WHO WE ARE
Wolf Point Audio Collective is a podcast production house rooted in Chicago. We’re journalists, editors, producers, engineers, and musicians who believe in the power of the human voice to connect, challenge, and transform. Like our city, we’re scrappy. We work hard, dream big, and thrive in collaboration. We believe in craft. We believe in truth. And we believe audio can do more than entertain—it can build community and change minds.
WHY “WOLF POINT”?
Wolf Point is the place where Chicago began: the convergence of the three branches of the Chicago River. It was home to the region's first taverns, hotels, and theater. It was named in honor of one of its early inhabitants, a Potawatomi man named Mo-ah-way, or "Wolf." It was a gathering place. A storytelling hub. A place where relationships were built, ideas were born, and big plans were made. And that’s what we aim to be.
WHY NOW?
With more people listening to podcasts than ever before, we're working to build a stronger audio journalism ecosystem in Chicago and the greater Midwest. With public media under attack, we're creating opportunities for audio journalists and producers to thrive while training the next generation of talent. With misinformation and distrust threatening our democratic systems, we're delivering fact-checked, expertly-crafted stories and conversations that aim to inform, connect, and inspire.
Who’s With us?
We are actively recruiting. Regardless of your level of experience or background, If you're interested in building a new, creator-driven model of audio news and storytelling, contact our founder, Jessica Pupovac, at jessica@wolfpointaudio.com.
Founder and Executive Producer
Jessica is an award-winning journalist, editor, and audio producer whose career has included stints at NPR, WBEZ/Chicago Public Media, and WTTW/Chicago Public Television, among other outlets.
In 2020, she helped build the podcast team at Religion of Sports from the ground up, managed a diverse team producing several concurrent projects and oversaw the development and production of several shows exploring the intersection of sports and society. They included ROS Presents: Counterattack, a story about the whistleblowers of women’s soccer that won the 2024 Gracie Award for Best Sports Podcast.
She specializes in crafting sonically rich narratives and making difficult or complex subjects accessible to the listener. Her work as an investigative reporter has untangled complex, secretive government programs, documented sexist and traumatizing disciplinary practices in women’s prisons, and made sense of complicated and often misunderstood public health issues. It has helped release an innocent man from prison and been cited in national and international news outlets, academic papers, and on the U.S. Senate floor.
Co-Founder, Engineer and Composer
Jeremy is a music producer and French horn player who has edited, mixed, scored and created original sound design for several podcasts, including Black Cowboys, Newton’s Law, Trust Fall, and Can You Dig it? with Chuck D, which earned him a Signal Award for sound design.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Jeremy has recorded and toured with indie rock heavyweights Neutral Milk Hotel and The National. He co-leads the band Briars of North America and the instrumental trio Ishtirak.
In 2022 he collaborated with New Orleans-based Garifuna band Grupo Yurumein to create the multidisciplinary show Soñanado con Yurumein/Dreaming of Yurumein based at the Music Box Village. From 2010-2023, Jeremy co-directed Found Sound Nation, an organization dedicated to building community across cultural divides through the creation of original music.
Co-Founder, Senior Producer, Editor, Sound Designer
Joe is a Chicago-based audio producer, editor, and journalist with more than two decades of experience in public media and podcasting. At WBEZ/Chicago Public Media, he’s worked across a wide range of formats and topics, including arts, culture, education, and criminal justice. He was the driving force behind Making Beyoncé, a Senior Producer for Curious City, and took the lead on sound design and mixing on 16 Shots, a collaboration between WBEZ and the Chicago Tribune.
Known for his collaborative approach and thoughtful sound design, Joe has helped shape stories and shows from pitch to publication – whether supporting a first-time contributor or fine-tuning a multi-part documentary – always with care, creativity, and a focus on clear, compelling storytelling.
His work has earned recognition from the Edward R. Murrow Awards, the Peter Lisagor Awards, the National Headliner Awards, and the Education Writers Association. A Peabody Award nominee, Joe is especially drawn to stories that highlight overlooked voices and bring insight to how culture, place, and identity intersect.
Co-Founder, Producer
Alyssa has spent more than a decade as a journalist in public media and audio storytelling. At NPR, WNYC, and other outlets, she covered subjects including national politics; the Supreme Court; arts and culture; and the environment. Driven by a commitment to public service, she is also a community organizer working on issues including bike infrastructure and food insecurity.
She is proud to call Chicago home and believes strongly in the city’s ability to spark joy, create connections, and cultivate communities. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she is a research assistant at the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy.