Denise Pagano let mikemcguff.com know she has left her midday DJ position at 89.3 KSBJ in Houston as of December 12, 2025.
The reason she left, Pagano tells me, was the drive.
"The new studios they built had them relocate from Humble to New Caney," Pagano told mikemcguff.com. "The commute ended up being about 56 miles one way, which just wasn’t sustainable long term. I really enjoyed my time there, but it made sense to look for something closer. I loved my Midday friends, and loved working for them first part-time for 10 years (on and off) and then full-time just a few weeks shy of 3 years. It was hard to leave. I’m definitely open to new opportunities.
Pagano brings decades of broadcast experience across multiple formats, including Christian radio, country, Top 40, and jazz.
Since March 2023, Pagano has been serving KSBJ listeners through weekend and fill-in shifts.
In January 2024, she officially returned to KSBJ full-time as the station’s midday host—a role she called a dream come true. This is after former midday host Jen Driskill left Texas.
The daughter of a church organist, Pagano began her radio career at Chicago’s Home for Jazz, WDCB, and went on to hold on-air roles at WYLL and WCFL in Chicago, as well as mornings at Country WXXQ (Q98.5 FM) in Rockford. Her Christian radio journey includes time with Moody Radio in Chicago.
In Houston, Denise has been a familiar voice at KSBJ, 100.3 KILT, and MIX 96.5 KHMX.
She also served as the midday host at Z88.3 WPOZ in Orlando for two years.
