Episode 9: Raquel Manriquez  ## Metadata - Author: [[Community & Code]] - Full Title: Episode 9: Raquel Manriquez - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: [Assign relevant tags or keywords to the notee to facilitate organization and retrieval. Add a # before each tag. Tags cannot have special characters. Do not use the tag #articles] - #wordpress - #community - #opensource Author: Community & Code (Host) with guest Raquel Manríquez Source: YouTube Podcast / Community & Code — “Episode 9: Raquel Manriquez” Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU date created: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{time:HH:mm}} --- # Title: 🧩 People Behind the Commits — Raquel Manríquez on Community, Events, and WordPress Phoenix ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🌱 Origin Story & Early WordPress Years](#-origin-story--early-wordpress-years) - [🎪 Wonderland Curious & Event Philosophy](#-wonderland-curious--event-philosophy) - [🧭 Pressconf: Intentional Design Choices](#-pressconf-intentional-design-choices) - [🌆 Phoenix WordPress: Anatomy of a Resilient Community](#-phoenix-wordpress-anatomy-of-a-resilient-community) - [🏟️ WordCamp US in Phoenix: Elation, Process, and Participation](#️-wordcamp-us-in-phoenix-elation-process-and-participation) - [🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Contributions Beyond Code](#-contributions-beyond-code) - [🧱 Planning Pressconf 2026](#-planning-pressconf-2026) - [🗒️ Notes](#-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ### References: Include a list of sources consulted and cited in the article. - Primary: **Community & Code — Episode 9: Raquel Manríquez** — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU --- ## 📝 Summary: This episode profiles **Raquel Manríquez**—longtime WordPress community leader, Phoenix meetup organizer, and founder of **Wonderland Curious**. She traces her journey from agency operations to Elegant Themes and independent events work, emphasizing **democratizing publishing**, **human-first community building**, and **intentional event design**. Core themes include why **Pressconf** is small, single-track, and **unrecorded**; how the **Phoenix** leadership team sustained momentum post-pandemic; and why **contributions beyond code** (events, welcoming culture, coordination) are vital to the health of open source. The conversation also reflects on **WordCamp US** coming to Phoenix, advocating for local involvement, and outlines early planning for **Pressconf 2026**. --- ## 📖 Main Content: ### 🌱 Origin Story & Early WordPress Years - Raquel’s entry was through **operations**, not coding—“WordPress chose me” via a partner’s tech direction ([1:45–2:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=105)). - Agency → WooCommerce focus → exit (2018) → six years at **Elegant Themes** → entrepreneurship ([0:50–1:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=50)). - Motivation: belief in **open source** and **democratizing publishing** ([1:15–1:25](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=75)). ### 🎪 Wonderland Curious & Event Philosophy - **Wonderland Curious**: events + group travel (“adult summer camp” energy) to foster deep bonds and renewal ([4:10–4:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=250), [5:04–6:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=304)). - Branding draws on **Alice in Wonderland**—curiosity, growth through exploration ([6:44–7:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=404)). - Host shares parallel whimsical branding story (“Possible Octopus”), underscoring the value of playful identity in community brands ([8:14–9:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=494)). ### 🧭 Pressconf: Intentional Design Choices - **Small, intimate**, **single-track**, **no recordings** → psychological safety and willingness to “drop the mic” ([11:12–12:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=672)). - Speakers chosen based on **trust** and **vulnerability**, with room for **second chances** (values-based curation) ([12:24–13:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=744)). - Togetherness by design: shared venue, meals, **evenings together**, and a **fun “field trip” day** (golf, go-karts) to **consolidate learning** through play ([14:59–16:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=899)). ### 🌆 Phoenix WordPress: Anatomy of a Resilient Community - Core leadership = **friends**, **kind + passionate** → sustained gravity and warmth ([20:27–21:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1227)). - **Carol Stambaugh** (“mama WordPress”) pivotal: started the meetup (2011), role-models care and courage ([21:27–22:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1287)). - Multi-wave stewardship: 2014 large event → leadership turnover → regroup (“second wave”) → post-pandemic (“third wave”) persistence amid **cancer, divorce, depression** ([23:14–27:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1394)). - Tactics: meet **in person** often, leverage **coworking spaces**, alternate **talk** and **social** meetups, keep the **invite-warmth** culture ([27:01–31:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1621)). ### 🏟️ WordCamp US in Phoenix: Elation, Process, and Participation - Announcement elicited **shock + joy**; Phoenix applied in **2014** and **2018** under former process (city bids) ([33:03–35:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1983)). - Now, site selection feels **top-down**; Phoenix leaders ask to be **consulted** and engaged, offering local expertise and enthusiasm ([32:17–33:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=1937)). - Community response emphasizes **grace**, readiness to **help**, and personal pride in hosting (Raquel lives downtown) ([36:02–37:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2162)). ### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Contributions Beyond Code - Both host and guest hold **Core props**, but stress **non-code contributions**: mediating incidents, advocacy, **events**, **onboarding**, and **care work** ([38:10–39:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2290)). - “Come for the code, stay for the community”: durable participation flows from **belonging** and **values**, not just commits ([10:04–10:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=604), [39:26–44:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2366)). - Vision: educate **Gen Z** on **data ownership** in the AI era; WordPress as personal digital home ([43:59–45:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2639)). ### 🧱 Planning Pressconf 2026 - **Startup (early-bird) tickets** open; intimate size, same venue (**Tempe Mission Palms**) ([46:02–46:22](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2762)). - **Reverse-engineered program**: ~11 sessions; speakers **invited** to fit an emergent **theme** (last year: “Let’s get better together”) ([47:07–49:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2827)). - Sponsor strategy: clearer value delivery, collaborative packages ([49:41–50:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=2981)). --- ### 🗒️ Notes - **Identity-first design**: “No recordings” protects nuance and candor ([11:48–12:23](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=708)). - **Second chances** as a community value; curation by **trust** not popularity ([12:52–13:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=772)). - **Cohesion mechanics**: co-location, walkability, structured + unstructured contact windows ([14:21–15:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=861)). - **Field-trip pedagogy**: deliberate decompression improves retention/insight ([15:59–16:05](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU&t=959)). - **Post-pandemic triage**: switched to one meetup/month but preserved **heartbeat** ([28:36–30: - Summary: • Raquel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-karina/) • Raquel’s blog (https://raquelkarina.com/) • Raquel on X/Twitter (https://x.com/raquel__karina) • WonderlandCurious on X/Twitter (https://x.com/WondrlndCurious) • Raquel on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/raque_l/) • Elegant Themes (https://www.elegantthemes.com/) • PressConf (https://pressconf.events/) The post Episode 9: Raquel Manriquez (https://communitycode.dev/episodes/episode-9-raquel-manriquez/) appeared first on Community + Code (https://communitycode.dev) . - URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jSoc-0ryU [Music] [Music] Welcome to Community and Code, the podcast about the people behind the commits. here today with Raquel, a longtime WordPress community member, leader uh of the WordPress Phoenix community, uh founder owner of Wonderland Curious. Raquel's been in the community for a long time. Uh but if you aren't in the WordPress community or you don't know Raquel and you haven't seen her around, uh Raquel, welcome to the show and why don't you introduce yourself? >> Thank you. Uh, yep. I'm Raquel and I gosh, I started in WordPress in 2010. I used to run an agency. Uh, it kind of became a Woo Commerce agency and then I exited the agency in like 2018 and then went got hired with Elegant Themes for six years and then here I am now running my own business. But through all of that, I've been like a big lover of WordPress and the community and honestly the the idea to democratize publishing with this open source project. So yeah, that's that's everything into a sentence. Yeah, >> the whole thing. Um, >> I mean, you talked about it, but like dig into a little bit about like what drew you specifically to to WordPress. Do you look at other things or were you looking at other things before or was it just like you found the thing and then it sort of just clicked? >> You know what? This is probably going to be the the the most different answer you could ever have to that question and I will would love to find out if anyone else has the same answer >> because I did not come into WordPress as the impletor, designer, uh even coder. I came in as the partner in operations for the business I started with my exartner. So I didn't actually choose WordPress. In a way you could say WordPress chose me. >> There you go. >> But I do remember, you know, a lot of stuff in the 2000s was built with Flash, you know, and there was like a lot of that and just like HTML custom and and yeah, Dreamw Weaver and all that. And I just remember my ex-artner at the time was like, "There's this new thing called WordPress. I really want to get into it." And so that was honestly how I got into it was he got into it. And then I followed suit. So I'm very curious if anyone else ever has a very similar answer. >> I mean, I think that that's not super uncommon. I think that um Yeah. I mean, I I think that for a lot of people, uh, you just I mean, certainly a lot of my clients when I was freelancing got WordPress because that was the thing that I was building with and that was the thing that I was advocating for. >> Um, talk about your uh your company Wonderland Curious. Uh, I know that you uh under the guise perhaps of of Wonderland Curious um uh organized Presscon last year and we'll talk about that a little bit later. Um, but yeah, what is what is Wonderland Curious and what is it that you do these days? >> Yeah. Okay, I'm gonna try to not talk your ear off, but >> you can talk my ear off. We've got a long time. >> I love talking. Uh, so it was I mean, honestly, it's my it's a passion project that's been years in the making and that came about at the perfect time in my life when the stars and planets aligned. I mean, that's the full truth. I've had it inside of me for a long time, but I didn't know it was there. And then when I did know it was there, I made a conscious choice to choose my kids before that. So, so I would say um the seed was this idea to plan group travel >> or for fun. So just this idea that you take 20 randos anywhere around the world and you unplug and you just hang out together. So the feels are kind of like adult summer camp >> or like when you went to summer camp as a kid >> and you just are forever bonded to the people you're with and it's an experience that resets and rejuvenates and that is a really hard model to monetize just in itself. >> Mhm. And so while I was still being a full-time mom, um I had kids when I was very young, so now they're all adults. And when my baby graduated high school, it was right around the time when when the stars were aligning to bring back Pressnomics, which is what I I now I call it um press conf. >> And all of it just made sense to bring it together. So, I already knew I was going to fight hard to bring what was prest. And then my my last child, my daughter, graduated from high school. And all of a sudden, I had an open calendar. And I have not had an open calendar. And I mean, God knows how long because I've always was always a very involved mom and was convinced and still am that your children want your time more than anything else, more than any other resource you would give them. So then I over that summer which would have been now two years ago, no a year ago, sorry. Yeah, two two uh a year ago last summer just strategized and came up with the plan which was to like start my own company and I LLCD a year ago August and that company is Wonderland curious and under that company would be events and so for hire I am for hire for anyone's event um particularly tech events whether big or small then to bring under that press conf which is my event but you know I'm still can be hired to contract for other events and then to bring that travel aspect to it as well. So to still plan group travel which I'm working on I haven't released one yet and so those are the two essential pillars to my business. So, and I do love I love uh the Alice character from Louis Carol >> and I very much identify with her of just like rough and tumble but very girly >> and and as a child I was very much that way just like climbing trees in my dresses and getting dirty and getting into trouble. very curious and following my curiosity, which feels like at times you're getting into trouble, but actually you learn and grow so much, which is ultimately the story of Alice and and so I kind of wanted that to be part of my theme, but subtly. So, yes, the name does show some of it, but my tagline is curious events and curious travel. So, yeah, that's the business. And here I am finally doing what I've been wanting to do for so long. >> That's awesome. >> Made it happen. >> I I I will admit that um when I first heard the name, I definitely got like summer uh like outdoor concert vibes like you know like you know like the outdoor festival. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I I definitely like it it felt like it felt like a like a weekend in like Joshua Tree or something. >> Yeah. And and that is honestly I don't mind that because it is sort of whimsical that was very much Louisis Carol a little psychedelic you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You know but also there's room for for changing and modifying and interpreting differently. So yeah >> I love I love the name and the story behind the name too. Um, my partner and I have an Etsy shop for we do like tie-dye stuff like over the summer when we have time and we put it up on Etsy. And the name of our shop is Possible Octopus. And the reason for the name besides being kind of a silly name uh is because uh Aaron, my partner, really likes going to the beach and likes uh going tide pooling and stuff and uh has said a couple times uh well sort of like a mantra is like whenever you go to the beach, there's always a possible octopus. >> There's probably one out there, you just don't see it. Yeah. >> Um, so the so the idea of like possible octopus was uh was just uh yeah is is a cute like has nothing to do with tie-dye but like is like you know a kind of like whimsical kind of name. Um >> I love it. >> Yeah. Um, I will also, uh, so full disclosure, um, the whole reason this podcast exists, uh, and we'll talk about Presscon in a second, uh, is in part, uh, a product of Presscon last year. >> Um, there's basically two inception points, uh, that, um, that were sort of the key sort of points that made this podcast be. I had been thinking about getting doing a podcast again uh for a while and I didn't really have like I wanted to do it and I knew I wanted to just talk to people and I knew I could like use my network and and like go and reach out into different groups and and uh and grab people and and I just wanted to have conversations but I didn't know what the topic was going to be and I didn't want to just have a tech podcast because that's boring and I don't want to talk about tech all the time and uh like there's enough tech podcasts. There's not a lot that I can really do there that would be super innovative or interesting. Um, but when I went to Drupal Con for the first time last year, there was a sticker and I posted about it on like social and whatever that says and I have it on my water bottle. Um, come for the code, stay for the community. And um I that resonated with me because that is why I've been in the WordPress community for 20 odd years. Um, and I think that that's probably why you've been in the WordPress community for the same amount of time, right? Um, and so to see this at an event like expressing that sentiment at an event for a CMS that I have not been a part of was really interesting and it sort of let lend lent itself to this theme that I sort of had uh this sense that I had over the course of the week that we're more similar uh with these other developer communities than we are different. Um, and that sort of like fed into this seed uh for this idea, but it wasn't until Presconf, which was literally a month later, um, that it really was hammered home because, uh, Pressconf, which is the, uh, successor to Pressnomics, is not your typical event. Um, I'll let you actually describe uh, maybe perhaps what is different about Presscon, what's unique about Press Conf. >> Yeah. um several key points and >> uh I'm probably be all over the place with where I hit them. Uh but it is purposely small. Uh so I guess in comparison to a flagship event uh so it's not thousands of people, it's literally a couple hundred people and that's to keep it intimate. It is purposely one track. Uh and with that one track there are no recordings at all and that is very intentional because we really want each and every talk to come with it to sort of drop the mic and to feel safe as the speaker to let it out and not have fear that things might get taken out of context. and you know and and also just just not have any fear that anything that will ever be recorded and used against them in the future. Now, of course, that's not to say that we now invite >> characters that that would be someone who would take advantage of that or be someone who who you would just question, okay, that was not cool, you know? So, there there there is definitely a balance there and speakers are chosen based on trust. So it's like we want that we really want that vulnerability and privacy from the talks. So then therefore we're very careful about who we choose. At the same time we're also open to giving people chances. So in that in itself is pretty different from other uh I would say word camp or just conferences. Uh I do love that asterric that you know word camps very much give like first timers and all of that where where me and also press comp very much believes that people can change and get better grow together and that's a real tough one I think for people that to wrestle with because that means you're giving people second chances who maybe have have not done been the best in the And that is one of my values and I I that is something that is different about Prescom is that everybody's invited. We don't exclude anybody for the most part. I mean hasn't happened but if something were to happen where it's just like okay you just crossed a major human level line and okay now you're out. It's the same reason why people would lose their rights in life if they get a felony or something like that. But otherwise I press comp really believes in the power of change and that only happens if we want to individually. I can't change somebody but I can change myself because I want to and every bit of part of press comp creates a space where change can happen at least we cultivate it. And the other part that's different is um we pretty much stay together the whole time, you know, start to finish. Uh we're pretty much everybody's at the resort together, take breaks together. Uh lunch is a choose your own adventure, but everything's all right there, very walkable. And then uh every evening, you know, there there's the opportunity that you're still together is so very high because we're all in the same spot and so we're all hanging out in the hot tub together or or walking to a restaurant together. >> Yep. >> And then the also it's not crazy different, but in our space I think it is is the last day is a fun day is a field trip day >> where >> uh we give a couple of options. always golf because we got the golf bros and they'll lose their minds if they don't get their golf and uh I say that with love. But um and then this last year we did go-karts which was a huge hit. So that is a day where we take everything that we've been stewing on and wrestling with over the past two days and just let it sit and have fun together because there's this there's science behind when you kind of end some real um like heavyhitting time emotionally and you just kind of let go and not think. It actually helps your brain process. And it's the same idea of when you're in the shower and all of a sudden all these ideas come flooding, you know, or for me it would be like even like and maybe you too like like yoga or or even like dancing because I love to dance. Um and then you're like remember that later and then you don't. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. you know and so that's the idea of that fourth day is to just uh be with each other still because now when you are together and an idea comes you could just be like bro like in like and by bro I mean that androgynously let me be very clear because I I use that term very androgynously uh but you know like I just got this idea and like and maybe you you're both busy but you're like you say it and now both of you have it so then that not not only do you have a higher chance of remembering what you just thought of, but now you you said it to someone else, >> right? >> Um >> those are pretty >> Yeah, the biggest differences. Um there's also just because it's uh there's only one track over two days of of conference days, uh there's not a lot of sessions, so we don't have a ton of speakers. Uh and I think those are the biggest differences. And maybe I missed something. you if you remember something you could definitely >> Well, I just I just wanted to say that like you know that that intentionality and that um like the conscious decision to not record and what that means in terms of the types of talks that are given at press conf versus a any insert your own conference here. uh was a another half of like what formulated into my brain about um about this show which was that I also wanted to have real conversations like that was the thing that clicked uh was there's the you know the come for the code stay for the community that was a big part of it and then the thing that clicked was real conversations real people yes we all share this like you know we're in the same communities we're doing tech, whatever. But we're also people. And the people are far more interesting than I think the tech that we make and that we produce. Um, and I'm uh much more happy to have conversations with humans than to just talk about the stuff that you're building. The stuff you're building is fine and cool and fun. Um, and like, you know, uh, that's that's all wonderful and interesting, but there's also like there's other shows for that. Um, there's other people you can talk about the tech and and get super deep into like, you know, the layers of your infrastructural stack and whatever and like that that's cool, but like what what made you the person that you are to build the product that you build? >> Are you asking? >> No, I mean that's I mean I can um No, but that was that's just sort of like uh >> your inspiration. >> Yeah, the why. >> Yeah, exactly. Yeah. >> Yeah. I love it. >> So, uh yeah, you've been um tell us about So, uh announced recently, uh we can get into this since it's moderately spicy. Maybe >> feel like I know where you're going. >> Um yeah, well, it was recently announced at uh Word Camp US a couple weeks ago, uh that uh the next Word Camp US will be in Phoenix uh in the middle of August, which is awesome. Uh I live I live in Salt Lake City. I have a pretty good idea of what uh Phoenix is like in August. >> Sure. >> Um and I wanted to actually focus more less about the the announcement of it being in Phoenix. uh because there's there's drama and we can talk about the drama around that too. But als but more importantly what I think um is valuable to share here for our purposes is like you said a lot after that about the Phoenix WordPress community and what makes it special and um like postcoid I know a lot of local WordPress communities kind of my my own in uh as as well um kind of fell off the app. Um, but it feels like you still have something going on in Phoenix. Um, to talk about what makes the Phoenix WordPress community work and and what makes it special and and why you've kind of stuck it out for for so long. >> Yeah. Um, I think there's a few things that would explain why and how. And uh, really I think ultimately could be summed up by saying we are genuinely friends, the leadership team. And that I don't think happened on purpose. like we weren't like necessarily like will you be my friend you know like back in you know when we're children you know but it just worked out that way and I think incidentally we have some passionate people on the the leadership team and when you got passionate and kind personalities magic happens because you could also have passionate and not kind and then you have a dictator you know like um and throughout the years uh when you have that already to start it attracts you know and and it attracts others. So, Carol Stambba, who was the one who got up and said what she said the very last question of the keynote and Q&A. And I mean, that was happening because her, myself, and like two others on the the Phoenix team were like texting non-stop, you know, when the announcement happened. And then and I'm like, Carol, get up there. And and I'm like, get up there. Uh, and the reason why is like it needed to be her. She's the one who started the meetup. in 2011, but she mentioned that and Carol is we we've joked that she's like mama WordPress, but she is just I mean her she's a bundle of love and and there's just something about her that makes everybody better and I'm probably going to start crying and and she's become like a big sister, like a mentor to me. And so I got in to honestly the I was part of the like global community before I even got involved in the Phoenix community just because when I first start got involved in uh WordPress it was through word camps and traveling and then I'm like oh but we we at the time Word Camp Phoenix was the biggest local word camp in the world at the time and >> and so I'm like well we got a really cool space and I need to be involved and that was like my torch as like the owner of my old agency for I was like, well, I'm gonna be like face and community big time of our agency. And so I just like got involved and it's so easy to work with her. It's just so easy. And then so then it just starts to snowball, right? And then even I remember the last time where Camp Phoenix was ginormous was 2014 and then the leader stepped down and they needed a new leader and they came up to me and they're like, "Would you do And I I felt like a baby girl, you know, and I was like, "What? No, I don't I I just couldn't do it." And then it took us having to skip 2015 for then myself and two others to just kind of be like, "We're going to figure this out." And then we brought it back. And that was was what I would call like second wave of the local WordPress Phoenix team. And every single time we almost met in person for every meeting, like almost every single time. And so, and we're all roughly, I guess, compatible and all come from different part walks of life, different, you know, identities and all of that. But for some reason, we just liked each other. We just it just was like a ma a match made in Alisium. I keep saying that cuz it's fun to say instead of heaven. But we we just loved each other. We were like friends. We would hang out outside of WordPress. We celebrated each other's lives and wins. You know, we would go to each other's houses and break bread together. And all the while we poured our blood, sweat, and tears into the community and into word camps. And and then even that second wave word camp Phoenix was still big was still like a 600 500 600 person event and still just incredible. >> And then also coincidentally I didn't know that was my calling was events cuz I was just that's a whole other story but I didn't have any identity. I had no idea who I was other than at the time wife and mom and and I was just didn't know it at the time but just naturally gifted in running events. And then Carol comes from an events background. >> So we were just like killing it. We were just like accidentally putting on such an amazing show. I mean something equivalent to a flagship and in the way it's ran and the level and so it just felt good. Every time we would end a word camp we were energized. Sure, we were tired and sure we needed to like rest, but like it was like, "Okay, let's do it again where, and I'm sure you've heard this, Chris, is like majority whenever somebody ends a word camp, they're dead. They're done. They're burnt out. They're just they've had it." And we weren't doing that. We were just gaining even more momentum. And so then our teams would grow. And sure, there'd be people that would come in and out, but it was always this core. And actually through all of those years at the core was Carol and then myself and then what I would say part of the second wave was also Dave Ryan and then now into that third wave which what I would call post pandemic was myself Dave Ryan and Carol and just I don't know why Chris but we fought for it. We were going through it. I mean now we're not celebrating each other's wins. We're suffering with each other. There uh was cancer, there was divorce, there was depression. I don't think any single one of us had the like glory story of the pandemic where it was so nice. We got to reset. We didn't have to work. Like we're all hustling. And >> I don't know why we just were determined to keep the community alive. >> I I maybe I do know why, but it it just was this thing that we all had this desire to do it. And in in tbh there were times when maybe one of us was like I don't got it but then the other person was there to carry you. So it was really truly a partnership. >> That idea where partnerships work, where when one is weak, the other is strong. And where there's deficiencies, someone comes up and fills the gap. And and we were virtual just for a little, I mean, basically as long as we needed to be safely, you know, but as soon as we could with whatever steps we would need to take, whether it was masks or social distancing, all that, we were in person as soon as we could. And I I think too a lot of our community we we love co-working spaces and so then we were able to use our respective co-working spaces to meet. So then that made locations easy. >> And I think honestly we we've got some extroverts. I think that helps. >> Yeah. Like I am Carol definitely is. Um, I don't know if she knows that, but really truly this idea of the actual definition of extroversion and introversion in that the way you process energy. So like when Carol and I are around others, we gain energy >> and >> and and and that's not to say because an introvert very much can be outgoing, be a blast, have fun, but they're they're little slowly draining, right? and then they need to go recharge on their own where like I'm like >> just like now this like generator who's like all pumped up and then now when I like when I come back from a word camp I need to make sure I have things scheduled because I'll I'll go into a spiral stuper because I'm like I need to be around others. part of it might be a little codependent which I don't like that part but but regardless that helps bring the energy and so now here we are and we've our community has been at one time five meetups per month they all had their own like there was like a marketing a business developer uh general WordPress there was a divvy there was a divvy meetup um there was woo there there was like a I mean we had so many and every single one of them had their own leader and so yes that's like ebbed and flowed but even right now post pandemic in this time Chris you talked about like right now we're like probably the worst ever especially in the states overall when it comes to at least community involvement and so we are down to one one meetup per month but dear god we have like fought for it we have kept it we um we we sometimes fight like brothers and sisters and amongst like our leadership team but we stay together and I think that's the key that's what makes a healthy partnership, right, is that there's not there's no promises. And I don't know where we get in this world where you're not going to feel ick or annoyance or even be upset with each other. But the people who overcome that, the people who push through that because of I'm going to say it, love, you know, like this genuine idea that we we can love each other in a capacity that's appropriate, you know, for whatever the relationship is. We've done that. Mhm. >> We've done that as a community and and I don't even say that to sort of brag. I just say that to like somehow we just like we had to we had to we fought for it and our next meetup is actually in two days and and there's been times too and and I say I'm saying a lot but it like if anyone's listening and find it helpful like we just have a meetup even if we didn't plan there's always somebody who could just off the cuff talk about WordPress and and anyone who knows how meetups work you very much attract a beginner crowd >> so like almost everybody could just go off and and talk about something beginner for WordPress. But sometimes too when we don't we'll just have a social. We'll just get together at a restaurant and just hang out with each other. And honestly at after all this I started by saying I think it's cuz we're friends. But what we do with the entire community, not even leadership team is we cultivate friendliness and warmth. And we invite after every meetup, every meetup, almost just about every meetup, we invite everyone out to come out with us and to like get break bread together, you know, or or just even just hang out together. And and I think that that helps. I think that when people come to our meetup, they feel welcomed. They feel cared for. And and and that's saying something because there are times when even I showed up to a meetup and I'm like, I am not well. I am worthless right now. And I don't mean worthless like my self worth, but meaning like to the event itself because I'm going through life >> and the rest of the team has my back, you know, so I could be off, you know, still supporting but also struggling and they've got me and it's vice versa as well. And so that was a lot. Um, and I and I feel like that segus into like our response to Word Camp us, but I'll let you we could talk about that later if that's if you got a a structure. No, I was I was I was just uh I have no structure. Never. Uh no, I was going to I was going to try to highlight I think um what Carol said, which I don't remember off the top of my head exactly, but for anyone who didn't watch uh the the re the video or wasn't there or isn't really in the WordPress community who might be uh catching this, it was something to the effect of um like uh because the Phoenix community hadn't been contacted, consulted before the decision was made. Um, and it so sort of a response to that and and uh basically saying like please, you know, we are here and we are passionate and we want to contribute and we want to be part of this and Phoenix is a special place and there are special people and let's make this really good. And I thought that that was a really good thing to close on. Um, and I also thought it was a pretty good thing to just call out, uh, because, um, there was a point in time, um, which is maybe a peak behind the curtain for, uh, for folks that are outside the WordPress community. Uh, there wasn't a point in time when cities would petition for, uh, being the host of Word Campus US. And I think basically postco that kind of that kind of stopped and cities were just just unilaterally selected um based on I don't know someone's criteria not mine. Um so like that was a little bit of a like okay this was done that's cool but also come talk to us because you know we can help. Well, and the the I don't know if it's ironic, it might be coincidence, but we were one of those cities >> twice. We applied in 2014 and in 2018 and so we applied the inaugural year and it was it Philly was chosen and we all kind of felt like, oh, that's perfect. It's where Kimp US. It's like the birthplace of, you know, America, you know, and and it was it were great events. I loved it. And and I'll never forget also asterisk. I'll never forget it was one of the two years. I think it was the second year or the first year, I don't remember, but like walking up and there's Josh. I don't know how to say his last name standing in what was the silhouette of a Pantheon just and it was someone else. It was just them two just both kind of like this just smiling and not really knowing what to do but standing in what was their booth. Mhm. Mhm. >> You know, but anyway, that total aster definitely won't have to go into that, but like they were great events and and forever we still tell these stories 10 years later. We still tell these stories. And and then the next two years it was Nashville. And then that year we we applied. It was myself, Carol, and uh someone who moved out of the out of Phoenix, but his name was um Justin Tucker. And Carol, Justin and I, oh my god, we just we just loved each other deeply. and we poured our blood, sweat, and tears in this to amazing application that was just over-the-top amazing. I mean, there's to this day, there's no doubt in my mind our our proposal was just the winner, but it wasn't chosen based on that. It was I I honestly don't technically know why, but they ended up choosing St. Louis. And so St. Louis got the one year, but then the pandemic hit. So then so yes so then post pandemic they essentially stopped the call for cities and then chose you know San Diego then DC and then Portland based on other reasons and apparently still with Phoenix. So, you know, so at first that was kind of our reaction was one just utter shock and I was lucky enough to be sitting next to Mark Zamanssky who caught my my very raw reaction on camera. Um, which just cracked me up. Um, but also we just it it's literally balancing both elation and also like like my what I said on the video. What the you know, and and a little bit like, bro, serious, like we applied and all this and now and so caught off guard, you know, um but we can't I think that's also what makes us an amazing community is we are very forgiving. We are very gracious and we hold those values. Um, but also I I I'm confident enough to say I mean we're nobody's perfect, but we I think it affects our community as a whole and I think that people know that and they see that and that people actually do get better within our community. I I see it within our own leadership team like the things that we say I see us getting better. And so to that point, we're the best team to to to blindside >> because we're like over here like, "Yeah, that kind of sucked." But but hey, but we're going to do our darnest to be a part of this and to help. >> And on a personal note, I've said this. I literally live in downtown Phoenix. Like right now, I'm in downtown Phoenix. Like all the clips of that video is like my backyard. And because I I live in a like three-story townhouse, so there I don't have a backyard. like the so like it's literally like where I go and hang out and play. So I'm like personally even compared to the rest of WordPress Phoenix. I'm like guys this is literally where I live. You guys coming it's going to be like I'm hosting you and I I'm going to I don't care what anyone says. I'm just naturally going to host because I love hosting anyway. So um so my my impression uh is that you're you uh are not necessarily a as much of a code contributor but you're definitely uh a a contributor to the overall WordPress community. um >> talk about how being involved in the community and can other types of of contributions, how how to value those things because I feel like a lot of times particularly in development communities, we get so caught up in contributor with a capital C meaning somebody who actually makes commits to core. Um, and I very strongly believe that there are many other ways to contribute to the ecosystem of a development community that are outside of contributing to the core nugget of software that is the thing around which we you know circumn like there's all sorts of other things uh out there. Um to talk about how like you how that affects you or how your sort of perception of of this uh sort of kind of Yeah. not contributing to the community in ways that don't involve code. >> Sure. One, full disclosure, I do have a core contributor badge. >> Great. I do too. I It's probably a total of five lines of code that I've committed. >> Okay. Well, mine is is not even remotely close. It's because I I helped when last update almost a year ago, there was some problems with Divvy and I was still working for Elegant Paints. I like was there as the mediator helping everyone solve it as fast as possible. So, somebody gave me props and I'm like, "Yay!" >> I I got I got props for uh in in WordPress uh 6.4 for advocating to take the font manager out of WordPress because uh of things of of the way it would would have been implemented because it wouldn't work on on uh Pantheon as as designed at first. So, like I got props for not doing a thing. >> Not nice. I'm like, however you get it. Like, I'm just cracking up at that. But, but I think I think that it goes back to what I was referring to earlier and that there is this belief in this project that supersedes code because it it really isn't about the code. It is about the community. At the end of the day, even those who contribute to the code, even the like the like dedicated core contributors, like they like why do we stay, you know, and and this has been the why in in humanity for so long, yet it never fails that we get away from it, you know? I just crack up. I just think about like the early 2000s of Starbs. I used to so I worked for Starbs for five years in the early 2000s and I called it the golden years. Like we still had to learn to be a barista. I still had to learn how to pull a shot, how to gauge the the outside temperature and humidity to make sure you get that perfect shot where now it's all a machine and you know, whatever. >> And but like everything was about being the third space, you know? They wanted Starbucks to be the third space. They wanted people to come not because of the coffee, but because of the people. And and so somehow maybe that was like the start of it for me. And then I come from I'm exeangelical now, but I come from an evangelical world. And all the church life I was a part of and communities were Like they were like peacocking and it was the who's who. And it was like >> probably more like closed software where you go to some event and you can't get in to the clicks, you know, because and figuratively and literally, you know, people be circled up with their backs, you know, so then you're not welcoming. And that was what I was used to. So I'm used to going to these church conferences and disclosure, full disclosure, not every community, church community is like that, but the one I was a part of was a very rockstar vibe and just felt like I couldn't ever get in. And here's like me who's like a very friendly person and and I like people like I'm one of those who loves humans. Like people like I don't like dogs. I mean I don't like humans. I love dogs. And I'm over here like I like dogs and I love humans, you know? And and yet I I just felt like I was never good enough in these church communities. Then I go to Word Camp San Diego 2012 and I'm like my mind is blown. just absolutely blown because so many people kept coming up to me just wanting to get to know me even at on a simple introduction level for no reason. No reason at all just because I was there and I couldn't believe it. I could not believe it. I was just flabbergasted and I was beaming. I remember leaving that just like I couldn't stop smiling. I was just like why do I feel so good? And I just wanted more. I wanted more. And I think that's honestly the effect that this open- source project has on people because one, it is a a very noble thing to fight for. The why of the project still amazes me, you know, to democratize publishing. Like it still is so the idea behind open source is is really beautiful. I mean, in every sense and and and open source doesn't just apply necessarily to code. It applies to science, you know, it applies to like >> research and this idea that we give it to everybody. >> Like I I don't it it baffles my brain how and I don't mean to take it places. Maybe I do, but like how capitalism could come in and change that. And I'm not anti- capitalism, but I am anti- what capitalism is today. And >> and it takes away. So I'm going to fight this fight for this project. And yeah, no, this is not my world. I I mean, yes, in high school I I love science and math, but I also was like this crazy performing artist. And here I am in this community and my gift is human connection and events and yet I found my place. So, and so at this is a lot to say, but essentially my contri contributions to the community have been that. Yeah. have been very much like very active in planning word camps in planning meetups in being involved with um contributor day and even some of the community summits that have happened over the past decade and that really is truly contributing >> contributing to this project and when you think about it >> I would say it's very high up there community because we we yes we wouldn't be here without the code and the code is absolutely important and I don't think anyone's taken away from that but the people who are who are working on the code together need to get along and you know and and have a safe space and feel welcome because we I think ended up ignoring feelings and I think over time society has done this but it never takes away from the fact of how important it actually is and yeah we need to subdue our feelings and yeah there's times our feelings lie to us but on on the basis of feelings is why we do anything and everything. And if I don't feel welcome, I'm not going to be part of a community. I don't care how good the code is, I'm not going to be part of it. >> So, I mean, ultimately that has really been like >> mainly where I've contributed is all over the up and down, inside and out is is basically the human contribution to WordPress. And it is truly because I believe in it. I do believe in WordPress. I do believe in owning your own data. I have this vision. I haven't figured it out yet, but how to bring it to Gen Z and help Gen Z understand that this is important to our world, especially the more and more we're giving ourselves away, especially with AI. And we need to have a place where it's ours. And the best way I know how to contribute to that is through human connection. And I don't know if that was fully answering your question, but that is how I contribute. And if that gives anyone else any inspiration or any ideas, then there it is. >> Talk about So, we're you're getting ready for Presscon 2026. Uh announcements been made. Tickets are available, I think. Uh >> pre-order or something. Yeah, tickets are available. >> Um working on uh event logistics, I'm sure. Talk about um what uh what you're doing uh in planning for 2026 uh as much as you can or as much as you're willing to. and and what people can expect to find at Pres 2026. >> Yeah. So, early bird tickets, we call them startup startup tickets are on sale right now and they last through the end of the month and we are keeping a lot of it the same in that still smaller and intimate um and still in the same place at Tempe Mission Palms. And uh we are right now very much in the speaker and sponsor uh stage of planning the conference. So we reverse engineer speakers. You know we don't we don't do a call for speakers and submit your talk. Uh most of the speakers come because we get some idea and then we hang out with somebody and we're like we want you to speak and here's let's just all brainstorm some ideas. >> And we want all of these topics to sort of fit that vibe of you know being raw and vulnerable from the stage, sharing from your heart uh also sharing from your knowledge and your intellect. uh there's only 11 sessions we think uh that could change but right now we we also reverse engineered it by planning our entire schedule first >> and then filling you know and and so it's it's a lot of strategery say that word all the time it just makes me laugh but um >> yeah we have to be real strategic with it um so so some speakers actually and it even happened last year very few have like just reached out and you know and if it fits then then it works and that did happen a couple times last year. Uh and probably this year as well. So that's like the big thing right now. Um I do have a team and actually Carol is my speaker coordinator but a lot of it is it is mostly it's me on every single team and not because of micromanaging but because it is still it's my business and I'm the one at the end of the day who has to like you know make all this happen and everyone else is still running their business businesses as well. So >> uh so yeah we're very much in that part and that one's going to take a while. It's not easy. it I would say it's even harder because there's not a lot of sessions one and every single one of those got to drop the mic >> you know and we also um I won't share too much about this part yet not that only because we're still figuring it out but I'm very open I love to share but we're we're figuring out our our our theme >> for this year we end up kind of organically coming up with a theme and last year it was >> it ended up being like let's get better together which is very if I crack up because I am an overgrown child and people hear that and it probably sounds like some '9s kid something which let's just be honest it kind of is uh but it was really needed you know in the midst of all the drama and I just really so heavy on my heart to provide a space where everyone could come and feel welcome >> um all parties in you know in the WordPress space right >> this year it's a little different not that we're not still in the middle of some of the drama or it's still playing itself out, but >> but now we're trying to understand and navigate how to move forward and get better, you know? So, yes, we were like, let's get better together. Okay, now next year it's like now how are we doing that, right? >> You know, what does that look like? So, there's some of a theme there that we're we're still figuring out. And then, yeah, and then we're we're actually uh at where Camp US, we're having lots of meetings with potential sponsors. So, we're really excited. Me and Adam Weeks, he's my sponsor guy. We are like revamping and making it even more uh valuable for our sponsors and getting really clear on how to provide value for all the sponsors. And so, I'm honestly really really excited. But those are the two biggest things right now that has taken up all of my life currently. >> Well, thank you so much Raquel for coming on uh the show. Uh, where can people find you on the internet? >> Um, I'm pretty much anywhere. Some variation of Raquel Karina. Uh, so and if people are in WordPress, I'm sure I'll pop up because I'm sure we have mutual, you know, followers and friends and all that. And, uh, email, it's you could do recelancious.com. And um I'm on almost every WordPress Slack instance and I am at Raquel, every single one of them. So it's pretty easy. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> that seems seems legit. All right. Well, thanks again uh for coming on. Thanks for everyone uh tuning in to this episode and we'll see you on the internet. [Music], Episode 9: Raquel Manriquez, Community & Code, 01k6046gwctx9ypsaa38jr9swg.