Indiana Broadcast History Archive

Deb Miles is a veteran radio broadcaster well known throughout Indiana and the Midwest. She began her career at WSND in South Bend and later moved to WNDU, gradually working her way through various roles across the Midwest before realizing her dream of broadcasting in Chicago. With an impressive 24-year career at WBYT B100, a heritage country station in Elkhart, Indiana, Miles has become a trusted and beloved voice in the industry. 

For Miles, radio has always been more than just a job. Whether covering local news, engaging listeners on-air, or leading community campaigns, she has remained committed to making a difference. Her efforts include spearheading initiatives such as the Saint Jude Radiothon, which raised over $355,000, and launching impactful breast cancer awareness campaigns. 

Deb Miles was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2023.

Early Life

Deb Miles was born and raised in Mishawaka, Indiana. She grew up the youngest of three children and the only girl. When she was a kid, Miles would line up her brothers' robots and other toys for tea parties and talk about current events.

As a student at Marion High School, her favorite class was journalism, and she knew right away that she wanted to pursue a career in the industry. She attended and graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, where she developed her skills for talking in front of the microphone.

Early Career

Miles began professionally at WSND AM and FM and later transitioned to WNDU’s rock station. She then took on a news role in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she was given the rare opportunity to build her own news team, select equipment, and set up the newsroom from scratch. After some time, she felt it was time to move on and drove north to Rockford, Illinois, where she worked for seven years before landing a job at Chicago’s Y108 rock radio station. 

While home in South Bend for her mother’s funeral, Miles received a call from the news director at WGN Radio with surprising news—she had been laid off from Y108, but was being offered a new opportunity at WGN. 

WGN Onward 

Accepting a night shift at WGN Radio, Miles entered what she considers the pinnacle of her career. She covered high-profile stories, including presidential visits, with broadcasts reaching across 38 states and into Canada. Chicago had always been her ultimate career goal, and her time there solidified her legacy in the industry. 

Eventually, she returned to South Bend to care for her father, working part-time shifts while keeping her apartment in the city. As WGN made staff cuts, Miles transitioned to WNDU, where she served as radio news director for three years. After the station was sold, she was let go due to budget cuts. 

WBYT and Community Impact 

Following her departure from WNDU, Miles joined WBYT B100 as a morning host. Over her 24-year tenure, she found her niche in country radio, becoming a pillar in the community.

Her work extended far beyond the microphone by leading numerous charitable initiatives, including the Saint Jude Radiothon, the “Tees for Tatas” breast cancer campaign, and the long-running “Drink for Pink” fundraiser, which she launched after a close friend’s diagnosis. 

In addition to her radio work, Miles hosted a podcast, Miles of Fitness, where she shared her personal fitness journey, the challenges she’s faced, and advice for others beginning their own paths to health and wellness. 

Jackson Cranfill interviewed Deb Miles for the IBHA Oral History Collection in 2024.

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By Jackson Cranfill, edited by Jack Linder, re-edited by Katherine Maners

April 2026

Bibliography 

Cranfill, Jackson. Miles, Deb, 21 Nov. 2024, https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/9c67xk19j

“Hof Honoree Deb Miles [IBA23E-1].” Vimeo, vimeo.com/phelpscreativehouse/review/864820334/2272afe60c. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.  

Paltman. “Deb Miles.” B100, B100, 11 Dec. 2024, https://b100.com/deb-miles/.

“Deb Miles’ Hall of Fame Video Bio.” Media Collections Online, media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/1544cf64g/section/7h14bg529. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.