Draft:Mark Edgington

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Mark Edgington
Born (1971-02-16) February 16, 1971 (age 54)
Florida, United States
Other namesMark Edge
Occupation(s)Radio personality, speaker, former elected official
Known forCo-hosting Free Talk Live; philanthropy in Uganda
Children1

Mark Edgington (born February 16, 1971; also known professionally as Mark Edge) is an American radio personality, speaker, and former elected official. He is known for co-hosting the nationally syndicated radio program Free Talk Live, serving as Town Moderator of Hudson, New Hampshire, and for coordinating fundraising that helped build Foundation of Hope Uganda, an orphanage and community center in Kagoma, Uganda.

Early life

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Edgington was born in Florida, United States. At age 17, he was convicted of second-degree murder and served approximately eight years in prison before his release. He has spoken publicly about this period of his life in the context of accountability and reentry.[1]

Radio career

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Edgington joined Free Talk Live in the mid-2000s. The program broadcasts an open call-in format focused on civil liberties and individual freedom and has been aired on more than 200 radio stations across the United States.[2][3] In 2022, the show received the Freedom of Speech Award from Talkers Magazine.[4]

During his time on Free Talk Live, Edgington helped raise funds from listeners that contributed to the construction of an orphanage and educational facilities in Kagoma, Uganda.[5][6]

Philanthropy

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Beginning in 2015, Edgington became a financial supporter and public fundraiser for Foundation of Hope Uganda, a grassroots ministry led by Ugandan pastor Ndifuna Johnson. Funds contributed by Edgington personally and raised through Free Talk Live were used to purchase land, construct a permanent orphanage, and provide food, medical care, and education for children in Kagoma.[7][8]

In addition to his involvement with the Uganda project, Edgington has participated in or supported other charitable work, including blood donation, coral restoration support in Honduras, and fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Public service

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Edgington was elected Town Moderator of Hudson, New Hampshire, on March 11, 2025, defeating a write-in challenger 1,317 to 1,233.[9] He was sworn in later that month. In June 2025, he resigned from the position after announcing a move to Florida to support the care needs of his elderly mother.[10]

Advocacy and reentry work

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Edgington has participated in criminal-justice reentry programming, including Operation Turnaround, which brings formerly incarcerated individuals into youth programs to discuss avoiding criminal behavior and the reality of incarceration. He writes regularly about accountability, fatherhood, and volunteerism on his personal website and Medium blog.

Political and ideological activities

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Free State Project and libertarianism

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Edgington has been involved in the libertarian movement, including participation in the Free State Project, an initiative encouraging libertarians to relocate to New Hampshire to build a stronghold for libertarian principles.[11] He has discussed this involvement in terms of decentralization, smaller government, and voluntary association.

Bitcoin advocacy

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Edgington is an early proponent of Bitcoin. Alongside his Free Talk Live co-host Ian Freeman, he was among the first media figures to publicly adopt and discuss Bitcoin.[12] He has described learning about Bitcoin from Gavin Andresen and stated that the show was among the first to accept Bitcoin for advertising. The program has promoted cryptocurrency donations to support charitable projects, including the Ugandan orphanage.

Free Cities and competitive governance

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Edgington is active in the Free Cities movement, which explores the creation of semi-autonomous urban jurisdictions with self-governance and voluntary participation. He serves as an ambassador for the Free Cities Foundation.[13] He has appeared on podcasts discussing the role of free cities in providing alternatives to traditional state governance and the potential integration of Bitcoin as part of their economic framework.[14]

Personal life

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Edgington has one son and lives primarily in Florida. He continues to travel for speaking engagements and community volunteer work.

References

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  1. ^ "Free Talk Live Flourishing on the Net". Herald-Tribune. March 27, 2006.
  2. ^ "Free Talk Live". Talkers Magazine. 23 April 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  3. ^ "Free Talk Live". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  4. ^ "Freedom of Speech Award Winners". Talkers Magazine. 2022. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  5. ^ "Ugandan Orphanage Funded with Cryptocurrency Donations from Listeners of National Radio Show". GlobeNewswire (Press release). March 25, 2019. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  6. ^ "Free Talk Live and Friends Raise $80K in Crypto for Ugandan Orphanage". Bitcoin News. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  7. ^ GlobeNewswire, March 25, 2019
  8. ^ Bitcoin News
  9. ^ "New Town Moderator Vows to Work Hard for Hudson". Hudson Times. March 11, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  10. ^ "Edgington Resigns from Town Moderator Position". Hudson Times. June 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  11. ^ "Discusses New Hampshire Success of Free State Project". Cato Institute. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  12. ^ "In Search of the Elusive Bitcoin". Reason. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  13. ^ "About Us". Free Cities Foundation. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  14. ^ "Mark Edge: The Arc of History Bends Towards Freedom". Free Cities Podcast. 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
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