
HTML All The Things - Web Development, Web Design, Small Business
The adventures of Matt Lawrence and Mike Karan through the world of web development, web design, and small business management. As web development agency owners for the better part of a decade, they’ve worked with all sorts of technologies, through the rise of responsive web design, the revolution of serverless computing, and the popularity gain of many no-code tools for small business owners. They commonly discuss foundational web development technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript - including popular frameworks and tools such as Tailwind CSS, Svelte, WordPress, Vue, and more.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2025 • 40min
Why Prisma Is Still the Best ORM | w/ William Madden
In this episode of HTML All The Things, Mike chats with William Madden, Developer Advocate at Prisma, to uncover what makes modern ORMs essential in today's development workflows. They break down what an ORM is, why developers should care, and how Prisma sets itself apart in the crowded ORM space. William also dives into the technical challenges of building an ORM, the reasoning behind Prisma’s shift from Rust binaries to TypeScript, and what’s on the horizon for the platform. Whether you’re deep in backend development or just getting started with databases, this episode offers insights you won’t want to miss.
Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-prisma-is-still-the-best-orm-w-william-madden
Try out Prisma: https://www.prisma.io/docs/getting-started
Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

May 6, 2025 • 46min
Work On Your Business, Not Just In It
As developers and business owners, it’s easy to get stuck in the daily grind — coding, responding to emails, handling support — and forget to actually build the business. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into what it really means to work on your business instead of just in it. The guys explore strategies to avoid becoming your own overworked employee, how to delegate or automate low-leverage tasks, and the mindset shifts that help you move from operator to true owner. Inspiration for this episode came from the guys' own experience regarding their business for the past few years, where the workload from clients has overwhelmed their day-to-day, leaving strategy and business development completely stagnant.
Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/work-on-your-business-not-just-in-it
Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

May 1, 2025 • 1h 17min
Why Flip Phones Still Matter in 2025 | w/ Tom Barrasso
In this episode, Matt sits down with Tom Barrasso from Cloud Phone to explore why flip phones are still relevant in 2025. They discuss the rise of digital detox, who’s using feature phones today, and how developers can still build apps for low-spec devices. From KaiOS and Cloud Phone to nostalgia and screen-time reduction—this is a deep dive into the flip phone revival and the tech powering it.
Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/why-flip-phones-still-matter-in-2025-w-tom-barrasso
Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Apr 29, 2025 • 55min
What Junior Web Developers Need to Know About DevOps
Even if you’re not "doing DevOps," understanding it can seriously level up your development career. In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into why every web developer should care about DevOps practices, even at a basic level. They explore how deployment pipelines work, how Git supports safe code changes, and how you can prevent and fix production issues faster. You'll hear real-world examples showing how small habits—like writing good commit messages, checking build logs, and knowing when to rollback—can make you a better teammate and a more reliable developer. Whether you're working with GitHub Actions, Vercel, Jenkins, or another CI/CD system, this episode will help you work smarter, troubleshoot faster, and stay calm under pressure.
Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-junior-web-developers-need-to-know-about-devops
Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=htmlallthethings) for a 20% discount!! Full details in show notes.

Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 14min
The Hype Trap: Why Cutting Edge Isn’t Always the Best Choice
In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the temptation to always chase the latest and greatest in tech—whether it's new frameworks, tools, or workflows that dominate developer discourse. While the buzz can be exciting, blindly adopting bleeding-edge technology can lead to serious downsides like poor documentation, tiny communities, and unstable tools. The guys discuss how these risks affect both personal and client projects, when it's actually worth going cutting-edge, and why it's perfectly okay (and often smarter) to use tried-and-true tech. If you've ever felt FOMO seeing everyone jump to the next hot thing, this one's for you.
Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/the-hype-trap-why-cutting-edge-isnt-always-the-best-choice
20% off Scrimba with our affiliate link. Full details in the show notes.

Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 23min
Startups vs Big Tech for Web Developers
The hosts dive into the promising role of AI in launching startups, suggesting it could empower developers beyond big tech. They compare the fast-paced, innovative culture of startups with the structured environment of large tech firms. Personal anecdotes highlight how each setting affects career growth and job security. Exploring the dynamics of bureaucracy in big corporations versus the agility of startups reveals the balance of reliability and adaptability needed in tech. Plus, insights into internal rivalries at Microsoft add an entertaining twist!

Apr 8, 2025 • 1h 6min
The Full Stack of a Website: What Clients Often Overlook
Exploring beyond the surface, the discussion reveals the complexities of web development that clients often overlook. Key topics include the importance of content management systems, performance optimization, and SEO strategies. The hosts emphasize how different website types require tailored approaches and thoughtful planning. They also delve into the significance of hosting choices for scalability and security, highlighting that a website is much more than its visible design. Regular maintenance and adapting to evolving content needs are essential for long-term success.

Apr 3, 2025 • 35min
Should Kids Learn to Code? With Jonathan Schor
Jonathan Schor, Founder and CEO of CodeMonkey, reveals why coding might be a must-have skill for kids in our tech-savvy world. He dives into the fun of gamifying coding education, explaining how it captivates young minds. The conversation touches on integrating coding in school curriculums and addresses anxieties around AI's influence on future coding jobs. Schor shares inspiring insights about the future of coding education and how CodeMonkey is pioneering new learning paths for children in a digital age.

Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 5min
Top 5 Code Editors for Web Developers
Discover the top five code editors favored by web developers, from the versatile Visual Studio Code to the sleek newcomer Zed. Explore the evolution of these tools, how AI is reshaping development roles, and amusing anecdotes about Storage Wars Canada and cat-themed resumes. Dive into the quirks of editor themes and the balance between functionality and aesthetics. There's a blend of humor and insight on productivity, customization, and the future of coding in an AI-driven world, making it a must-listen for developers!

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 17min
My Real-World SEO Checklist for New Websites
Learn the ins and outs of SEO essentials with a real-world checklist for launching websites. Discover the significance of crafting effective SEO titles and meta descriptions to improve visibility. Uncover the challenges and guidelines for optimizing OpenGraph images to enhance branding on social media. Explore the balance between page performance and SEO priorities, and the impact of redirects on site structure. Delve into the necessity of HTTPS for boosting search engine visibility and maintaining a secure online presence.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.