Bob Dunn, known in the WordPress world as BobWP, has been producing podcasts for nearly two decades. After running Do the Woo—a WooCommerce-focused show that expanded into broader WordPress topics—for almost seven years, he recently rebranded and launched Open Channels FM to widen the scope and create a more sustainable, flexible podcast network.
Why rebrand?
Bob had been considering a change for about a year. Do the Woo worked well as a niche show, but the name and focus could discourage listeners outside the WooCommerce or WordPress ecosystems. Over time his content drifted into wider topics—open web, open source, the fediverse, and broader maker conversations—and he wanted a brand that reflected that range. The goal was to invite listeners who aren’t strictly WordPress users while keeping existing content and audiences intact.
Network structure: channels and series
Rather than traditional, rigid “shows,” Open Channels FM is organized into three umbrella channels with multiple series beneath each:
– Open Makers: content aimed at people building things in tech—developers, designers, WordPress and WooCommerce series included here.
– Open Source Reach: broader open-source topics and guests from other projects.
– Open Web Conversations: discussions about the open web, fediverse, and related topics.
This channels-and-series model increases flexibility. Series can be short- or long-running, and hosts can move between series and channels. The layout keeps content organized and evergreen without the pressure of “show” permanence—if a series ends, the channel remains.
Subscriptions and RSS feeds
Listeners can subscribe to a single “firehose” feed at openchannels.fm to get every episode, or pick one of the three channel-specific RSS feeds to follow only the content they want. Bob uses a WordPress-based approach with Castos to manage multiple feeds and keep everything under one site while offering channel-level subscriptions.
Delegating hosting and production
A major shift for Bob was stepping back from being the constant host. Open Channels now involves roughly 25–30 hosts who produce episodes across the network. Many of these co-hosts were already within Bob’s orbit, building rapport and trust over years of podcasting and events. Hosts handle guest booking and episode recording; production and post-production remain coordinated centrally.
Bob describes the transition as rewarding—he enjoys hearing other voices and watching hosts build their own brands and relationships. At the same time, he admits production can be a heavy lift: editing, quality control, and publishing can pile up, and he’s exploring ways to step back further from day-to-day production while remaining the founder and public face of the network.
Rebranding logistics and hiccups
Rebranding a long-running podcast brought practical challenges. Bob emphasized the need to plan redirects carefully; podcast feed and platform changes must be executed in the right order to avoid disrupting subscriptions. He’s experienced some issues with Apple Podcasts and has been working with support to straighten them out.
On a more meticulous note, he’s updated hundreds of episode featured images—about 670 episodes—to reflect the new brand and reduce confusion when listeners browse the archive. That kind of post-rebrand housekeeping is time-consuming but important for continuity.
Funding and sustainability
Open Channels FM is funded primarily through sponsorships. Bob has experimented with different monetization models over the years and relies on sponsors to support the network. Sponsorship acquisition and management remain ongoing work and part of making the network sustainable long-term.
Open to contributors
The network remains open to new contributors and series ideas. Because series live under flexible channel umbrellas, it’s easy to add new voices or test short series without overcomplicating the site. Current hosts volunteer their time and gain exposure, relationships, and opportunities through their involvement. Bob is open to new hosts and episodes that fit the channels’ themes.
Vision and future plans
Bob sees himself staying involved as founder and public face—he wants to keep some presence but is keen to reduce hands-on production. He envisions occasional founder updates or short segments while empowering hosts to run series independently. At 68, he also values having time for other things, like relaxing and taking breaks, and wants to make the network more resilient so it can thrive without constant intervention.
If you want to learn more or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit openchannels.fm (the site includes a /sponsors page). The network aims to be a durable, community-driven home for conversations about WordPress, WooCommerce, open source, and the broader open web.
