When I was an undergraduate at University of Oregon I worked at the college radio station. KWVA Eugene was on the left hand of the dial at 88.1 FM, and it was where I spent a majority of my time. As both DJ and co-music director, it was the place where I had the most fun and learned some of my biggest lessons of my student career, the thing from all my days as a student that made the biggest impression on me. I learned many of the facets necessary for running a radio station, including sound equipment use and maintenance, the nuances of voiceovers, behind-the-scenes production, underwriting, and so many other things. The best part of course, was hearing all the new music and having my horizons broadened. When I went back to school to get a teaching certificate at Northeastern Illinois University, I also loved doing a radio show at WZRD 88.3 FM, and had just as much fun. When I left the world of school and entered the work force, it saddened me to leave college radio. I wasn't interested in working in commercial radio. I wasn't even interested in LISTENING to commercial radio.

That’s why I love that Chicago is host to a station like CHIRP where you don't have to be a student to DJ. And further, to be involved, you don't even have to be a DJ -- there's plenty of the behind-the-scenes stuff to be involved, to be part of the CHIRP community. In addition to my radio show, I've done things with other departments. I help with Features/Production, producing things for the award-winning CHIRP Podcast. Sometimes I write records reviews for the music department. I've even hosted trivia and performed at CHIRP's First Time reading series. All of this brings me joy.

CHIRP captures everything I love about college radio -- the wide breadth of music, the human DJs, and its involvement out in the city. Community radio really is a beautiful thing. But CHIRP isn't affiliated with a university to provide infrastructure and funding. It's run by people in the community of all ages and backgrounds, and that means I can get involved without being a student. And running community radio is not free, and I know this because of all of my past radio experience. It needs people like you and me to make it run. Help keep it as awesome as it is by getting me to the goal of $500.

You can tune in to my weekly show Well Now We're Both Awake on Wednesdays 6-9am. Archived shows are here.

Nobody owns us but you because this is community radio!

Please donate today to keep this 100% independent, commercial-free radio station going strong.