Downlow.d

27/03/2023

BOOK GIVEAWAY! Abraham Josephine Riesman's fantastic new book Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America hits shelves THIS WEEK, and we are giving away THREE COPIES.

To enter, simply donate any amount to our Comics For Kids fundraiser by 11 a.m. ET March 31st.

DONATE HERE:

Of all the early indicators for a child's success both in school and later in life, few are… Joe Scott needs your support for Comics For Kids Fundraiser 2023

01/12/2022

As an Apple Music subscriber, I always feel so left out in December during .

But as a podcaster, I was surprised to find this in my email box yesterday.

So bizarre that my tiny show that I produced in my bedroom closet reached 50 countries. I am grateful to everyone, from the trolls, the sh*tposters, and then the people who genuinely just liked what we did.

It was especially surreal when we charted, beating out shows with celebrity hosts or major podcast publishing companies behind them. I made this show with modest goals, and never expected our humble little creation to do what it did. People are still listening to it, and I haven't released an episode in nearly half a year.
It's going to be a minute before I make another show. If and when that happens, I do not expect it to accomplish what the first one did.

I am just humbled that I told a story that I had been dying to tell and that anyone really cared enough to listen.
So thanks, y'all. And thanks especially to the people who helped me make this thing.

Kind Regards,
Joe Scott

P.S. And if you haven't listened to my podcast, that's cool -- especially if it's not your thing. But if you are interested in a shaggy, tangential narrative about the origins of the media landscape we live in today, you can check it out here:
https://anchor.fm/downlowdpod

26/09/2022

Taking a break from hiatus to say we have a really great idea for the next season of our podcast as well as how to tell it. Now we need a publisher.

Anyone know somebody who would be interested in helping to produce a unique, challenging story about the way we use the internet?

We wouldn't ask for help if we didn't think I would need it. If you liked Downlow.d SE01 and have any leads, hit us up.

03/09/2022

Former AICN writer Alan Cerny, aka Nordling, talks with Joe Scott about his experiences with The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles, and shares what he liked and didn't like about the show. Alan also speaks to why he chose NOT to listen to the interview with Harry Knowles.

LISTEN HERE:
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/o9L8vVTq1sb

READ ALAN'S REVIEWS:

https://www.vitalthrills.com/author/alanc/

LISTEN TO ALAN'S PODCAST:

http://matineeheroes.com/

30/08/2022

Dropping a new bonus episode this week!

18/08/2022

Executive Producer Kristina Bell returns to talk with Joe about the reactions to this FB post on the FINAL Comments Section Episode of Season One. They also discuss the divided reactions to the Post Script interview before delving into one last round of questions, comments, and feedback.

LISTEN HERE:
https://tinyurl.com/5hes87fw

16/08/2022

Got a question or comment related to The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News? This will be your final chance! Ask here, via DM, or the link below:

https://www.downlowdpod.com/about-4

14/08/2022

So about that Anne Heche post, we want you to know we are aware of it....

We will also be talking about it this week. Got a question? Let us know!

13/08/2022

It took a lot of work, time, and contributions from a lot of people to make this series possible. We wanted to thank as many of them as we could here.

Downlow.d: The Rise And Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain’t It Cool News might have been written, edited, and narrated by me. But this series could not have been made without the involvement of these people: My first collaborator Ben Jones, who played the voice of Harry Knowles in each of the narrativ...

11/08/2022

NEXT WEEK: We will take off all six of our facemasks and get out of line for our twelfth booster shots to host ONE FINAL COMMENTS SECTION for season one of our show. Got questions? Got comments? Leave them here!

Also, maybe leave some positive reviews on Apple podcasts for us?😅

04/08/2022

Our Poscript Episode is now LIVE!

In these excerpts from a 2021 conversation with Harry Knowles, we try to find out what - if anything - the once pioneering webmaster learned from The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News.

LINK:
https://tinyurl.com/psxanskull

03/08/2022

The Postscript episode will drop this week. Tentatively tomorrow.

Earlier, we had predicted a 90 minute episode. The actual episode will decidedly be... much larger.

In related news, HK's Twitter account has been hacked.

27/07/2022

UPDATE: The Postscript ep of The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News will drop on August 4. Our efforts to cut six hours of audio into a leaner meaner presentation that still makes sense took longer than we estimated. But we are excited to share this with you. Thanks for your patience!

23/07/2022

16/07/2022

Was Nerd Culture a MISTAKE? This is the story of how one website from Austin, Texas helped trigger a revolution that would change the landscape of cinema culture forever.

Binge ALL NINE PARTS of "The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News" wherever you find great audio stories.

LINK:
https://anchor.fm/downlowdpod

Downlow.d is a deep dive audio documentary series that explores the morally complicated, occasionally inspiring and often forgotten oral histories of the internet.

13/07/2022

Episode Nine: "The Air We Breathe" is LIVE!

The emotional conclusion of "The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News." Even after Harry Knowles destroys his website (twice), there are lingering influences from AICN that few could have expected.

Listen Here:
https://bit.ly/3IxJAd4

13/07/2022

Psst. We released the finale a little bit early. Thanks to everyone who has been so patient with us as we told this story.

12/07/2022

THE MESSAGE:

11/07/2022

We gladly accept the L against Method Man and his podcast that celebrates THE GREATEST TV SERIES OF ALL TIME.

Also — thanks to everyone who listened to our show!

09/07/2022

EXCLUSIVE!!!

07/07/2022

The emotional finale of Downlow.d: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News will drop on Wednesday, July 13.

In the meantime, you can binge episodes 1-8 RIGHT NOW.

Anchor:
https://bit.ly/3AvRDVP

Apple Podcasts:
https://apple.co/3bJKbMm

Spotify:
https://spoti.fi/3yKjh06

Downlow.d is a deep dive audio documentary series that explores the morally complicated, occasionally inspiring and often forgotten oral histories of the internet.

01/07/2022

Last week, we explored allegations that Alamo failed to address issues of systemic sexual harassment and abuse. They were bought by a firm that has failed to address worse issues in another company they own.

Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting tells the story of that company here:

https://revealnews.org/podcast/the-bad-place-2021/

The graffiti told a chilling story: “This is a bad place.” States send children to facilities run by Sequel, despite dozens of cases of physical violence, sexual assault and improper restraints.

27/06/2022

No new episodes this week, Bonus, Comments Section, or otherwise. Like the previous one, our goal is to focus on the next (and final) narrative episode of this season. Thanks for understanding!

23/06/2022

Episode Eight: "Hay Bales (Parts I & II)" is now LIVE.

LISTEN:
tinyurl.com/HayBalesAICN

Part I (0:00) - In September of 2017, a perfect storm of controversies threaten to destroy the Alamo Drafthouse, Fantastic Fest, and Ain't It Cool News. Only two manage to survive.

Part II (50:07) - The bravery of the women who stepped forward to speak out against Harry Knowles helped one woman to gain new context for events that transpired in 2004.

10/06/2022

EPISODE SEVEN IS NOW LIVE! Through his website’s only technological innovation, Harry Knowles exploits a secret that will eventually transform future social media platforms into billion dollar companies. And Drew McWeeny 'fixes' one last major film production before leaving AICN for good.

Listen Here:
https://tinyurl.com/dannygdb

16/05/2022

16/05/2022

NEW BONUS EPISODE: We were lucky enough to talk with about his days reviewing DTV action flicks for AICN. Plus meeting Bruce Willis in Talkbacks!

LISTEN: https://bit.ly/3whDn0e

P.S. No photos of Vern exist, but he was kind enough to supply this artistic rendering!

13/05/2022

Thanks to The Insufferable Podcast for the shoutout!

‎Show Downlowd: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News, Ep Episode Five: "The Ghost of Neill Cumpston" - Mar 3, 2022

22/04/2022

Get ready to take your shots....
The final three episodes of Downlow.d: The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles & Ain't It Cool News will begin on May 27th.

Episodes 1-6 are now available:
http://ow.ly/HkXH50IPAxh

01/04/2022

For a myriad of reasons, Downlow.d is presenting our first season of our show for free and without ads. For those who want to support us, consider helping us purchase brand new comic books for kids who need them.

LINK:
https://gofund.me/73c01eea

Let's blow some kids' minds while supporting literacy! Downlow.d podcast wants to ce… Joe Scott needs your support for Help Downlow.d Buy Comics For Kids

25/03/2022

When we created Downlow.d, we thought it would be a fun way to tell compelling stories about how the internet shaped our world. We never thought we would crack the Apple Podcast Top 100 charts, let alone the Top 50. Thanks to everyone who has listened to our show!

23/03/2022

Comments Section Episode is coming Friday! Got any questions, comments, or feedback?

21/03/2022

The mid season finale is NOW AVAILABLE! In this special two-part episode, SXSW celebrates the 15th Anniversary of Ain't It Cool News in 2011 -- a time when its legacy was shadowed by many unpleasant truths. Also, Drew McWeeny sacrifices his filmmaking dreams for AICN while Harry Knowles does the opposite.

LINK:
http://ow.ly/Eg9m50Io3UP

THE MID SEASON FINALE. In this special two-part episode, SXSW celebrates the 15th Anniversary of Ain't It Cool News in 2011 -- a time when its legacy was shadowed by many unpleasant truths. Also, Drew McWeeny sacrifices his filmmaking dreams for AICN while Harry Knowles does the opposite. Written, E...

18/03/2022

Episode Six of our narrative series The Rise and Fall of Harry Knowles and Ain't It Cool News drops on MONDAY. So we decided use this break in the schedule to talk with film critic Ruth Maramis from Flix Chatter (https://flixchatter.net/) about Pixar's "Turning Red."

We were also fortunate to have director Erica Milsom talk about her brand new short documentary "Embrace the Panda: The Making of Turning Red."

LINK
http://ow.ly/IMz250ImFxC

16/03/2022

We have an important update about our Mid-Season Finale, which was slated for release this week. Due to technical and logistical factors that were beyond our control, we are bumping the release date to Monday, March 21.

11/03/2022

As we mentioned at the top of this week's Comments Section episode, we have been contacted by a lot of people who worked in and around AICN after the launch of our show. One of these conversations contained a revelation that greatly shifts the ending of our story.

Part of the story of AICN is about both a company and an industry that did not respect the time and personal lives of its employees. To observe this lesson and avoid a time crunch while making the best ending possible for our show, we have scheduled a hiatus that will run from Mar 31 - April 21.

P.S. We thank you for your understanding. Also, there is a great chance that we will drop bonus/archive interviews during the hiatus as well as well.

07/03/2022

Last week, we shared the story about the emergence of a new film culture. Got any questions, commends, or feedback about the latest episode? Let us know here!

05/03/2022

Former AICN contributor known as Neil Cumpston wrote in a manic, frenzied voice that was a satire of the kind of rhetoric one could often find on the website. What's most shocking is that Niel was none other than comedian Patton Oswalt.

Listen here:
https://bit.ly/3zNh8zH