The Secret History of the Internet

In this prequel to the 'ICANN and the 7 Keys to the Internet' podcast, David talks Marques and Andrew through the wildly interesting history of the internet. There's plenty of information out there about the beginning of the World Wide Web in 1989, but what was happening before that? How did the internet start? How long did it take to turn on? And why does it always start with Sputnik? David answers all those questions and more while explaining how everything came to be. Special thanks to everyone that took the time to talk with us to make this episode. We hope you enjoy!

Music licensed from Epidemic Sound:

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:10 How did it all start?
06:30 What is DARPA?
12:20 Packet switching
19:59 Ad break
20:03 A bunch of networks being set up
27:30 The networking problem
36:40 Turning on the internet
39:10 Ad break
39:12 The Internet scales
49:58 Personal computing starts blowing up
56:48 World Wide Web is invented
01:04:10 What comes next?
01:19:50 Outro

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Waveform is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

[momothetraveler]

I'm very disappointed Vint Cerf's title at Google is not Internet Zaddy, so I registered that domain and pointed it at his Wikipedia page.

I won't link to it to avoid getting my comment removed again.

[charlesdamien]

This is now part of the Waveform Cinematic Universe

[MrBarneyDinosaur]

David is obscenely talented when it comes to researching/presenting these things. This and the ICANN episode are both fantastic.
I’d love to see him cover User Interfaces and the development of operating systems - especially the work by Douglas Engelbart and Xerox PARC.

[PhewChurz]

I think Ellis is the greatest addition to the podcast. He knows when to interject at the right moment with added knowledge.
I also love David's Deep Dive Episodes (TripleDDD) more than any other!

[Lisa_McGuire]

This is now my most favorite podcast of all time!! TY Marques for supporting/ backing all this research and everyone at Waveform for making it so easy to understand!💙💙💙💙💙

[mrpratster]

As a former Network engineer between 1997+. I worked at BBN Planet when the ARPANet (Internet) became commercialized. We had AS1 designation. Also worked at Cisco for 15. We used to pride ourself that Cisco equipment runs the backbone of the Internet. Great story telling. Great episode.

[kylefrank]

Crazy that I was just thinking about the ICANN episode earlier today and then the prequel drops today?!? This story just keeps getting better and more interesting. Thanks for another absolutely incredible episode!

[bansheebacklash]

An hour and a half waveform podcast on the history of the internet all through the Cold War?

And it's Friday night and I'm working the warehouse alone? By the time I get this done, Linus should be live.

Thanks so much guys, this was a really fascinating documentary.

[chihabetthamry]

i love this type of episodes would love to see it becoming a monthly thing

[Arun_Jayanthi]

I just love David. He just is too much interested in this complicated stuff and explains them with such a

[XINNX]

love these highly researched episodes on interesting topics. hopefully more soon!

[rickywinterborn]

these are the BEST waveform eps. i'd listen to a whole separate podcast about this stuff

[bezdusznyi]

I loved every second of this. David is amazing at researching such things, and both him and Ellis were so good at telling it

[_monolithic_]

I've noticed David does some really solid impressions.

[cherylchild]

David. David, David, David. Do you know what a heartwarming experience it is to listen to an adorable young man speak in such well researched detail about the history of...me? Of course not literally me, but the much maligned Boomer generation that succeeded so magnificently in tearing the world apart, so-so at reassembling it, and a total failure at changing the fundamental nature of it, as no generation can.

What that shift to a total Science based, parental approved dogma for the only serious pursuit of happiness available to our generation, came at at great cost to our personal development as any child of a Boomer will readily attest. Working class Boomers didn't have the luxury of being hippies, we just got high on the sidelines. Drugs were our drug.

That I would live to see the day that my life becomes your history lesson, and such a positive one at that. I am so grateful that your generation somewhat forgives me, and pretties up the story to boot! You are rockin' it. Thank you, David, from the bottom of my heart, as well has your co-hosts. You are all doing the young people's magic of making something out of nothing.

[HunterGlod]

As someone who works in IT, this episode and the 7 keys episode are the best Waveform episodes available.

[tanjiehjia]

Now I’m craving a regularly scheduled docu-series about all things tech from the past, present, and future.

[MessiFCBisseM]

“some ppl think older ppl don’t know how to use the internet! I have news for you, we invented it”.

Crazy stuff, thanks guys!

[davidkeithcanete]

One of the most informative pieces I've ever listened to. Man, I'm surprised I haven't heard anything remotely close to this ever about the Internet. Wonderful job guys!

[Jwdude]

What I think I enjoy most other than dialogue is the respectfulness toward each other.