Episode 2: Dumping the Middle Man
What if the thing that was supposed to connect us… quietly became the thing standing in between?
In this episode of Diary of an Artist, I’m reading aloud “Dumping the Middle Man – My Social Media Ex.” It’s a story about the early promise of the internet, the strange shift into algorithmic control, and why I’ve decided to step away from social platforms entirely.
It starts with a simple idea.
Art, like a sunset, should belong to everyone.
No gatekeepers. No middlemen. Just the work and the person experiencing it.
But somewhere along the way, something changed.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re shouting into the void online, or that the system is subtly reshaping what you make, how you think, even who you are… this one might hit close to home.
I made this podcast because I know a lot of you are busy.
You’re painting, making, walking the dog, driving somewhere, or just trying to get through the day. Reading isn’t always possible. So this is the audio version. Same thoughts, same stories, just in your ears instead.
If you want the full experience, including the original article, you can read it here:
https://www.diaryofanartist.co.uk/p/dumping-the-middle-man
In this episode:
The original promise of the internet and why it felt like freedom
How platforms became the new gatekeepers of art and attention
Why algorithms reward noise over truth
The hidden psychological cost of chasing reach and validation
Aaron Swartz, open access, and the fight for a truly free web
Why I walked away from social media and what comes next
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About this podcast
This is Diary of an Artist.
I’ll be reading my articles out loud, once a week. No fuss, no overproduction. Just ideas, stories, and thoughts about art, creativity, and the strange world around us.
