Podcast Summary: Work For Humans

Episode: The California Experiment: Can Government Use Community Service to Fix Work and Heal Society?
Guest: Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer
Host: Dart Lindsley
Date: February 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores how California is leveraging government-led community service programs—particularly the innovative California Service Corps—to tackle social challenges, bridge divides, and transform the transition from college to career. Host Dart Lindsley is joined by Josh Fryday, California’s first Chief Service Officer, to discuss the origins, impact, and broader significance of these programs. The conversation dives into how structured service opportunities can foster social capital, heal polarization, and build a sense of purpose for individuals and communities alike.

Main Themes & Key Insights

1. California as a National Innovator

Timestamp: 03:33-07:02

• California has long been a “coming attraction” for the rest of America, modeling bold policy in climate, technology, and social innovation.
• A growth mindset, willingness to take risks, and a culture that tolerates failure have been key to its leadership.

  “California is America’s coming attraction.” – Josh Fryday [03:53]

2. Origins of the Chief Service Officer Role

Timestamp: 07:02-09:44

• Governor Newsom, confronted by societal polarization and isolation, prioritized service as state policy, creating a cabinet-level role for civic engagement.
• Fryday’s own experience as a naval officer in Japan during Operation Tomodachi inspired his belief in service as a force for unity.

“When you engage people in service, we try to create a society that's compassionate and takes care of each other, and we're going to invest in it.” – Josh Fryday [07:56]

3. Service as an Antidote to Polarization

Timestamp: 10:24-12:53

• Fryday’s relief mission after the 2011 Japanese earthquake and nuclear disaster was transformative; diverse people can accomplish extraordinary things when united around a purpose.
• Very few Americans today have structured opportunities for such bonding experiences.

“The challenge...as a country is very few Americans get to have an experience like that—where people come together around a shared purpose.” – Josh Fryday [12:17]

4. The California Service Corps & Volunteer Initiatives

Timestamp: 12:58-14:45

• 10,000+ paid service positions across California, now “bigger than the Peace Corps.”
• Includes the nation’s first Climate Corps, a Youth Jobs Corps for marginalized youth, AmeriCorps programs, and the “College Corps,” which pays students for community service towards their education.
• Programs address climate, food insecurity, education gaps, and more.

  “If you're willing to serve your community, we're going to help you pay for college.” – Josh Fryday [13:53]

5. College Corps: Bridging College and Career

Timestamp: 14:45-22:42

• College Corps partners with 46 universities; students serve 450 hours and receive up to $10,000, covering significant college costs.

• Program especially benefits Pell Grant (low-income) students, enabling them to build skills and social capital while easing debt.

• Strong focus on building social networks, “de-risking” early hires for employers, and creating career pipelines.

  “If it wasn't for college corps, [Rocco] was going to be working at Jack in the Box. Now he gets to do something meaningful and purposeful for him and gives him direction.” – Josh Fryday [19:41]

• Social capital development is a central (often overlooked) value:

  “What we're really investing in…is social capital for these students.” – Josh Fryday [20:15]

6. Why Universities Embrace Service Programs

Timestamp: 25:59-28:32

• Programs like College Corps promote “high impact practices,” increasing student retention and graduation rates.
• Align deeply with community colleges’ mission: “Community is built in their name.”

7. Funding & Political Context

Timestamp: 28:32-33:37

• State-funded by California, thanks to political prioritization by the Governor and Legislature.
• Skepticism existed about prioritizing and investing public funds in service, but early results are shifting perceptions.
• Unlike exclusionary programs like the original Civilian Conservation Corps, California’s model is deliberately inclusive—open to dreamers and undocumented students.

“If we’re going to value people…we have to invest in it.” – Josh Fryday [31:50]

8. Government’s Unique Role in Building Social Fabric

Timestamp: 33:37-40:18

• Service programs foster connection and a shared sense of responsibility, combating societal isolation and polarization.
• Government is uniquely positioned to build “the kind of society we want to live in.”
• Fryday stresses humility and persistence in social change, drawing parallels to the Civil Rights Movement’s long-term vision.

“If we do the work…we’re going to get there.” – Josh Fryday [36:10]

9. Broader Reflections on Government and Community

Timestamp: 40:18-42:34

• Civic disengagement is a concern; Fryday calls for young people to serve in government, emphasizing democracy’s reliance on citizen engagement.

“If you care about creating change…government is the system that we have created to address it.” – Josh Fryday [40:32]

10. Expansion and Outcomes

Timestamp: 42:34-47:57

• California’s models are influencing other states (Minnesota, New York, 12+ others with Climate Corps).
• Launch of “Corps to Career” pilot in LA, connecting service members directly with employers—a direct answer to the need for career transition support.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “California is a place where failure is not a dirty word... Innovation requires us to push the envelope and be willing to do things that others...are not.” – Josh Fryday [06:13]
• “We have a teaching shortage of 10,000 teachers... The idea that we can expose [students] to the classroom so they want to become teachers—that’s empowering.” – Josh Fryday [24:13]
• “No one’s against asking people to serve... The question is, why should it be a priority for government?” – Josh Fryday [31:06]
• “We've sent the wrong message. The message that we should be sending is: we need you... to help us solve these big problems.” – Josh Fryday [41:02]
• “I found my purpose in life through service, and now I get to give the gift of purpose to 10,000 other young people a year.” – Josh Fryday [50:13]

Timestamps for Core Segments

• California Innovation & Leadership – 03:33–07:02
• Chief Service Officer: Origin Story – 07:02–09:44
• Operation Tomodachi & the Power of Service – 10:24–12:53
• California Service Corps: Scale & Impact – 12:58–14:45
• College Corps: Structure & Outcomes – 14:45–22:42
• Universities & Community Engagement – 25:59–28:32
• Funding Model and Early Skepticism – 28:32–33:37
• Social Fabric & Government's Role – 33:37–40:18
• Government, Belonging & Civic Engagement – 40:18–42:34
• National Expansion & Workforce Pipeline – 42:34–47:57
• Personal Reflections: ‘What Do You Hire Your Job to Do?’ – 49:38–51:06

How to Get Involved

• Visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov for information on service opportunities—one year or even one hour at a time.
• Consider joining the pilot “Neighbor to Neighbor Initiative” to foster community bonds on a hyper-local level.

“People are thirsty to just have human connection again.” – Josh Fryday [54:02]

Final Thoughts

Josh Fryday and Dart Lindsley illustrate that work—especially community-serving work—can be designed to add value not only to economies and organizations but also to individuals’ lives and the broader social fabric. California’s bold approach is proving that government can play a vital role in healing, strengthening, and reimagining the world of work and community.

Useful Links:

• California Volunteers

Summary by an expert podcast summarizer. For those who want a blueprint for rethinking the future of work and society, this episode is essential listening.