Alex Gilbert is a graphic designer, illustrator, and DJ. Originally from Iowa, he's lived in Chicago for over a decade, working and volunteering with such organizations as the Design Museum of Chicago, the Society of Typographic Arts, Spudnik Press Cooperative, and CHIRP Radio. He currently works for a small design studio in Ravenswood and spends his free time drawing, list making, record collecting, and singing karaoke (sometimes competitively). You can listen to his show on CHIRP every Thursday afternoon, 3-6pm, and you can follow his typographically-focused Instagram at @everyday_type.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producers Bobby Evers, Hadas Werman and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.