Leading with Service: Josh Fryday on Belonging, Hope, and a Regenerative Politics

It is my great pleasure to welcome Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer, to this episode of Regenerative Mindset. A former Naval Officer, Mayor, and lifelong advocate for civic engagement, Josh has dedicated his career to proving that government can be a force for unity, healing, and regeneration.

Under his leadership, California has created the largest service corps in the nation, now larger than the Peace Corps, providing over 10,000 paid opportunities for Californians to serve their communities, combat climate change, address food insecurity, and prepare for disasters. His first-in-the-nation programs, featured in The New York Times and Wired Magazine, are being replicated across the country as models for how service can bridge divides and restore a sense of shared purpose.

A graduate of Berkeley Law and a commissioned Naval Officer, Josh served our country in Japan and Guantanamo Bay, taking part in one of the largest humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts in history. Those experiences profoundly shaped his conviction that service is a means of healing ourselves, our communities, and the planet.

And now, Josh is taking his commitment to service into a new realm: he has announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election, bringing the same values and energy for collective purpose to the statewide stage.

In this conversation, Josh and Stacy explore what it means to lead with a regenerative mindset in politics, how acts of service foster belonging and connection, and why restoring faith in one another may be the most powerful form of climate and cultural repair we have. From stories of wildfire relief to reflections on loneliness, leadership, and love of community, Josh reminds us that hope is not something we wait for; it’s something we create together, through action and compassion.

Join me for this inspiring and deeply grounding conversation with Josh Fryday, a leader who embodies what it means to serve with heart, humility, and vision for a more connected future.

You can learn more about Josh’s work at joshfryday.com or on social media @JoshFryday on X and @josh_fryday on Instagram.

For more information on the podcast, upcoming events, projects, and more go to our website www.stacypulice.com

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