The Launch
Welcome to Good Tape!
This is the fortnightly newsletter of R2 Studios, a division of the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.
When audio folks get a high-quality piece of audio, they call it "good tape," even though most people haven't been recording on tape for some time now. This newsletter is here to bring you great audio content plus other fun stuff, so that's why we're calling it "Good Tape."
News from the studio
In each issue of this newsletter, you'll find out what our teams have been up to in the studio. You'll find out what new episodes have dropped since our last issue, and we might even tell you about what we're working on now.
Our seasons are just starting up, but you can follow both of our shows now so you don't miss an episode!
The Green Tunnel is our brand-new podcast about the history of the Appalachian Trail. Listen to our trailer now, and follow the show wherever you get your podcasts to learn more about the surprising history of this iconic long-distance hiking trail.
Consolation Prize just released the final bonus episode of Season 1. "Against the Grain" is an investigation by producers Deepthi Murali and Kris Stinson into the kinds of foods consuls might have seen being eaten around them. Learn how to prepare a freshly caught shark, and how a chewy bean provides sustenance to people at the end of their rope.
On our playlist
Each issue will also include one recommendation from a studio team member for a podcast they like. We're voracious podcast listeners around here, and we want to spread the love about the shows we listen to.
This week, our head of studio, Abby Mullen, is listening to a great show called This Land, whose new season just dropped a few weeks ago. This season, the show is about ICWA, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and how some people are trying to dismantle it. It's well worth a listen for a perspective on a too-little-known issue of Native sovereignty today.
Moment of delight
Roman Mars recently said that what makes a great podcast is the moments of delight. So in each issue, we're going to share a little moment of delight with you. It might be a fun video; it might be a nugget from the archives that didn't make it into our shows for the week. Whatever it is, it will brighten your day. We promise.
Here's your moment of delight for this week: a "bear announcer" in a shelter along the Appalachian Trail in 1941. Good luck getting away from the bear if it gets close enough to jangle it! Watch for more about danger from bears in an upcoming episode of the Green Tunnel.