In this episode, former Homeboy Industries CEO Tom Vozzo sits down with three powerful voices from the Homeboy community: Fabian, Sergio, and Jose. Together, they explore what it truly means to awaken spiritually, especially in the middle of suffering, trauma, addiction, incarceration, and generational pain.
While Homeboy is often celebrated for its job programs and re-entry success, the real transformation happens in the unseen places: a prison cell, a childhood memory, a moment of collapse, or in the quiet stillness of a 4:00 a.m. prayer.
Fabian, Sergio, and Jose each share how faith emerged not instead of suffering but through it in addiction, violence, poverty, regret, and loss, forming the bedrock of their healing. Their stories challenge the idea of a God who punishes, opening up a more spacious, merciful vision of a God who sustains, accompanies, and restores.
They also discuss how spiritual grounding becomes a daily practice of surrender, gratitude, contemplation, and showing up for others, because as they remind us, every word, every step, and every action is a prayer.
Key Takeaways
A God Who Sustains, Not Punishes
Rather than a God who protects us from pain, they speak of a God who walks with us through it, offering mercy, companionship, and unexpected grace.
Spirituality Is a Daily Practice
Stillness, early morning readings, gratitude lists, sweat lodge wisdom, and Homeboy’s contemplative culture shape their spiritual lives into something lived, not talked about.
Community as Evidence of God
Homeboy itself becomes a sacred space: laughter in the hallways, a hug in the right moment, a homie getting his first apartment. Transformation happens together.
Forgiveness Evolves Into Mercy and Grace
Rather than a transactional I forgive you, they learned to offer mercy: Welcome back. Come here. You are home. That same mercy becomes a template for how they see themselves.
Joy Is the Fruit of a Healed Life
From seeing their children thrive to watching homies grow into their purpose, joy shows up as a quiet anchor, a reminder of how far they have come.
In This Episode:
00:00 – Introduction
02:42 – Jose’s spiritual awakening in isolation
09:14 – Fabian’s journey from childhood to awakening
14:39 – Sergio’s early prayers and spiritual awakening
18:18 – Reflections on suffering and God’s presence
25:55 – Evolving faith and deepening spiritual insights
27:02 – Daily practices for spiritual strength
28:01 – Living prayerfully and mindfully
29:16 – The power of gratitude
32:19 – Faith in action through community and service
33:34 – Forgiveness, mercy, and healing
40:55 – Finding joy in life, family, and transformation
Notable Quotes
Resources and Links
Homeboy Industries
https://homeboyindustries.org/
https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos
Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/
Homeboy Media
Fabian Debora
Sergio Basterrechea
Jose Arellano
Thomas Vozzo
Credits:
Hosted by: Tom Vozzo
Produced by: Podify, and Alexa Rousso and Melody Carter of Homeboy Media