The Homeboy Way

The Homeboy Way
  • 4.9 (61)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Homeboy Way Podcast invites listeners into stories of healing, kinship, and transformation. Hosted by Tom Vozzo, former longtime CEO of Homeboy Industries, alongside Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., and illuminating guests, the show explores what happens when people are seen, cherished, and given space to heal.   The Homeboy team will talk about trauma, redemption, social justice, faith, and business efforts that foster healing, but more than anything, we talk about belonging and what happens when you meet people where they're at. The Homeboy Way, a movement of radical kinship.

  1. The Power of Unrestricted Giving: How Melanie Lundquist Has Supported Homeboy for Over a Decade

    1D AGO

    The Power of Unrestricted Giving: How Melanie Lundquist Has Supported Homeboy for Over a Decade

    Years ago, when Homeboy Industries was experiencing financial hardship, Melanie and her husband Richard Lundquist wrote a check with no strings attached. No restrictions. Just trust. In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with longtime Homeboy Industries supporter Melanie to uncover the story behind that trust. Raised in Boyle Heights, Homeboy’s own neighborhood, Melanie grew up relatively poor, her mother a volunteer who taught her that leaving the world better is nonnegotiable. As a painfully shy seven-year-old, she went door to door collecting for the March of Dimes. She never stopped asking. Melanie and Richard are Giving Pledge signatories who see philanthropy as “the rent we pay for the air we breathe.” But their giving is anything but passive. They make decade-long commitments, demand a seat at the table, and believe in replicable models that create systemic change. For them, impact is not about perfect numbers. It is about sticking with the most vulnerable, even when outcomes are messy. After her brother-in-law died, Homeboy’s homies brought Melanie a gift: street art of Boyle Heights. Without knowing it, they painted the very streets where her father grew up. That, she says, is the joyful privilege of giving. And she would not trade it for anything. Key Takeaways Cherishing each other is a shared responsibility. If we had enough cherishing, there would be no need for Homeboy. Melanie subscribes to Warren Buffett's theory: money belongs to society; we're just temporary stewards. Systemic change requires replicable models. We live in a deeply broken system across education, justice, and healthcare. True success is not short term help. It is creating models that can replicate and drive change from the bottom up. Homeboy is a replicable model; dollars invested here reach far beyond LA. Homies belong at the table When people ask if Melanie has had "clients" at her dining room, she corrects them: "They're homies." She's proud to have them there. Your dollars build a model that helps people in Chicago, New York, and beyond. Kindness costs nothing but changes everything Yet we struggle to give it. As a philanthropist, Melanie says, "It's the biggest, most joyful journey of my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything." In This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:41 – Why Melanie became a supporter of Homeboy 05:53 – Why philanthropy gives life meaning 07:50 – Defining impact and systemic change 10:12 – Why donors should engage beyond money 12:10 – Gratitude and the deeper meaning of giving 14:02 – Why she chose to invest in Homeboy 16:20 – Balancing different causes and priorities 19:21 – Five-year forecast: the future of philanthropy 21:00 – Why long-term commitment matters 25:07 – Politics vs. philanthropy 26:45 – Elected officials prioritizing the poor and disenfranchised 27:51 – The freedom and limits of philanthropy 31:47 – Why Homeboy’s model works 34:07 – Can philanthropy save democracy? 37:00 – The power of kindness and empathy 38:03 – The redwood metaphor Notable Quotes “ If we had enough cherishing, there would be no need for Homeboy - Melanie [02:19] “Philanthropy is the rent we pay for the air we breathe.” - Melanie [03:43] “Philanthropy is the meaning of life and what gives our life meaning.” - Melanie [06:00] “What does it cost people to be kind? It costs nothing.” - Melanie [37:00] Resources and Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Melanie  Lundquist https://www.givingpledge.org/ Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    40 min
  2. From Rehab to Head Barista: Jose Leon’s Homeboy Transformation

    APR 15

    From Rehab to Head Barista: Jose Leon’s Homeboy Transformation

    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 Takeaways If 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 relationships Even 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 beliefs Many 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 change In This Episode: 00:55 – Jose’s first time at Homeboy 01:28 – The arson charge and coming out of rehab 02:04 – Why Jose was against Homeboy at first 02:45 – What kept him coming back 03:33 – The turning point: “I had to do something different” 05:44 – What Father Greg means to Jose 07:22 – Traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska to speak 08:46 – Unlearning everything 09:20 – Daily practices: waking up at 3:30 a.m. 11:06 – Healing family relationships without expectations 13:33 – Talking to his daughters and focusing on the next generation 14:17 – What Jose tells customers at the coffee counter 15:17 – Daily mindset reminders 17:10 – Part 2: Inside the Homegirl Cafe 17:28 – Starting as a dishwasher in the back 18:35 – Becoming a barista by accident 19:21 – Overcoming insecurity about facial scars 20:38 – Why the coffee counter removes barriers 22:20 – When a mother shared her son’s death 24:06 – Helping people straight out of jail with a free meal Notable 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 Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Jose Leon linkedin.com/in/jleon77 Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    27 min
  3. From Hollywood to the Homeboy Board: Camilla Belle Shares Her Story

    APR 8

    From Hollywood to the Homeboy Board: Camilla Belle Shares Her Story

    A Hollywood actor spent years trying to get through the doors of Homeboy Industries. Not as a client. Not as a case manager. Just as someone who felt drawn to a place she did not fully understand. Camilla Belle had heard Father Greg speak at her church, seen the logo around Los Angeles, and had friends on the inside. But she still needed someone to take her by the hand. In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Camilla to hear the full story, from Mommy & Me classes at Jane Fonda's workout studio to finally getting the tour at Homeboy. She describes her first morning meeting as indescribable: the prayer, the celebrations, the bake sales. That single visit turned into a board seat, a PA training class, and a van ride with a homie who trusted her with his entire life story. Camilla did not come from gangs or prison. She came from Hollywood. And that turned out to be enough. Because at Homeboy, kinship does not require a shared past. Just a willingness to show up, listen, and believe in second chances. Key Takeaways Morning meeting is the heartbeat of Homeboy Camilla describes it as indescribable, a celebration of life, community, and positivity that stays with you. From prayer to bake sales, everyone should experience it. Second chances are irresistible. Camilla was drawn to Homeboy not despite the fear people feel, but because of it. Father Greg's message about giving people another chance spoke to her deeply. You don't need a shared past to belong Many look at Homeboy and think, "I have nothing in common." But inside those doors, there's no judgment. We're all human. Listening is a privilege. During a board activation day, Camilla sat in the front of a van and listened as a homie told her his whole story, incarceration, family, and kids. She felt lucky he trusted her. Homeboy doesn't give anything away. No handouts. You work hard, show up, go through the 18-month program, and dedicate yourself to change. Homeboy gives second, third, and fourth chances as many as it takes. In This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:45 – How Camilla got involved with Homeboy 03:25 – First impressions: the morning meeting 05:25 – Philanthropy and motivation to join Homeboy 07:02 – Finding common ground and human connection 08:41 – Homeboy Media Group and workforce development 09:07 – PA training class experience 11:22 – Navigating the entertainment industry and social media 13:06 – Lessons learned from Father Greg Boyle 14:40 – Applying Homeboy lessons to everyday life 15:26 – Jane Fonda’s influence and activism 17:37 – Encouraging advocacy and activism 19:28 – Building relationships and volunteering 20:17 – Family support and memorable Homeboy stories 22:04 – Hope for the future and second chances 24:00 – The importance of second chances 25:25 – Board member experience 27:39 – Podcast closing Notable Quotes “You walk in here and you say, there's no judgment..” — Camilla [08:08] “If you believe in it, you're going to show up.” — Camilla [15:54] “Get off your phone, talk to people.” — Camilla [17:45] “Slow yourself down and just be available and listen.” — Camilla [21:53] Resources and Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Camilla Belle https://www.instagram.com/camillabelle/ Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    28 min
  4. Breaking Cycles: A Mother's Fight for Change and a Son's Path to Recovery with Natalie Venegas and Daniel Aguilar

    APR 1

    Breaking Cycles: A Mother's Fight for Change and a Son's Path to Recovery with Natalie Venegas and Daniel Aguilar

    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 Takeaways Healing begins when survival ends Natalie 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 cannot Homeboy’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 – Introduction 00:42 – Natalie’s early years and repeated incarceration 02:09 – Being taken from her children at gunpoint 03:59 – Choosing not to numb out in prison 06:28 – A letter from her son that changed everything 08:09 – The Greyhound bus, temptation, and choosing sobriety 10:36 – Entering a program and first encounters with Homeboy 12:18 – “You don’t fit our profile”: misjudgment and persistence 14:58 – Vulnerability breaks through stoicism 17:22 – Learning how to live on the outside 18:36 – Education, therapy, and discovering a calling 21:10 – From survival to service 23:09 – Daniel shares his recovery journey 28:25 – Parenting, boundaries, and letting go 31:26 – How Homeboy changes entire family trajectories 33:01 – Traveling the world as formerly incarcerated leaders 35:26 – Belonging without labels Notable 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 Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Natalie Venegas https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-venegas-1327b0a3/ Hector Verdugo https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-verdugo-7297a684 Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    38 min
  5. From Gang Member to Case Manager: Robert Valles on 20 Years of Addiction and Recovery

    MAR 25

    From Gang Member to Case Manager: Robert Valles on 20 Years of Addiction and Recovery

    When Robert Valles first walked through the doors of Homeboy Industries, he wasn’t looking for healing. He was looking for a job. After more than fifteen interviews and repeated rejection because of his federal record, he arrived skeptical and unsure of what to expect. What he found instead was something he had never experienced before: a place where people are, in his words, “paid to heal.” In this episode, Tom Vozzo and Hector Verdugo sit down with Robert to reflect on the long road that brought him there. Once a gang member and federal prisoner, Robert spent years numbing pain through addiction. When sobriety finally forced him to face his life, he was confronted with shame, loss, and the devastating moment his children were taken away. Not knowing where his kids were for forty days became the turning point that pushed him to surrender and change. Today, Robert serves as a Case Manager, helping others rebuild their lives. His story reveals how healing begins, how love can feel unfamiliar at first, and how serving others can become a powerful form of recovery. Key Takeaways When a federal record becomes a barrier Robert went on 15 job interviews before coming to Homeboy. Despite being likable and qualified, his federal record, which can never be expunged, kept doors closed until he found Homeboy. Getting paid to heal Robert was initially upset about the low pay. But through self-help classes, he discovered: "You get paid in a different way here. I'm getting paid to heal." His story now helps others heal, too. Healing as a couple, with boundaries Robert was skeptical about doing the program with his wife. But it worked because they understood: "You have your program, I have my program. Once we're healed, then maybe we can heal our marriage." "If I could do it, you could do it" Robert tells trainees daily: "Gang member, incarcerated, addicted 20 years, kids taken away. If there's a box, check it." His lived experience gives others hope. A touch of love makes a difference People who experienced even some love in childhood recognize it at Homeboy and thrive quickly. That thread of love, however tangled, matters. When there is no love, healing takes longer Those who were tortured as kids, who experienced no love, often leave when shown love. They return, leave again, and stay longer each time. Healing just takes more time. In This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction 00:53 – Robert’s role and journey at Homeboy 02:43 – Transformation from gang life 03:26 – Ozzy the Navigator moment 04:50 – Getting paid to heal  05:20 – Determination to get his children back 06:09 – Skepticism about his wife joining 07:15 – What Robert tells new trainees 11:33 – Confronting shame 12:44 – Watching his children walk away 13:11 – Faith, surrender, and recovery 16:36 – Restoring relationships with children 18:05 – Breaking generational cycles 19:25 – Robert’s future goals in 5-10 years  20:31 – Growing up with addiction and abuse in the home 22:48 – The power of love and healing at Homeboy 26:29 – The future of Homeboy is strong Notable Quotes “I'm getting paid to heal.” — Robert [04:55] “If I could do it, you could do it because I'm no different from you.” — Robert  [07:18] “ Just that simple, are you okay? And how are you doing today? Could change your life..” — Robert [07:59] “ My fear as a parent is my kids growing up doing what I was doing.” — Robert  [18:05] Resources and Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Hector Verdugo https://www.linkedin.com/in/hector-verdugo Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    27 min
  6. Listen, Listen. Love, Love: Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. on the Heart of Healing

    MAR 18

    Listen, Listen. Love, Love: Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. on the Heart of Healing

    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 Takeaways Overwhelm 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 happens 02:28 – Why therapy must be voluntary 03:09 –  The early days and the need for therapy at Homeboy (ACEs) 05:50 – What surrendering to healing looks like 07:44 – When love feels overwhelming 09:14 –  Challenges finding therapists and homies to try therapy 12:29 – The rise of therapy and volunteer clinicians 14:35 – Listening and loving as the foundation of healing 16:05 – Alternative therapies and healing experiences 20:32 – Why there is no “one-size-fits-all” healing 23:37 – Compassion and forgiveness in the healing process 26:38 – What it means to be a “stranger to yourself” 30:43 – Three profiles of gang members 33:44 – Excavating generational wounds in everyday life 36:31 – The role of luck, privilege, and circumstance 38:46 – Reducing stigma around mental health 40:35 – Mental illness and societal misunderstanding 45:39 – Why healing is reliable and ongoing Notable 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 Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Father Greg Boyle linkedin.com/in/greg-boyle-s-j-05458514 Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    47 min
  7. Jane Fonda on Why The Homeboy Way Matters Now

    MAR 11

    Jane Fonda on Why The Homeboy Way Matters Now

    Jane Fonda, Oscar-winning actress and lifelong activist, first learned about Homeboy Industries in the 1980s through her then-husband, Tom Hayden. He came home energized by a Jesuit priest who had opened a bakery employing formerly incarcerated gang members. Years later, at a Homeboy gala, she finally heard Father Greg Boyle speak and knew she wanted to be part of something so transformative. In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Jane to reflect on her seven years as a board member and what continues to draw her to a community built on healing and second chances. She shares how walking through Homeboy’s doors feels like “sinking into a warm bath,” and why, at 88, she still finds herself learning from the homegirls she calls “smarter than me in so many ways.” For Jane, leadership begins with humility, and real change starts by listening from the heart. Key Takeaways Jobs are not enough. Healing comes first.  Father Greg realized quickly that employment alone would not create lasting change. Deep trauma, left unaddressed, leads people back into trouble. Homeboy evolved into a healing-centered community where recovery comes before placement. Cherish, don’t judge. To cherish someone is to fully receive them into your heart. Healing begins there. Transformation requires proximity.  It's wonderful when rich people throw money out from their homes up on the hill to people who need it," Jane says. Generosity from a distance is good. But real change happens shoulder to shoulder. Being present, listening, and building relationships transforms everyone involved. Hate the behavior, not the person Bad behavior is often the language of trauma. You can reject harm while still honoring human dignity. We give because we see ourselves.  Homeboy’s mission resonates because we are all broken in some way. Watching others heal reminds us that transformation is possible for us too. Women are the glue.  "In every class, in every rung of society, and in every ethnicity and race in the world, it's women that hold things together. They're the glue for families and for communities." Life with meaning is better.  Jane has lived without meaning and with meaning. "I know that the meaning is a lot better.  In This Episode: 00:00 – Introduction 01:46 – How Jane Fonda first found Father Greg and Homeboy Bakery 03:41 – From the Homeboy Bakery to a healing-centered model 04:40 – "I need whatever that secret sauce is" 06:05 – Kinship and mutuality with people on the margins 08:48 – What Jane learns from homegirls 13:09 – The meaning of cherishing 15:54 – Ignatian spirituality at Homeboy 18:32 – Funding the mission 19:51 – Gangsters, leaders, and the pressure of machismo 21:32 – Homeboy’s culture shift: from toughness to tears 22:09 – Poverty, business hiring, and “show by doing” 23:30 – Jane Fonda’s activist origin story 26:19 – The urgency of activism today 28:19 – What Jane would tell her younger self 30:06 – The Global Homeboy Network Notable Quotes “ Bad behavior, even evil behavior is the language of the traumatized.” — Jane [07:25] " Avoid violence. Violence is our enemy." — Jane [28:04] “ Cherished, to me is even greater than love means I've brought you fully into my full heart in every possible way.” — Jane [13:42] “I've lived without meaning, and I've lived with meaning, and I know that the meaning is a lot better.”— Jane [29:19]  Resources and Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Jane Fonda https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-fonda-2408b4302/ Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    35 min
  8. Healing Through Art at the Homeboy Art Academy with Fabian Debora and Barbara Fant

    MAR 4

    Healing Through Art at the Homeboy Art Academy with Fabian Debora and Barbara Fant

    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 Takeaways Art is refuge As 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 – Introduction 01:26 – Fabian’s childhood and art as refuge 03:32 – Mentorship and artistic development 05:28 – Barbara’s story: poetry as prayer 11:03 – The Homeboy Art Academy 12:32 – Healing-centered approach and the three R’s 14:25 – Community, safety, and transformation 16:29 – Co-designing the Academy’s modality 18:09 – Stories of transformation: Giselle and Jesus 20:13 – Managing gang dynamics and building kinship 21:55 – Team approach and wraparound services 24:03 – Challenges of the work 27:07 – Resilience and returning youth 28:17 – Fabian’s artistic recognition and advocacy 30:21 – Barbara’s writing and influence of Homeboy 31:52 – Future vision: accredited school of art 32:44 – Graffiti, tagging, and artistic expression Notable 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 Links Homeboy Industries https://homeboyindustries.org/ https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ Homeboy Media  https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ Barbara  Fant https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fant-mfa-8114b633/ https://homeboyindustries.org/services/art-academy/ Fabian Debora https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabian-debora-886279a/ https://homeboyindustries.org/services/art-academy/ Thomas Vozzo https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/082945456X Credits: Hosted by: Tom Vozzo Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media

    37 min
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4.9
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About

The Homeboy Way Podcast invites listeners into stories of healing, kinship, and transformation. Hosted by Tom Vozzo, former longtime CEO of Homeboy Industries, alongside Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., and illuminating guests, the show explores what happens when people are seen, cherished, and given space to heal.   The Homeboy team will talk about trauma, redemption, social justice, faith, and business efforts that foster healing, but more than anything, we talk about belonging and what happens when you meet people where they're at. The Homeboy Way, a movement of radical kinship.

Information

  • Creator
    The Homeboy Way
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Homeboy Way
  • Show Website
    The Homeboy Way

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