The Homeboy Way

Actor Lauren Tom has spent decades moving audiences through roles in The Joy Luck Club, Friends, Futurama, and more. But in this episode of The Homeboy Way, she joins Tom Vozzo to talk about the story that moved her: Homeboy Industries. After reading Fr. Greg Boyle S.J.’s Tattoos on the Heart and hearing him speak, Lauren knew she had to get involved, even if she didn’t yet know what she could offer.What began with a book club and a muddy early Homeboy 5K became a 15-year relationship with the organization, its mission, and its people. Lauren shares how Fr. Greg became a spiritual mentor, how Homeboy helped her move from fear to compassion, and why being honored as a Community Hero at Lo Máximo meant more to her than any Hollywood award ever could.Together, Tom and Lauren explore second chances, first chances, belonging, fandom, representation, and the simple but radical idea that relationships change everything. This is a conversation about what happens when people are seen with love, and how one person, one introduction, one act of compassion, can help someone remember they belong.Key TakeawaysHomeboy turns fear into relationship.Lauren shares how she used to feel afraid when seeing someone with gang tattoos. Through Homeboy, that fear shifted into recognition, humanity, and a simple willingness to say hello.Second chances are often first chances.Tom and Lauren discuss how many Homeboy trainees were never given a real first chance to be loved, believed in, educated, or seen without judgment.Belonging is a healing force.Whether at the Homeboy 5K, Lo Máximo, or a fan convention, Lauren sees the same human need everywhere: people want to belong to something bigger than themselves.Hope is an everyday practice.Lauren reminds us that hope is not passive. It can be as small as making one phone call, building one relationship, or asking one person to help.In This Episode[00:00] Introduction[01:17] How Lauren first discovered Homeboy Industries[02:06] Why Fr. Greg’s stories make people laugh and cry[04:40] Why the Homeboy 5K feels bigger than a run[06:34] Fr. Greg as Lauren’s spiritual mentor[09:43] Why everything in life is about relationship[10:35] How Homeboy changed Lauren’s view of gang members[13:30] Why Lo Máximo meant more than an Oscar[14:01] The meaning of collective effervescence[14:52] The hope and joy people feel at Homeboy[16:22] The Homeboy story Lauren never forgot[17:59] Why one person believing in someone can change a life[18:35] Bringing Lauren’s fan communities into Homeboy’s mission[27:02] Why Lauren keeps coming back to Homeboy[29:15] The current state of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles[30:16] How Lauren stays hopeful[31:41] Why people need a visceral experience of Fr. Greg’s message[33:52] Closing reflectionsNotable Quotes“I feel so deeply blessed that I get to live in the same time that Fr. Boyle is alive.” — Lauren Tom [06:34]“At the end of the day, I feel like everyone just wants to belong. And that’s the beauty of Homeboy.” — Lauren Tom [20:53]“I can’t help but fundraise for Homeboy. I feel like it’s not even a choice for me. It’s something I need to do.” — Lauren Tom [27:15]“Relationships, just keep building those relationships and not being shy about asking for help with the people you know already love you.” — Lauren Tom [28:07]Resources and LinksLauren Tomhttps://laurentom.com/https://www.instagram.com/laurentom9000/Homeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

What does it take to trust again after a lifetime of betrayal? For Karla Leon and Anthony Chairez, both formerly incarcerated and now executive assistants to the Co-CEOs of Homeboy Industries, the answer isn't a pill or a program, it's patience, kinship, and learning how to hug.Karla came home from federal prison to a three-year-old daughter who didn't know her as "Mom." Anthony served 20 years, from age 15 to 36, and had never provided for himself a single day. Both walked through Homeboy's doors with their guards up, expecting the worst from people who looked just like the ones who hurt them. What they found instead was something they didn't have words for yet: safety.In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Karla and Anthony to talk about what healing actually looks like. They discuss the terror of walking into a room full of former gang members, the slow work of lowering your shield, and the surprising discovery that the people who can help you most might be ex-convicts and admitted drug addicts. Together, they prove that transformation doesn't happen fast, and that sometimes, the first step is learning to let someone teach you how to hug.Key TakeawaysWhen the state raises you, you never learn to provide for yourself.Anthony spent from 15 to 36 in prison. The state gave him everything. He came home never paying a bill or holding a job. Homeboy taught him how to be an adult.Homeboy helps people heal through trust and support.Anthony explains that Homeboy’s 18-month model is built around healing trauma, building resilience, and helping people withstand whatever life throws at them.Healing starts when people realize they are not alone.Through Homeboy’s classes, Anthony discovered that hearing others share their struggles with trauma, violence, and anxiety helped him feel connected instead of isolated.Love and patience can rebuild broken relationships.Karla shares how Homeboy taught her patience, emotional connection, and even how to hug, lessons that helped her reconnect with her daughter after prison.Growth takes patience and honesty.Karla explains that real healing began when she stopped rushing the process and finally learned to face herself honestly instead of avoiding the pain she carried inside.In This Episode:[00:00] Introduction[01:10] Karla’s journey to Homeboy Industries[03:02] Anthony reflects on 20 years in prison[05:04] Accepting the opportunity at Homeboy[06:12] The Homeboy healing model explained[07:05] Finding hope and kinship through classes[08:40] Rebuilding a relationship with family after prison[11:39] Learning not to take everything personally[13:36] Supporting Homeboy’s CEOs behind the scenes[17:58] Anthony on addiction and protecting his sanity[18:42] Karla on motherhood and joy[19:18] Ongoing trauma healing and therapy[21:03] Redirecting survival skills toward success[26:45] Anthony’s passion for rebuilding cars[27:33] Final reflections Notable Quotes“Had anyone asked me before I came home who I wanted mentoring me, I never would have imagined it would be former gang members and ex-convicts helping me rebuild my life.” — Anthony [08:12]“Until you’re comfortable with who’s staring back at you in the mirror, then you can move forward.” — Karla [16:57]“One thing I learned in therapy was if you can imagine the worst outcome, you can also imagine the best one.” — Karla [20:38]“My sanity brings me joy.” — Anthony [18:39]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

When world-renowned trauma expert Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of the nine-million-copy bestseller The Body Keeps the Score, walked into Homeboy Industries, he came skeptical. What he found stopped him cold: people leaning into each other like friends. No suspicion. No dominance games. Just open-hearted safety. For a population with histories of violence and gang life, that is "quite remarkable."Dr. van der Kolk visited Homeboy and San Quentin in the same week. At San Quentin, he saw the familiar scars of trauma, isolation, and rigid hierarchy. But at Homeboy, he witnessed something radically different: people leaning into each other with trust and warmth. The contrast stunned him.In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Dr. van der Kolk to delve into trauma, community, and the science behind Homeboy's transformative model. Together, they unpack why belonging is a biological imperative, why trauma lives in the body, and why action, such as chopping vegetables, dancing, or working in a kitchen, can heal what talk therapy alone cannot. They explore EMDR, why gangs and college campuses satisfy the same deep human need, and what it means to discover, perhaps for the very first time, that you might be lovable.So moved by what he saw at Homeboy, Dr. van der Kolk plans to dedicate a chapter of his next book to the program.Key TakeawaysSafety looks different at Homeboy.At San Quentin, people play dominance games. At Homeboy, men with histories of violence lean into each other, open-hearted. That contrast tells you everything about kinship.What you do becomes who you are.Psychiatry is top-down: pill, advice, sit still. Homeboy does the opposite: people work and build identity through action. For someone whose only identity was the gang, that job is the foundation of a new self.Trauma is not an event; it is helplessness.The antidote, as Darwin knew, is community: our uniquely human capacity to collaborate and look out for each other.The past can become a memory, not a life sentence.Terrible things become an alibi, a reason to stay stuck. Moving from ‘look what they did’ to ‘it’s over’ is the hardest shift. Homeboy makes it possible.In This Episode:[00:00] Introduction[00:30] Why Homeboy changes people[02:28] First impressions of Homeboy[04:14] Why belonging heals trauma[06:39] Finding community and identity[09:56] Letting go of gang identity[11:02] Trauma explained in simple terms[13:18] Understanding complex trauma[14:33] Why the body keeps the score[16:25] Understanding EMDR and healing[19:42] Why trauma keeps reliving itself[22:00] Trauma and the feeling of paralysis[23:53] Desmond Tutu and collective joy[27:00] Belonging across different cultures[28:08] The limits of traditional therapy[29:58] Can people ever fully heal?[30:50] Neurofeedback yoga and brain healing[32:39] Addiction, psychedelics, and recovery[35:19] Spirituality, compassion, and feeling loved[38:02] How trauma lives in the body[39:09] Final reflections Notable Quotes“People were open-hearted to each other as if they were accustomed to feeling safe with each other.” — Bessel [03:18] “In our field, we rarely talk about how the feeling of belonging is a critical human need.” – Bessel [04:42]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Dr. Bessel van der Kolkhttps://www.besselvanderkolk.com/BookThomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

Dr. Bill Resnick first heard about Homeboy through a friend before Homeboy even existed. Years later, after a site visit, reading Tattoos on the Heart, and witnessing Homeboy’s financial crisis, he found his way into the community.In this episode, former CEO Tom Vozzo talks with Bill about moving from donor to volunteer. A psychiatrist in long-term recovery, Bill now leads mindfulness classes at Homeboy. He shares what mindfulness really is, how to teach it in unpredictable classrooms, and why healing happens best in community, not just in a therapist’s office.Bill also opens up about his own mental health struggles and the multiple second chances he has received. His story reveals what it truly means to be part of Homeboy, not as an expert, but as someone willing to show up, get proximate, and simply be in a relationship.Key TakeawaysYou don’t need a quiet mind to practice mindfulnessMindfulness isn’t about stopping your thoughts. It’s about noticing them, “busy mind,” “planning mind,” and gently returning to the present. The shift isn’t control, it’s awareness.People are carrying more than you can seeAt Homeboy, trainees walk in with real-life pressures, court dates, family stress, trauma. That reality shows up in the classroom, and it shapes how healing has to happen.Mindfulness can be a shared experienceEven in silence, practicing alongside others creates connection. There’s something powerful about knowing you’re not alone in the work of being present.Belonging is part of the healingVolunteering becomes meaningful not because of what you give, but because you become part of something. Being recognized, welcomed, and connected matters.It’s not about fixing, it’s about relationshipHomeboy doesn’t need experts coming in to teach. It needs people willing to listen, to show up, and to be in genuine relationship with others.Healing isn’t one chance, it’s manyThe people at Homeboy often come from deep, generational trauma. Change doesn’t happen once. It happens over time, through multiple chances, and sometimes for the first time ever.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction01:08 – How Bill first learned about Homeboy04:29 – The Miracle of Mindfulness class07:00 – Why mindfulness matters in daily life10:02 – Personal mindfulness practice13:14 – Teaching mindfulness at Homeboy16:51 – Tools for managing stress and anxiety19:23 – Why mindfulness works23:05 – What it means to be a volunteer28:53 – Philosophy of giving and philanthropy34:07 – Being part of the Homeboy community36:39 – Bill’s personal journey and second chances40:22 – Closing reflectionsNotable Quotes“Healing happens best in community, not just individually.” — Dr. Bill [02:32]“I can't meditate because my mind's too busy. I can't shut off my thoughts. If that were the requirement, nobody would be able to meditate.” — Dr. Bill [11:11]“ We give multiple chances to people” — Tom [36:29]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Dr. Bill Resnickhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-resnick-03a5135/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

What does it take to reach a kid who’s already been given up on by every system around them? Maria Flores and Gabriel Lopez of Homeboy’s Youth Reentry Center answer simply: show up, stay, and never close the door.In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Maria and Gabriel to explore the reality of working with youth coming out of incarceration and still living in gang violence, generational trauma, and instability. Unlike adults, these young people return to the same environments they came from. Their trauma isn’t something they leave behind, it’s where they live.Gabriel brings lived experience as a former generational gang member who spent years in prison before choosing a different path after his son was born. Maria, with 18 years at Homeboy, has seen entire cycles repeat, including parents she once supported now sending their own children through the program. Together, they describe a model rooted in radical consistency: no youth is ever expelled, no family is abandoned, and no one faces the system alone.From moments of joy like white water rafting trips where a hardened teen smiles for the first time, to a young man who kept returning simply because someone noticed him, this episode shows what happens when kids are treated not as problems to fix, but as people who want to be seen and loved.Key TakeawaysSociety failed her, Homeboy showed upA girl out of school for three years wasn’t blamed. Instead, Maria asked how the system failed her. With support, she graduated two years later. No one gets pushed out hereThe Youth Reentry Center never expels kids. Instead of punishment, they use reflection and healing circles, offering stability to youth used to rejection. Education is the turning pointThough legally allowed back in school, many youth are pushed out. Homeboy created its own school to ensure they don’t fall through the cracks. Kids are pushed out not failing aloneBehaviors that lead to expulsion in underserved communities are often handled differently elsewhere. The homeboy chooses to open the door instead. Gang identity is about survival What looks like defiance is often protection. As Gabriel puts it, beneath it all is a kid who wants to be loved. Healing the healer matters Maria calls Homeboy "my medicine." Staying present requires daily practices. Staff wellbeing is essential to sustaining this work. In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction00:30 – Why Homeboy focuses on youth02:49 – Living in trauma, not beyond it06:47 – Girls, foster care, and hidden struggles08:44 – Why no one is ever kicked out09:30 – The reason Homeboy built a school10:40 – The “chaser” model and wraparound support15:27 – Understanding a young man’s mindset16:30 – Gabriel’s story: joining a gang early19:02 – What changed the direction of his life21:12 – Fatherhood and a new sense of purpose23:26 – Building trust and creating safe spaces26:42 – Summer programs and moments of joy28:48 – Lessons in trust and letting go33:50 – Working with parents and reunification36:02 – Breaking cycles of conflict and violence41:26 – Gabriel’s journey as a fatherNotable Quotes“No one stops to look at what our kids are holding in their heart.” – Gabriel [03:58]“There is no such thing as ‘that’s it, you’re done.” – Maria [09:01]“They’re just little boys that want to be loved, bro.” – Gabriel [16:16]“ There's never a hopeful kid that joins a gang.” – Maria [17:25]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Jose Leon, head barista at Homegirl Cafe. But Jose almost didn’t stay long enough to make a single cup.The first time Jose walked through the doors of Homeboy Industries, he was already planning his exit. Fresh out of rehab and carrying a charge for “fire,” considered worse than murder on the streets, he assumed a place full of gang members could never be positive. But his roommate, T, had a persistent, vibrant energy that Jose wanted for himself. More than that, he had four daughters. He needed to become someone they could count on.So he stayed. He washed dishes. He unlearned nearly everything. And then he got tricked into becoming a barista. Behind the counter at Homegirl Cafe, Jose discovered that coffee dissolves the barriers between strangers. People walk in with heavy stories, a mother grieving a son, and hand them over with their order. He listens, he serves, and he makes the best latte in Los Angeles.Now the head barista and a quiet leader, Jose still wakes at 3:30 a.m. He still focuses on the next generation, knowing he may never fully heal the wounds of his past. But he shows up differently. And that, he says, changes everything.Key TakeawaysIf you want something different, you have to do something different.Jose did not suddenly feel ready. He chose differently. He realized that everything he had done before led him to where he was, and if he wanted a different life, he had to take a completely different path.Transformation does not instantly fix relationshipsEven when someone does the work to heal, grow, and change, family members may still see the old version of them. Rebuilding trust takes time, patience, and consistency.Small, consistent actions can create a sense of purpose.When Jose started in the back of the cafe washing dishes, it wasn't a dead-end job. It was the first time he knew he could do something, finish it, and do it correctly again the next day. Support can break deeply rooted beliefsMany who come from incarceration or hardship feel like they do not deserve help. Experiencing genuine care through meals, kindness, and community begins to shift that mindset and opens the door to changeIn This Episode:00:55 – Jose’s first time at Homeboy01:28 – The arson charge and coming out of rehab02:04 – Why Jose was against Homeboy at first02:45 – What kept him coming back03:33 – The turning point: “I had to do something different”05:44 – What Father Greg means to Jose07:22 – Traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska to speak08:46 – Unlearning everything09:20 – Daily practices: waking up at 3:30 a.m.11:06 – Healing family relationships without expectations13:33 – Talking to his daughters and focusing on the next generation14:17 – What Jose tells customers at the coffee counter15:17 – Daily mindset reminders17:10 – Part 2: Inside the Homegirl Cafe17:28 – Starting as a dishwasher in the back18:35 – Becoming a barista by accident19:21 – Overcoming insecurity about facial scars20:38 – Why the coffee counter removes barriers22:20 – When a mother shared her son’s death24:06 – Helping people straight out of jail with a free mealNotable Quotes“ If I wanted something different in life, I had to do something different.” — Jose [03:35]“I wanted to be the person my daughters needed me to be” — Jose [02:47]“I had to unlearn everything.” — Jose [09:07]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Jose Leonlinkedin.com/in/jleon77Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

Imagine your children being taken from your home at gunpoint. That searing, shame-filled moment becomes the catalyst. Not for more destruction, but for a journey that leads you from prison yards to the director’s chair, and eventually, to finding freedom in a sun-drenched square in Barcelona. This is Natalie’s story.In this episode of The Homeboy Way, host Tom Vozzo sits down with Natalie Venegas, Director of Case Management at Homeboy Industries, her son Daniel Aguilar, and longtime Homeboy leader Hector Verdugo to explore the long arc of transformation and generational healing. Natalie reflects on her 15-year journey from leaving prison as a four-time felon, carrying the trauma of her children being taken at gunpoint, to rising into senior leadership while pursuing clinical licensure. She shares how addiction, rejection, and survival masks once shaped her life, and how therapy, education, and unconditional love helped her learn how to live, parent, and lead. Daniel offers his perspective on choosing recovery for himself, while Hector reflects on witnessing Natalie’s evolution firsthand. Together, their stories reveal how kinship and consistency reshape not just individual lives, but entire family trajectories.Key TakeawaysHealing begins when survival endsNatalie shares how emotional shutdown and stoicism kept her alive but also kept her stuck. Healing began only when she felt safe enough to be vulnerable.Consistency builds trust where words cannotHomeboy’s steady presence taught Natalie how to be consistent for herself, her children, and others, something she never experienced growing up.Unconditional love creates capacity Being loved without prerequisites allowed Natalie to believe in herself, pursue education, enter therapy, and step into leadership.Healing is generational Daniel’s recovery is connected to his mother’s healing. Homeboy’s model shows how helping one person reshapes an entire family’s future.You cannot do it alone, and you are not meant to Walking alongside others through sponsors, staff, and peers makes transformation sustainable and real.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction00:42 – Natalie’s early years and repeated incarceration02:09 – Being taken from her children at gunpoint03:59 – Choosing not to numb out in prison06:28 – A letter from her son that changed everything08:09 – The Greyhound bus, temptation, and choosing sobriety10:36 – Entering a program and first encounters with Homeboy12:18 – “You don’t fit our profile”: misjudgment and persistence14:58 – Vulnerability breaks through stoicism17:22 – Learning how to live on the outside18:36 – Education, therapy, and discovering a calling21:10 – From survival to service23:09 – Daniel shares his recovery journey28:25 – Parenting, boundaries, and letting go31:26 – How Homeboy changes entire family trajectories33:01 – Traveling the world as formerly incarcerated leaders35:26 – Belonging without labelsNotable Quotes“I didn’t know how to live out here. I knew how to hustle, but not how to be a mom.” — Natalie Venegas [17:02]“I’m the only one who’s going to fix my life.” — Daniel Aguilar [26:35]“Homeboy loves people, gives people hugs until they learn how to love themselves.” — Natalie [23:01]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Natalie Venegashttps://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-venegas-1327b0a3/Hector Verdugohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-verdugo-7297a684Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

At Homeboy Industries, healing rarely happens through a single method. It unfolds through therapy, community, compassion, and the steady presence of people who care.In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. to explore how healing really happens for people carrying deep trauma. Fr. Greg describes it as the “cumulative dosing effect of cherishing” when someone is consistently seen, known, and valued. Yet that kind of love can feel overwhelming. Some homies even walk away at first because they do not know how to receive it.Fr. Greg reflects on the early days of Homeboy, when therapy carried heavy stigma. Today, the demand is so great that there are waiting lists. He shares stories of people wrestling with addiction, hearing voices, and confronting wounds they once tried to bury.Through decades of experience, Fr. Greg reveals a deeper truth. Healing does not happen only in therapy. It happens in a community where people discover they are no longer alone.Key TakeawaysOverwhelm from love is real.Fr. Greg shares about a homie who left Homeboy not because things were bad, but because he “didn’t know how to handle all the love.” For people used to trauma, steady care and belonging can feel unfamiliar or overwhelming, so some leave and return when they are ready.Community dosing surrounds and amplifies therapy.Beyond methods like talk therapy and EMDR, healing also happens through daily relationships. Consistent care from staff, mentors, and volunteers helps build resilience.The three profiles of gang members (and all of us).Fr. Greg breaks down that everyone falls into one of three categories: despair (can't imagine a future), trauma (high ACEs score), or mental illness.Luck and privilege shape our lives more than we admit.Fr. Greg reminds us that success is not only about hard work. Many benefit from unseen advantages, and recognizing this can foster humility and compassion.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – How healing happens02:28 – Why therapy must be voluntary03:09 – The early days and the need for therapy at Homeboy (ACEs)05:50 – What surrendering to healing looks like07:44 – When love feels overwhelming09:14 – Challenges finding therapists and homies to try therapy12:29 – The rise of therapy and volunteer clinicians14:35 – Listening and loving as the foundation of healing16:05 – Alternative therapies and healing experiences20:32 – Why there is no “one-size-fits-all” healing23:37 – Compassion and forgiveness in the healing process26:38 – What it means to be a “stranger to yourself”30:43 – Three profiles of gang members33:44 – Excavating generational wounds in everyday life36:31 – The role of luck, privilege, and circumstance38:46 – Reducing stigma around mental health40:35 – Mental illness and societal misunderstanding45:39 – Why healing is reliable and ongoingNotable Quotes“I don't think healing is so formulaic. I think if you believe in how the cumulative dosing effect of cherishing is, you can observe it.” — Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. [01:00]“Listen, listen. Love, love.” — Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. [14:01]“If you don’t welcome your own wound, you will be tempted to despise the wounded.” — Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. [28:01]“How do you transform your pain so you no longer transmit it?” — Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. [31:41]Homeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Father Greg Boylelinkedin.com/in/greg-boyle-s-j-05458514Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

When Tom Vozzo first walked into Homeboy Industries more than 12 years ago, he was skeptical. “Shouldn’t we be doing work here at ‘Industries’?” he wondered, seeing art classes throughout the building.In this episode, Tom sits down with Fabian Debora, Executive Director of the Homeboy Art Academy, and Program Manager Barbara Fant to explore how art reaches wounds words cannot and why creativity is central to Homeboy’s model of healing and belonging.Fabian shares how, as a child hiding from domestic violence, drawing became his refuge, a sanctuary that carried him through addiction, recovery, and ultimately national recognition as a Heritage Fellow with the National Endowment for the Arts. Barbara reflects on losing her mother at fifteen and turning grief into poetry, using verse as both prayer and therapy.Through the Art Academy, rival youth create side by side, guided by Fabian’s Three R’s: Reconnect, Re-identify, and Reimagine.Key TakeawaysArt is refugeAs a child, Fabian learned art did not just express him, it held him. Hiding under a coffee table from violence, he found safety and hope. That same refuge is what the Art Academy now offers every young person who enters.Mentorship restores what shame steals. When a teacher destroyed Fabian’s artwork, Father Greg Boyle saw him for who he truly was and gave art back. That moment of being seen and reassured that his gift mattered changed everything.Poetry can be prayer.At 15, without therapy, Barbara turned sermon notes into poems, using them to grieve, pray, and make sense of losing her mother.Healing is intentional.The Art Academy practices a healing-centered approach: circles, reflection, the three R’s, creative exercises aligned with specific aspects of healing, and structured closing reflections.Identity can evolve.The young man known for his face tattoo begins with gang writing and gradually discovers artistry, leadership, and gentleness within himself.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction01:26 – Fabian’s childhood and art as refuge03:32 – Mentorship and artistic development05:28 – Barbara’s story: poetry as prayer11:03 – The Homeboy Art Academy12:32 – Healing-centered approach and the three R’s14:25 – Community, safety, and transformation16:29 – Co-designing the Academy’s modality18:09 – Stories of transformation: Giselle and Jesus20:13 – Managing gang dynamics and building kinship21:55 – Team approach and wraparound services24:03 – Challenges of the work27:07 – Resilience and returning youth28:17 – Fabian’s artistic recognition and advocacy30:21 – Barbara’s writing and influence of Homeboy31:52 – Future vision: accredited school of art32:44 – Graffiti, tagging, and artistic expressionNotable Quotes“People really do heal through the arts.” — Tom [01:16]"Art gave me a sense of purpose, existence, and, most importantly, hope." — Fabian [02:08]“ I started writing as just this way of processing, of talking to God and of prayer.” — Barbara [07:14]“The toughest part of the job has been the heartbreak.”— Tom [26:23] Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Barbara Fanthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fant-mfa-8114b633/https://homeboyindustries.org/services/art-academy/Fabian Deborahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-debora-886279a/https://homeboyindustries.org/services/art-academy/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with renowned Franciscan priest and author Fr. Richard Rohr to explore the emotional and spiritual journey behind anger, sadness, and healing. Fr. Richard explains why so many people, especially men, get stuck in anger and how that reaction often covers a much deeper sadness.Their discussion naturally connects to the lived experiences at Homeboy Industries, where individuals arrive carrying both grief and the desire for a new beginning. Fr. Richard shares why welcoming our sorrow is not weakness but a pathway to compassion, transformation, and spiritual maturity. The result is a warm, honest, and deeply human conversation about what it truly means to grow, to heal, and to become more whole.Key TakeawaysReal transformation begins when anger gives way to sadness.Most people think prophets were angry men. Rohr explains they actually began in anger but moved into sadness and ultimately into compassion, mirroring the inner journey many at Homeboy take.Grief is not weakness; it is the soul’s entrance into maturity.Cultures throughout history had rites teaching boys how to weep. Rohr recounts the Maasai “caves of grief,” where warriors learned that tears were strength, not failure.Control is the enemy of healing.Trying to control emotions keeps people stuck in anger. Letting go allows sadness to rise, which is the pathway to compassion.Suffering is unavoidable and essential.Whether it is the death of a loved one, loss of a pet, or inherited trauma, every person experiences pain. Rohr argues that grief, felt honestly, is the starting point of a real spiritual journey.Joy comes only after walking through grief.True joy is not positive thinking. It is what emerges when we release judgment, righteousness, and the need to perfect the world and ourselves.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction to The Homeboy Way01:04 – The spiritual lessons of Homeboy and Fr. Richard's writings01:43 – Why the soul must weep: Anger, sadness, and the prophetic journey06:19 – Why men don't weep and how to learn10:42 – Grief as initiation: The Men's Rites of Passage and PTSD14:13 – What the poor know: A critical lens on society and success18:31 – The necessity of suffering and exile for transformation24:30 – Wholeness vs. perfection and the "wounded warrior"27:48 – Occam's Razor: Why the simplest answer is Love33:13 – Certitude vs. faith in spirituality and politics36:04 – From lamentation to doxology: Where true joy is found39:47 – Conclusion and gratitudeNotable Quotes"You're much more sad than you are angry." — Fr. Richard Rohr (04:36)"The ego likes to be angry. It gives you a false sense of power and superiority" — Fr. Richard Rohr (09:02)"The simplest answer is invariably and almost always the correct one… The answer to everything is love." — Fr. Richard Rohr on Occam's Razor (28:35)"The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is certitude." — Fr. Richard Rohr (33:17)"We come to God more by doing it wrong than by doing it right." — Fr. Richard Rohr (38:12)Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Fr. Richard Rohrhttps://cac.org/about/cac-faculty/cac-founder-richard-rohr/https://cac.org/Daily Meditations: https://cac.org/daily-meditations/Books: "The Universal Christ," "Falling Upward," "The Wisdom Pattern," and his latest discussed, "The Tears of Things.Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

Smitty did not come to Homeboy Industries looking for a job or a title. He came looking for his daughter. After incarceration and a painful separation from his child, he arrived at Homeboy for parenting classes, hoping to rebuild his family. What he found was a place where people were allowed to be human, to heal, and to grow without judgment.In this episode of The Homeboy Way, Tom Vozzo sits down with Diwaine "Smitty" Smith to talk about his journey from trainee to navigator, a role that places him on the front lines supporting others through reentry and transition. Smitty reflects on how life inside jail taught him that if people can learn to coexist there, they can learn to do so anywhere. He also shares how a Civil Rights Immersion trip through the South reshaped his understanding of courage, mercy, and responsibility. Through faith, service, and kinship, Smitty’s story shows how personal healing becomes leadership.Key Takeaways Jail Taught Kinship First Incarceration showed Smitty that rivals can coexist. Homeboy proves respect and dialogue make it possible beyond jail.Safe Space for Stumbling and HealingHomeboy allows mistakes with support, wellness days, family priorities, and care without fear of punishment.From Personal Healing to Helping OthersAs a Navigator, Smitty leads with empathy, meeting people where they are and asking how he can help.The Civil Rights Trip’s Profound ImpactWalking in civil rights history reshaped Smitty’s view on nonviolence, resilience, and moving forward.Mercy as a Teachable PracticeSmitty led a class on mercy, sparking honest dialogue about compassion, even when it feels undeserved.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction 00:26 – Meet Smitty: from trainee to navigator00:56 – The jail mentality and Homeboy’s safe haven02:45 – Smitty’s journey to Homeboy03:34 – Culinary arts and Bread and Roses04:24 – The role of a navigator06:17 – Community organizing and helping others09:50 – The Civil Rights Trail experience12:45 – Reflecting on regional differences13:37 – Impact of Southern history14:26 – Personal transformation and community16:49 – Teaching mercy at Homeboy20:24 – Spiritual journey and personal growth21:49 – Conclusion and final thoughtsNotable Quotes“If we can get along in jail, we can get along anywhere else.” — Smitty [00:01:08]“We took punches from these people so our grandkids wouldn't have to take them.” — Quote from the Civil Rights trip that shifted Smitty's view on courage [10:59]“I came back a different person... showing that love instead of just telling people what to do.” — Smitty [15:58]“I'm a Homeboy for life... even if it's washing dishes at the cafe.” — Smitty [20:12]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

Miguel Lugo came to Homeboy Industries looking for help removing a chest tattoo that had defined his violent past and kept him trapped long after prison. After serving 18 years behind bars, starting at age 18, Miguel walked through Homeboy’s doors just days after his release. He stood outside for hours, unsure if he was ready to let go of the identity that once kept him alive but was now holding him back.In this episode of The Homeboy Way, Tom Vozzo sits down with Miguel, Community Relations and Head of Security at Homeboy Industries, to trace his journey from a life shaped by violence to one rooted in presence, accountability, and care. Miguel shares how tattoo removal became a path to reclaiming himself, how spiritual practices like sweat lodge ceremonies sustained him in prison, and how therapy helped him confront when harm became acceptable. Today, Miguel stands on the sidewalk welcoming newcomers, diffusing conflict, and walking with people before they ever enter the building. His story shows how deep personal healing becomes sacred work and how choosing love, again and again, turns survival into leadership.Key TakeawaysTattoo Removal as FreedomRemoving gang tattoos was not about jobs. It was about shedding an identity rooted in harm and reclaiming self-ownership.The Power of the SidewalkMany people hesitate before entering Homeboy. Healing often begins outside the door through presence, listening, and trust.Community Relations = Walking With, Not WatchingMiguel reframes safety as walking with people, not watching them, creating belonging instead of fear.Spiritual Practice as SurvivalSweat lodge ceremonies in prison offered grounding, humility, and a connection to identity beyond incarceration.Therapy and the Courage to Ask WhyHealing deepened when Miguel confronted the question of when harming others became acceptable.From Violence to BufferBy stepping between conflict and naming people with care, Miguel and his team prevent harm before it escalates.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction00:25 – Miguel’s journey begins01:08 – First steps at Homeboy03:06 – Tattoo removal and transformation06:01 – Leaving the gang life behind08:09 – Helping others and building community18:52 – Navigating challenges and misconceptions21:39 – Changing lives for a better future21:59 – Interactions with politicians24:44 – Building a new home26:52 – Spiritual journey and sweat lodges30:42 – Overcoming trauma and finding freedom38:05 – Passion for classic cars42:12 – Final reflections and gratitudeNotable Quotes“Am I okay cleaning toilets? ... I give it a shot.” — Miguel [02:21]“ In tattoo removal, the main thing it got is the freedom from yourself of who you were before.” — Miguel [05:30]“ A lot of people still call it security, but we don't. We like community relations because it does something different. I'm not here to watch you, I'm here to walk with you.” — Miguel [11:53]“In the sweat lodge, I was able to humble myself and give myself up to God.” — Miguel [31:51]“My job now is to be water to fire.”— Miguel [35:33]]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Miguel Lugohttps://homeboyindustries.org/transformation_story/miguel-lugo-2/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

How do you run a real business when your primary mission is healing, kinship, and transformation? In this episode, Tom Vozzo is joined by Homeboy Industries Co-CEO Steve Delgado and longtime advisor Gayle Northrop to explore the social enterprises at the heart of Homeboy.Their conversation centers on people, not products. People coming home from prison. People who have never held a formal job. People carrying trauma alongside hope and a desire to belong. At Homeboy, businesses are designed around that reality, not in spite of it.They explore the tension between mission and margin, speaking honestly about the real costs of being trauma-informed and the courage it takes to invest in people before the world believes they are ready. They reflect on bakeries that employ twice the usual staff, leaders grown from within, and workplaces built on dignity, structure, and accountability.This is lived experience, not theory. A reminder that at Homeboy, businesses exist to serve healing, and when people are met with kinship and structure, they rise together with their community.Key TakeawaysThe Foundational Principle“We don’t employ people to bake bread. We bake bread to employ people.” The social enterprises exist to provide purposeful, healing-centric work.Mission Over Margin Is a Daily ChoiceHomeboy runs real businesses in real markets, but mission always leads. Profit serves people, not the other way around.Social Enterprise Is About Disrupting SystemsTrue social enterprise challenges who is seen as employable and redefines value in the workforce.Trauma-Informed Workplaces Require Structure, Not SlogansBeing trauma-informed means building roles, teams, and systems that support healing, not just good intentions.Investment in People Is the Hard WorkRaising leaders from within takes time, patience, training, and a willingness to walk alongside people through setbacks.Everyone Doesn’t Automatically Know How to Work Employment success depends on stability, resources, transportation, support, and grace, not just effort.In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Understanding social enterprises03:00 – Homeboy’s unique approach to social enterprise06:59 – Balancing mission and margin18:27 – Trauma-informed workplaces23:18 – Healing-centric workforce development24:14 – The challenges of homegrown leadership25:41 – Investing in internal talent30:42 – The realities of running a social enterprise34:42 – Breaking conventional business wisdom42:00 – Supporting upward mobility through education and opportunity44:20 – Closing reflections and future conversationsNotable Quotes“We don’t employ people to bake bread. We bake bread to employ people.” — Gayle [14:34]“ 95% of our full-time staff who operate and manage our social enterprises have come up through our program.” — Steve [04:54]“ Mission, at least at Homeboy, I think predominates over margin always. And I think that's the right way. I think that's the Homeboy way." — Steve [10:06]Homeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Gayle Northrophttps://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylenorthrop/Steve Delgadohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-delgado-9222523/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456XCredits:Hosted by: Tom VozzoProduced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media