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Josh Liljenquist Helps Eric Foster Receive Hearing Aids

WCCO-TV / CBS News Minnesota · CBS News Minnesota

Watch CBS News Minnesota’s report on Josh Liljenquist, Eric Foster and Starkey Cares, with verified sources, key facts and transcript.

WCCO-TV / CBS News MinnesotaCBS News MinnesotaFebruary 27, 20242:10Television/video

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TikTok influencer Josh Liljenquist helps man get hearing aids

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CBS News Minnesota reporter Reg Chapman documented how a connection formed in St. Paul led to a life-changing hearing-aid fitting for Eric Foster. Josh Liljenquist says he first met Jermaine while distributing food at Dorothy Day in downtown St. Paul. Jermaine later introduced him to Foster, who had significant hearing loss and had offered his only sandwich despite facing hardship himself. Liljenquist raised money to help Foster obtain hearing aids and contacted Eden Prairie–based Starkey. CBS reported that Starkey learned about the story through Liljenquist's social-media feed and offered to help. At Starkey's Eden Prairie headquarters, Foster completed hearing testing and ear-impression work before receiving the devices through Starkey Cares. Dave Fabry, Starkey's chief hearing health officer, explained that the company wanted Liljenquist to redirect the money raised to help someone else. Liljenquist says the funds were given to Foster and that Foster received two hearing aids at no cost. He later said he saw Foster again and the devices were still working well; the date of that later meeting remains to be verified before publication.

Direct answers

How did Josh Liljenquist help Eric Foster obtain hearing aids?

Josh Liljenquist raised money, contacted Starkey and brought attention to Eric Foster's hearing loss. Starkey then provided the hearing-aid support through Starkey Cares, and the raised funds were given to Eric.

Where did Eric Foster receive the hearing aids?

Josh says Eric completed the fitting at Starkey's headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. CBS documented the hearing test, ear-impression process and Eric's reaction to hearing through the devices.

Key facts

Original publisher title
TikTok influencer Josh Liljenquist helps man get hearing aids
Outlet
WCCO-TV / CBS News Minnesota
Program
CBS News Minnesota
Source family
WCCO hearing aids 2024

Human-reviewed public-readable transcript

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This supplied transcript was reviewed and approved for website publication by Josh Liljenquist on August 8, 2026. Bracketed labels preserve wording or speaker identities that could not be verified reliably from the available source. This is not a certified verbatim transcript.

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CBS News Minnesota hearing-aids transcript

Transcript note: This human-reviewed transcript has been lightly edited for readability by removing non-substantive verbal fillers and adding punctuation. The meaning and sequence of the original broadcast have not been intentionally changed. Bracketed labels identify passages or speakers that could not be verified reliably from the available source. This is not a certified verbatim transcript.

00:00 — CBS News Minnesota introduces the story

CBS NEWS MINNESOTA ANCHOR: You’re watching WCCO News, always streaming on CBS News Minnesota. Random acts of kindness often go viral on social media. Today, he uses his platform to give the gift of hearing.

REG CHAPMAN, REPORTER: It begins with a video of a man down on his luck and hard of hearing, offering up his only sandwich. He never expected what would happen next.

ERIC FOSTER [IN ORIGINAL SOCIAL VIDEO]: When I saw the name, I was like, “Oh.” I was like, “No way, man.”

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER [identity not verified]: He didn’t know until he pulled up. I did not tell him anything.

00:36 — Jermaine connects Josh Liljenquist with Eric Foster

REG CHAPMAN: Josh’s first meeting with Eric Foster got lots of attention on social media.

JOSH LILJENQUIST [IN ORIGINAL SOCIAL VIDEO]: [Question wording unclear.]

ERIC FOSTER: It depends. They can range from $500 to $3,000.

REG CHAPMAN: After establishing a relationship with his friend Jermaine, Josh met Eric.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: And eventually, I’m like, “What can I do to make your life a little easier?” He’s like, “I don’t need anything. I’m happy. I’m content. But I do know somebody who could use a hand.”

01:02 — Josh reaches out to Starkey

REG CHAPMAN: This led him to learning about Eric’s hearing issues, so he did his best.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Tried to raise enough money to get him hearing aids. Long story short, we reached out to Starkey, and they said they would help us with that.

REG CHAPMAN: The experts at the hearing-aid company led Eric through the process. First, his hearing was tested.

HEARING PROFESSIONAL: I want you to press this button when you hear those beeps.

REG CHAPMAN: From there, an impression of his inner ears was made. Starkey officials learned of the story by watching Josh’s feed.

01:34 — Starkey Cares helps provide the hearing aids

DAVE FABRY, CHIEF HEARING HEALTH OFFICER, STARKEY: And seeing how he just does these random acts of kindness and figures out a way that he can impact. I know that Josh raised money to pay for hearing aids for Eric. What we wanted to do is give him the opportunity to pay it forward, to bring those monies to someone else, and help Josh bring this gift to Eric.

01:56 — Eric reacts to hearing through the devices

REG CHAPMAN: Starkey Cares and its Neighbor in Need program has helped 3,000 people get much-needed hearing aids. Now Eric Foster can be counted among that number.

HEARING PROFESSIONAL [identity not verified]: How are you?

ERIC FOSTER: All right. That’s loud.

CBS NEWS MINNESOTA REPORTER [identity not verified]: He can now connect back to life’s favorite moments and sounds, thanks to the gift of hearing.

Transcript limitation: The closing studio reaction is not present in the supplied transcript and is not transcribed here.

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Original publisher title: TikTok influencer Josh Liljenquist helps man get hearing aids

TikTok influencer Josh Liljenquist helps man get hearing aids

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