Gowanus, a media puppet born in a dumpster in Brooklyn, represents the Summer of Ludd, a festival advocating for less screen time and more real interaction. The event included workshops on how to flirt in person and an evidence box where participants could share their experiences with Big Tech's negative impacts.

The festival’s rules were simple: no phones, recordings or photographs allowed. Despite being a podcast recording studio, Gowanus believes in meeting people where they are, as long as it encourages full engagement with his interviews.

Using the name of 19th-century textile workers fighting automation, modern Luddites aim to critique technology that is seen as progress for progress's sake. The festival highlights how digital connectivity has led to increased loneliness and atomization, despite its promise of global connection.

The puppet’s contract with a tech publication asks for no short-form content, encouraging viewers to watch the full interview instead of scrolling past it. This reflects a broader debate about deep engagement versus quick consumption in an increasingly digital world.