Best Mike Karan Podcasts (2025)

1
Are Coding Basics Still Relevant in the Age of AI? 1:01:22

5h ago1:01:22

1:01:22

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore whether learning the fundamentals of coding is still necessary in 2025, now that powerful AI tools can write, refactor, and explain code in seconds. Do new developers still need to understand things like variables, loops, and logic, or can they jump straight into building projects with AI assistance? We talk a…

1
531: Composer John Murphy On The Music Of Superman 42:52

2d ago42:52

42:52

Hello again, friends, and welcome to the second part of our Superman double bill with the composers that collaborated on James Gunn's movie. First up was David Fleming, in an episode that's already available for your listening pleasure. Now it's the turn of John Murphy, who has worked with James on a number of projects, but has a compiled a rich bo…

1
530: David Fleming On The Music Of Superman & The Last Of Us 37:43

6h ago37:43

37:43

CONTAINS BIG SPOILER ABOUT LAST OF US!!! We have a double header of you to start your week, as both composers who worked on James Gunn's Superman join me to discuss their collaboration on the film. We'll release our chat with John Murphy shortly, but first it's the turn of David Fleming, who was previously a guest on this show to talk about his con…

1
Web News: Is This the End for Junior Developers? 23:38

4d ago23:38

23:38

AI tools are getting faster, cheaper, and—some say—good enough to replace junior developers. In this episode of Web News, we dive into the recent X discussion between Brian Coords, Matt Mullenweg, and others about whether AI agents could do junior dev work for just $12k–$15k a year. Are junior developers truly cooked? Could the career path for new …

1
Boosting Developer Productivity with AI Without Losing Your Edge 1:03:19

9d ago1:03:19

1:03:19

In this episode, Mike explores his growing dependence on AI tools like Cursor and ChatGPT to handle everyday coding tasks. From code generation and DevOps to security reviews and task planning, AI is integrated into nearly every part of his workflow. But as these tools take over more responsibilities, Mike asks the hard questions: Am I losing my ed…

1
529: Matt Shakman On The Music Of Fantastic Four 39:54

8d ago39:54

39:54

Our latest guest on Soundtracking is Matt Shakman, director of the latest adventure in the MCU - The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn as the titular team, it's set in the 1960s of a retro-futuristic world where the Fantastic Four must protect against the planet consuming cosmic b…

1
Taking On Too Much Responsibility as a Web Developer 54:55

16d ago54:55

54:55

As web developers, we often wear a lot of hats — designer, developer, project manager, client liaison, support desk, and more. But where’s the line between taking initiative and taking on too much? In this episode, Matt and Mike dig into the slippery slope of overcommitting in web development — whether it’s a single project that’s way too big or an…

1
527: Lena Dunham & Luis Felber On The Music Of Too Much 32:12

16d ago32:12

32:12

Our latest guests on Soundtracking are wife and husband Lena Dunham and Luis Felber - aka musician Attawalpa - who join us to discuss the Netflix TV show they co-created, Too Much. Starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe, it tells the story of Jessica, a New Yorker who starts a new life in London after a disastrous breakup, only to meet musician Fel…

1
526: Behind the Scenes with the Artisans of F1® The Movie (Live at the Apple Store) 46:05

19d ago46:05

46:05

We have another bonus episode of Soundtracking for you, recorded in front of an audience at Apple Regent Street (London). The subject of this genuinely fascinating conversation is all about the recent release of F1® The Movie, and features key members of the production team. Edith is joined by cinematographer Claudio Miranda, editor Stephen Mirrion…

1
Web News: Is It Ever Okay to Fire a Client? 18:04

22d ago18:04

18:04

We all know what it’s like to be fired—but what about firing a client? In this week’s Web News, Matt and Mike explore what happens when a freelance relationship goes sour. Is it ever okay to walk away from a paying client? What if they’re disruptive, draining your time, or you’ve simply lost interest in their project? They break down when it’s appr…

1
We Should Care More About Web App Security 1:03:51

23d ago1:03:51

1:03:51

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive deep into web app security by walking through a simple SaaS note-taking app and breaking down vulnerabilities at each layer—from frontend and backend to auth and hosting. With 16 billion credentials recently leaked and AI increasing attack complexity, even indie devs need to lock things down. They cover common se…

1
525: James Gunn On The Music Of Superman 30:32

23d ago30:32

30:32

Welcome James Gunn, writer and director of the latest iteration of Superman. Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnehan, Nicholas Hoult and James's dog, it sees billionaire Lex Luther attempt to undermine our hero by turning public opinion against him. James is on cracking form, and is particularly passionate about his music, even writing a song fo…

1
Web News: Trying New Things on Customer Sites 17:46

29d ago17:46

17:46

Sometimes a customer asks you to do something that you’ve never done before - when it’s mission critical this can be nerve wracking. We’ve all Googled and researched our way to learning new skills before, however, putting them to use and into production straight away seems daunting. - What’s your policy when it comes to implementing a critical feat…

1
Write Less, Rank More: My Fill-in-the-Blank SEO Method 1:08:46

30d ago1:08:46

1:08:46

In this episode, Matt shares his “Write for Google” process — a strategic, keyword-first approach to planning SEO-friendly content. He walks through how he researches keywords, analyzes top-ranking articles, and builds heading structures that make writing feel like filling in the blanks. Matt also explains how he uses AI as a helpful second set of …

1
524: Alexandre Desplat On The Music Of Jurassic Park Rebirth 25:47

1M ago25:47

25:47

We're back with the second of our Jurassic Park Rebirth specials to kick off your week. We released Edith's chat with director Gareth Edwards a little earlier. Now it's the turn of his composer Alexandre Desplat, who of course had to contend with the legacy of all the wonderful music associated with the franchise, not least John Williams's iconic t…

1
523: Gareth Edwards on The Music Of Jurassic World Rebirth 30:19

1M ago30:19

30:19

It's another two show week here on Soundtracking, as first director Gareth Edwards and then composer Alexandre Desplat join us to discuss their work on Jurassic World: Rebirth. In this first of the interviews, Gareth gives us the inside line on how he got the gig, cast members peeing in mangrove swamps, and Alexandre's last ditch efforts to land th…

1
Why Developer Experience Matters 57:13

1M ago57:13

57:13

In this episode, Matt and Mike dive into developer experience (DX) — what it is, why it matters, and how improving it can make you a better developer. They share personal stories of frustrating build processes, game-changing tools, and scripting away pain points. Whether it's speeding up deployments, eliminating unnecessary rebuilds, or embracing p…

1
522: Composer Antonio Sanchez On The Music Of The Studio & Birdman 45:46

1M ago45:46

45:46

King Of The Drums, Antonio Sanchez, joins us to discuss his work on Apple TV+ hit, The Studio, and his seminal, groundbreaking score for Birdman. He is an absolute delight, and fascinating in his exploration of his process.By Edith Bowman

1
Leveling Up Your Dev Skills When You’re Not a Beginner (But Feel Like One) 45:43

1M ago45:43

45:43

Most coding guides are built for beginners—but what if you're already a working developer? In this episode, Matt shares his personal struggle with upgrading his coding skills after years of using no-code and low-code tools to deliver client sites. From outdated certifications to modern dev stacks, we explore how "situational developers" can navigat…

1
521: 28 Years Later Special (Part II): G & Kayus From Young Fathers 30:23

1M ago30:23

30:23

In the second interview marking the release of 28 Years Later, G & Kayus from Young Fathers join Edith to discuss the score for the film (miss you Alloyssious). We've already heard from director Danny Boyle, so be sure to check that interview out if you haven't already. Danny is, as ever, in cracking form.…

1
519: 28 Years Later Special (Part I): Danny Boyle [CONTAINS SPOLIERS] 35:50

1M ago35:50

35:50

We've got two hits of Soundtracking for you to start your week, as we bring you a double-bill to celebrate the release of 28 Years Later. In our first episode, director Danny Boyle joins us to discuss the third film in the series, which stars Jodie Comer, Ralph Feinnes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Erin Kellyman and Alfie Williams. 28 Years Later is score…

1
517: Cecile Tournesac, Alfie Godfrey & Max Aruj On the Music Of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (CONTAINS SPOILERS) 48:11

2M ago48:11

48:11

It's bonus time once more for you on here Soundtracking, as music supervisor / producer / editor Cecile Tournesac & composers Alfie Godfrey and Max Aruj join us to discuss their formidable contribution to Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. We've spoken to director Christopher McQuarrie on the podcast, who couldn't have been more complimentary…

1
What Happens When a Real Developer Starts Vibe Coding? 56:56

2M ago56:56

56:56

What happens when a real developer uses AI to build something in a language and toolset they’ve never touched before? In this episode, Matt shares the story of how he created a free, custom-coded Google News sitemap generator using Node.js, GitHub Actions, and the Webflow API—with help from AI. The catch? He had no prior experience with any of thos…

1
516: Neil Forsyth On The Music Of The Gold 45:58

2M ago45:58

45:58

Our latest episode of Soundracking is with Neil Forsyth, writer of the hit BBC show The Gold - both seasons of which are now available to watch in full on the BBC iPlayer. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Spencer, Sean Harris, Jack Lowden and Tom Cullen and is a dramatisation of events around the Brink's-Mat robbery in 1983.…

1
515: John Maclean & Jack Lowdon Talk Tornado (Live Everyman Soundtracking Film Club - CONTAINS SPOILERS) 46:42

2M ago46:42

46:42

Our latest guests on Soundtracking are writer-director John Maclean and actor Jack Lowden - who joined me for our film club in partnership with Everyman following a screening of John's new film, Tornado. Starring Jack, Japanese actor Koki, Tim Roth and Takehiro Hira, it tells the story of Tornado - who vows to seek vengeance when her father's puppe…

1
Week in the Life of a Developer at a Tech Startup 57:39

2M ago57:39

57:39

Ever wonder what a developer really does at a tech startup? In this episode, we break down a full week—from scattered meetings and deep work to deployments, sprint planning, and handling the chaos of outages and DDoS attacks. Get a behind-the-scenes look at balancing coding, team support, and product planning in a fast-moving environment. Show Note…

1
514: Twin Peaks Special With Music Editor Lori Eschler & Longtime David Lynch Collaborator Dean Hurley 48:47

2M ago48:47

48:47

We are taking a deep dive into the world of Twin Peaks today with music editor Lori Eschler - who worked on the original series - and longtime David Lynch collaborator Dean Hurley, who did all kinds of work with him on numerous projects. It's an illuminating chat, shedding bright light on David's process and reminding us all what a seminal show it …

1
Turborepo Changed How I Use Monorepos | w/ Anthony Shew 40:15

2M ago40:15

40:15

In this episode, Mike sits down with Anthony Shew from Turborepo to talk all things monorepos. They explore the pros and cons of monorepos versus traditional multi-repo setups, and how Turborepo compares to other tools like pnpm workspaces and Nx. Anthony shares tips on getting the most out of your monorepo, common pitfalls to avoid, and where mono…

1
Web News: Do You Listen to Music While You Code? 26:29

2M ago26:29

26:29

In this edition of Web News, we dive into our personal coding companions — from chill playlists and brain-boosting podcasts to TV shows that keep us motivated (or distracted 😅). Whether you're team lo-fi, true crime, or total silence, we've got takes. Plus, we explore how background content affects productivity and creativity. Show Notes: https://w…

1
Should You Go Solo? Transitioning from Developer to Entrepreneur 41:16

2M ago41:16

41:16

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore what it takes to transition from being a developer employee to becoming a tech founder or business owner. They break down how your personal situation—time, money, dependents, and hobbies—can impact your readiness to make the leap. This isn't just about technical skill. You’ll need to think strategically, handl…

1
513: Tom Basden & Tim Key On The Ballad Of Wallis Island 44:42

2M ago44:42

44:42

Our latest guests on Soundtracking are Tom Basden and Tim Key, writers and co-stars of The Ballad Of Wallis Island. Also starring Carey Mulligan, it tells the story of ex-lovers and former bandmates, who reunite for a private gig at the island home of an eccentric millionaire.By Edith Bowman

1
512: Shannon Murphy On The Music Of Dying For Sex 35:42

2M ago35:42

35:42

Our latest guest on Soundtracking is Shannon Murphy, director of the wonderful feature film Babyteeth, and TV shows like Killing Eve and Dope Girls to name but a few. Shannon joins us to discuss Dying For Sex, which you can watch now on Disney+. Based on a true story, Dying For Sex stars Michelle Williams as Molly, a woman diagnosed with terminal c…

1
Web News: Drowning in Notifications? Minimal Phones Might Save You 26:46

2M ago26:46

26:46

Are you constantly bombarded by notifications? In this episode of Web News, Matt and Mike dive into the growing problem of digital overwhelm — from buzzing phones to nonstop pings — and how minimal phones might be the answer. We explore distraction-free devices like the Minimal Phone and Light Phone 3, how they work, and whether switching to one co…

1
What The 80/20 Rule Really Means For Web Developers 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

In this episode, Matt and Mike explore the 80/20 rule and how developers can use it to boost productivity, reduce burnout, and prioritize what matters—plus how AI is reshaping the rule itself. Show Notes: https://www.htmlallthethings.com/podcasts/what-the-80-20-rule-really-means-for-web-developers Use our affiliate link (https://scrimba.com/?via=ht…

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