Why Are People Buying iPods Again?

A strange thing is happening: people are buying iPods again. Not just for nostalgia, but for something deeper. In a world of algorithmic recommendations, endless notifications, and disposable tech, the iPod offers an escape — an intentional way to listen to music. In this video, I explore why these 20-year-old MP3 players are making a comeback. From digital minimalism and escaping smartphone fatigue to the joy of collecting physical media and modding old tech, the iPod represents something we’ve lost in our relationship with music.

Join me as I dive into iPod modding, algorithmic anxiety, and the cultural shifts that have led people back to iPods in 2025. Whether you’re here for the nostalgia or looking for a better way to experience music (or you just got this recommended next to a Dankpods video), this journey is for you.

Do you still use an iPod, or are you thinking of getting one? Drop a comment below! And if you enjoyed this video, consider sharing it with a friend.

🔧 IPOD MODS FEATURED 🔧
iPod 5.5 Generation (30 GB)
Upgraded with iFlash quad 256GB SSD
Custom transparent case
2000 mAh battery

🎵 ALL MUSIC USED WITH PERMISSION 🎵

HUSSALONIA: https://hussalonia.bandcamp.com/
SONGS: The Nearest Exit, Record Bins, Dig Up Your Records
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: I’ve listened to Hussalonia for years, ever since I heard a song of theirs on Welcome to Night Vale. Every album is different and you never know what to expect!

JOEL HARKIN: https://joelharkin.bandcamp.com/
SONGS: Lake Irene
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: A self-described “miserable Irish socialist” and crafter of sad-boy alt folk tunes; Joel is one of the first people I met when I moved to Ireland and it’s been a delight to follow his musical development.

DUNDERPATRULLEN: https://dunderpatrullen.bandcamp.com/
SONGS: Kretskortsaromer, Hightech Girlfriend
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: These fellow Swedes have been dropping chiptune electro bangers for decades. They offered me the chance to make a music video for them in 2009 but I was over-committed at the time and foolishly turned them down, a fact that still haunts me.

KEVIN MACLEOD: https://incompetech.com/
SONGS: Cloud Dancer, RetroFuture Clean, Space Jazz, Chill Wave, Tiki Bar Mixer, Southern Gothic
WHY THEY’RE GREAT: If you’ve ever watched a video on the internet, you’ve heard Kevin MacLeod’s music. Probably the most prolific producer of royalty-free music and the unofficial soundtrack of the internet. Thank you for all that you do, Kev, we literally couldn’t do this without you.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


📖 SOURCES 📖

*Filterworld* by Kyle Chayka (as a primer, here’s a 2019 Chayka essay: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/12/17/21024439/monoculture-algorithm-netflix-spotify)

*Yearning for Yesterday* by Fred Davis: https://archive.org/details/yearningforyeste0000davi

*The “IKEA Effect”: When Labor Leads to Love:* [https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication Files/11-091.pdf](https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/11-091.pdf)

Vox article on the Sabrina Carpenter/Spotify conspiracy theories: https://www.vox.com/culture/357907/spotify-sabrina-carpenter-espresso-chappell-roan-algorithm

The Anti-Social Network: NYC Teen Luddite Club goes offline: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN2zIoImDN0

CHAPTERS

00:00 introduction
01:20 PAUSE
03:38 on the hunt for physical media...
06:30 CURATION
08:42 physical media challenges
10:35 MODDING
14:07 problems!!
16:28 NOSTALGIA
18:57 conclusion