Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, and Tom Vozzo, former CEO of the organization, discuss leadership as mercy rather than management, drawing from Fr. Greg’s four decades of walking with those on the margins. What began as a small bakery in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, to provide jobs for rival gang members, grew into the world’s largest reentry program, measuring success by restored relationships rather than metrics. Fr. Greg emphasizes that unconditional love, trust, and kinship, not fear or performance, are the foundations of effective leadership, where compassion becomes a system that replaces shame with dignity. Despite the grief and exhaustion in such work, humor, hope, and a sense of community sustain it. Homeboy’s success is a spiritual one, a living theology of tenderness, where every act of mercy builds belonging. Their conversation invites listeners to lead with empathy, serve with joy, and embrace love as a transformative strategy.
Key Takeaways
Love has to be real and practical - Fr. Greg says it’s not enough to affirm people or hold them in high regard if they’re hungry or can’t pay rent. Love has to show up in concrete ways. Sometimes that means handing someone forty bucks so they can eat today. Small things, done with great love.
No strings attached means exactly that - When he helps someone, there’s never a condition tied to it. It’s not “I’ll help you if…” It’s simply help, period. Even if the person uses the money in ways others wouldn’t approve of, it’s still an act of trust. That trust often circles back years later, when someone returns to say thank you.
It’s about walking with, not fixing - Fr. Greg doesn’t see his work as saving or solving. It’s an accompaniment. Just being with people as they struggle, cry, laugh, and rebuild. That presence says, “You matter,” louder than any sermon ever could.
Stand in the lowly place - The invitation of Jesus, he says, isn’t to rescue anyone but to stand where he stands, among the poor, the forgotten, the demonized. That’s where the joy is, where love always wins.
Fr. Greg leaves us with a quiet but radical truth: hope isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you practice. It’s what makes kinship possible and keeps love from ever failing.
In This Episode:
00:25 – The importance of unconditional support
05:21 – Challenges and criticisms of compassion-led leadership
09:20 – Fr. Greg’s personal journey and motivation for service
19:19 – The role of spirituality in daily work
22:51 – Understanding compassion and selflessness
23:49 – Engaging with marginalized communities
24:59 – The invitation to stand with the poor
26:45 – Reframing what it means to be “poor”
33:02 – The generosity of those who have little
35:10 – Faith, suffering, and the mystery of endurance
39:45 – Dealing with burnout and staying grounded
42:00 – Final thoughts and reflections on hope and presence
Notable Quotes
“I take unconditional love seriously. There are no conditions attached to this.” (02:30)
“How can someone take my advantage if I’m giving my advantage?” (03:11)
"The power is the loving. That's the power."(35:43)
“Just listen, listen, love, love.” (19:00)
“The monks said one word when they were anxious, ‘today.’ It anchors you in the only place we are saved, the present moment.” (38:55)
“If you go to the margins so that the folks there make you different, you will never burn out.” (40:40)
Resources and Links
Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Media
Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.
Thomas Vozzo
