Homeboy Industries is out to share the secrets of its success and the stories of its homies though a new podcast, The Homeboy Way.
The organization, which was founded in 1988 by Father Greg Boyle, has become the largest rehabilitation and reentry program in the world. Through the Global Homeboy Network, of which Jails to Jobs is a member, Homeboy has been spreading the word to its more than 300 member organizations about creating kinship and connection with those on the margins of society. Specifically former gang members and/or people who were formerly incarcerated.
And now Homeboy is spreading the message more widely though a new podcast that launched in early October.
Former CEO Tom Vozzo hosts The Homeboy Way
The Homeboy Way podcast is hosted by Tom Vozzo, who retired in early 2025 after being CEO of Homeboy Industries for 13 years. Vozzo wrote The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life, a book published by Loyola Press in 2022, to share what he learned from his experience with the organization. And he wants to continue sharing so that others can continue to learn. That’s the purpose behind the new podcast.
Early episodes have included interviews with Father Greg, Co-CEO Shirley Torres, Associate Director Hector Verdugo and Vice President of Operations Steve Avalos. Michael Tubbs, Homeboy board member, former mayor of Stockton, Calif., and founder of the nonprofit organization Ending Poverty in California (EPIC), also appeared on the podcast.
How it all came about
The Homeboy Way podcast expands upon the book that Vozzo wrote. “There are a lot of stories in there, and the podcast creates life in a different medium,” says Vozzo.
He also wants to give other people a chance to tell the Homeboy story. “It’s about lessons learned, how to transform lives and heal trauma,” he says.
Vozzo’s goal is to bring more awareness to Homeboy, its accomplishments and the people it serves. “People don’t know much about the poor in our society. They don’t know how to help and what the challenges are,” he says.
The podcast releases new episodes every Wednesday. Vozzo says that future subjects will include trauma, substance use disorder, domestic violence and other struggles that can afflict the poor.
Lessons learned
While the goal is for people to learn more about Homeboy Industries, Vozzo says he’s learned a lot himself from doing the podcast.
“People who are poor are full of wisdom. What I’ve learned is to Let it flow, let their stories flow. People’s stories are profound and important,” he says.
Doing this podcast gives Vozzo a chance to stay connected to Homeboy and to share what Homeboy’s all about. “The sense of community and the sense that we’re in this together,” as he put it.
Although Father Greg has written five books about his experiences and the organization, this podcast offers a different angle. “It’s a bit more of an in-depth look at how the work happens at Homeboy, and how we live the lives,” Vozzo says. “Having another way of exposing Homeboy to people is important.”
The most important takeaway from the podcast will depend on who’s listening.
“It’s going to be different for different folks. People in the nonprofit space will see the challenges. People in the for-profit or government world will get a look at what it’s like to be in a nonprofit organization,” Vozzo says.
“All of us have some type of trauma in our life. Just to learn how to process that is important. And to understand that God loves us no matter what, so we should stop judging ourselves and shaming others.”
