In November 1997, Bruce Agler, program director for KOTK 1080 AM, offered Emerson a job in Portland, Oregon. After Emerson was on-air in Portland for only a few months, he was offered national syndication with the NBG Radio Network. Emerson hosted his nationally syndicated show for three years until he was again fired. Emerson was rehired by KOTK in the summer of 2001, and was soon paired with news reporter Tim Riley. Mixed with a series of producers, Emerson was finally paired with Sarah X Dylan in December 2002, who served as producer and eventual co-host.