Interview with Ellen Goodwin, Co-Founder of Artifcts

In this episode of Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey podcast, Lisa Harper speaks with Ellen Goodwin, co-founder of Artifcts, a platform designed to help individuals and families preserve the stories and significance behind their cherished objects. They discuss the emotional weight of physical items, the importance of storytelling in memory preservation, and the challenges of decluttering and downsizing. Ellen shares the origin story of Artifcts, the process of creating artifacts, and the resources available for families navigating the complexities of managing their belongings. The conversation emphasizes the need for open communication about memories and the value of connecting generations through shared stories. https://artifcts.com/

Takeaways

Artifcts helps preserve memories associated with physical objects.
The origin of Artifcts was inspired by a personal loss.
Storytelling is crucial for memory preservation.
Creating artifacts is a quick and meaningful process.
Artifcts allows for sharing stories across generations.
Emotional connections to objects can lead to grief hoarding.
It's important to start decluttering before a crisis occurs.
Resources are available to assist with decluttering and downsizing.
Valuation and appraisal serve different purposes in managing belongings.
Artifcts encourages users to start where they are and take small steps.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Artifacts and Memory Preservation
01:39 The Origin Story of Artifcts
04:45 The Process of Creating Artifcts
08:01 The Importance of Storytelling in Family History
10:35 Connecting Across Distances with Artifcts
12:27 Sharing Memories and Stories
17:14 The Emotional Weight of Objects and Letting Go
20:11 The Art of Letting Go
22:31 Creating Meaningful Artifcts
25:42 Understanding Value and Worth
27:36 Navigating Family Dynamics
29:27 Advice for Adult Children
33:17 Resources for Decluttering
36:44 The Importance of Memories