Good Tape, the Los Angeles-based magazine and creative studio specializing in podcast industry coverage, continues to expand its media operations through growth initiatives across multiple business units. Founded by Dane Cardiel in late 2022, the company has transformed from a print publication into a multifaceted media enterprise serving the podcast ecosystem.

Cardiel drew inspiration for Good Tape after attending the On Air Fest in Los Angeles in 2022, identifying a gap in the cultural coverage of podcasting. 

Before founding Good Tape, he held leadership positions at several podcast companies, including serving as VP of Creator Partnerships at Gumball. His career includes roles at SiriusXM as Director of Business Development for Podcasts and similar positions at Simplecast.

Good Tape developed its editorial approach to address what Cardiel sees as the limited representation of creators in industry media coverage. The company deliberately chose print as its primary medium, publishing twice yearly using traditional newsprint paper, positioning each issue as “a limited edition object to covet,” said Cardiel.

Studio Launch

Good Tape Studio officially launched in 2024, offering creative services to podcast producers, networks, and brands. Led by Sami Wittwer and Cardiel, the studio provides podcast branding, pitch development, and experiential design services. Early clients include audio professionals Yowei Shaw and Mia Lobel, as well as industry companies Sounds Profitable and Lower Street.

“While print will continue to be a core focus for Good Tape, we believe that expanding our reach digitally and packaging our editorial and design capabilities as a service was a natural next step,” Cardiel said in an August 2024 press release.

The studio has received positive industry feedback, with Lower Street Founder Harry Morton noting, “The team at Good Tape Studio are great to work with, and consistently deliver excellent podcast artwork for our branded podcasts.”

Editorial Expansion Continues

Good Tape recently appointed Becca James as Managing Editor ahead of its third print edition, “The Threat Issue”. James brings significant industry experience, having previously worked as an editor and writer for The A.V. Club, Thrillist, and Vulture, where she covered podcast content. She succeeds founding editor Alana Hope Levinson.

“Good Tape has a history of essential, thought-provoking storytelling, and I believe it’s the perfect place to continue elevating cultural and critical coverage of podcasting during a time of great change for the community,” James said in a statement.

The magazine, which publishes biannually, is preparing to release “The Celebrity Issue” this fall, featuring writers including Miles Klee from Rolling Stone, former Guardian features reporter Elle Hunt, and music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy.

Off The Record Formalizes Industry Networking

In March 2025, Good Tape officially launched “Off The Record,” a community-centered media business facilitating discussions between podcast executives, creatives, and brands. The initiative evolved from informal monthly coffee meetups in Brooklyn, started in 2023 by Jeff Weiner, Joe Fucigna, and Cardiel.

“Now formalized under the leadership of Cardiel, Kristin Myers, and Meggan Ellingboe, Off The Record establishes its founding chapter in Los Angeles. The organization aims to connect industry leaders through curated gatherings over coffee, happy hours, and dinners. Boutique consultancy Listening Party Agency joined as one of the initiative’s first launch partners, underscoring its industry-wide support.”

“The idea remains the same as when we first started – connecting the well-appointed but often siloed podcast leaders who truly care about the future of the medium,” Cardiel said. “These leaders hold deep expertise across the industry’s ecosystem and have a clear vision of what’s missing and what needs fixing, but are too isolated to affect widespread change.”

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