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 that college radio was something I couldn't participate in because I wasn't a student, and I certainly 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 (at 107.1 FM -- the other end of the dial!) 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'm also a contributor to the CHIRP Radio Podcast Artist Interview Series where I've produced interviews with artists like Dark Chisme, Sacha Mullin and Born Days. And this is a podcast, by the way, that was voted Best Music Podcast in the Chicago Reader's Best of 2024!

CHIRP captures everything I loved about college radio -- the wide breadth of music, the human DJs, its involvement out in the city. Community radio really is a beautiful thing. But CHIRP isn't affiliated with a university. It's run by people in the community of all ages and backgrounds, and that means I can get involved without being a student. Unlike college radio, it isn't affiliated with a university to help fund it. And running community radio is not free. It needs people like you and me to make it run. I started volunteering there a year ago, and I want to do my part to help keep it as awesome as it is. Help me meet my goal of $500.

You can tune in to my show Well Now We're Both Awake on CHIRP radio 107.1FM for my weekly Wednesday early AM 6-9am show. You can also listen on the CHIRP radio app or at chirpradio.org, and listen to archived shows here.

Thanks for supporting community radio!

Help us celebrate fifteen years of CHIRP!

It's hard to believe that it's been a decade and a half since we launched the station! Some things have changed a lot, but what's stayed the same is our commitment to bringing you live, local, commercial-free music programming lovingly curated by our DJs every single day, plus dozens of events that showcase our city's diverse music, arts and cultural scenes.

In 2025 we're celebrating our history while looking to the future, including rebuilding our website and mobile app into a sleek integrated web app that we know you'll love.

We are a truly independent, listener-supported station. Your generosity has helped us thrive over the past fifteen years, and will keep us going for decades to come.

If you believe CHIRP contributes meaningfully to the musical and cultural life of Chicago and want to make sure the station stays strong, please make a donation to show your support today. 

IMPORTANT: If you would like to become a sustaining member by making a recurring donation (monthly or quarterly), or if you want to select a thank you gift, please visit chirpradio.org/donatenow to make your contribution (and to give in support of the person making this post, be sure to type their full name in the "volunteer to credit" section so they can receive credit for your gift).

And if you're interested in joining CHIRP's major donor program, The Vinyl Circle, with a gift of $500 or above, please use this form.