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/TakeawaysArtifcts 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.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Artifacts and Memory Preservation01:39 The Origin Story of Artifcts04:45 The Process of Creating Artifcts08:01 The Importance of Storytelling in Family History10:35 Connecting Across Distances with Artifcts12:27 Sharing Memories and Stories17:14 The Emotional Weight of Objects and Letting Go20:11 The Art of Letting Go22:31 Creating Meaningful Artifcts25:42 Understanding Value and Worth27:36 Navigating Family Dynamics29:27 Advice for Adult Children33:17 Resources for Decluttering36:44 The Importance of Memories © 2025-2026 Lisa M. Harper. All rights reserved. “Not Ready Yet: Curating Conversations for the Aging Journey” is a trademark of Lisa M. Harper.