Episode Summary:
We're heading back to the basement — (sort of). In this episode, Matt catches up with Mike Wilkerson, the OG guest of Podcast Awesome, to unveil the biggest update yet to the official Font Awesome WordPress plugin. From block editor visual support to full-on SVG injection wizardry (yes, that’s a thing), this version is all about giving developers and designers more power, more precision, and fewer plugin conflicts.
Whether you’re a WordPress purist or a page builder rebel, you’ll walk away knowing how to get your icons looking sharp, staying pro, and loading like a dream.
🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:
- 🔌 The origin story of the plugin (and the furnace that helped launch it)
- 🧱 Full block editor visual editing support (finally WYSIWYG!)
- 🛠️ SVG injection + self-hosting benefits
- 🛡️ How to squash plugin conflicts like a pro
- 🔍 Page builder struggles—and what might be coming next
- 🤝 How to send feedback to actual humans™ at Font Awesome
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Basement beginnings & podcast nostalgia
02:00 – WordPress + Font Awesome: how widespread is it?
04:00 – Why Version 5 is a game-changer
06:00 – How inline SVGs improve performance and reduce conflict
08:00 – Self-hosting benefits & advanced options
10:00 – When to load (or not load) your kit
12:00 – Compatibility tips for older content
14:00 – What’s next for FA + WordPress
16:00 – How to give feedback to actual humans™
🔗 Links & Resources:
- Official Font Awesome WordPress Plugin
- Using Kits with WordPress
- Conflict Detection & Troubleshooting
- Email us: hello@fontawesome.com
Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com