:05.070 and just didn't get that going, but the, you know, hot, cold sponsorship stuff. 00:45:05.070 --> 00:45:05.330 Okay. 00:45:05.330 --> 00:45:06.910 This quarter, someone's all in there ready. 00:45:06.910 --> 00:45:08.530 And I don't have inventory for that. 00:45:08.980 --> 00:45:10.250 And then next quarter I do. 00:45:10.250 --> 00:45:12.060 And they're like, Nope when shifted. 00:45:13.030 --> 00:45:15.710 And I think that's with all of us that deal with advertising. 00:45:16.210 --> 00:45:21.680 The second one and really is second is that just wasn't my cup of tea 00:45:21.680 --> 00:45:22.880 and I didn't always appreciate it. 00:45:22.900 --> 00:45:29.010 I wanted a safe, healthy environment for conversations, but the back end of that 00:45:29.550 --> 00:45:31.650 was not something I look forward to. 00:45:31.650 --> 00:45:33.580 It's just, and, and I wouldn't say it was every day. 00:45:33.580 --> 00:45:36.620 It was just like a handful of things over the years where you go, man, 00:45:36.670 --> 00:45:40.140 I'm trying to push, get the money to do the things we need to do for 00:45:40.140 --> 00:45:43.040 this and pay me and pay our team. 00:45:43.710 --> 00:45:44.460 And then. 00:45:45.190 --> 00:45:48.960 It would just invariably come in where you're like, I don't like honestly 00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:50.880 having to tell adults to be kind. 00:45:51.205 --> 00:45:51.425 Matt: right. 00:45:52.540 --> 00:45:53.190 Cory: I just don't 00:45:53.485 --> 00:45:54.535 Matt: it enough with my kids. 00:45:55.040 --> 00:45:59.960 Cory: I know and that is the gauge too and this is anywhere on the internet Not 00:45:59.960 --> 00:46:04.820 just post ads, but it's just like there's a big flag when my children are more 00:46:04.820 --> 00:46:12.710 mature and kind than an adult profession professional and I just didn't that's 00:46:12.710 --> 00:46:15.810 just the fact of the internet, you know, i've done it myself I've been the troll 00:46:15.810 --> 00:46:22.230 myself You know, keyboard warrior, Oh, should let that cook on 24 hour cycle. 00:46:22.820 --> 00:46:29.420 That was not as frequent, but it was there ongoing protecting the 00:46:29.420 --> 00:46:35.920 healthy people, protecting people was tough and draining for me because 00:46:36.200 --> 00:46:41.050 invariably come in and you're like, I can't monitor this all the time. 00:46:41.805 --> 00:46:43.245 Matt: I mean, you're talking thousands. 00:46:43.265 --> 00:46:45.865 You're talking a few thousand people in a room. 00:46:46.205 --> 00:46:46.555 Like 00:46:46.820 --> 00:46:48.120 Cory: all the time, all day, every day. 00:46:48.685 --> 00:46:49.805 Matt: it's literally impossible. 00:46:49.805 --> 00:46:52.160 Yeah, 00:46:52.255 --> 00:46:53.185 Cory: to Michelle for shit. 00:46:53.805 --> 00:46:54.835 She keeps things together. 00:46:54.835 --> 00:46:58.825 I'm indebted to her and thankful for her because, but it's tough. 00:46:59.375 --> 00:47:04.105 Especially because we are not as a WordPress industry, we're not 00:47:04.115 --> 00:47:05.515 bashful about sharing our opinions. 00:47:06.035 --> 00:47:06.425 Matt: Sure. 00:47:06.445 --> 00:47:06.775 Yeah. 00:47:06.865 --> 00:47:08.745 No, it's the, it's the good and great of this stuff. 00:47:08.745 --> 00:47:13.165 You know, I, I was witnessing before we jumped on, like I was witnessing like 00:47:13.165 --> 00:47:17.135 some of the discussion around like, you know, what it means to have like private 00:47:17.135 --> 00:47:20.045 conversations in a slack group that size. 00:47:20.085 --> 00:47:23.325 And, you know, this is just my personal opinion. 00:47:24.425 --> 00:47:25.695 It's not private anymore. 00:47:26.790 --> 00:47:31.820 You know you know, one time I remember I saw this is years ago, I, there was 00:47:31.820 --> 00:47:36.170 a conversation happening in a page builder group on Facebook with over 10, 00:47:36.170 --> 00:47:40.130 000 people in the Facebook group and somebody posted something and I was like, 00:47:40.150 --> 00:47:41.990 this, and this was like an amazing post. 00:47:42.410 --> 00:47:44.510 I was like, wow, this is like amazing. 00:47:44.760 --> 00:47:46.900 This is, you know, this goes back years when people are still trying to 00:47:46.900 --> 00:47:50.280 figure out like is page rules, how is page rules going to change WordPress? 00:47:50.280 --> 00:47:53.420 So this goes back a few years and I, and I saw somebody post something amazing. 00:47:53.420 --> 00:47:54.070 I thought it was great. 00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:58.470 Screenshotted it brought it over to Twitter and I was like see this is what 00:47:58.470 --> 00:48:01.060 we should all be thinking about when it comes to Like WordPress and page. 00:48:01.100 --> 00:48:05.540 I thought it was a fantastic post and I was I was amplifying it And 00:48:05.540 --> 00:48:08.690 then that person messaged me and was like you take that down immediately. 00:48:08.950 --> 00:48:12.310 That's a private thing and I'm like Private you put it in a 00:48:12.310 --> 00:48:14.850 group of over 10, 000 people 00:48:15.085 --> 00:48:15.505 Cory: Yeah. 00:48:16.050 --> 00:48:17.980 Matt: Where do you draw the line between? 00:48:17.990 --> 00:48:24.065 private and Under 10, 000 people is, is, is a private message and it's tough, man. 00:48:24.065 --> 00:48:24.655 It's just tough. 00:48:24.665 --> 00:48:28.905 It, like you said, it's the internet, but also it's humans and, yeah, it's, 00:48:28.965 --> 00:48:30.635 it's, it can be draining for sure. 00:48:30.645 --> 00:48:31.915 Especially when you're trying to lead the whole thing. 00:48:33.115 --> 00:48:33.265 Cory: Yeah. 00:48:33.265 --> 00:48:34.145 I still love community. 00:48:34.145 --> 00:48:35.315 I just like it on this side. 00:48:35.335 --> 00:48:35.435 I 00:48:35.555 --> 00:48:35.775 Matt: Yeah. 00:48:36.425 --> 00:48:39.675 Cory: having my paycheck, working with an incredible team. 00:48:40.070 --> 00:48:43.290 It starts with Katie Richards and then the new team, we're all host group. 00:48:43.720 --> 00:48:48.300 And, but I like this better because like for this, for the money side, 00:48:48.350 --> 00:48:50.150 I'm just getting paid and I like that. 00:48:50.160 --> 00:48:52.390 And then I'm doing the stuff I really enjoy doing. 00:48:52.430 --> 00:48:56.790 So it checks the box where I'm not having a struggle to go, okay, I want 00:48:56.790 --> 00:49:00.640 to do this work, but I've got to go be a salesperson here and sell a sponsorship. 00:49:01.080 --> 00:49:01.670 And I. 00:49:02.325 --> 00:49:05.895 Tried my best to learn and grow with that and say, I can always learn new things. 00:49:06.265 --> 00:49:08.495 I learned how to play pay PlayStation last year. 00:49:08.505 --> 00:49:10.785 I haven't played in since like way back in the day. 00:49:11.205 --> 00:49:13.485 And I was like, I can, I can learn new things. 00:49:13.485 --> 00:49:17.825 And, but that side, you know, it like, this is, this is what you do. 00:49:17.965 --> 00:49:20.765 You talk about perspectives, you ask great questions, you get 00:49:20.765 --> 00:49:25.325 compelling guests on, and, but then you also have a very big need to go 00:49:25.325 --> 00:49:27.675 raise money to pay for everything. 00:49:28.145 --> 00:49:28.745 And. 00:49:29.260 --> 00:49:31.640 You know, that's just, that's a hard job. 00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:32.150 Matt: Yeah. 00:49:32.650 --> 00:49:33.200 Corey Miller. 00:49:33.300 --> 00:49:36.310 I'm so glad that this weight is lifted off of your shoulder. 00:49:36.500 --> 00:49:39.130 Hey, with some, a little bit of new weight on your shoulders, right? 00:49:39.140 --> 00:49:41.540 People are going to be looking at you going, okay, how's this acquisition doing? 00:49:41.540 --> 00:49:42.120 How's A2? 00:49:42.150 --> 00:49:44.030 We ushering in our community, our customers. 00:49:44.360 --> 00:49:46.580 But so thankful that you were able to hang out today and chat 00:49:46.870 --> 00:49:48.400 about both of these things. 00:49:48.750 --> 00:49:52.500 Any particular place you want folks to go to say thanks, to follow you? 00:49:52.510 --> 00:49:54.670 Any landing page they should check out? 00:49:55.020 --> 00:49:57.780 Cory: Well, I did just about a month ago, pull my side over 00:49:57.780 --> 00:49:59.630 to a two it's on WordPress. 00:49:59.800 --> 00:50:01.940 Don't judge me on my design, but I got a new website. 00:50:01.940 --> 00:50:02.790 So coreymiller. 00:50:02.790 --> 00:50:04.860 com it's a very simple website, you know? 00:50:05.060 --> 00:50:09.310 But I was like, Oh, it is that that would be the connection point as well as, 00:50:09.500 --> 00:50:10.970 you know, Twitter, LinkedIn, all that. 00:50:11.260 --> 00:50:13.740 And as best I can, I try to stay in touch. 00:50:13.750 --> 00:50:14.340 It's nice. 00:50:14.340 --> 00:50:17.580 It's a, it's a, it's heavy, but it's so good. 00:50:17.580 --> 00:50:19.510 It's reflection of all the great people I've met over the years. 00:50:19.865 --> 00:50:22.305 I've got a lot of friends, there's a bunch of DMs sitting in the post. 00:50:22.305 --> 00:50:23.465 So I'm going to go say, thank you. 00:50:23.465 --> 00:50:23.765 Thank you. 00:50:23.765 --> 00:50:24.105 Thank you. 00:50:24.105 --> 00:50:24.475 Thank you. 00:50:24.475 --> 00:50:24.855 Thank you. 00:50:24.855 --> 00:50:25.185 Thank you. 00:50:25.185 --> 00:50:25.555 Thank you. 00:50:26.105 --> 00:50:26.955 Go support Geost. 00:50:27.005 --> 00:50:31.125 Go support, go support, go support, throw in some WP minute, you know, 00:50:31.125 --> 00:50:32.395 and all these ones we've talked about. 00:50:32.715 --> 00:50:34.155 But thanks so much, Matt. 00:50:34.155 --> 00:50:35.335 I so much appreciate it. 00:50:35.355 --> 00:50:37.855 As we finish that journey, we've handed it off. 00:50:38.105 --> 00:50:41.805 Well, we're still handing off things, but we've closed the deal and we're 00:50:41.805 --> 00:50:46.985 super happy and I wish Marie Kanyo is the best and there really are 00:50:47.015 --> 00:50:49.605 incredible humans I'm glad to know them.