Lauren Tom on Spiritual Mentorship with Homeboy’s Fr. Greg Boyle

Lauren Tom on Spiritual Mentorship with Homeboy’s Fr. Greg Boyle

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 Takeaways * Homeboy 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 reflections Notable 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 Links Lauren Tom * https://laurentom.com/ [https://laurentom.com/] * https://www.instagram.com/laurentom9000/ [https://www.instagram.com/laurentom9000/] Homeboy Industries * https://homeboyindustries.org/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/] * https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos] * Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/] Homeboy Media  * https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/] Thomas Vozzo * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo [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 [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

Dads Stepping Up: Homeboy’s George Nunez and Daniel Martinez on the Courage to Stay

George Nunez, Head of Security at Homeboy Industries, spent years in and out of prison. He shut out the world, including his own children, because showing weakness behind bars wasn't an option. Daniel Martinez, a Navigator at Homeboy Industries, asked his parole officer to lock him up again rather than feel like a burden to his brother. Both men walked through Homeboy's doors expecting nothing more than a resume or tattoo removal. What they found instead was a place that wouldn't give up on them and wouldn't let them give up on their kids. In this episode, host Tom Vozzo sits down with George and Daniel to talk about what real fatherhood looks like when you're learning from scratch. They discuss the terror of being vulnerable, the slow work of putting ego aside, and the unexpected mentors, including Father Greg, whom they now call "Dad." Together, they prove that the cycle of abandonment can be broken, one parenting class, one 2:00 a.m. phone call, and one soaked train ride with a baby at a time. Key Takeaways * Show up even when you're not ready George doubted himself and didn't want to come to Homeboy, but he chose to show up on Monday. * Healing is an inside job George learned in therapy that wanting to change isn't enough,  you have to work on what's inside and let someone help you figure it out. * It's not about you anymore George says you save the next person walking through the door, because someone saved you. This lifestyle requires you to care and feel things you never felt before. * "You're never in my way" George expected to be scolded by Father Greg, but Greg said, "You start Monday." That one invitation changed everything. * Straddling the fence takes time Daniel wanted to be a father, but the lifestyle kept pulling him back. Change didn't happen overnight; it was a battle. * Prison taught me to shut the world off George blocked everyone out to survive. Coming home meant learning a new way to be one where you don't have to hide. In This Episode: * [00:00] Introduction * [00:25] Meet Daniel Martinez and George Nunez * [01:05] Daniel finds Homeboy after prison * [02:35] Discovering support through classes and community * [04:11] Feeling like a burden to family * [05:36] George returns to Homeboy in 2013 * [08:09] Therapy, trauma, and looking within * [10:46] Choosing fatherhood over gang life * [11:42] Learning how to be a dad * [16:17] The Challenge Program and accountability inside prison * [17:44] Trying to be a father while incarcerated * [19:05] George explains why he shut the world out * [19:59] Learning fatherhood after prison * [21:22] Earning back the right to be called Dad * [21:55] Parenting classes and communication skills * [22:59] Their children begin to see the change * [23:58] Father Greg as the father figure they never had * [25:42] Learning fatherhood with a new baby * [27:02] Mentoring trainees with patience and compassion * [28:50] Dreams and hopes for their children * [31:54] Why Homeboy feels like family * [33:19] Finding joy through fatherhood and healing * [36:10] Closing reflections and outro Notable Quotes * “I felt the embrace. I felt the love. And I hadn’t even started therapy yet.” — George [00:07:56] * “It’s not easy to change. It didn’t take days or months for me. It took years.” — Daniel [00:12:49] * “Being a father now is giving my kids what I never got.” — George [00:23:54] Resources and Links Homeboy Industries * https://homeboyindustries.org/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/] * https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos] * Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/] Homeboy Media  * https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/] Thomas Vozzo * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo [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 [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

From Lockup to Living a Life of Purpose with Karla Leon and Anthony Chairez

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 Takeaways * When 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 Links Homeboy Industries * https://homeboyindustries.org/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/] * https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos] * Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/] Homeboy Media  * https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/] Thomas Vozzo * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo [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 [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

Keep Moving Forward: Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. on How to Let Go of Your Ego

What does it mean to be loved without needing to earn it? In this episode of The Homeboy Way, host Tom Vozzo sits down with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, for a deeply human conversation about love, humility, recognition, trauma healing, and the kind of kinship that changes lives. Fr. Greg reflects on his birthday at Homeboy, the mariachis, the joy of being celebrated, and the lesson that love is not just something people give. It is their joy to give it. From Father Greg Boyle Day in Los Angeles to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he opens up about how he holds praise lightly, why he resists the language of “success,” and why the work has never been about ego or legacy. Tom and Fr. Greg also explore the heart of the Homeboy Industries model: moving beyond fixing, rescuing, and saving, and toward loving connection. Fr. Greg shares why trauma blocks love, why shame is one of the deepest wounds of poverty, and why walking through the doors of Homeboy requires real courage. This is a conversation about widening the circle, letting go of fear, and discovering the true self in loving. Key Takeaways * Love is not begrudging. It is joyful Fr. Greg explains how the birthday celebrations at Homeboy became a living parable for God’s love: not distant, forced, or half-hearted, but full of joy. * The goal is not to make a difference. Fr. Greg challenges the usual nonprofit mindset, saying we should not go to the margins to make a difference. We should go so the people there make us different. * Trauma blocks loving connection Fr. Greg explains that while loving connection heals trauma, it takes bravery for someone wounded by trauma to take the first step toward that connection. * Walking into Homeboy is an act of courage. For someone whose identity is tied to gang life, shame, or survival, entering a place of love is not obvious. It is a leap. * Love your neighbor means move forward. Fr. Greg contrasts “fear the world” communities with “love your neighbor” communities. One circles the wagons. The other widens the circle. In This Episode * [00:00] Introduction * [00:47] Why Fr. Greg’s birthday means so much at Homebo * [03:06] “This is not for you. This is for the people. * [08:12] Father Greg Boyle Day and the trap of legacy * [09:03] Why “making a difference” gets the mission wrong * [11:14] The moment Fr. Greg stopped trying to fix everyone * [12:21] Why clinging is the source of suffering * [14:38] True self in loving vs. false self in succeeding * [15:44] Shame, disgrace, trauma, and loving connection * [16:42] Why walking into Homeboy takes bravery * [18:33] Being seen as a symbol, not a saint * [20:16] What the Presidential Medal of Freedom meant to Homeboy * [25:42] The deeper meaning of being recognized * [29:12] Fear the world or love your neighbor * [30:52] The Homeboy vibe outsiders immediately notice * [31:37] Moving forward without taking yourself too seriously Notable Quotes * “God’s too busy loving you to be disappointed.” — Fr. Greg Boyle [04:04] * “Authentic Christian living is about moving forward. You just keep moving forward.” — Fr. Greg Boyle [08:25] * “Clinging is the source of all suffering.” — Fr. Greg Boyle [12:26] * “Trauma blocks the loving connection… and the loving connection heals the trauma.” — Fr. Greg Boyle [15:53] Resources and Links Homeboy Industries * https://homeboyindustries.org/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/] * https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos] * Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/] Homeboy Media  * https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/] Father Greg Boyle * linkedin.com/in/greg-boyle-s-j-05458514 [http://linkedin.com/in/greg-boyle-s-j-05458514] Thomas Vozzo * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo [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 [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 Homeboy Media Production Assistant Cohort: Anthony Salazar and Sebastian Guzman

Bodies Don’t Lie: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk on Trauma Recovery and the Power of Homeboy Industries

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 Takeaways * Safety 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 Links Homeboy Industries * https://homeboyindustries.org/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/] * https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos [https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videos] * Donate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/] Homeboy Media  * https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/ [https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/] Dr. Bessel van der Kolk * https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/ [https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/] * Book [https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748] Thomas Vozzo * https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzo [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 [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