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Open Channels FM formerly Do the Woo

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OpenChannels.fm (formerly Do the Woo): A community‑powered podcast channel exploring the open web, with roots in the WooCommerce and WordPress builder ecosystem.

Overview: OpenChannels.fm is a volunteer‑hosted podcast channel and site centered on the people, projects, and practices shaping the open web. The channel curates multiple shows and series spanning WooCommerce, WordPress, and wider open‑source topics—aimed at amplifying diverse voices across tools, communities, and workflows.

Founder: The channel is founded and produced by BobWP (Bob Dunn).

History

Origins (2016): The project began as Do the Woo in 2016, initially focused on WooCommerce. After a brief pivot to a broader e‑commerce format, the Woo‑centric show returned and steadily grew a community of hosts and contributors.

Relaunch & Expansion (2018–2024): In January 2018, Do the Woo relaunched and expanded into a podcast featuring multiple volunteer hosts and guests from across the WooCommerce and WordPress ecosystem. Through 2021–2024, the channel added new series, introduced thematic tracks (e.g., developer chats, product chats, event talk), and crossed several milestones (including major site refreshes and episode landmarks).

Rebrand to OpenChannels.fm (June 2025): In June 2025, Do the Woo rebranded to OpenChannels.fm to reflect an expanded mission beyond WooCommerce to the broader open web. Do the Woo continues as a core show within the OpenChannels.fm umbrella, now alongside additional channels that cover makers, open source, accessibility, the Fediverse, and more.

Shows & Series

Current channels and focus:

  • Open Makers: Builder journeys, product stories, and practical workflows.
  • Open Source Reach: Open‑source impact, accessibility, and community topics.
  • Open Web Conversations: Broader open‑web discussions (Fediverse, emerging tech, content ops, etc.).

Evolving lineup: Series evolve over time; for example, many of the series were later renamed to  to better reflect builder‑focused stacks and tools. Occasional limited series (e.g., event‑focused conversations) appear under the channel as needs and interests change.

Hosts

Current volunteer hosts (partial roster): Abha Thakor · Adam Weeks · Anne Mieke Bovelett · BobWP · Brad Williams · Cami MacNamara · Carl Alexander · Christian Taylor · Courtney Robertson · Dave Lockie · Derek Hanson · Devin Maeztri · Emma Young · James Kemp · Jonathan Wold · Karim Marucchi · Katie Keith · Marcel Schmitz · Marcus Burnette · Mark Westguard · Matthias Pfefferle · Michelle Frechette · Mike Andreasen · Rae Morey · Robbie Adair · Robert Jacobi · Robert Windisch · Ronald Gijsel · Tammie Lister · Tom Willmot · Zach Stepek.

DTW Host Hall of Fame (selected past hosts): Anna Maria Radu · Birgit Olzem · Kathy Zant · Maja Loncar · Mendel Kurland · Noëlle Steegs · Taeke Reijenga · Till Krüss.

News & Updates

Open Channels Dispatch: A short‑form series introduced in 2025 for behind‑the‑scenes updates, rebrand notes, show structure changes, and versioned site updates (e.g., 6.x releases). Dispatch posts chronicle the rebrand rollout, series renames, and ongoing improvements.

Changelog culture: The project maintains a public changelog—versioned much like software—to track site, structure, and content changes, including major redesigns, new shows, host additions, and rebrand steps.

Notable Episodes (WordPress & WooCommerce)

This is a small, representative sample across years and series.

  • Visionary: Matt Mullenweg — WordPress co‑founder shares perspectives on the open web’s future.
  • Diversity, Design and Speaking Machine with John Maeda — On diversity, design leadership, and creative technology.
  • Navigating Tech Careers, Global Moves and the Rise of AI in the Workplace — A conversation about shifting careers, cross‑border work, and AI’s workplace impact.
  • A WooCommerce Founder Reunion — Conversation with Adii Pienaar, Magnus Jepson, and Mark Forrester on the origins of WooThemes and WooCommerce.
  • WooCommerce Branding & Design — On branding and design inside WooCommerce with Andrei Slobtsov and Fernando Perez.
  • WordPress Blocks & Gutenberg — Where blocks are headed for WordPress and WooCommerce with Birgit Pauli‑Haack.
  • Full‑Site Editing and WordPress 5.9 — Practical implications for builders as block‑based theming matured.
  • Learn.WordPress Refresh — WordPress Training Team on learning pathways and contributor on‑ramps.
  • WordPress 6.5 Editing Experience — What changed for editors and builders in WordPress 6.5.
  • First‑Time Contributors & WordPress 6.8 Enhancements — Release‑oriented conversation on contributing and new features.
  • WooSesh 2023 Day‑2 Recap — AI in support, payments (Amazon Pay), privacy, and shipping trends.
  • The Journey & Evolution of a WooCommerce Builder — With Beka Rice on product architecture and the Woo ecosystem.
  • Talking Woo Products & Community Growth — Katie Keith joins as a host; insights on running a Woo product company.
  • Managing Team Growth in WordPress Plugin Businesses — Strategies from builders growing product teams.
  • Maintaining Legacy Support in WooCommerce & WordPress — Back‑compat tradeoffs and real‑world lessons.

Milestones & Version Highlights

  • 2016: Do the Woo first launches (briefly pivots to a broader e‑commerce show).
  • 2018: Do the Woo relaunches; Woo‑focused programming resumes with Episode 0 and a multi‑host format taking shape.
  • 2021–2023: Major redesigns, new series, and episode milestones (e.g., Episode 400 in 2023).
  • 2024–Early 2025: Channel 4.x–5.x releases; new hosts and show structures; ongoing site updates.
  • June 2025: Version 6.0 and rebrand to OpenChannels.fm; Dispatch news series introduced; follow‑on 6.x updates.

Community & Values

OpenChannels.fm embraces open‑source values—openness, belonging, and shared growth—while giving airtime to under‑heard voices. The channel’s global roster of hosts and guests represents dozens of countries and hundreds of conversations across the open web.

References

  1. “OpenChannels.fm (Do the Woo Rebrand).” The Repository, June 2025. https://therepository.email/p/openchannelsfm-do-the-woo-rebrand
  2. “About OpenChannels.fm.” OpenChannels.fm. https://openchannels.fm/about-open-channels-fm
  3. “Seven Years of Do the Woo.” OpenChannels.fm. https://openchannels.fm/seven-years
  4. “Current channels on OpenChannels.fm.” OpenChannels.fm. https://openchannels.fm/our-channels/
  5. “Open Channels Dispatch Series.” OpenChannels.fm. https://openchannels.fm/tag/open-channels-dispatch/
  6. “OpenChannels.fm Changelog.” OpenChannels.fm. https://openchannels.fm/changelog/

This entry will be periodically updated to reflect new releases, series changes, and host roster updates.

Created by Open Channels FM

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Logo for Open Channels .fm with the word Open in dark blue and Channels in light blue. The O in Open is stylized, and .fm appears in dark blue at the bottom right.

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