Events
Chicago Audiomakers Collective is intended as a jumping off point for meeting new people, finding events, and getting connected with the Chicago audio community in general. We do that in a few ways:
Monthly Meetings
We host monthly meetings on Zoom. These meetings are free to join for anyone in our membership. If you aren't a member, all you need to do is sign up for our newsletter!
These meetings are a great opportunity to meet and connect with other makers, hobbyists, and professionals in the greater Chicago area. We frequently feature special guests and host discussions.
We've actually got a whole page dedicated to these calls.
Public Events
Outside of our monthly meetings, we also host and curate audio related events happening in Chicago.
If you want to stay in the loop, you can also subscribe to our CAC calendar which aggregates all events — not just CAC sponsored ones.
- ICS Feed — copy this link and open your calendar app of choice. Find the option to subscribe to a calendar, and paste the link in.
- Google Calendar — open this link and click "add to Google Calendar" in the bottom left (or click the same link in the embedded calendar below)
If you've got an event you want to add, contact Ian: ian@chiaudiocollective.com.
Upcoming Events
Check out some of what's coming up in the Chicago audio world!
CAC Happy Hour at Pilot Project Brewing
September 30th from 6-8pm
Join us on September 30th at Pilot Project Brewing in Wrigleyville for our next Happy Hour! We'll be there from 6-8pm. Address is 3473 N Clark St, just by the Addison Red Line stop.
CAC October Meeting - Sarah Jamgotch
October 1st at 5pm CT
Join us for a conversation with Sarah Jamgotch, a multi-hyphenate intersectional storyteller working in sci-fi, horror, and emotional drama. She’s a finalist screenwriter, award-winning indie director, and the creator of the thrice-nominated indie-budget web series, Frequency. With her education in social work, her work explores silence, connection, and what’s left unsaid.
CAC November Meeting - Points North
November 5th at 5pm CT
Join us for a conversation with the people behind Interlochen Public Radio's show, Points North. Points North is an award-winning podcast about the land, water, and inhabitants of the Great Lakes. Through narrative, sound-rich journalism that is deeply rooted in a sense of place, each episode entertains, informs, and surprises listeners everywhere.
Past Events
Check out some examples of the events we include on our calendar.
7/12/26 - Sound Design Talk
Audio fiction sound designer Jeffrey Nils Gardner will walk you through their process for building immersive, engaging audio worlds, with looks into their DAW sessions and lots of listening to new and old audio fiction. This talk will have something for fiction designers, nonfiction producers, voice over directors, and anyone in-between.
No prior experience with sound design or fiction podcasting is required.
8/2/26 - CAC Brisket Cookout
To celebrate the summer, we're hosting a Brisket Cookout and Potluck on August 2nd! We'll gather near Montrose Beach near the lake! I'll bring the brisket and some pairings, all are welcome to join, and encouraged (but not required) to bring a dish to share. Partners and kids are welcome!
6/12/26 - Podcast Salon Pride Edition
June 12th
In this edition, we are honored to feature Jana Naomi Smith, creator/writer/director of the two-time Ambie award-winning podcast Red for Revolution. Jana will sit down with Chicago’s own award-winning host and producer, Anna DeShawn. Red for Revolution is a six-part Black lesbian coming of age story exploring love and liberation.
5/28/26 - Exhibitionism (Vol. 1) Hosted by Gerber/Hart Library and Archives
May 28th 6 - 8PM
Starting late 2024, the artist, Clover, began offering a tape recorder to participants at queer sex parties and public cruising events. The recorder was left for attendees to engage with as they saw fit, and they were given the prompt “talk about your debauchery.”
This installation is a result of those recordings. It explores intimacy, sex, and identity, in the vein of Mermaid Palace’s The Heart, LOVE+RADIO’s The Secrets Hotline, and audio erotica like Dipsea.
In alignment with the theme of exhibitionism, those entering the listening booths will be recorded on video as they listen to the installation.
4/17/26 - Audio Makers in Chicago Meetup!
Join us in Chicago for an in-person meetup where you can meet, connect, and catch up with fellow audio makers.
If you're in town for the Society of Environmental Journalists Conference or Audiophile, this is the perfect opportunity to cross-pollinate with attendees from other conferences AND meet the locals who make up Chicago's audio scene!
This meetup is organized by the Chicago Audiomakers Collective (CAC), Institute for Independent Journalists (IIJ) and the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR).
4/16 - 4/17/26 - Northwestern Audiophile Conference
Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications and School of Communication are thrilled to announce the inaugural Audiophile conference.
Audiophile is a conference to inspire sound creators and storytellers. By focusing on craft and creativity, Audiophile brings together designers, journalists, engineers and producers across the audio spectrum to celebrate possibilities that open the world of sound. The conference will be held over two days in downtown Chicago on April 16 and 17, 2026.
4/10/26 - The Podcast Salon April Edition
In their first edition of 2026, the Podcast Salon is honored to feature podcasting legend TK Dutes. TK will sit down with Chicago’s own award-winning host and producer, Anna DeShawn. She will take us behind the scenes of her newest project, The Secret Life of TK Dutes.
3/29/26 - CAC Presents: Still Listening
March 29th: 6pm at Lincoln Lodge
If you love audio or you just love discovering something new, this listening event is for you! The evening will feature audio–from sound art to archival sounds to podcast excerpts and more–on the theme of Heartland in all its many meanings.
2/11/26 - CAC Happy Hour at Sleeping Village
Join us from 5:30-7:30pm at Sleeping Village!
No RSVP needed, just join when you can!
We're hosting our first Happy Hour, it's a chance for audio producers to gather in person and make new friends and connections across the city. Join us between 5:30 and 8:30pm at Sleeping Village on Belmont.
1/25/26 - Signal Hill Chicago Listening Party
Join Signal Hill at 4pm at Mouse Arts and Letters Club
"At 4pm, we’ll listen to Rachel James’ story from the second issue of Signal Hill: “The Learning Play,” After we listen to Rachel’s story, we’ll pause for tea and snacks, and then (for those brave enough), hold a collective reading of The Measures Taken."
10/18/25 - Arts in the Dark - 11th Anniversary Parade
Arts in the Dark is a celebration of Chicago's vibrant arts and cultural communities. CAC is representing our cities historic and important audio community!
8/16/25 - The Podcast Salon - August Edition
This fresh, new monthly event series is designed to help you discover, listen to, and support the best podcasts you can’t find. Join us for an intimate listening event with silent headphones creating a truly captivating audio experience.
7/31/25 - CAC Presents: Audio Flux in Chicago
July 31st: 7pm CST (doors at 6:30pm)
The Chicago Audiomakers Collective presents an evening of innovative, short-form audio works from around the world with audio icon Julie Shapiro, co-creator of Audio Flux.
The Podcast Salon - June Edition
This fresh, new monthly event series is designed to help you discover, listen to, and support the best podcasts you can’t find. Join us for an intimate evening of listening with silent headphones creating a truly captivating audio experience.
5/28/25: Sound Opinions LIVE with Valerie June
Take a late lunch hour and join Jim DeRogatis & Greg Kot for a LIVE taping of Sound Opinions at the Goose Island Salt Shed Pub featuring an interview and performance from Valerie June.
6/5/25: Northwestern Presents: What Does Forward - Thinking Audio Politics Sound Like?
CAC's own Derek John will be a panelist alongside Jeffrey Gardner of Audacious Machine, and Mariah Woelfel of WBEZ. The panel will be moderated by associate professor in RTVF, co-founder and director of the MA program in Sound Arts and Industries Niel Varma.