In a city notorious for its traffic, the regulars at rush hour are especially thankful for a solid afternoon disc jockey. Tommy McFly, 23, has earned a spot keeping thousands of Washingtonians company in the car with his evening show on Mix 107.3 FM. And to think he nearly became a lawyer.

How did you become a DJ?

Well, I wanted to be a lawyer. But I started radio at 15 because a family friend who worked for the station said he’d get me a job. So I called every day for three months, and then I stalked the program director until I got a job. It was Froggy 101 in Scranton, Pa., and I was literally Mr. Froggy. But then they needed someone to do a midnight show on Sunday, and someone said, “Let the kid do it.”