It's the Alien Broadcast with your host and resident alien, Sarah Spencer.
About Sarah Spencer
I'm a multi-passionate weirdo that keeps her fingers in many pies, and one of those pies is sweet, sweet music. I've been a DJ at CHIRP since I first moved to Chicago from Vancouver, Canada in 2018, and I've hosted the Saturday morning show since 2020. I'm a working fine artist, working primarily with textiles making weird, unwashable quilts. My passion for music often mixes into my art, and I've made pieces inspired by Sharon Van Etten, David Bowie, Ibibio Sound Machine, Aldous Harding, Queen Latifah, Fever Ray and more. You can check out my work here: https://www.iothealien.com
After 8 years as a CHIRP Radio DJ, my family is leaving Chicago and I'll be saying goodbye to my Saturday morning show on July 4, 2026. Thank you to everyone who has spent their Saturday mornings hanging out with me over the years. ❤️
Recent Playlists
Sat 07/04 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:52 AM
Prologue
With every ending comes a new beginning. Love you all, and thanks for an amazing 8 years. <3
Kamasi Washington
Fearless Movement
8:48 AM
Deliverance
2020
Sa-Roc
The Sharecropper's Daughter
8:46 AM
Gostar do Mundo
2022
Sessa
Estrela Acesa
8:40 AM
Cancel Me (I'm Tired)
Album out 10/2
Fat Dog
Cancel Me (I'm Tired)
8:37 AM
Lost Boys
Album out 8/14
Phoebe Bridgers
Lost Weekend
8:31 AM
Powerless
Album out 9/18
Emma Ruth Rundle
These Killing Times
8:25 AM
Dare to Be Stupid
For Chesley! This one definitely won't make me cry. :)
"Weird Al" Yankovic
The Essential Weird Al Yankovic
8:22 AM
EARTHA
LOCAL
2019
Jamila Woods
LEGACY! LEGACY!
8:18 AM
Voyager
New single
PJ Harvey
Voyager
8:11 AM
Night Drive (featuring Dagmawit Ameha)
2026
Alewya
Zero
8:07 AM
Les Fleurs
LOCAL
Minnie Riperton
Come To My Garden
8:03 AM
Gift Shop
The Tragically Hip
Yer Favourites
Sat 07/04 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:58 AM
I'm Not Done
2009
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
7:54 AM
Olympic Airways
Going out to Matthew. Thanks for listening all these years. (Also, forgot to write, the prevous Tuck & Patti song goes out to Nate in Philly! Thanks for listening all these years, too! You and Matthew always seem to request around the same time. haha!)
Foals
Antidotes
7:47 AM
Castles Made of Sand / Little Wing
Tuck & Patti
Pure Tuck & Patti
7:39 AM
Shy
1989
Peter Murphy
Deep
7:36 AM
Ar·ti·fi·cial
LOCAL
2025
8-bit crEEps
Sunset from the Shallows
7:33 AM
TACO BELL RACING JACKET
LOCAL
2026
Serengeti
KENNYV
7:26 AM
Casuarina
At Metro 8/27
Pond
Terrestrials
7:23 AM
Streets of Love
2026
Gráinne Duffy
What Am I Supposed To Do
7:19 AM
Love and Anger
1989
Kate Bush
The Sensual World
7:10 AM
When I'm gone
2026
E.VAX
Just Like Fire
7:06 AM
Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like That)
1993
Digable Planets
Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)
7:02 AM
The Wild-Eyed Boy from Freecloud (rare B-side version)
David Bowie
Sound + Vision
Sat 07/04 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:56 AM
Raat Ki Rani
2024
Arooj Aftab
Night Reign
6:51 AM
Praise Jesus Hail Reagan
At Beat Kitchen 7/19
Emperor X
Unified Field
6:47 AM
I'll Take You There
LOCAL
1972
The Staples Singers
Be Altitude: Respect Yourself
6:43 AM
Accidental Tattoo
Out 9/4
case/lang/veirs
case/lang/viers (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
6:39 AM
So Long
2022
Danielle Ponder
Some Of Us Are Brave
6:34 AM
Miss You
Going out to Curtis. Thanks for listening all these years!
54-40
Fight for Love
6:30 AM
Waiting
At the Old Town School of Folk Music 9/24
Beth Orton
The Ground Above
6:24 AM
Hello Hooray
Going out to Jane and Brutus. Thanks for listening all these years. <3
Alice Cooper
Billion Dollar Babies
6:20 AM
Follow
LOCAL
At the Chicago Theater 10/8
Andrew Sa
American Rough
6:14 AM
All That You Give (feat. Fontella Bass)
My favorite album
The Cinematic Orchestra
Every Day
6:06 AM
Promise
LOCAL
2026
Tasha
You Are Spring!
6:03 AM
Star Spangled Banner (Live)
Going out to Panda!
Jimi Hendrix
Experience Hendrix (The Best Of Jimi Hendrix)
6:00 AM
No Beginning
2023
Tony Allen & Adrian Younge
Tony Allen JID018
Sat 06/27 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:51 AM
Beam/Spiral
2020
The Nels Cline Singers
Share the Wealth
8:45 AM
Bilmece
2026
Sosyete '25
Yaygara
8:42 AM
Unison (featuring Lisa Gerrard)
2018
The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices
BooCheeMish
8:37 AM
Who's Gonna Love You Now?
Album out 9/11
The Tubs
Hard Life
8:33 AM
Cap in Hand
album out 10/18
EELS
Cookie Happened
8:31 AM
Get Away From Me (I Think I'll Love You Soon)
Album out 9/25; at the Riviera 11/14
Julia Jacklin
The Gem
8:23 AM
None to Come
LOCAL
2021
Emily Jane Powers
Isometry
8:20 AM
Weekend
LOCAL
2026
The Honey Beat
The Honey Beat
8:18 AM
Wants for Everyone
At the Empty Bottle 7/16 with Hunx and His Punx
Slippers
Slippers 08
8:09 AM
Come Back Jonee
At the Credit Union 1 Aphitheater 9/17 w/ the B-52s
Devo
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
8:08 AM
PIRATE RADIO
At the Empty Bottle 11/10
Genesis Owusu
REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE
8:01 AM
Narcissus
2020
Róisín Murphy
Róisín Machine
Sat 06/27 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:58 AM
Discoteca Fugitiva
2026
Terror/Cactus
Colapso
7:54 AM
Machine
LOCAL
2009
Anni Rossi
Rockwell
7:50 AM
Bad Days (Aurally Excited Version)
Going out to Nate! Thanks for listening!
The Flaming Lips
Clouds Taste Metallic
7:44 AM
I Took a Ride
2020
Caroline Rose
Superstar
7:36 AM
A Love So Pure
Genghis Tron
Signal Fire
7:33 AM
Don't Go
1982
Yaz
Upstairs at Eric's
7:31 AM
Up All Night
At Lincoln Hall 8/20
Meltt
Pathways
7:24 AM
Ever Fallen in Love?
At Park West 10/3
Buzzcocks
Love Bites
7:21 AM
This Time
Going out to Matthew! Thanks for listening
Bryan Adams
Cuts Like a Knife
7:19 AM
Think Aboutcha
LOCAL
At the Salt Shed 10/24
Fruit Bats
The Landfill
7:08 AM
Modern Reputation
2021
Jane Weaver
Flock
7:04 AM
Only In America
2026
Vince Staples
Cry Baby
7:00 AM
International Love Affair
2020
Keleketla!
Keleketla!
Sat 06/27 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:56 AM
Bessie, Did You Make It?
2021
Marissa Nadler
The Path of the Clouds
6:48 AM
Big Time
Going out to Chris listening from Lake Erie, Ontario!
Peter Gabriel
So
6:46 AM
Forgiven/Forgotten
LOCAL
2014
Angel Olsen
Burn Your Fire for No Witness
6:43 AM
Serious
LOCAL
2026
Sports Boyfriend
Slice of Life
6:38 AM
A Flicker
2026
Debo Ray
Echoes & Embers
6:35 AM
3:02
Going out to Curtis! Thanks for listening
Clutchy Hopkins
The Life of Clutchy Hopkins
6:31 AM
I've Been Dazed
2019
Michael Kiwanuka
KIWANUKA
6:21 AM
Ups & Downs
2026
Tara Clerkin Trio
Somewhere Good
6:18 AM
Rescue Me
1993
Bryan Ferry
Taxi
6:14 AM
The Hell I Won't
LOCAL
2026
Meg and the Wheelers
Honky Tonk Wisdom
6:07 AM
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
At Old Town School of Folk Music 9/13
Bettye LaVette
I've Got My Own Hell To Raise
6:03 AM
Searching For Heaven
2026
Swamp Dogg
Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife
6:00 AM
Crimson
2022
Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn
Pigments
Sat 06/20 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:53 AM
American Sonnet
2026
Kelsey Lu
So Help Me God
8:48 AM
Nylon Smile
2008
Portishead
Third
8:45 AM
Laid
1993
James
Laid
8:42 AM
All Gone (featuring Kathleen Hanna)
At Lincoln Hall 9/22
Towa Bird
Gentleman
8:36 AM
Conspiracy
Album out 8/28
Saul Williams
Leap Life
8:31 AM
These Things Happen
LOCAL
Album out 8/14; voted best local hip hop group in the 2025 Chicago Reader poll
Afrofuturistics
The Enigmatic
8:26 AM
Jazz My Rhythm & Blues (Live)
LOCAL
Album out 9/18
Terry Callier
Live Peace
8:20 AM
Nevermore
LOCAL
Renaldo Domino
Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation
8:17 AM
Smugglers & Scholars (feat. Killer Mike)
New single
KNEECAP
Smugglers & Scholars (feat. Killer Mike)
8:15 AM
Power
New single
Danielle Ponder
Power
8:06 AM
Twist The Wire
2026
District Five
GLUT
8:03 AM
Comeback Kid
2019
Sharon Van Etten
Remind Me Tomorrow
8:01 AM
Pilentze Pee
Going out to Matthew! Thanks for listening.
Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares
Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares – Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares (Volume 1)
Sat 06/20 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:59 AM
Mink Car
Going out to Chris in Connecticut. Thanks for listening!
They Might Be Giants
Mink Car
7:53 AM
Digital Fire
2026
Sook-Yin Lee
72RHR
7:50 AM
Residuum (featuring Armand Hammer)
2026
Navy Blue
Sir Render
7:47 AM
The Night Begins to Shine
Going out to Hawthorne! <3
B.E.R.
The Night Begins to Shine
7:39 AM
I'm a Woman
LOCAL
Koko Taylor
Alligator Records—50 Years Of Genuine Houserockin' Music
7:35 AM
Just Like Air
Going out to AJ in Andersonville! Thanks for listening
Mary Jane Dunphe
Stage of Love
7:26 AM
Laughing
Going out to Nate! Thanks for listening.
David Crosby
If I Could Only Remember My Name
7:22 AM
Debussy Arabesque 1_redux
LOCAL
2026
SYCOT MOTION
5•9
7:19 AM
Selfie Of A Man
At the Empty Bottle 10/18
Delicate Steve
Till I Burn Up
7:10 AM
American Flag
2026
ISMAY
Half Truth
7:06 AM
Nightvisions
2024
Liana Flores
Flower of the Soul
7:01 AM
Chance to Bleed
At the Salt Shed 6/26
Kurt Vile
Philadelphia's been good to me
Sat 06/20 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:57 AM
C'est Quoi Ces Gens
2026
Laure Briard
Voyage Mental
6:54 AM
Ghost
LOCAL
TEEN BLUSH
2019
6:49 AM
The R
Rakim at City Winery 10/14
Eric B. & Rakim
Follow The Leader
6:46 AM
Planet Nine
Request going out to Curtis! Thanks for listening.
ATA Records
ATA Records: The Library Archive Vol. 1
6:43 AM
Whole
At City Winery 9/29
Sunny War
Anarchist Gospel
6:37 AM
Excellent Birds
Playing the Riviera 9/29
Laurie Anderson
Mister Heartbreak
6:33 AM
Destination Unknown
1982
Missing Persons
Spring Session M
6:29 AM
Statice
2026
Mono
Snowdrop
6:22 AM
Selfish
LOCAL
Playing Beat Kitchen 8/18
Edging
Unload Your Shame
6:19 AM
Body Rock (featuring Steph Staa)
LOCAL
2009
Rita J
Artist Workshop
6:16 AM
Let Me Go
New album out 7/10
Baby Rose
YEARNALISM
6:08 AM
That's How Rumors Get Started
Playing Square Roots Fest in Lincoln Square 7/11
Margo Price
That's How Rumors Get Started
6:04 AM
It Only Takes One Lion
New single
Belle and Sebastian
It Only Takes One Lion
6:00 AM
Tape Loop
1996
Morcheeba
Who Can You Trust?
Sat 06/13 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:52 AM
Reflektor
2013
Arcade Fire
Reflektor
8:47 AM
Kyoto
At the United Center 9/18
Phoebe Bridgers
Punisher
8:45 AM
Up Down Sue
The Luv'd Ones
Girls in the Garage Vol. 1
8:41 AM
Indelibile
2026
Tomorrow Tomorrow
Dwelling
8:35 AM
Deep Blue
New album out 9/4
Chat Pile
Who Loves The Sun
8:31 AM
The Witness
out 7/24
Josaleigh Pollett
If I Let It Quiet
8:27 AM
G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs
New album out 7/10
Jack White
Frozen Charlotte
8:21 AM
Relief
At the Aragon Ballroom 7/24
Broken Social Scene
Remember The Humans
8:18 AM
When You Get to the Bottom
LOCAL
Playing Square Roots 7/11
Robbie Fulks
Gone Away Backward
8:17 AM
About A Girl
Going out to Jane and Brutus! Thanks for listening.
Nirvana
Bleach
8:07 AM
Only In America
2026
Vince Staples
Cry Baby
8:06 AM
THREE ZERO ZERO ZERO
LOCAL
2026
Air Credits
BREATHE WELL+
8:02 AM
I remember I forget
2025
Yasmine Hamdan
I remember I forget
Sat 06/13 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:58 AM
Old Man
Going out to Matthew! Thanks for listening.
Neil Young
Harvest
7:55 AM
Pictures Of Herself
2026
lucky break
made it!
7:53 AM
Our House
1983
Madness
Madness
7:52 AM
C'mon Every Beatbox
Big Audio Dynamite
No. 10, Upping St.
7:40 AM
Goldmine
2026
The Creem
A Taste of Cherry
7:37 AM
Would That Not Be Nice
Going out to Nate! Thanks for listening.
Divine Fits
Live on KEXP
7:31 AM
every media minute
At City Winery 9/9
Aja Monet
the color of rain
7:24 AM
Deity
LOCAL
At the Salt Shed 10/3
Ministry
The Land Of Rape And Honey
7:21 AM
Make You Say Wow! (Live)
At Beat Kitchen 9/14
Bob Log III
Live! Surprise!
7:18 AM
OUT OF MY MIND!!!
LOCAL
2026
FACEEATER
FACEEATER
7:06 AM
Could've Been Something
2026
Slow Leaves
The Ruins of Things Unfinished
7:01 AM
We Have A Map Of The Piano
At Constellation 9/28 & 29
Múm
Finally We Are No One
Sat 06/13 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:58 AM
I'm Her Slave
At Metro 11/14
The Afghan Whigs
Congregation
6:53 AM
Let the Rhythm Run (Remix)
Playing the Huntington Bank Pavillion at Northerly Island on 9/8 with TLC and En Vogue (!!!)
Salt-N-Pepa
A Salt with a Deadly Pepa
6:51 AM
Tell The Devil
LOCAL
Playing Robert's Westside 8/22
Shemekia Copeland
Blame It On Eve
6:45 AM
The Hook
2026
Widowspeak
Roses
6:41 AM
Touch You Back
LOCAL
The Claudettes
Garage Glamour
6:35 AM
Summer Wind
Playing Huntington Bank Pavillion at Northerly Island 8/25
Willie Nelson
My Way
6:32 AM
I Wish You Passed On a Little Anger
LOCAL
2026
Widemouth
No Gasoline
6:26 AM
What Comes Will Come
Playing the Empty Bottle 11/10
Genesis Owusu
STRUGGLER
6:22 AM
Hack it Up
At Thalia Hall 6/30
Of Montreal
aethermead
6:17 AM
Hungry
LOCAL
Playing Square Roots Fest 7/11 & MCA Tuesdays on the Terrace 8/4
Finom
Not God
6:05 AM
Economic Train
2026
Lee "Scratch" Perry & Mouse On Mars
Spatial, No Problem.
6:05 AM
Cozumel
2023
Butcher Brown
Solar Music
6:01 AM
Wonderful To Be Loved
Ice Cold Love, Tammy
Eccentric Sweet Soul
Sat 06/06 · 8AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
8:52 AM
Incantations
2026
Ed O'Brien
Blue Morpho
8:45 AM
Avalanche Of Love (featuring Sampa The Great)
Playing Sleeping Village 10/2
WITCH
Zango
8:44 AM
Girlfriends Don't Keep
2000
Bratmobile
Ladies, Women and Girls
8:42 AM
Stutter
1995
Elastica
Elastica
8:40 AM
My Soul Is Tired
Betty Davis
The Columbia Years 1968-1969
8:34 AM
Concept of Love
New album out 9/11
Ibibio Sound Machine
Chopping Machine
8:31 AM
F U Want It
New album out 9/4
Soft Loft
Throw the Dice
8:27 AM
Liars
New album out 7/31
The Durutti Column
Renascent
8:21 AM
My Time After While
LOCAL
1992
Buddy Guy
The Very Best Of Buddy Guy
8:16 AM
Body
Playing the Riviera 11/14
Julia Jacklin
Crushing
8:13 AM
What Am I Supposed to Do
Gráinne Duffy
What Am I Supposed To Do
8:06 AM
Swimming
LOCAL
2026
Chaepter
Dragon of Shame
8:03 AM
Smugglers & Scholars
2026
Kneecap
Fenian
8:01 AM
Who Do You Love?
2026
Brother Wallace
Electric Love
Sat 06/06 · 7AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
7:54 AM
Oblivion
At the Riviera 10/2
Mastodon
Crack The Skye
7:51 AM
Monkey Mind
2026
Sook-Yin Lee
72RHR
7:46 AM
Jettin'
Playing Metro 10/18
Digable Planets
Blowout Comb
7:40 AM
Friends Again (feat. Leon Thomas)
New album out 7/10
Baby Rose
YEARNALISM
7:35 AM
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
2018
Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio
Something Smells Funky 'Round Here
7:31 AM
Rice Crispies
2026
Sungaze
I'm No Longer Afraid of Heights
7:22 AM
BASQUIAT (featuring Saba)
LOCAL
2019
Jamila Woods
LEGACY! LEGACY!
7:18 AM
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (feat. Black Thought)
2026
Brian Jackson
Now More Than Ever
7:09 AM
Ivo
1984
Cocteau Twins
Treasure
7:06 AM
Tele't Ya Mahla Nourha
2026
Assa'd Khoury
Electronic Touches Belly Dance
7:01 AM
Spoonful
Going out to Nate in Philly! Thanks for listening.
Chris Whitley
Perfect Day
Sat 06/06 · 6AM
Time
Track
Artist
Album
6:59 AM
Night Owl
2018
Calicoco
Float
6:56 AM
hold me down (featuring Jimetta Rose & Voices of Creation)
LOCAL