Website 101 Podcast

Sean Smith, Mike Mella, & Amanda Lutz

The Website 101 Podcast offers advice on how to build and manage websites. Whether you’re a web developer, or someone who manages your organization’s website, learn how to do your job better. Hosted by Sean Smith, Amanda Lutz, and Mike Mella, who each have 15+ years of experience in the industry.

  1. Bots, Bingo, and "Why We Can't Have Nice Things"

    1d ago

    Bots, Bingo, and "Why We Can't Have Nice Things"

    Amanda and Mike discuss the impact of bot traffic on their websites, share strategies to stop bot registrations, and explain how to identify bot traffic. OverviewDiscuss strategies to prevent bot registrations and traffic on websites. Discussion includes various security measures like recaptcha, honeypot fields, rate limiting, time-based submission checks, and email verification before access. Key TopicsDiscussion of bot registrations and traffic on websites[01:08] Amanda discusses her website, Sidewalk Bingo, being targeted by bots causing registration issues[06:34] Mike asks questions about the activation process for Sidewalk Bingo accounts to better understand the problem[15:41] Claude AI suggestions for preventing bot registrations are discussed, including recaptcha, honeypot fields, rate limiting, time-based submission checks, and email verification before accessKey TakeawaysRecaptcha is a popular method for preventing bots but has its drawbacksHoneypot fields can be an effective strategy against unsophisticated botsRate limiting attempts per IP address can help limit bot trafficTime-based submission checks can help detect bot activity based on quick form submissionsEmail verification before access can help prevent bot registrations and reduce spam email issuesLinks & Resourcessidewalkbingo.com — Amanda's website discussed in the podcastClaude AI — mentioned as a source for website security strategies Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    28 min
  2. AI Can Talk, But Does It Understand?

    May 27

    AI Can Talk, But Does It Understand?

    Discussion about the use of AI in creating generic art, the limits of AI creativity, and a new feature in HTML canvas that allows for putting HTML inside a canvas element. Key TopicsAI limitations and predictive nature ([01:35 - 04:03])The analogy of AI as a toddler learning language ([04:03 - 06:14])AI being used in place of humans in various scenarios ([06:01 - 07:36])HTML canvas and its new capabilities ([08:13 - 15:27])Key TakeawaysAI is not creative, but predictive. It can't process new thoughts or ideas.The new HTML canvas feature allows for putting HTML inside a canvas element, potentially opening up possibilities for complex animations and interactions.The new feature may face challenges with accessibility and SEO.Links & ResourcesChatGPT — Mentioned in the transcriptGoogle Gemini — Mentioned in the transcript (only if used in a project) Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    29 min
  3. When Was The Last Time You Built A Site Without A CMS?

    Apr 21

    When Was The Last Time You Built A Site Without A CMS?

    From websites built without a CMS to QR codes on work vans and AI-generated novels, we cover a mix of current web and tech topics. Discussion on the benefits and limitations of non-CMS websites, with real life examples and suggestions for using AI as a tool instead of a replacement. The use of AI in writing books The benefits and potential drawbacks of AI generated meeting notes (18:50 - 23:04)The use of AI to alter faces in documentaries (23:04 - 26:56)The use of AI in fashion industry (26:56 - 30:38) Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1928pHVyFo Show Links Trust Me: The False Profit Notion More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    31 min
  4. Can AI build a smartphone app in a weekend? Sean tried it.

    Mar 26

    Can AI build a smartphone app in a weekend? Sean tried it.

    Sean walks Mike and Amanda through Location Scout, a fully functional Android app he shipped over a weekend using Claude Code, React Native, and Tailwind. A discussion about prompting tips and more follows. Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLjfh3Qb46I&t=24s Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    28 min
  5. AI Coding, The SaaSpocalypse, and the Tools We Still Pay For.

    Mar 12

    AI Coding, The SaaSpocalypse, and the Tools We Still Pay For.

    Can AI replace the apps you pay for? We dig into the SaaSpocalypse debate, vibe coding wins, AI tells in writing, and why "just build it yourself" isn't that simple. Sean, Mike, and Amanda kick things off with quick life updates before diving into two main topics: the so-called "SaaSpocalypse" and how AI is changing the way people write and code. Is Saas dead?AI Writing 'tells' or giveaways Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_e2LY0M9U&t=162s Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    28 min
  6. Deepfakes, Bullying, and the Future of AI Video

    Feb 25

    Deepfakes, Bullying, and the Future of AI Video

    The hosts dig into the rapid rise of AI‑generated video and deepfakes, reacting to everything from celebrity fight scenes to political misinformation. What starts as a fun tech chat quickly turns into a thoughtful look at ethics, creativity, and the risks of synthetic media. It’s equal parts entertaining and unsettling. Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_S4SX0Fc5U Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    30 min

  7. Feb 18

    Productivity tips to help you work

    In this episode we discuss various things that people use to help them improve their productivity at work. CoffeeEnergy DrinksMusicCoffeeshopDrugs / AlcoholOffice TalkCold environmentsRoutinePomodoro TimerBoundaries and work/life balance Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    36 min

  8. 06/24/2025

    Season 8 Wrap

    Season eight wrap and a look forward to season nine. We'll continue to do Lunch Bytes every first and third Wednesday of the month. Season eight wrap and a look forward to season nine. We'll continue to do Lunch Bytes every first and third Wednesday of the month. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss an episode. Show Links More Website 101 Podcast Email the Podcast! Twitter Sean on LinkedIn Mike on LinkedIn Amanda on LinkedIn

    2 min
See All (96)

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Website 101 Podcast offers advice on how to build and manage websites. Whether you’re a web developer, or someone who manages your organization’s website, learn how to do your job better. Hosted by Sean Smith, Amanda Lutz, and Mike Mella, who each have 15+ years of experience in the industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Sean Smith, Mike Mella, & Amanda Lutz
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Sean Smith
  • Show Website
    Website 101 Podcast

You Might Also Like