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Artifacts: Stories from the Emotional History of the Internet: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Danny Brown
Artifacts is a storytelling podcast about the moments technology quietly changed what it meant to be human. Each episode begins with a familiar artifact - a burned CD, a dial-up modem, a movie rental store, a family computer, a paper map - and unfolds into a story about memory, identity, creativity, belonging, curiosity, and the experiences we still carry with us today. This isn't a show about old technology. It's about the people who grew up alongside it. Hosted by award-winning podcaster Danny Brown, Artifacts blends personal storytelling, cultural history, and thoughtful reflection to explore why some of the most ordinary objects became the milestones of our lives. Because sometimes the objects fade, but the feeling doesn't.
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- 6 days ago5 min
The Archive: Season 1 Reflections
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Season 1 may have come to an end, but the archive is still open.In this special bonus episode, Danny reflects on the journey that began with a Dreamcast and grew into something much bigger than a podcast about old technology.Looking back at the stories behind internet forums, burned CDs, away messages, midnight launches, the family computer, game manuals, and the early web, hear what surprised him most while creating the season, and why the strongest memories were never really about the technology itself.You'll also hear some of the memories listeners have shared since the show launched, along with a few hints about what's waiting inside Season 2.Thank you for being part of the first season of Artifacts.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn't.Mentioned in this episode:Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal, of the Branching Out Genealogy Podcast, reviews ArtifactsDashboard ConfessionalWhy We Miss AIM Away Messages - Artifacts: Stories from the Emotional History of the InternetMatt Cundill: Voiceover Artist | Podcast & Radio PersonalityGet involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.The ArchiveThe sister newsletter to the Artifacts podcast, sharing a story that didn't quite fit into an episode, a forgotten corner of the internet I've stumbled across, or a memory that deserves preserving before it quietly fades away.Get the Artifacts NewsletterProducts I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- 2 weeks ago6 min
When the Internet Belonged to Us
Enjoying the show? Support it here.The early internet wasn't polished.It was messy. Colourful. Sometimes impossible to navigate. And it was filled with websites, profiles, and pages created by people who simply wanted to make something that felt like their own.In the Season 1 finale of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores a time when the internet invited us to create instead of consume. From GeoCities and Angelfire to MySpace profiles, LiveJournal entries, and hand-coded homepages, this episode reflects on an era when every corner of the web felt personal.But this isn't really a story about HTML, animated GIFs, or visitor counters.It's about creativity, curiosity, and leaving a little piece of yourself behind in a digital world that encouraged individuality over algorithms.As the season comes to a close, we look back at the artifacts we've explored, and the memories, friendships, optimism, and imagination they still represent.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- 3 weeks ago3 min
Before We Pressed Start
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Before games taught us how to play, there were instruction manuals.Folded inside the box, they were more than just guides to the controls. They introduced us to new worlds, told stories, shared artwork, and built excitement long before we ever pressed the Start button.In Episode 7 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores why video game manuals became such an important part of growing up for a generation of players. From reading them in the car on the way home to studying every screenshot before finally getting to play, these little booklets sparked imagination in ways that today's instant downloads rarely can.But this isn't really a story about instruction manuals.It's about anticipation, imagination, and a time when discovering a new world began on paper before it ever appeared on a screen.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- Jun 26, 20264 min
When the Internet Lived in One Room
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Before we carried the internet in our pockets, it lived in one place.The family computer.Whether it sat in the corner of the living room, the spare bedroom, or the family office, it was a shared space where homework, games, emails, music, and late-night internet adventures all happened on the same machine.In Episode 6 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores what it meant to grow up with a family PC, from negotiating whose turn it was to use the internet to the unforgettable sound of a dial-up modem connecting you to the world.But this isn't really a story about old computers.It's about a time when technology brought us together instead of pulling us apart. When the internet was something we shared, discoveries happened by accident, and one computer held the digital fingerprints of an entire family.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- Jun 19, 20264 min
The Lost Art of Midnight Launches
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Standing outside a store at midnight shouldn't be memorable.And yet, for millions of people, it was.Before digital downloads, launch day was an event. Whether it was a new console, a highly anticipated game, a blockbuster movie, or a must-have album, midnight launches transformed ordinary purchases into shared experiences.In Episode 5 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores why people still look back fondly on late-night queues, countdowns, and the excitement of being surrounded by complete strangers who cared about the exact same thing.From gaming launches and movie premieres to the psychology of anticipation, this episode examines what we gained through convenience, and what we may have lost when everything became instantly available.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Mentioned in this episode:Matt Cundill: Voiceover Artist | Podcast & Radio PersonalityGet involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- Jun 12, 20264 min
Why We Miss AIM Away Messages
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Before status updates, before social media profiles, and before we carried the internet in our pockets, there were away messages.A few lines of text attached to a screen name.And somehow, they mattered.In Episode 4 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores how AIM away messages became one of the earliest forms of online self-expression. From song lyrics and inside jokes to cryptic messages aimed at one specific person, away messages gave people a small but meaningful way to tell the world who they were.But this isn't really a story about instant messaging.It's a story about identity, connection, and a version of the internet that felt smaller, slower, and more personal.Why do people still remember away messages decades later?And what do they reveal about the way we communicated before algorithms, influencers, and personal brands became part of everyday life?Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- Jun 5, 20265 min
The Strange Emotional Power of Burned CDs
Enjoying the show? Support it here.Before streaming playlists, there were burned CDs.Carefully curated collections of songs, handwritten track lists, homemade cover art, and hours spent deciding exactly what came next.In Episode 3 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores why burned CDs became so much more than a way to listen to music. They were expressions of identity, creativity, friendship, and sometimes even love.From Napster downloads and LimeWire mishaps to the emotional labour of creating the perfect mix, this episode looks at how music discovery used to feel slower, more personal, and more meaningful.Why do people still remember burned CDs so fondly decades later?And what happens when convenience replaces effort?Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with either a one-off tip, or become a monthly Archivist.No commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen or watch for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic mastering tool for audio post production
- May 29, 20267 min
Why Old Internet Forums Felt More Human
Before social media feeds, algorithms, and endless scrolling, the internet felt different.Smaller.Messier.More personal.In Episode 2 of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores the strange emotional connection people still have to old internet forums - from recognizable usernames and chaotic communities to forum signatures, inside jokes, and the feeling of belonging to tiny digital neighbourhoods.Why did these spaces feel so human?And what did we lose when the internet became optimized for performance, visibility, and engagement instead of connection?From niche communities and message boards to the emotional texture of the early web, this episode explores why people still miss an internet that was slower, weirder, and more personal.Because sometimes the objects fade.But the feeling doesn’t.Get involvedIf you enjoy Artifacts, you can support it with a one-off tip.No subscriptions, no commitment - just a simple way to say thanks. Show your support here.If you enjoy the show, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favourite podcast app!And please let your friends and other podcasters know they can listen or watch for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, their preferred podcast app, or online at Artifacts Podcast.Products I Use for ArtifactsNote: these may contain affiliate links, so I get a small percentage of any product you buy when using my link.My equipment:RODE NT1-A large diaphragm condenser micRodecaster Pro II audio production studioSony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor HeadphonesElgato Wave Mic Arm Low ProfileRecommended resources:Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetizationHindenburg Pro recording and editingAuphonic AI assistant for audio post production
About Artifacts: Stories from the Emotional History of the Internet
Artifacts is a storytelling podcast about the moments technology quietly changed what it meant to be human. Each episode begins with a familiar artifact - a burned CD, a dial-up modem, a movie rental store, a family computer, a paper map - and unfolds into a story about memory, identity, creativity, belonging, curiosity, and the experiences we still carry with us today. This isn't a show about old technology. It's about the people who grew up alongside it. Hosted by award-winning podcaster Danny Brown, Artifacts blends personal storytelling, cultural history, and thoughtful reflection to explore why some of the most ordinary objects became the milestones of our lives. Because sometimes the objects fade, but the feeling doesn't.
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