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The SDM Show

Rob Cairns

The SDM Show discusses all things Business, Marketing and WordPress. This show was formerly known as The SDM Business, Marketing and WordPress Show.

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  • 24 episodes
  • Avg 32 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • #690
    Thursday · 38 min

    Episodes 690 Side Projects With Marcus Burnette

    In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with good friend Marcus Burnett to dive deep into Marcus’s latest side projects, the realities of building for the WordPress ecosystem, and where WordPress core is headed next. Marcus shares the latest updates to The WP World, including real-time AI-powered multilingual messaging and a revamped job board designed to connect community members with new career opportunities. The conversation also explores Well Played WP, Marcus’s unified plugin library model that solves plugin licensing headaches, the build-vs-buy dilemma facing developers in the era of AI, and a candid debate on what truly belongs in WordPress core versus feature plugins.

  • #689
    September 8 · 7 min

    Episode 689 Dealing With Tough Times With Rob Cairns

    In this candid and personal solo episode of The SDM Show, Rob Cairns opens up about dealing with grief, personal stress, and overwhelming weeks as an entrepreneur. Reflecting on a recent productive discussion with Mike Vardy about the human side of productivity, Rob explores why business owners need to grant themselves permission to hit pause, reschedule commitments, and prioritize their mental well-being when life happens. From managing heavy family moments to enjoying downtime over the long weekend, this episode serves as a grounded reminder that your humanity must always come before the numbers.

  • #688
    September 4 · 37 min

    Episode 688 All About About Pages With Todd Jones

    In this episode, Rob Cairns is joined by monthly co-host Todd Jones to break down how the humble website "About Page" has transformed over the last decade. Once viewed as an afterthought or filler content, the About page has evolved into one of the most critical digital assets for search visibility, brand narrative, and entity-based optimization. Rob and Todd explore how Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and AI discovery tools treat your About page as a foundational source of record. They also discuss why personal storytelling builds compound trust, how to leverage personal domains, and why high-performing businesses prioritize long-term brand equity over short-term vanity metrics.

  • #686
    August 30 · 46 min

    Episode 687 Marketing AMA With Bridget Willard

    In this marketing AMA episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with marketing strategist and author Bridget Willard. They dive into Bridget’s journey into digital marketing, the persistent disconnect between IT and marketing departments, why SaaS and WordPress founders struggle with self-promotion, and how authentic, consistent communication stands out against AI noise.

  • #685
    August 24 · 6 min

    Episode 685 Explaining 2FA By Rob Cairns

    In this episode of The SDM Show, Rob Cairns breaks down the critical importance of Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) across all digital platforms. Rob explains how 2FA works as a vital secondary defense against phishing and credential theft, why securing your primary email account should be your top priority, and how implementing strict authentication practices protects websites and businesses from compromise.

  • #684
    August 23 · 53 min

    Episode 684 Super-Architect With Beau Dromiack

    In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with architect, educator, and author Beau Dromiack (The Craft Advantage, Super-Architect). Beau shares his journey from high school drafting to leading complex architectural projects and teaching graduate students at Arizona State University. Together, they dive deep into the evolving landscape of architecture, exploring why the loss of traditional craft eroded professional influence, how architects must adapt to the rise of AI, and why lifelong learning, mentorship, and high-performing teams are critical to the future of the built environment.

  • #679
    August 21 · 33 min

    Episode 683 Agency AMA With Ryan Waterbury

    In this special "Agency Chat" AMA edition of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with recurring co-host Ryan Waterbury for an engaging, rapid-fire Q&A session. They cover Ryan's journey from print broker to agency owner, the evolution of CMS platforms and web applications, practical hosting and site management strategies, and a wide variety of rapid-fire tech, lifestyle, and business choices.

  • #682
    August 21 · 5 min

    Episode 682 Things You Forget To Backup With Rob Cairns

    In this episode of The SDM Show, Rob Cairns looks beyond standard website security and backups to address the often-overlooked digital assets critical to running a business. From local workstation files and cloud sync misconceptions to SaaS platforms, email lists, and social media contacts, Rob explains what you need to protect and why having a comprehensive business continuity plan is non-negotiable.

  • #678
    August 14 · 57 min

    Episode 681 Benefits of a Business Coach With Jason Rosado

    In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with business coach and multi-certified energy healing master Jason Rosado. Coming to us from Chicago, Jason dives into why every entrepreneur needs a business coach, the art of focusing on your passion areas, and how managing your internal mindset is just as critical as managing your daily calendar.Episode 681 Benefits of a Business Coach

  • #678
    August 12 · 34 min

    Episode 680 SEO AMA With Warren Laine-Naida

    In this episode, Rob Cairns dives into the critical importance of website security in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape. With AI-driven cyber threats on the rise, simply having a website without proper security management is no longer viable for businesses. Rob breaks down recent industry vulnerability trends, highlights real-world examples, and makes a strong case for why every website owner needs a dedicated security professional in their corner.

  • #679
    August 10 · 7 min

    Epispde 679 Why You Need a Website Security Pro With Rob Cairns

    In this episode, Rob Cairns dives into the critical importance of website security in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape. With AI-driven cyber threats on the rise, simply having a website without proper security management is no longer viable for businesses. Rob breaks down recent industry vulnerability trends, highlights real-world examples, and makes a strong case for why every website owner needs a dedicated security professional in their corner.

  • #678
    August 10 · 50 min

    Episode 678 Moneyball With Bridget Willard

    Host Rob Cairns is joined by recurring co-host Bridget Willard for a marketing segment exploring the concept of "Moneyball" in business and digital strategy. They break down how to look past vanity metrics, focus on high-impact performance indicators, and set up effective customer engagement tactics.

  • August 4 · 7 min

    Episode 677 How We Manage Client Backups And Updates With Rob Cairns

    In this solo episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns discusses the critical importance of maintaining daily backups and regular updates for your WordPress website. He highlights how AI-driven security threats are actively discovering old vulnerabilities and explains why proper website maintenance is essential to protecting your online business reputation, e-commerce revenue, and digital presence.

  • #676
    July 31 · 34 min

    Episode 676 Infinite Uploads With Blake Whittle

    In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns welcomes back Blake Whittle to discuss his acquisition of Infinite Uploads, a powerful WordPress plugin designed to streamline and improve media library management. Blake shares his journey into plugin acquisition, the importance of building trust during business transitions, and how Infinite Uploads helps everyday WordPress users offload media, speed up sites, and simplify storage without technical complexity.

  • #675
    July 28 · 44 min

    Episode 675 Copywriting with Todd Jones AMA

    In this episode of The SDM Show, Rob Cairns sits down with copywriter Todd Jones for an insightful Ask Me Anything (AMA) session focused on copywriting, content creation, and the evolving role of AI in writing. Todd shares practical advice for business owners looking to clarify their message, build trust with their audience, and leverage modern tools without losing their unique voice.

  • #674
    July 25 · 33 min

    Episode 674 Why I Built My Own Plugins With Ryan Waterbury

    In this edition of Agency Chat, host Rob Cairns is joined by Ryan Waterbury (One Dog Solutions) to discuss the real-world realities of WordPress security, performance, and why Ryan decided to build custom plugins for his agency. They dive into the overhead of heavy security plugins, moving protection to the server level, implementing Google Fraud Defense, and why daily web care maintenance is no longer optional.

  • July 21 · 49 min

    Episode 673 Navigating Marketing and Building Brand Trust in 2026 with Adam McLaughlin

    In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns is joined by guest Adam McLaughlin to dive deep into modern marketing, customer experience, and the core elements that build brand trust. Together, they discuss why consistency is the foundation of any great brand, the true definition of authenticity, and why businesses must look beyond basic service delivery to create memorable customer experiences.

  • #672
    July 17 · 6 min

    Episode 672 This Weekend We Say a Final Goodbye To My Brother Gord Cairns

    In this brief and deeply personal episode, Rob Cairns opens up about a major life event that has kept him distracted over the last couple of months. While ensuring all of his digital marketing and consulting clients remained fully supported and up and running, Rob and his family have been navigating the profound loss of his brother, Gord, who passed away at the end of May. Rob shares his heartfelt reflections on his brother's life, the challenge of losing him too soon, and expresses immense gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support.

  • #669
    July 12 · 42 min

    Episode 671 How to Supercharge Your Marketing With AI Featuring Bryan Fikes

    In this episode, Rob Cairns sits down with Bryan Fikes, the mastermind behind Bonsai Marketing, a growth engine specialized in local service businesses. Bryan shares his personal journey through the extreme highs and lows of entrepreneurship, his decision to embrace sobriety, and how it shifted his life perspective. The conversation dives deep into the evolution of AI, practical ways it reshapes agencies and businesses, and navigating security concerns. Plus, don't miss an exclusive live appearance by Bryan's self-developed AI sidekick, Body!

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes