Radio, Loyalty, and Moving Forward by Mark Edgington

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 format was simple: open phones, no script, and conversations that could go absolutely anywhere. Sometimes it was thoughtful debate. Other times it was chaos. Either way, I learned how to really listen, ask better questions, and keep my cool when things got heated. (Most of the time, anyway.)

Mark Edgington as "mark Edge" in the studio

The show wasn’t just talk either. Listeners stepped up in ways I’ll never forget. Together we funded the building of an orphanage in Uganda that still serves kids today.

As “Mark Edge” on the air, I had to think fast, roll with unpredictable calls, and respect people who didn’t see the world the way I did. Those skills (patience, resilience, and a thicker skin than I ever thought I’d need) still stick with me in how I talk to people today.

Now, about Ian Freeman. He was my co-host and he’s still my friend. I believe he was treated unfairly, and I continue to support him and speak out for his release. I stand by the people I care about, and that includes Ian. At the same time, my life isn’t only defined by Free Talk Live.

These days, my focus is a lot closer to home. I’m busy being a dad, serving my community, and supporting causes like St. Jude’s. There’s more in the works, and I’m looking forward to finding new ways to give back and stay involved in the community.

— Mark Edgington

This article also appears on https://medium.com/@markedgington, where you can learn more about Mark Edgington’s ongoing work.