James Edwards was sitting on a bench outside of the Opryland Hotel in Nashville when he received a call from Austin Farley. The pair had first met in 2002, when both had been candidates for State Representative. Austin had received word that there was an opportunity for them to start their own political talk radio program on a local AM station in Memphis and asked if James would be willing to co-host the program. James readily agreed.

The duo hastily began making preparations for the show, taking on tasks which included crafting out their format and mission statement as well as lining up a few guests and developing a website. The goal of the program was to establish a legitimate paleoconservative voice on the AM airwaves, an alternative to the GOP talking heads like Sean Hannity; a show that would speak candidly about sensitive issues such as race, immigration, foreign policy and much more. Even though Whites represented the vast majority of the American population, we had no mainstream voice. That would soon change. The Political Cesspool enjoyed a modest launch on October 26, 2004.

At first, The Political Cesspool aired locally on AM 1600 WMQM each Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm – 9pm CST. James Edwards and Austin Farley rounded out their on-air lineup by enlisting long time friends Jess Bonds and Bill Rolen to serve as guests hosts. This quartet constituted the original crew of the show.

After a couple of months on-air, this uniquely refreshing show had quickly developed a cult following in the Memphis area. The buzz was so distinct that James and Austin decided to have an official “kickoff” party for the show at a local barbecue restaurant. Invitations to the December event were sent to a small but growing fan base.

The show brought in film star Sonny Landham (Predator, 48 Hours) to serve as the keynote speaker. In addition to being in the movies, Sonny had recently mounted a very successful candidacy for Governor of Kentucky. It was because of that campaign that he was originally sought to be a guest on the show, which ultimately served as the foundation of another enduring friendship. The “kickoff” turnout surpassed expectations when there was a standing room only crowd gathered to show their support! The Political Cesspool was on its way.