Newsmax2’s The Silver Lining with Josh Liljenquist, James Cowan Jr. and Dylan Kitley

The Silver Lining transcript

Transcript note: This 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 changed. Opinions stated by host David J. Harris Jr. are clearly attributed and are not presented as independent conclusions by joshliljenquist.com. James Cowan Jr. and Dylan Kitley approved publication of the recovery, legal-history, housing and faith details discussed in this segment. James’s daughter remains unnamed.

00:00 — The Silver Lining introduces James’s housing story

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Friends, you know what that sound means. It is time for tonight’s Silver Lining. Josh Liljenquist uses social media as a way to do good. He organized a GoFundMe for someone in long-term recovery who has helped others battling addiction and homelessness.

I see Josh here, and I see James. We are going to show the video first. After James and his wife were facing the loss of their housing, the community stepped up and ultimately raised more than $50,000 to help them secure a home.

00:45 — James describes the fear of becoming homeless

JAMES COWAN JR., IN ARCHIVED CLIP: I have changed. I do not know where I am going to go right now.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, IN ARCHIVED CLIP: You are scared?

JAMES COWAN JR.: I am scared. I am scared for me, my wife and my stepdaughter.

NARRATOR / ON-SCREEN CLIP: The internet came together and raised $40,000 for James to secure housing.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, IN ARCHIVED CLIP: We raised you $40,000.

JAMES COWAN JR., IN ARCHIVED CLIP: To be honest with you, I thought we were going to be homeless. I had to be put on the lease or we had to leave. With my criminal history, it was impossible to be put on the lease, so I was scared. God put it on some people’s hearts to help us, and now we own a house.

JOSH LILJENQUIST, IN ARCHIVED CLIP: As of this morning at 9:30.

JAMES COWAN JR.: Are you kidding me?

01:20 — Josh explains the family legacy behind his work

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Joining me is Minnesota-based content creator Josh Liljenquist and the man in that video, James Cowan Jr. Josh, why did you get into using social media to help people?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: It has been in my family for decades—for generations—and I wanted to carry on that legacy. My grandpa had a big impact on me, and my parents took in multiple children. It is all I have known.

I wanted to do it on a bigger scale and touch more people’s lives. Social media turned into something bigger than me, and I realized I had to use it for something good. One of the biggest missions is sharing God with people who may not know Him, or who do know Him and are asking for a sign.

02:24 — James discusses 30 years of addiction and 32 months in recovery

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: James, what was it like to meet Josh and then have him bring money that enabled you and your wife to buy a home?

JAMES COWAN JR.: It was answered prayers. I battled addiction for 30 years, and I really thought I was going to die using. I was about 32 months into my recovery. I prayed every day for a few years for God to continue bringing people into my life who would strengthen my faith.

I look at that moment as answered prayers. God helped me find my purpose. For people battling addiction, it is hard to find that when you are in the middle of it.

03:09 — James explains his role on Josh’s team

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Are you working for Josh now? How are you helping him do what he does?

JAMES COWAN JR.: I go out with Josh every day to do God’s work and give back to communities where people are struggling. Part of my job is reviewing nomination emails from people around the country and working with the team to identify people and families who may need help.

There are many people who need help, and it can be difficult to work through all of the requests. I pray that God puts the right people on my heart. It has been amazing to give back, find my purpose and go out with the team every day.

04:08 — Dylan Kitley describes the ripple effect

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: Dylan Kitley, how has what Josh and James do affected your life?

DYLAN KITLEY: It is a ripple effect. James was blessed with enough money to buy a house. I met James while feeding people at the homeless encampment. I had lost my job and was living up north with no real job opportunities or direction forward.

James saw potential in me and opened his home to me. James and his family became my family. It has not only been a blessing to him; it has been a huge blessing to me as well.

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: What is your main role when you go out and help people?

DYLAN KITLEY: The gift God has given me is the power of prayer. I have an opportunity to pray with families and individuals after the videos are finished, inspire hope and help restore faith.

05:18 — St. Paul question and the proposed apology

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: I know you were banned from parks in Minnesota—fraudulently, in my view. The restriction was later released. Did the city ever issue you an apology?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: They said they were going to. When my lawyer asked about it approximately a week later, they took that offer off the table. I never received an apology. The narrative is still being repeated that I was harassing some of the most vulnerable people we have.

05:59 — Closing

DAVID J. HARRIS JR.: I am out of time. Josh Liljenquist, James and Dylan, God bless you. Thank you for joining The Pulse, and I pray God continues working through all of you.