Dan Weissmann is a reporter. He’s the host and creator of An Arm and a Leg, a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it. Because Dan likes a challenge, the job he’s chosen with An Arm and a Leg is to take one of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing parts of American life — and create a show that’s entertaining, empowering, and useful. Before starting An Arm and a Leg in 2018, Dan was a staff reporter at WBEZ and Marketplace. His stories have appeared on shows like Reveal, 99 Percent Invisible, and Planet Money.

Most Monday nights, Dan can be found practicing with the Blue Ribbon Glee Club, singing the punk rock canon. If that sounds like something you might dig, it abso-fucking-lutely is. And if it sounds like something you might enjoy being part of, definitely hit Dan up after the show.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production by Andy Vasoyan and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

This week, Features contributor Michal Gliszewski speaks with Jeff Kelley, Heather Perry, and Karissa Talanian of Chicago-based post-punk group Plum. They discuss moving out of their "Chicago band hustle" phase of musicianship, the process behind writing their debut album Can't Hold Onto It, and a special string of live performances, including a train tour through Japan and opening for Jack White at a secret show at Reggie's.

"Doing so many shows in such a short time span in such an unfamiliar context, I think we got a lot tighter. We got a lot more confident in our ability to play. If we can play these songs jet lagged on the tiniest stage we've ever been on, we can play them anywhere, any context." - Jeff Kelley of Plum

Produced by Liz Mason.

Photo Credit: Shannon Marks

Jennifer L. Husbands was born and raised in the Philadelphia area.  Her two lifelong passions are music and education, though once she moved to Chicago, she made room in her heart for hometown boys Wilco, her now-husband CHIRP DJ Mike Bennett, and their amazing tween Skylar. Jenn has been a frequent guest DJ on WLUW 88.7's “The Mixtape Show” with Lou Berkman and appeared on a recent episode of “The Songseekers” podcast, where she discussed her love for Wilco and how she tells her life's story through music.  She is also producing a documentary film about Chicago folk-soul artist Terry Callier. 

Professionally, Jenn has held senior roles in philanthropy, at several education nonprofits, a charter management organization and a large school district.  She recently launched a consulting practice, Steward Education Advisors.  She currently serves on the advisory boards of the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Chicago Public Education Foundation.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production by Andy Vasoyan and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

This week, Features contributor Noah Haynes speaks with Sean and Ben Chicago-based cow punk band 96 Cougar. They discuss their newest full-length album, Forklift Radio, the evolution of "cow punk" as their genre, their love of releasing music on tape, and being a band of inside jokes.

"I think we kind of have an unofficial rule of no idea is too dumb as long as it rocks." - Sean, 96 Cougar

96 Cougar will be playing Cafe Mustache on April 14th.

Produced by Noah Haynes.

Photo Credit: Chris Semel

This week, Features contributor DJ Ninja speaks with jazz vocalist and composer Keri Johnsrud and woodwind specialist, performer, recording artist, and composer Shawn Maxwell. They discuss their musical beginnings, their collaborative album C8H10N4O2, and the nods to hometown Joliet in the tracklisting.

"Composing and coming up with tunes that tell stories, I feel it's a lot easier for me now than it was 20 years ago. I feel like I have so many ideas and if I could, I'd probably put out an album a month." - Shawn Maxwell

The Keri Johnsrud-Shawn Maxwell Band will be playing at City Winery on Tuesday, April 8.

Produced by DJ Ninja.

Photo Credit: Michael Barton

Natalie Whalen is a local comic, CHIRP DJ, and mediocre guitarist. She also loves to support and appreciate people who share their own version of these arts with the world. Natalie likes dogs, sandwiches, running, and adventure and chuckles in the face of a monotonous routine.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production by Andy Vasoyan and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

Steve is an Actor and Storyteller living in Chicago, IL. He's worked with several theatre companies in Chicago, most notably with Shattered Globe, The Mercury, and First Folio. He toured seven times with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and is currently understudying Macbeth at Invictus Theatre. If you didn't see him go on two days ago, then you blew it, that was his one guaranteed performance.

As a storyteller, Steve has been a repeat performer at Writer's Theatre's "Show and Tell" series, at The Gift Theatre's first annual "CampFire Stories", and has been featured on "The Moth Radio Hour," having won two Moth StorySlams and one Moth GrandSlam at the Athenaeum Theatre here in Chicago.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production by Andy Vasoyan and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

This week, Features contributor Juliet Davidson speaks with Lauren Owen of Staring Problem, a Chicago-based DIY proto-goth/shoegaze/no wave/dark wave three-piece. They discuss the band's 15-year run and various makeups, their newest album, Equinox, and the joys of collaborating.

"I thought it just felt like a more balanced time, coming out of COVID; looking for balance and acknowledging like the light and dark of everything. Just trying to find a harmony and then equating that with the physical season change of equinox." Lauren Owen on the naming of Staring Problem's release, Equinox

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Tina Mulroney

This week, Liz Mason speaks with Chicago-raised Latina DJ and Producer Christine Gutierrez and E of Dark Chisme, a Seattle-based dark wave band. They discuss Christine's DJ career in Seattle and how it led to the inspiration behind their performing name, the emotional guidance behind when to write in English and when to write in Spanish, and their comics and zine publishing studio, Really Easy Press.

"I am huge on mariachis and Mexican traditional singers, and I love the way that they sing out loud and you can just feel it in their soul what they're singing. I wanted to capture that in the music." - Christine Gutierrez

Produced by Liz Mason.

Photo Credit: Bella Petro

This week, Features co-director Marjorie Alford speaks with Darren Keen of Chicago one-man electronic band PROBLEMS. They discuss the genesis of his project PROBLEMS, Darren's transplant journey from Nebraska to New York and back to Nebraska, before finally landing here in Chicago, his booking company Personal Space Booking and their upcoming all day fest Personal Space Lost Weekend, the importance sobriety has played in his music career and life, and taking over booking for The Burlington.  

"Coming here to Chicago with some sobriety under my belt and working here in the scene ... doing what I do now it's the realization of a dream I couldn't have had otherwise." - Darren Keen of PROBLEMS on sobriety.

Catch PROBLEMS this Sunday, 01/26 at CHIRP Night at the Whistler, alongside Speed Babes.

Produced by: Marjorie Alford

Photo Credit: PROBLEMS