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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 Personality

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 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 Artifacts

Note: 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 mic
• Rodecaster Pro II audio production studio
• Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphones
• Elgato Wave Mic Arm Low Profile

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization
• Hindenburg Pro recording and editing
• Auphonic mastering tool for audio post production

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.

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 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 Artifacts

Note: 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 mic
• Rodecaster Pro II audio production studio
• Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphones
• Elgato Wave Mic Arm Low Profile

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization
• Hindenburg Pro recording and editing
• Auphonic mastering tool for audio post production

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.

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 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 Artifacts

Note: 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 mic
• Rodecaster Pro II audio production studio
• Sony MDR-7506 Studio Monitor Headphones
• Elgato Wave Mic Arm Low Profile

Recommended resources:

• Captivate.fm podcast hosting, distribution, analytics, and monetization
• Hindenburg Pro recording and editing
• Auphonic mastering tool for audio post production