PressConf 2025: Real Conversations, Real People, Real Impact

I had a rare stretch of quiet at home last week before the kids came crashing through the front door—and in that sliver of calm, I finally sat down to process everything that happened at PressConf 2025.

If you’re in the WordPress community, you know events come and go. But every now and then, one sticks. PressConf 2025 was that kind of event.

PressConf felt like it picked up the baton from where PressNomics left off—offering a dedicated space for real business talk in the WordPress world, without the volume of a traditional conference. This was something we’ve all needed: space to talk honestly about what it means to do this work—as content creators, agency owners, product folks, and humans.

WordPress, Without the Filters

Big shout out to Raquel and her team for pulling this off.

You could feel it in the room—this wasn’t a WordCamp. It wasn’t a lead-gen exercise, or an event that promised more than what we desired. It was honest conversation. About what’s hard. About what’s changing. About where we’re headed in this strange new version of the WordPress community.

Automattic was there, WP Engine was there, and besides what you’re X feed or Slack channels might tell you, it was perfectly fine. I wasn’t overly shocked at anything Mary Hubbard said on stage, it was pretty on the PR nose, in my opinion. We all just want to know how we’re getting on with this next chapter. 

A standout moment for me was Miriam Schwab’s talk.

If you don’t know Miriam, she’s a longtime WordPress professional—15+ years in the trenches. She built a successful agency, founded the static hosting company Strattic, raised millions, and sold it to Elementor. She’s as accomplished as anyone in this space. But what made her talk powerful wasn’t the achievements—it was the vulnerability.

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Podcasting Was a Big Topic at PressConf

I co-hosted a panel of podcasters at PressConf 2025, and the room was buzzing about starting a podcast.

But podcasts are a lot of work! You can still grow your brand without a podcast– by being a guest! Get our free mini-course on guest podcasting.

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She shared that after closing a major funding round, after doing all the press and victory laps, she returned home… and had to do the dishes.

That one image says it all.

It reminded me—and maybe everyone in the room—that behind every polished LinkedIn post is someone trying to keep it together. That the highlight reel we scroll through every day doesn’t show the mess. The stress. The juggling. And it gave so many of us permission to admit: “This is hard sometimes.”

There’s a whole lot more to her story, including working during a war, but we save that for the room. If you want to experience the real talks, you’ll just have to go to PressConf 2!

Not a WordCamp, Not a Pitchfest—Something Else Entirely

I hosted the agency panel and joined the podcasting discussion. Both were packed with practical takeaways, but the thing I kept hearing from attendees was this: “I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

It wasn’t just about landing your next client or selling your SaaS. It was about re-centering. About resetting your mindset after months of remote work, solitary projects, and head-down building. The kind of recharge that only happens when you’re in a room of people who just get it.

These talks weren’t afraid to get real. They were personal. Strategic. At times even emotional. And I’d argue that’s exactly what sets PressConf apart. WordPress doesn’t just need more tools—we need more truth.

My Intention: Meet New People

Before heading to Tempe, I made a personal goal: meet people I hadn’t met before.

I had in-depth conversations with agency owners, plugin creators, folks doing government work, freelancers in transition—you name it. One moment you’re sipping a beer with an old friend, the next you’re deep in discussion about AI workflows with someone you just met at lunch.

That mix of familiarity and new perspective is hard to engineer. But PressConf nailed it.

A Look Ahead

If you’re wondering whether to attend next year, here’s my advice: be there. And go with intention. Whether that’s reconnecting with your purpose, meeting new people, or simply getting out of your own head for a few days—this event delivers.

In the meantime, we’re keeping that spirit alive over at The WP Minute. Every week, Eric Karkovack delivers a five-minute podcast with quick hits for busy WordPress professionals. I also run a longer interview series focused on the business side of WordPress.

Starting later this month, we’ve got Kurt and Toby joining the WP Minute Plus feed for a new agency-focused mini-series: Whose WordPress Agency Is It Anyway? They’re bringing sharp insight, fresh voices, and a whole lot of real talk about running an agency in 2025.

Both podcasts are free, both are on all major platforms, and both are here to help you navigate this wild ecosystem we call WordPress.

Thanks for reading—and if you were at PressConf, I’d love to know: what moment stuck with you?

See you next year. You just have to be in the room.