Mark
Edgington’s
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As some of you know, I take walks early. Most mornings I’m out the door by 6 AM. Some mornings, Mr. Big, the neighborhood black and white cat is lounging around in my neighbor’s driveway. Other mornings I spot a red-shouldered hawk, on the hunt for breakfast. The sky likes to put on a show before the sun fully commits. I call it God light, the rays between the clouds that shine like a hand through the sky. "God Light" Sometimes Mr. Big keeps a steady pace beside me, but reall

I recently sat down with Angela McArdle , a longtime political organizer, speaker, and national party chair known for her work on civil liberties and criminal justice reform, for a thoughtful conversation about responsibility, reform, and the importance of lowering the temperature in our public life. Mark Edgington Speaking with Angela McArdle We discussed how different administrations have approached Bitcoin and clemency. From my perspective, the Trump administration did mo

The holidays have a way of stitching together memories you don’t plan for. Last Christmas, I carried a different version of myself into the season. A year later, I found myself holding up a green juice and feeling grateful for the progress of being 20 pounds lighter. Mark Edgington with Green Juice This Christmas started with family. I went to my in-laws’ house and brought my mom with me. Holidays are better when the people you care about are in the room, laughing at the same

Laura and I spent a bit of time in Salalah, Oman recently. It’s in the far south of the country, right along the Arabian Sea. What surprised me most was how different it felt from the rest of the region. Instead of dry heat and open desert, Salalah has long stretches of green, coastal fog, and a kind of quiet calm that settles in as soon as you arrive. Laura Edgington in Salalah Oman Traveling with Laura always reminds me how grounding it is to share new places with someone y

A Heartfelt Update from Foundation of Hope Uganda I regularly receive news from the Foundation of Hope Uganda about their latest updates and celebrations. This past week, Ndifuna shared something especially meaningful with me. The children not only held their school graduation, but they also received their report cards. For many of them, these are the first academic milestones they’ve ever reached, and they’ve worked incredibly hard for them. Children graduating at the Founda

I spent some time in Dubai recently. It’s a place that looks almost unreal when you first arrive. The buildings rise out of the desert in a way that doesn’t seem possible, and at night the city glows in every direction. What stood out to me most was the contrast between the beauty around me and the air itself. On some mornings, the haze was thick enough that the tops of the tallest towers disappeared. I’m used to coastal air and open skies, so it caught my attention right awa

Jack and I spent an afternoon at a local arcade this week. It started as a simple plan to get out of the house, but it ended up being one of those small moments that stays with you longer than you expect. Arcades have changed since I was his age. They’re brighter now, louder, and built around tickets instead of tokens. But the basic idea is the same. You move from game to game, trying to win just enough to trade for something you don’t actually need. In that way, nothing has

Laura’s family came down to Sarasota this past week so we could mark two things at once: my mom’s 80th birthday and Thanksgiving. Putting both occasions in the same visit gave the days a steady pace. There was always someone talking in the next room, someone preparing something, and someone asking if I had enough (decaf) coffee. It felt like a full house in all the ways that matter. Most mornings started with a walk before the day picked up. The air was cool enough to be comf

A few days before Thanksgiving, I spent part of my afternoon at a mobile blood donation bus here in Sarasota. I donate blood regularly, and it was time for my next appointment. I signed up for a red cell apheresis procedure, which collects concentrated red cells and returns plasma and platelets back to the body. It takes longer than a standard donation and counts as two pints. While I sat there with the machine humming beside me, I found myself thinking about how ordinary the

The days before Thanksgiving always have a certain feel to it. People are moving around a little faster. Stores are crowded. Plans are being finalized. There is an energy to it that can be either grounding or overwhelming, depending on how you meet it. My wife and I decided to start the morning in a quieter place. We went for a walk on a Sarasota beach we both appreciate. The sun was already bright, the sand was warming quickly, and the shoreline was dotted with early visitor

A Journey of Redemption and Hope Last week, I had the privilege of sitting in on the first-ever podcast recording for Project 180, a Florida-based nonprofit. This organization helps formerly incarcerated people rebuild their lives through job training, sober housing, education, and real community support. The episode focused on the life of a former inmate who shared the raw and unfiltered reality of his experiences. He talked about the small victories and the challenges that

There’s something quite beautiful about stepping outside before most of the world is awake. When I head out around 6 a.m., the air is fresher, the light is dim, and the day hasn’t yet demanded anything from me. Over time I’ve noticed one thing clearly: my brain works better on these walks. Science backs it up. Studies show that regular morning walking outdoors helps regulate our circadian rhythms which boosts sleep quality and improves mood. Walking also stimulates the releas

I’m happy to report that since December 1st, 2024, I’ve lost 14.2 pounds with the WildFit program. My original goal was to drop 10, so technically, I’ve overshot it. Honestly, I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m sitting at 184 pounds now, with a BMI of 25.5, and more energy than I expected to have while still eating food I actually enjoy. WildFit has been less about restriction and more about awareness. It helped me get clear on why I eat, not just what I eat. I r

There’s something oddly mesmerizing about standing in front of Prague’s Astronomical Clock at exactly 9:00 p.m. (or 21:00, as they say here). The crowd gathers, cameras ready, everyone waiting for the same 45 seconds of mechanical theater that’s been happening since the 1400s. When the hour hits, the clock comes alive. The apostles glide past tiny windows, the skeleton rings his bell, and the rooster crows like it’s announcing the dawn instead of night. It’s over almost as so

If you’ve ever tried to find decaf coffee in Eastern Europe, you know it’s basically a scavenger hunt with no map. Montenegro is a place where coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a ritual. The stronger, the better. So when my wife and I landed in Podgorica, the capital city, I didn’t have high hopes of finding anything labeled “decaf.” But travel has a funny way of surprising you. We ended up wandering into one of the many cafes in the city, thinking coffee for me was off the tab

I just spent some time in Albania, and I have to say, it was incredible. If you’ve never been to Theth, picture this: sharp mountain peaks, clear blue rivers, and villages that look like they’ve barely changed in a hundred years. It’s tucked away in northern Albania, and it’s not the easiest place to get to, but that’s part of what makes it worth it. The drive alone is an adventure. Winding roads, cliffs that make you grip the wheel a little tighter, and amazing scenery. When

Embracing the Island's Unique Charm Utila, Honduras, is small, slow, and a little rough around the edges. Yet, it possesses a kind of natural beauty that captivates the heart. It’s not manicured or polished for tourists. It’s simply itself, and that’s what makes it truly special. You feel it the moment you arrive. The air is a mix of salt, diesel, and fresh fruit. The sound of dive boats coming and going fills your ears. The way the sun hits the Caribbean at noon creates a me

I’ve spent a lot of time around people who quietly do incredible things, and the scientists working on coral restoration are right up there. I support a small team of researchers in Honduras by providing boats and housing, and in return I get to know that the reefs in Utila are being preserved. These folks start before the sun’s even up loading tanks, equipment, and trays of tiny coral fragments that look more like pebbles than future ecosystems. Then they dive. For hours. Ge

When I was 17, I made a mistake that cost me eight years of my life. But those years also gave me perspective, on accountability, growth, and what real justice reform means. It’s not just about changing laws; it’s about changing lives by giving people the tools to choose better and rebuild stronger.

Every few months, I get the urge to simplify — which usually means digging through old clothes and convincing myself someone at Goodwill will make better use of them. From polos with history to jeans with no future, it’s a small reminder that letting go can feel pretty good… even if I still forget to save the tax receipt.