The First Time is a regular storytelling and reading series benefiting CHIRP Radio. Each reader tells a personal story based on that month’s theme, and requests a song that’s played by our band, The First Time Three.

First Time First Chance - Tim Akimoff

Contains explicit language

Tim is a writer, editor, multimedia producer and digital journalist. He oversees digital content and social engagement for Chicago Public Media.

Prior to coming to WBEZ in July, 2012, Tim was the director of digital content at KTUU-Channel 2, the NBC affiliate in Anchorage Alaska, where he directed digital coverage of two Iditarod dog sled races and traveled the state extensively to help connect Alaska’s remote rural communities with hub communities as well as the urban population in Anchorage.

In addition to his radio and television experience, Tim’s background is in print reporting. He worked as a newspaper journalist in Kyiv, Ukraine during the leadup to the Orange Revolution, and he covered cities, state government and crime and courts for various newspapers in Oregon and Montana.

He is an award-winning blogger and a storyteller at heart with an interest in collecting unique storytelling styles from around the globe.

Podcast produced by Dan Epstein and Meg Ritter Alles

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First Time First Chance - Ali Clayton

Contains explicit language

Ali Clayton is a southern girl and proud of it!  After receiving a BA in theatre performance in 2008 she left her home state of NC to pursue her dreams of becoming a comedian.

She has been performing stand-up for five years and can been seen all around Chicago talking about her favorite things; her southern upbringing and her sexual encounters.

Ali’s one-woman show “I’m Different, Not Dumb” has been featured at the NC Comedy Arts Fest, Chicago Sketch Comedy Fest and Chicago Women’s Funny Fest.  

Recently the internationally renowned art blog Art F City mentioned “What Am I Looking At?”; an art review web series hosted by Ali.  Watch all the episodes here [url=http://channelwaila.tumblr.com]http://channelwaila.tumblr.com[/url].

She has been honored to be part of TBS Just for Laughs Chicago for the past four years and to be named one of the 50 Hot Women in Comedy by AfterEllen.com.

Podcast produced by Dan Epstein

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First Time First Chance - Richard Joyce

Contains explicit language

Richard Joyce is a Chicago-based writer and storyteller. He hosts Collector's Edition, a reading series that brings together essays and live music to tell stories about the roles that pop songs have in people's lives.  Collector's Edition was previously hosted at Upstairs Gallery, and recently began a run at The Hideout. When Richard isn't working on the show, his time is spent roasting coffee, playing Street Fighter and researching Prince.

Podcast produced by Dan Epstein

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First Time First Chance - Nicole Oppenheim

Contains explicit language

Nicole grew up in northern New Jersey, but attended high school in central Ohio. Before settling in Chicago, she spent a bunch of time in Boston & New Haven, CT. So although she currently resides in the Midwest, she remains an East Coast girl at heart. Nicole majored in English, minored in Classics, & has a Master's Degree in Art History (or as her mom likes to call it, "gainful employment." Zing!).

She's the current host of Ear Candy, which you can catch Friday mornings 9-noon on CHIRP Radio. Fun fact: Nicole owns THREE pairs of bamboo earrings.

Podcast produced by Dan Epstein

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First Time First Chance - Freda Love Smith

Contains explicit language

Freda Love Smith is a writer, drummer, and lecturer living in Evanston. She was a founding member and drummer of The Blake Babies with Juliana Hatfield, and has since played with Antenna, The Mysteries of Life, and Some Girls. She interviews musicians about food for Paste and writes about food on her blog,lovesmiths.blogspot.com. Her memoir/cookbook, Red Velvet Underground, is forthcoming on Agate.

Podcast produced by Dan Epstein

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