We're seeking new members for our 2025 Board of Directors, as well as our founding Associate Board for young professionals 35 and under. Details and application at each of the links above.
CHIRP Podcasts
First Time First Taste - Fran Hoepfner
Fran Hoepfner is a writer and comedian from Chicago. She has written both pop culture criticism and personal essays for The AV Club, Brooklyn Magazine, Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, and Jezebel, among several others. She can be seen performing stand-up around the city, most notably as a resident of the monthly Bell Hop showcase with Ian Abramson at the Virgin Hotel. She currently works as the Digital Editor at The Onion.
produced by Dan Epstein and Brian Heath
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Artist Interviews Yeesh
Chicago band Yeesh came by the CHIRP studios to chat with CHIRP volunteer Amelia Hruby just after the release of their second album, Confirmation Bias, on Tiny Engines. They spoke about the making of the album, how the band got started back in 2010, and what exactly does (or doesn't) happen when you call the Yeesh hotline (646-38-YEESH).
produced by Amelia Hruby (@ajhruby)
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First Time First Taste - Terry Gant
explicit language
Terry Gant of the South Side Gants, is the owner of Third Coast Comics in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, on Loyola’s Lakeshore Campus. The shop started in 2005 as an online comic book store, specializing in graphic novels.The original business model of local delivery of comics to you at your home, workplace or favorite bar resembled the business model of an industrious drug dealer and proved to be just as sustainable. In the summer of 2008 Third Coast Comics became a “Brick and Mortar” operation in Edgewater and this past winter moved to Rogers Park on Sheridan Rd.
Terry earned his BA in Marketing (focusing on geeks) from DePaul University and would consider a MA in Marketing (again to geeks) if he ever planned to get another day job, which he hopes he never has to do. Terry is 50% of all of the African American comic book retailers in the Midwest and has been paid to play Dungeons & Dragons. He has also parlayed all of his nerd cred into about 30 minutes and 20 seconds on both NPR and Good Morning America this year.
Terry currently lives in Evanston, IL with his very patient and understanding wife. In an alternate universe they have 3 daughters named Beckah, Katy and Norway.
produced by Dan Epstein and Brian Heath
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Artist Interviews Girl Band
After their set at the 2016 Pitchfork Music Festival, Daniel and Adam of Dublin-based group Girl Band caught up with CHIRP volunteer Amelia Hruby. They talked about what it was like to play noise punk outside mid-afternoon on a sunny day, how food has inspired some of their lyrics, and what girls they might invite to join Girl Band.
produced by Amelia Hruby (@ajhruby)
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First Time First Taste - Maggie Kubley
explicit language
Maggie Kubley is a multidisciplinary performer and musician who creates confessional solo theater pieces and performative piano pop and aggressive girl pop as part of Celine Neon, a grime pop duo out of Chicago. Since 2006, Kubley has performed both her music and theater projects in a wide variety of venues, bars, living rooms, clubs, basements, and theaters throughout the city. Her work focuses primarily on love, death, addict tendencies, and sex/romance and has has been featured in the The Chicago Tribune, Chicagoist, The Redeye, and Gaperʼs Block.
produced by Dan Epstein and Brian Heath
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