---
title: "Why talk about open source beyond WordPress? Open Talk on Open Source, episode one"
date: 2024-04-17
author: "Courtney Robertson"
featured_image: "https://courtneyr.dev/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/open-talk-on-open-source-launch-featured-1.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "WordPress"
    url: "/category/wptips.md"
  - name: "Speaking"
    url: "/category/speaking.md"
  - name: "Open Source"
    url: "/category/open-source.md"
---

# Why talk about open source beyond WordPress? Open Talk on Open Source, episode one

What happens beneath WordPress when the open source projects it depends on change? In fact, that question launched Open Talk on Open Source, a show I cohosted with [Robert Jacobi](https://robertjacobi.com/)colleague on the Do the Woo network. In this first episode, we each told how we came to open source.

## 🎙️ Episode details

- **Topics:** why a show about open source beyond WordPress, how we each started, and supply chains and policy
- **Show:** Open Talk on Open Source, first episode, on Do the Woo (now Open Channels FM)
- **Hosts:** Robert Jacobi and me, Courtney Robertson
- **Released:** April 17, 2024
- **Listen and read along:** [Open Talk on Open Source, a new show, with a transcript, on Open Channels FM](https://openchannels.fm/new-show-open-talk-on-open-source-with-robert-jacobi-and-courtney-robertson/)

Audio from Open Channels FM. [Read the episode transcript on Open Channels FM](https://openchannels.fm/new-show-open-talk-on-open-source-with-robert-jacobi-and-courtney-robertson/).## 🌊 Why a show about open source beyond WordPress?

Of course, WordPress people understand open source inside WordPress. There’s a whole ocean beyond it that shapes what we do. To start, my first example was PHP: as PHP ships new versions faster, hosts have to decide what to support, and core and every plugin face a chicken and egg problem about compatibility.

## 🧑‍🏫 How we each started

First, Robert’s path ran through Joomla, where he served as president. Mine, by contrast, started in a school, installing Moodle, the open source learning management system, as an alternative to Blackboard on a school budget. From there, my first contributions were in support forums.

My first WordPress contribution happened because I forgot to buy a WordCamp Mid Atlantic ticket in time. So volunteering at guest check in was the only way in. (Procrastination: occasionally a contribution pathway.) When Robert counted sponsorship as contribution, I agreed, and added that I worked at GoDaddy, enough said.

## 🔗 Supply chains and policy

Next, I mentioned Europe’s Cyber Resilience Act, where leading open source CMS projects joined forces on a response to protect contributors, and said the US had its own efforts I was involved with. Above all, I wanted the show to dig into every layer: WordPress, plugins, themes and SaaS services, plus the software under your site and under the servers. For small agencies, then, choosing a host or a plugin partner is partly a choice about who supports PHP and tools like PHP\_CodeSniffer.

## 🧪 What can you take about open source beyond WordPress?

- **Topics:** why a show about open source beyond WordPress, how we each started, and supply chains and policy
- **Agencies:** ask your host which PHP versions it supports and when it plans to change.
- **Contributors:** sponsorship, support answers and event volunteering all count.

Also, more conversations like this one live in [my podcast and speaking archive](https://courtneyr.dev/category/speaking/).

## 🗓️ Archival note

Do the Woo released this episode on April 17, 2024. Then I added this post on November 9, 2026, from the publisher’s summary and transcript. However, I reviewed the transcript, not the audio.





[](https://courtneyr.dev/2024/04/17/open-talk-on-open-source-launch/)Courtney RobertsonWhy talk about open source beyond WordPress? Open Talk on Open Source, episode one