Josh Liljenquist Discusses Kindness Work and St. Paul Parks on BOLLING!

BOLLING! interview transcript

Transcript note: This transcript has been lightly edited for readability by removing non-substantive verbal fillers, correcting obvious transcription errors, and adding punctuation. The meaning and sequence of Josh Liljenquist's statements have not been changed. One politically charged host-commentary passage unrelated to Josh's own statements has been omitted from this public version at Josh's direction; the complete historical transcript is retained in the private archive.

Introduction and Josh's kindness work

ERIC BOLLING: He goes out into his city of St. Paul, Minnesota, and helps individuals who are having a hard time—people who are homeless, jobless, and in need. He recently was served papers to stop going to all the St. Paul parks for six months. But the question is: why? Here to tell us what's going on is kindness creator Josh Liljenquist.

Josh, really good to have you on. Tell us what a kindness creator is. And you must be a serious threat to the citizens to have government step in and say, “Slow down, Josh.” Tell us.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: I go out every day and try to serve God and keep God at the center of everything. I get basic necessities for people who need them—whether that means clothes, food, or, in the wintertime, heaters.

Recently, I did a fundraiser that raised more than $600,000 for Azeza and her seriously ill son, Gigi. She had been having to shower him in the garage because the home was not accessible. I used my platform to help raise the funds. They bought a new house and got a wheelchair-accessible van.

I travel around the country, but when I do things in Minnesota, it's mostly with the homeless community—although it isn't strictly with people experiencing homelessness.

When I got this letter, it started with a text from a deputy director about a proposed concert I was supposedly planning. I had no idea about it. I told him I had no involvement. Shortly after that, I was served with the ban.

I even asked, “How can I help you figure out if this is a rumor or a real thing?” He had said he was following up on a rumor, so I thought: if it's a rumor, it probably isn't true.

The harassment allegation and appeal hearing

ERIC BOLLING: On TikTok alone, you've amassed almost 11 million followers. You're doing the right thing, brother. What was their issue? I read one story that said you were, quote, “harassing adults.” What did they mean by this?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: That came up during the appeal hearing. Harassment is a serious claim, especially when it concerns people who don't have much. Those are the people you should be uplifting.

When I saw the claim, it hurt. That's never been the case, and it never will be. I asked, “Can you give me the name of the person I allegedly harassed?” They said they didn't have that information in front of them. This was at my due-process hearing.

I'm not too familiar with the law, but it seems like you should have the name of a person I allegedly harassed.

ERIC BOLLING: What do they mean by harassment? I watch videos where you're approaching people in need. In one, a man who doesn't appear to have much is willing to take off his shoes to give them to someone else, and then you help him. Tell us about those stories.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: It's about showing the good in the world and trying to change the narrative. My goal is to show that, despite all the negative things you see on the internet, you can still show light.

ERIC BOLLING: You're using attention as a resource to provide a service.

Editorial omission note: One host-commentary passage has been omitted from the public readable transcript because it does not concern Josh Liljenquist's work or statements. The complete passage remains in the private archival transcript.

Family roots and the citywide restriction

ERIC BOLLING: “Live to Love” is your mantra, right?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Yes. It has been since I was a kid. My grandfather, who's in heaven now, influenced me in a positive way. My parents also took children into our home. We had three bedrooms, so I shared a room with other kids. It's what I grew up doing. It's what my parents did.

Then I was served with papers imposing a six-month ban from every park in the city. When I researched it, the only comparable situation I found involved a person accused of selling drugs in a neighborhood. That person appealed within the city, and the city lost.

I've intervened in more than 10 domestic assaults and countless fights. I've told people, “Come sit in my car and cool down. Everything will be okay. We'll work it out.” I've taken people to stores to get medicine. The restriction came out of left field, and I wanted clarification because, at that point, I had nothing specific to respond to.

Safety while doing outreach

ERIC BOLLING: Are you ever fearful for your safety? I see videos where you're bringing roses to people in hospice. They're touching. Are you worried that people who don't understand what you're doing might put your safety at risk?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Not necessarily the people I'm helping, because they know my intentions. I'm more concerned about people who have more and are willing to give, but just aren't [unclear]. Not the people receiving the help. They're very receptive. I love them, and they love me.

A message centered on love

ERIC BOLLING: With all the strife, anger, bickering, and partisanship in the country, you're trying to bridge the gap. It doesn't matter what political position someone has, their color, race, gender, or sexual orientation—you love people the same way, right?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: It doesn't matter. The only way to get through to somebody is to show them love. If you're going to divide people and create hate, that's not how you reach someone. If more people realized that, I think the world would be a better place.

Where viewers could follow Josh at the time

ERIC BOLLING: Tell people where they can find you. You're at 10.9 million followers on TikTok. Where can they find you?

JOSH LILJENQUIST: On all platforms. I'm about 30,000 away from 10 million on Facebook, which is insane, and 10.9 million on TikTok. But numbers are numbers. What matters is the impact you can create with people who share a similar mission.

It's a community of people who care. If someone needs financial help, prayers, or something else, I can be a vessel that helps give that person a voice.

ERIC BOLLING: It's amazing. Millions of people follow you because they may need exactly what you're bringing. Josh Liljenquist, thank you for your time. We'll talk again soon. Good luck, and keep doing it.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: Absolutely.

ERIC BOLLING: Be safe.

JOSH LILJENQUIST: I will. God's got me.