After a scandal that ended his political career, Ohio Rep. Bob Ney is hoping the Ohio Valley will welcome him back -- this time over the airwaves.

Ney debuted his new talk radio show from downtown Wheeling on Monday, three years after he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

He said, despite all of the twists and turns in his career, the show may be one of the most unpredictable times in his life.

"I've met presidents. I've met kings and queens. I've served in the U.S. House of Representatives. I've given 6,000 speeches. I've been to federal prison, which was nerve-wracking. But I'm a bit more nervous about this than any of the things I've mentioned," Ney said.

Ney pleaded guilty in 2006 to corruption charges and was linked to the Jack Abramoff scandal. He was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison but was released after 17 months and transferred to a halfway house in Ohio.

While at the halfway house, he landed a job with the liberal Talk Radio News Service, first as a researcher, then an analyst and now a host.

The show gives Ney a platform to talk about his experiences on Capitol Hill and provide his personal opinion about the news of the day. During the first three hours on the air, Ney talked about the pirate hostage crisis, the economy and the Obamas' new dog.

"We'll have a couple of days where people are going to express their opinions about me, but it's not going to be about my past with Jack Abramoff," Ney said.

Most of the calls came from supporters, friends, family and colleges who welcomed him back. As a side note, Ney still retains the title "Congressman" because he resigned and was not removed from office.

Ney -- 60 pounds lighter and overcoming alcoholism -- was once known as "The Mayor of Capitol Hill."

"I became careless on the way I behaved. I feel bad for that. Of course, I do. I loved my career in Congress," he said.

Even after he was convicted of accepting gifts in exchange for political favors, he said serving 1 1/2 years in prison was life-changing.

"I think it made me a better person in the sense that it took me and slowed me down. When you get into something traumatic like that, you have to take a look at it," Ney said.

Since his release from prison, he returned to Capitol Hill to help cover the Obama inauguration.

"It's a tense situation. When you leave, as I did, in disgrace, you don't know about going up there. It was strange. It was bittersweet," he said.

Ney said he accepts responsibility for his role in the lobbying scandal, but said many in Congress get too chummy with lobbyists because they're trying to raise cash to campaign and ultimately serve in Congress.

He also said his dependency on alcohol, while not the sole cause of his indiscretions, clouded his judgment.

While he said his political career is essentially over, he believes his new career in talk radio will let him use his experience to do something good for the people who elected him.

Ney's radio show will air on WVLY AM 1370, weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.