The Qube and E3 Radio | CAC July Newsletter
Our busy summer continues — here's what's in this newsletter:
- Notes from our conversation with Anna DeShawn, co-founder of The Qube, and our special guest for our July CAC Zoom meeting
- Our Sound Design Talk with Jeffrey Nils Gardner is filling up, don’t miss out!
- We're hosting a Brisket Cookout and potluck in August — come join us!
- Plus some other audio-adjacent events happening this summer!
- Reminder to check out our Chicago Audiomakers Directory
- A few job postings in the Chicago area
- And a call for paid story pitches
Our Conversation with Anna DeShawn
I'd like to make a case for Anna DeShawn being recognized as one of the pillars of the Chicago podcasting scene. As you'll read here, she's been doing the work many of us care about in telling important but under-reported stories, and using that work to explore and tackle some of the challenges podcasting as a medium faces.
If you're unfamiliar, Anna founded E3 Radio in 2009, an online radio station playing Queer music & reporting on Queer news. Alongside E3 Radio, Anna also hosts the Queer News podcast, which in 2023 won an Ambie.
In 2020, she co-founded The Qube, a podcast production company and curated platform to discover the best music & podcasts by BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. It's as part of The Qube that Anna has organized the Podcast Salon event series that's been ongoing in Chicago for the last couple years. Anna was also recently inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame.
E3 Radio and Queer News
One of the strengths of podcasting is the ability to cater to a very specific audience. Queer News is an excellent example of that.
After sharing this trailer, Anna told us that she is never at a loss to find stories - even positive ones - to cover for Queer News. Instead, she says, there is so much depth and detail out in the world that we miss, and so many stories that go untold.
Addressing Discoverability and Preservation
In addition to E3 Radio and Queer News, Anna is also the co-founder of The Qube. The Qube is a podcast production company and curated platform aimed at tackling the perennial "discoverability" issue that podcasting faces.
If you follow the podcast industry, you've likely heard discussion about "discoverability," referring to the shortcomings in current technology and apps in pairing the right listeners with the right content. Algorithmic platforms like Tiktok, YouTube, Netflix and others are built to serve users with content targeted for them, and to allow users to be very selective in searching for what they want. There is no parallel for podcasting.
Addressing that is one of the goals of The Qube, which specifically curates content produced by BIPOC and QTPOC creators, allowing listeners to choose from a wide selection of categories that fit them — hosts under 20, hosts over 40, first generation, bi-lingual, etc... All of which are aimed to make it easier for shows and audiences to find each other.
Another perennial but often under-appreciated issue is how fickle tech platforms are. Having worked in tech in the past, Anna has personally seen how easy it is for digital artifacts, media, and art to disappear. To begin to address that issue, The Qube has released their first LP putting podcasts on to vinyl.
For the last couple years, The Qube has hosted a recurring Podcast Salon event series, hosting podcast producers and audiences in the same space to share and talk about their work. After completing the first year of Podcast Salon, they celebrated by including clips from 13 different shows on the first Podcast Salon Vinyl.
As we go about our careers, hobbies, or days of listening, it's worth keeping these problems in mind. This medium is already facing plenty of "headwinds" to use corporate speak. If we really care about what we do, we should also think about how we make our work more impactful by fixing discoverability, and make sure our work is preserved for years (and generations) to come.
If you're interested in picking up a copy of the Podcast Salon Vinyl, a small number are still available for purchase here!
Sound Design Interactive Talk
You may have heard the news that we're now offering our Sound Design training on Zoom — now it’s much easier for more people to join us! And the donation of CAC Founding Supporter Rick Schwartz has also allowed us to cut the price in half.
Date: Sunday, July 12
Location: Zoom
Time: 2 - 3:30pm (CT)
Tickets: $25, purchase here
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.
Designed for beginner and intermediate skill levels. No prior experience with sound design or fiction podcasting is required.
Who is Jeffrey Nils Garner?
Jeffrey Nils Gardner (they/them) is a director, audio artist, and sound designer. Through their studio Audacious Machine Creative, they've made fiction podcasts like The Harbingers (a 2025 Tribeca Festival selection) and Unwell, a Midwestern Gothic Mystery (winner of the 2021 BBC Best Audio drama award), and have worked on shows for Audible, Atypical Artists, Vox, Gideon Media, Rusty Quill Ltd, and more.
Brisket Cookout and Potluck — August 2nd!
What's a better way to enjoy the summer than a nice cookout on the beach? If you were on our June Zoom call, you may have heard me mention that my freezer has been jam packed with a massive hunk of brisket. (much larger than the one pictured below).
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!
Details:
- Location: Montrose Beach (exact location to be shared by partiful below)
- Date: August 2nd at 4:30pm
- RSVP: Partiful Link
See you there!
2026 Summer Soundwalk Series
Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE) is excited to announce their 2026 Summer Soundwalks In the Parks program, marking the 10th annual partnership with Night Out In The Parks and Chicago Parks District.
Between June and September, everyone is invited to explore the art of soundwalking in 6 different public parks. Led by artists and special guests, these soundwalks guide our listening awareness across the natural and cultural dimensions of Chicago. Join MSAE for community and contemplation as we consider and share our auditory perspectives.
Chicago Audiomakers Directory
It's been a few months since we last shouted out our Chicago Audiomakers Directory. If you're not familiar, this is a directory of audio professionals, freelancers, and hobbyists in the Chicago area.
Chicago Audiomakers Directory
Looking to work with a local company or professional for an audio project? Or maybe you're just looking to meet some new people in the city? Here are two lists — one of companies based out of Chicago, the other for people.
Looking to work with a local company or professional for an audio project? Or maybe you're just looking to meet some new people in the city? Here are two lists — one of companies based out of Chicago, the other for people.
Chicago Audio Jobs
This is a non-exhaustive list of audio related job postings in the Chicago area. If you've got a job to share, shoot me an email at ian@chiaudiocollective.com
- NEW: Beat Reporter, White Sox at Chicago Public Media (link)
- Digital Content Producer at WBBM-Audacy (link)
- WBBM News Radio Full-Time News Anchor/Reporter at WBBM-Audacy (link)
- Associate Editor, Black Information Network remote at iHeart (link)
- Lead Producer (Pioneers of AI) at WaitWhat (link)
- Assistant News Editor at Chicago Public Media (link)
Paid Pitch Opportunity
All The Best is currently seeking new stories! Send your pitches for short audio features, documentaries, journalism, fiction and radio art 8 - 12 minutes in length. They are open to pitches on any subject, but here are some prompts to aid your ideation: RUNAWAY, MECHANICAL, PRAYER & EDGE. If selected, you'll be paired with a Supervising Producer, and supported through the pitch, production and broadcast phases and receive a $200AUD honorarium.
P.S. Congrats to CAC member Sheila Solomon for being renewed for another season of Aging Rewired!