Every road, it seems, runs through a part of the San Tan Valley in Arizona. Consider the facts:
- In January 2011, Brad Williams and Dre Armeda were on stage at WordCamp Phoenix to talk security – their first in-person meeting.
- The first time the phrase DRAD was ever used to represent the pair was at the SanTan brewery at Pressnomics in the fall of 2012.
- The first time I caught wind that a new show might arise was just a few weekends ago at WordCamp Phoenix 2013 (you guessed it, at the SanTan).
When it was first reported that Brad and Dre were collaborating I knew that I was, in fact, meeting with them early that same day and would have an inside look as to what was going down.
Here’s the skinny folks:
Brad & Dre
Brad Williams and Dre Armeda are known for their own companies – WebDev Studios and Sucuri, respectively. But that’s not all they’re known for. The two were two-thirds of the 2012 smash video and podcast WP Late Night. Along with Ryan Imel (of WPCandy), the three would get online for an hour and talk news, tips and drinks while tons of folks would listen in live. Two thousand more would download each show and take it with them.
But in early January they announced WP Late Night was ending. With everything going on for each of them, and time and communication issues popping up, it seemed best. The fourth quarter of 2012 had been irregular and pointed to the fact that it might be time to end the show.
The Creation of the Name
The idea of a show anchored by just the two of them, which had started as early as 2011 at WordCamp San Francisco, resurfaced and soon they were looking for a name. They looked at a bunch until someone on facebook gave them the idea of the DradCast.
They toyed with several names but kept circling back to name that was large enough to grow with them and the topics they love. Of course WordPress will be the main content, but without a WP in the title, they have the freedom to grow this thing as big as they can.
The Show
As we talked about their ideas for the show, Brad and Dre were excited to say it would encompass much of what had made WP Late Night a success:
- WP News every week
- A “What you sippin on?” segment
- Bar Tricks (their tips & tricks segment)
- An hour show as both a video and podcast
At the same time, there are some things they’re doing differently. They liken the new show to Saturday Night Live, where every week there’s a different host. And the host kicks off the show. In fact both Dre and Brad said several times, “It’s their show.” The two will just act as the supporting cast, being themselves.
Want to Host a Show?
No problem, their site (DradCast) – which launches on Monday – will have places for you to submit a request to be a host. And they’re going to be looking for sponsors too – not just another anchor sponsor to join Event Esspresso, but also a few smaller ones. Their goal? Not to generate a ton of income, but to give smaller and newer startups in the community a chance to get their name out there.
So head to their site on Monday – and admire the site that was hand designed by Dre (with some help from Lisa Sabin-Wilson) and developed by Brad. It’s their own joint, so why wouldn’t they code it up themselves? But that beautiful logo? That’s the work of Robert Nienhuis, an Orange County WordPress designer.
It’s About to Launch!
While I can’t guarantee it, I’m hoping some of the beers they’ve enjoyed at the SanTan Brewery make a return on the show – bringing it some of the magic of that special place. But either way, they’ll bring enough magic to make the show a success, I’m sure of that.
Launch is imminent, but you don’t have to worry about missing out. Their site has a spot where you can register and stay up to date with everything these two powerhouses are bringing – live each week!
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