When Tom Vozzo stepped down as CEO of Homeboy Industries after thirteen years, he thought he would finally get some peace. What he did not expect was how much he would still need the place and how much it would still need him. In this episode, Tom sits down with founder Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. to talk about what happens when you stop running an organization but refuse to leave it behind.

Fr. Greg admits it was not always easy letting go. But he learned early that Homeboy's magic is not in its policies or programs. It is in the noticing. The text that says "How was your weekend?" The homie who turns around and walks back to greet you because they saw you park. The simple act of paying loving attention.

They unpack the question that has guided Fr. Greg for decades. "What do we think we are doing here?" It is a check against conventional wisdom, a reminder that you do not punish wound. You heal it. And they share why no kid ever joins a gang seeking adventure. They are always fleeing something.

With board members, with travelers on the road, with homies finding their voice on stage, the answer is always the same. Tell your story. Stay humble. And remember, none of us got here on our own.

Key Takeaways

• Compassion starts with understanding

  When you understand what someone has survived, it's harder to judge them and easier to walk alongside them.

• Privilege is often the luck of the draw

  Fr. Greg reflects on how easily his life could have gone differently. Sometimes geography, circumstance, and opportunity make all the difference.

• Success should make us humble

  Tom shares how Homeboy challenged his assumptions about leadership and taught him to listen before offering solutions. 

• Punishment isn't part of the Homeboy Way

  Homeboy doesn't focus on consequences for their own sake. The goal is transformation, not punishment. 

• Name the wound, not the behavior

  When organizations focus only on behavior, they miss the deeper issue. Healing begins when we understand what's underneath. 

• It's all wound, all the time

  The Homeboy philosophy starts with a simple belief: beneath most destructive behavior is pain, trauma, or loss that has never been healed. 

In This Episode:

• [00:00] Introduction

• [01:05] Fr. Greg's role today

• [02:06] Letting go of leadership

• [04:21] How to lead without taking over

• [06:40] Asking the right questions

• [08:28] Choosing compassion over punishment

• [11:56] When gang members were written off

• [14:14] Why people deserve another chance

• [16:10] Leadership, boards, and trust

• [18:15] What privilege really means

• [21:39] Knowing what you don't know

• [23:31] Why stories change minds

• [25:57] Staying connected to the mission

• [28:17] Why Homeboy doesn't believe in punishment

• [30:19] The power of being seen

• [32:55] Taking homies on the road

• [34:01] Helping people find their voice

• [37:27] Trust, responsibility, and travel

• [39:46] Lessons from the road

Notable Quotes

• "No hopeful kid has ever joined a gang. They're always fleeing something." — Greg [00:36:16]

• "The homies have taught me everything of value. That's not hyperbole. I really believe that." — Greg [00:20:21]

• "You have to name things correctly, otherwise you're gonna go down a rabbit hole. Homeboy knows that this is all wound. It's all wound all the time." — Greg [00:29:50]

• "I would never let you go. I understand the benefit and how rich this place is. But you're the boss, and you get to decide whether you stay here or not." — Greg [00:14:37]

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/

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