Mark
Edgington’s
Blog

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.

Off the coast of Honduras, local divers and fishermen are teaming up to rebuild coral reefs — one fragment at a time. Supporting their work has reminded me that real environmental change doesn’t always start with big policy or funding; it begins with people willing to protect what’s left and restore what’s been lost.

For nearly ten years, from around 2008 to 2020, I volunteered as a firefighter with the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. It’s a role that’s about community, responsibility, and sometimes quick thinking. Mark Edgington in firefighter uniform One day, a call came in about a house fire down the street. When I arrived, I found the former selectman (possibly Lloyd Danforth) sitting on his garage stoop with singed hair. I checked on him and ran

Every now and then, I catch myself looking back at old chapters of my life. Some of them make me proud, some make me wince, and some just make me shake my head and laugh. But like it or not, those chapters are still part of the story, and they’ve made me who I am today. For almost two decades, I co-hosted Free Talk Live , a nationally syndicated radio show that landed me on more than 200 stations across the country, and won the Best Political Podcast Award five times. The for

This past weekend, I had the privilege of joining the St. Jude Walk in Tampa. The event took place along Bayshore Boulevard, one of the most beautiful stretches in the city, and the energy of the crowd matched the setting. Families, survivors, volunteers, and supporters came together with one mission in mind: to stand behind the kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude Walk in Tampa, FL When I set my fundraising goal, I aimed for $1,000. Thanks to

I recently returned from Peru with my wife, and the experience is one I’ll carry with me for a long time. From the bustling streets of Cusco to the quiet peace of the Andes, Peru is a country that seems to hold both history and life in every corner. The highlight of our trip was, of course, visiting Machu Picchu. Standing among the ancient stones, surrounded by clouds and mountains, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe. It’s humbling to think about the generations who live

I recently launched my Mark Edgington YouTube channel , where I had planned to start posting lighthearted videos about dad advice and things going on in my life currently. But when I heard about the Charlie Kirk assassination, which closely followed the murder of Iryna Zartuska, I felt the need to speak out. I want to unpack why this matters. More than just reacting, we need to reflect on what this says about how we treat each other and what kind of community we want to build

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital traces its beginnings back to a simple prayer. In the 1930s, a young entertainer named Danny Thomas was struggling to make a living. At a particularly low point, he entered a church and prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the apostle known in Catholic tradition as the patron saint of hopeless causes. His prayer was straightforward: “Help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.” Within a few years, Thomas’s career took off. He bec

I am excited to share that I will be joining the St. Jude Walk in Tampa this on September 27th in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital . It’s not just a walk, it’s a chance to stand alongside families who need hope and to help fund breakthroughs that make childhood cancer beatable. Why St. Jude Matters St. Jude was born from a promise rooted in faith. Entertainer Danny Thomas, facing a difficult moment in his life, prayed to St. Jude the Apostle, known as the pat

Reentry isn’t a moment, it’s a process. And for many who are returning from incarceration, that process can feel like learning to live all over again, only this time with fewer resources and more roadblocks. Justice Reform advocate I know how hard it is to rebuild your life when every application comes with a background check and every introduction carries invisible weight. But I also know how powerful support can be. A second chance isn’t something you give someone once. It’

I served as a volunteer firefighter with the Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department in New Hampshire from about 2008 to 2020. It was a...

Years ago, I was introduced to Foundation of Hope Uganda , a grassroots orphanage in the small village of Kagoma. What started as a conversation turned into something much deeper: a sense of connection and responsibility that stuck with me far beyond that first introduction. Let me be clear — I didn’t physically build the orphanage or move to Uganda. But I did what I could by offering support, funding, and advice in order for the orphanage to be a success. Children from the F

There are some causes that speak so clearly to the heart, you don’t need to be convinced, you just show up. For me, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of those causes. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems. But every once in a while, you come across an organization that’s not just talking about making a difference, they’re actually doing it. Doctors supplies Why St. Jude’s Matters St. Jude’s was founded on a promise that no child should di

When I first started trying to give back, I made the rookie mistake of thinking I had all the answers. I showed up to volunteer projects with solutions instead of questions. I quickly learned that even the best intentions can fall flat when you assume you know what people need. Listening isn’t passive. It’s not about standing there silently while someone talks. It’s about making space, suspending judgment, and respecting the lived experiences of others, even when they challen

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that giving back doesn’t require a title, a platform, or a perfect past. When I first got out of prison, I wasn’t sure I had anything to offer. I felt like my past disqualified me from showing up in places that needed help. But over time, I realized something simple: volunteering isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present. You don’t have to save the world. You just have to show up where you are, with what you’ve

I’ve always believed that community is built on voices that inform, connect, and challenge us to think differently. That’s why, when the opportunity came to support WSLR in Sarasota, I didn’t hesitate. The Importance of Community Voices WSLR is a listener-supported public radio station that thrives on exactly those values: independent reporting, diverse programming, and a genuine commitment to the people it serves. At the WSLR studio with the News Director and Station Manager

I don’t remember the first time I gave blood. I just remember how ordinary it felt. A folding chair. A needle. A little discomfort. Free orange juice. That’s how it starts: as something small. In and out in under an hour. But over time, those small acts start to add up. Not just in pints, but in perspective. Blood donation A Quiet Way to Show Up There are a lot of flashy ways to give back in the world. Donating blood isn’t one of them. Nobody claps. There are no photo ops. Mo

Together we will change the world I used to be pretty good at rationalizing things. I could explain away almost anything. “It wasn’t really my fault.” “People misunderstood me.” “That’s not who I am anymore.” And sure, some of that might have even been true. But at some point, I realized I was putting more energy into protecting my pride than into actually changing. You have to take responsibility for who you’ve been before true change can take place, and I’ve learned somethi

Mark Edgington picking up trash in Utila, Honduras When I go out for a walk in Utila, I’m usually trying to get into Zone 2. That’s the range where your heart rate’s up but you’re not dying. Forty-five minutes of steady movement, nothing dramatic. Just walking and breathing. But my walks don’t usually go uninterrupted, because every few steps, there’s something on the ground. A plastic bottle. A chip wrapper. The occasional lone flip-flop, for some reason always without its m