‘You Can Eat Anything At 5 A.M.’: Get To Know The New Host Of WBEZ Mornings

Lisa Labuz and Mary Dixon
Lisa Labuz (left) is moving to the midday show, Reset. Mary Dixon will be the new host of Morning Edition starting Monday. Mary Hall / WBEZ
Lisa Labuz and Mary Dixon
Lisa Labuz (left) is moving to the midday show, Reset. Mary Dixon will be the new host of Morning Edition starting Monday. Mary Hall / WBEZ

‘You Can Eat Anything At 5 A.M.’: Get To Know The New Host Of WBEZ Mornings

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You’ll hear a new host on WBEZ starting Monday morning.

Mary Dixon, who has been a broadcast journalist in the city for almost 30 years, is set to take over as the morning voice keeping you informed Monday through Friday.

“I really wanted to be part of a journalism operation that was growing,” said Dixon, who most recently co-hosted the morning show at WXRT-FM. “And WBEZ has one of the best local newsrooms in town.”

Longtime morning host Lisa Labuz is moving to middays.

“I’m really going to miss that charge of sort of getting people up and getting their wheels moving and helping them start their day,” Labuz added. “But I know that their ears are in great hands with [Mary].”

Here are some fun facts about Dixon to help you get to know her better. 

1. Yes, Mary Dixon is from Dixon, Illinois.

The town is actually named after her family, she said.

“My first baby radio station was just doing part time jobs in Dixon, Illinois, at [radio station] WIXN.

2. She has advice for early risers.

“You can eat anything at 5 a.m.,” she said. “And whatever you’re eating, stick an egg on it.”

3. She’s worked all over Chicago.

Prior to WXRT, Dixon worked at WROK, WGN and CNN.

“I know a lot of newsrooms are shrinking,” she said. “I think we do have this really great effort now to bring a lot of voices to a lot of different places in the city. And I just love that.”

4. When it comes to TV shows and movies, she’s a nerd.

She claims Hufflepuff as her house in Harry Potter. And she’s a fan of the sci-fi TV show, Dr. Who.

5. And she loves the band Rush …

Dixon knows all the words to “Spirit of the Radio.” She might even sing you the guitar riffs if you ask her.