First Time First Catch | Natalie Grace

Natalie Grace Alford was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1987. She was raised in a suburb of Chicago and was classically trained in music from the age of 11. She is a multi instrumentalist playing piano, guitar, and uses loop pedals to perform and make the song live. She has opened for various artists such as Jack Garrett, Nellie Mckay, Tim Fite and many more amazing artists. She was also named The Deli Music Magazine's artist of the month for March of 2017. You can find her music on ITunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, Google Play, and Amazon.

Produced by Brian Heath

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Test - Allie Wachowski

explicit language

The self appointed Mariah Carey of the midwest, Allie Wachowski has been described by bouncers as the "Wicked Witch of Logan Square," "Logan Square Famous", and "Can You Stop?" She's an aspiring Instagram honey and one third of the world's only living podcast, Amateur Hour. You can find her in her element on twitter @alliewach. She politely requests you refrain from speaking to her about anything that isn't hot dogs.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Test - Dan Epstein

explicit language

Dan started in radio in the 1990s as a DJ and producer for jazz stations in San Diego and San Francisco. During that time, Dan was co-producer of an occasional radio comedy series called The Cabinet of Dr. Marconi. As a CHIRP volunteer, Dan's been news director, one-third of the production director triumvirate, and features producer. He likes hats, and his 1979 Vespa scooter. Dan can trace his lineage all the way back to the first single-celled organism.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein
 

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Test - Bill Ayers

explicit language

William Ayers, formerly Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has written extensively about social justice and democracy, education and the cultural contexts of schooling, and teaching as an essentially intellectual, ethical, and political enterprise. His books include A Kind and Just Parent; Teaching toward Freedom; Fugitive Days: A Memoir; Public Enemy: Confessions of an American Dissident; On the Side of the Child; To Teach: The Journey, in Comics;  and Demand the Impossible! A Radical Manifesto.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Test - Britt Julious

explicit language

Britt Julious is a twenty-something journalist, essayist, storyteller and filmmaker. She regularly contributes to Esquire, ELLE, GQ, The Guardian,  Vice, Pitchfork, and many others. Her work focuses on the intersection of feminism, race, music, art and culture. She's a columnist for the Chicago Tribune and an editor for Vice’s THUMP. She also hosts The Back Talk, a storytelling podcast featuring original stories from women of color. She wants to remind everyone that although 2016 was been terrible, both Beyonce and Solange released new albums, so there's that.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Test - Sarah Sherman

explicit language

Sarah is a visual artist, stand-up comedian and all-around Gross Girl currently living in Chicago. She runs a monthly showcase HELLTRAP NIGHTMARE: A Night of Comedy Horror and Noise Music Terror, that has been really freaking everybody out.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Issue - Ozivell Ecford

explicit language

Ozivell Ecford is a songwriter, designer, and performer. He has studied at Depaul and the International Academy of Design and Technology. He's worked with the Old Town School of Folk Music as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has produced and composed for a number of independent films, plays, local artists, and bands, and performs with his band Kick Bricks regionally and nationally. Ecford was ranked as one of Chicago’s Top Ten Teaching Artists by 3Arts.org in 2014 and 2015.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Issue - Tristan A. Smith

explicit language

Tristan A. Smith is an actor, writer, and comedian born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up on the city's South Side in the Bronzeville neighborhood. It's a known fact amongst performers that great art comes through Chicago. Tristan has spent more than enough time in the city to provide all the evidence you need of just how special the homegrown talent is. A lot of elements have had a hand in crafting Tristan's artistry both in Chicago and in his travels. From his time in Atlanta at Morehouse College, to his improv and writing training at Act One Studios and Second City, to his everyday experiences. All of it makes an impact. He is honored to be working with Chirp Radio for the first time and happy you are listening.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Issue - Chris Trani

explicit language

Comedian and immigration rights activist Chris Trani tells the story of how he posed as a journalist from Street Wise to interview Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Issue - Dustin Drase

explicit language

If you’ve been to Chicago in the past two decades, you've probably seen or heard Dustin somewhere -- be it DJing, hosting a radio show, or peddling records at local fairs and events. Obsessive record collecting as a teenager led him down the path of music journalism (Magnet, Dusted, MTV2, Stop Smiling), then to hosting a radio show and DJing. You can currently hear Dustin at monthly gigs at Coles or the Whistler in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. A veteran of the local record label scene, Dustin spent time in the trenches at Locust, Drag City, and the archival reissue label The Numero Group. In 2015, he was nominated for a GRAMMY (Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package) an A2IM Award (Creative Packaging) and won an AIM award (UK) for his work on the Numero release, Cities of Darskcorch. As if all that weren't enough to keep him busy, he also runs/owns two boutique record labels, Addenda and Plustapes. In the few instances when he has free time, Dustin enjoys playing board games and indulges his more nerdy interests by collecting comic books and vintage synthesizers.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Gig - Elle Quintana

explicit language

If good stories come from a riotous life, Elle’s background is just the thing. Born in Albuquerque, she traveled her whole life, which involved attending 22 different schools, before landing in Chicago 20 years ago. She’s been a talent buyer (translation: books bands) for 17 years, and loves whiskey, taking naps, bad decisions, and her daughter. In 1980 at Washington Elementary in Kalamazoo, MI, she won student of the month. She considers that the pinnacle of her success.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Gig - Rachel McCartney

explicit language

Rachel McCartney has performed in way too many bars to still look so out of place in them. Based in Chicago, she is a regular at the Laugh Factory, and recently made her Comedians You Should Know debut opening for Drew Michael at his album recording. She has also performed at the Comedy Exposition, the Green Gravel Comedy Festival, and the Orlando Indie Comedy Festival.

The Chicago Tribune once described her as a "New Year's treat," which probably made more sense when the article was published in early January. In less calendar-sensitive praise, local legend Peter-john Byrnes once called her "Chicago's foremost grammar comedian," and she plans to have that distinction carved into her headstone.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Gig - Ada Cheng

Ada Cheng is renegade academic and a professor turned storyteller, improviser, and comedian. She is a recent Moth story slam winner, Bughouse Square Debate runner up, and presenter at The National Storytelling Network Conference. In her free time, she loves sleeping (with or without cats) and playing with cats (sleeping or not). Her motto is: Make your life the best story you tell.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Gig - Alicia Swiz

explicit language

Alicia Swiz is a professor and performer who facilitates conversations about feminism and pop-culture through humor, candid observation and being really smart. She teaches Media & Gender Studies at Harold Washington College and is the creator of SlutTalk, a performance that raises awareness of slut shaming and encourages sex positivity. Sometimes she's funny; sometimes she's not. Find her on the Internet @popgoesalicia

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

First Time First Gig - Billy Kalb

explicit language

Billy is a CHIRP Radio lifer – he was there the weekend it first came together, and they've been stuck with him ever since, as a board member, erstwhile DJ, and even Music Director for the station's first five years. In his 30 years on this planet, he's owned three iPods, gotten his picture taken with Ludacris, and had a letter published in Yahoo! Internet Life, not necessarily in that order. When he's not striving to make an honest living, he lives with his wife and their two pet rabbits in Humboldt Park, where he cooks, mourns the decline of the modern super hero comic, and tries not to drink his beer so fast.

produced by Brian Heath and Dan Epstein

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time 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

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts

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

Download this episode Subscribe to all podcasts Subscribe to all First Time podcasts