Explore every episode of the podcast Artifacts: Stories from the Emotional History of the Internet
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Game Boy Camera and the Art of Taking Terrible Photos | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:07:08 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Remember the Game Boy Camera? Nintendo's quirky little gadget let you take grainy black-and-white photos, mess around with faces, create animations, and even print tiny pictures using a separate printer. But beyond the novelty, it offered a different way to think about photography: taking pictures just for the fun of it, without worrying whether they were any good. In this episode of Artifacts, I'm revisiting a curious piece of gaming history and exploring how those silly, pixelated snapshots could end up preserving memories we never intended to keep. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Zune Was Better Than We Gave It Credit For | 16 Oct 2026 | 00:06:34 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Remember the Zune? Microsoft's answer to the iPod never came close to matching Apple's success, but it had some interesting ideas of its own. From wireless music sharing to a social listening community, the Zune tried to make music discovery about more than just the songs on your device. In the Season 3 premiere of Artifacts, I'm revisiting a much-mocked music player and looking at why a product can lose the market but still win a place in people's memories. Mentioned in this episode:
Get Involved If 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Artifacts: Season 3 Trailer | 09 Oct 2026 | 00:01:27 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Season 3 of Artifacts is going back to the things that started it all. This season, I'm looking at the technology, games, objects and pieces of internet culture we remember - from the Zune and MiniDisc to LaserDisc, the Game Boy Camera and Choose Your Own Adventure books. Each episode starts with an artifact, explores its history and then follows the story underneath it: the memories, experiences and feelings that made these things matter in the first place. Because Artifacts isn't about whether things were better back then. It's about why some of those things can still take us straight back to another time in our lives. Find the artifact first. Then find the feeling inside it. Season 3 is coming soon. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Bonus: This Week in Fandom History | 02 Oct 2026 | 00:12:36 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. I recently discovered This Week in Fandom History, a podcast exploring the history of fandom, internet culture and the communities that grow around the things people love. It felt like such a natural fit for the Artifacts audience that I wanted to introduce you to the show properly. For this bonus episode, they've put together a special 10-minute cut of one of their recent episodes. A quick heads-up: this episode contains some adult language, which is natural to This Week in Fandom History but a little different from what you'll normally hear on Artifacts. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out the full show and its back catalogue. Mentioned in this episode: Get Involved If 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| What Season 2 Taught Me About Artifacts | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:06:43 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Season 2 of Artifacts was an experiment. After a first season built around the objects and technology we remember, I wanted to try something different, starting with the experiences technology changed rather than the artifacts themselves. Looking back, I'm glad I did. Not because I think every experiment worked perfectly, but because it helped me understand what makes Artifacts feel like Artifacts. In this bonus episode, I look back at Season 2, the things I learned along the way, the one-star shareware review that reminded me to keep questioning my research, and why Season 3 is going back to the things themselves. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Memory Cards We Couldn't Bear to Lose | 18 Sep 2026 | 00:09:57 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. There was a time when saving a game meant writing down a password, carefully copying a code from the screen, or trusting a little piece of plastic not to lose your progress. In this episode of Artifacts, I look at how memory cards changed the way we played and what happened when our game saves became something we could carry with us, from the early days of dedicated memory cards to the wonderfully weird Dreamcast VMU. And why, years later, those tiny cards can still take us straight back to the people and places we were when we used them. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Gopher: The Internet We Almost Had | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:08:56 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Before the Web became the Internet as we know it, there were other ways of finding your way around. Gopher was one of them - a menu-driven system that made it easier to explore information across the early Internet. For a while, Gopher was a genuine competitor to the World Wide Web. Then the Web became free, Mosaic arrived, and the Internet took a very different path. In this episode of Artifacts, I look at Gopher, what it was like to explore the early Internet through menus and directories, and what its disappearance tells us about the futures technology leaves behind. Mentioned in this episode:
Get Involved If 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Shareware Games That Asked Us to Trust Them | 04 Sep 2026 | 00:09:14 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Before app stores, digital storefronts and endless in-game purchases, there was shareware. You could get a game for free, play it, and decide whether it was worth sending money to the person who made it. In this episode of Artifacts, I look back at shareware games, registration cards, and the surprisingly personal relationship between creators and players, and how that compares with today's world of DLC, premium editions, and paying to unlock more of what you've already bought. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Home Videos We Never Meant to Keep | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:07:17 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. There was a time when recording video felt like an event. Then cameras got smaller, digital storage made recording easier, and suddenly we were capturing the ordinary moments too - family dinners, holidays, kids playing, conversations and afternoons that didn't seem important at the time. In this episode of Artifacts, Danny Brown looks at how home video changed what we chose to remember, and why those imperfect recordings can become some of the most meaningful artifacts we have. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Why Owning Software Used to Feel Different | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:05:42 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Do you remember when software came in boxes? Before downloads, cloud accounts, and subscriptions, buying software meant bringing something home. A box. A disc. A manual. Maybe a registration card. And somewhere inside was that tiny product key you absolutely couldn't afford to lose. You installed the software, put the box on a shelf, and knew that you owned it. In this episode of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores the old world of boxed software and the sense of permanence that came with it. From enormous cardboard packages and installation discs to product keys tucked safely away, these weren't just things we used. They were physical evidence of something we'd bought and made part of our lives. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Magic of Encarta | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:05:27 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. What did it feel like to discover an entire world inside a CD-ROM? A time before Google, Wikipedia, and instant answers, when there was a different way to explore knowledge. CD-ROM encyclopedias like Microsoft Encarta turned the family computer into a doorway to somewhere much bigger. You could look up the Roman Empire, discover dinosaurs, explore a map, watch a video, and somehow end up learning about something you never intended to find. In this episode of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores the likes of Encarta and the sense of wonder they created. Not simply because they contained an enormous amount of information, but because they encouraged us to wander through it. Because finding an answer is one thing. Discovering something is another. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Joy of Discovery Before Algorithms | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:04:55 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. What if the best discoveries were the ones you never planned to make? Before recommendation engines, personalized playlists, and "Because you watched..." suggestions, discovery looked very different. You wandered through record shops, browsed library shelves, explored video rental stores, and followed one link after another across the early internet, never quite knowing where you'd end up. In this episode of Artifacts, Danny Brown reflects on the joy of browsing without a destination, the happy accidents that introduced us to favourite bands, films, books, and websites, and why some of the most meaningful discoveries happened when we weren't searching at all. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Why The Progress Bar Was an Experience | 07 Aug 2026 | 00:05:10 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. What did technology teach us about waiting? Long before instant streaming, cloud storage, and one-click downloads, there was another familiar sight: the progress bar. Whether you were connecting to the internet over dial-up, downloading your favourite song, installing a new game, or burning the perfect mix CD, technology constantly asked us to wait. And somehow, those quiet moments became part of the experience. In the Season Two premiere of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores how one of the most overlooked symbols of the digital age - the humble progress bar - became an unexpected reminder of anticipation, patience, and why some things felt more meaningful because they took time. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Artifacts: Season 2 Trailer | 03 Aug 2026 | 00:00:56 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. Season One explored the objects we remember. Season Two explores the experiences they changed. From waiting for a dial-up connection to discovering music, finding your way with a paper map, choosing what was worth keeping, and remembering what it felt like to truly be offline, Artifacts returns with eight new stories about the everyday moments technology quietly transformed. This isn't a season about devices or platforms. It's about curiosity, anticipation, discovery, ownership, memory, and the human experiences that shaped a generation. Join Danny Brown for a new collection of stories from the emotional history of the internet. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Archive: Season 1 Reflections | 23 Jul 2026 | 00:05:24 | |
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:
Get Involved If 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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. 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:
Recommended resources:
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| When the Internet Belonged to Us | 10 Jul 2026 | 00:06:06 | |
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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Before We Pressed Start | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:03:58 | |
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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| When the Internet Lived in One Room | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:04:58 | |
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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Lost Art of Midnight Launches | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:04:59 | |
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: Get Involved If 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Why We Miss AIM Away Messages | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:04:53 | |
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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Strange Emotional Power of Burned CDs | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:04:39 | |
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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Why Old Internet Forums Felt More Human | 29 May 2026 | 00:06:07 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. 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 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| The Dreamcast Wasn’t Supposed to Matter This Much | 29 May 2026 | 00:06:39 | |
Enjoying the show? Support it here. The Dreamcast failed. At least, that’s the official version of the story. Released on 9/9/99, Sega’s final console lasted only a few short years before disappearing from store shelves forever. But decades later, people still talk about the Dreamcast with a kind of emotional reverence usually reserved for much bigger success stories. So why does it still matter so much? In the first episode of Artifacts, Danny Brown explores how the Dreamcast became more than just a game console - it became a symbol of optimism, experimentation, creativity, and a version of the future that never fully arrived. From Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi to online gaming over dial-up and the strange emotional power of failed technology, this episode explores why some artifacts stay with us long after they disappear. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Artifacts: Season 1 Trailer | 21 May 2026 | 00:01:31 | |
Season One of Artifacts explores the emotional history of the internet generation. Not just the technology itself, but the feelings attached to it. The optimism. The weirdness. The creativity. The sense that the internet once felt smaller. More personal. More human. This season:
This is Artifacts Season One: Lost Futures. New episodes weekly. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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| Artifacts — Official Trailer | 13 May 2026 | 00:01:23 | |
Remember Winamp skins? Burned CDs? AIM away messages? The Dreamcast? Those weird little corners of the internet that somehow felt more human than everything online today? Maybe we don’t actually miss the technology. Maybe we miss how it made us feel. Artifacts is a podcast about forgotten platforms, dead gadgets, old internet culture, creative communities, and the strange emotional connection we still have to them. But this isn’t just nostalgia. It’s about why these things mattered. Why people still defend the Zune. Why some gamers are still obsessed with the Dreamcast. Why old forums felt more personal than social media. Why podcasting used to feel smaller… and maybe more exciting. Every episode starts with an artifact. And then follows the story underneath it. The people. The feeling. The moment in time. And what it says about who we are now. Because sometimes the objects fade. But the feeling doesn't. I’m Danny Brown. And this is Artifacts. 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 know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts or 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:
Recommended resources:
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