▶  seo · S5E101 · · January 12, 2026

Barry Schwartz on SEO, AI & Automation Mastery for 2026

Guest: Barry Schwartz, President of RustyBrick
Hosts: Jon Clark & Joe DeVita

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ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this kickoff to Season 5 of the Page 2 Podcast, Jon Clark and Joe speak with Barry Schwartz — the legendary technologist behind RustyBrick and the prolific voice of Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Land. With nearly 50,000 posts under his belt and decades of SEO insights, Barry reveals how he’s built an unstoppable publishing machine while running a thriving custom software business. From automating billing at RustyBrick to maintaining an obsessive publishing schedule that starts at 5 AM, Barry shares how efficiency and passion drive everything he does. Learn how he’s adapted to AI tools like Claude and Midjourney, his take on Google’s AI overviews, why automation doesn’t threaten jobs, and how he views trust, content longevity, and the future of search.

In This Episode

  • Barry’s dual role as CEO of RustyBrick and SEO journalist
  • How he manages 50,000 posts without SEO services
  • Why automation empowers teams (not replaces them)
  • His take on AI’s role in software and content creation
  • Barry’s strict 5AM productivity routine & batching strategy
  • Using Claude & Midjourney in real-world tech workflows
  • Thoughts on AI overviews, content syndication, & traffic impact
  • Why Barry won’t remove old SEO posts (archival value matters)
  • The right way to become a speaker at SEO conferences
  • The role of Feedly, social media scheduling, and A/B testing
  • His honest view on LLM content usage and trust in search

This episode is a goldmine for marketers, SEOs, and technologists navigating the shifting landscape of AI, automation, and publishing in 2026.

Connect with Barry Schwartz

Barry on Linkedin
Barry on Youtube
Barry on X

Chapters

  • 0:00

    Welcome to Season Five

  • 1:12

    Barry Schwartz’s Journey in SEO and Software

  • 3:36

    Dividing Responsibilities at Rusty Brick

  • 5:33

    The Role of Automation in Business Efficiency

  • 6:27

    Content Creation and Syndication Strategies

  • 9:13

    Time Management and Daily Routines

  • 11:12

    The Impact of AI on Software Development

  • 16:34

    Navigating the AI Landscape in Web Development

  • 20:40

    Diversifying Traffic Sources

  • 22:19

    Social Media Strategies for Content Distribution

  • 26:14

    Managing Legacy Content and Archives

  • 29:22

    LLMs and Content Usage Rights

  • 31:27

    Community Guidelines and Comment Moderation

  • 33:21

    Trust and EAT in the Age of AI

  • 37:10

    Predictions for the Future of SEO

  • 42:20

    Engaging New Voices in the SEO Community

Resources mentioned