# From Gang Member to Case Manager: Robert Valles on 20 Years of Addiction and Recovery Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-homeboy-way-7492549/from-gang-member-to-case-manager-robert-valles-on-20-years-of-addiction-and-recovery Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-homeboy-way-7492549/from-gang-member-to-case-manager-robert-valles-on-20-years-of-addiction-and-recovery.md Podcast: [The Homeboy Way](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-homeboy-way-7492549) Published: 2026-03-25T08:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-homeboy-way/episodes/From-Gang-Member-to-Case-Manager-Robert-Valles-on-20-Years-of-Addiction-and-Recovery-e3guh6g Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/1098ad66c/podcast/play/117441168/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-25%2F0a7d5150-360a-1517-70fe-1a51dedd52b1.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-homeboy-way-7492549/episodes/from-gang-member-to-case-manager-robert-valles-on-20-years-of-addiction-and-recovery Duration seconds: 1625 ## Resource When Robert Valles first walked through the doors of Homeboy Industries, he wasn’t looking for healing. He was looking for a job. After more than fifteen interviews and repeated rejection because of his federal record, he arrived skeptical and unsure of what to expect. What he found instead was something he had never experienced before: a place where people are, in his words, “paid to heal.” In this episode, Tom Vozzo and Hector Verdugo sit down with Robert to reflect on the long road that brought him there. Once a gang member and federal prisoner, Robert spent years numbing pain through addiction. When sobriety finally forced him to face his life, he was confronted with shame, loss, and the devastating moment his children were taken away. Not knowing where his kids were for forty days became the turning point that pushed him to surrender and change. Today, Robert serves as a Case Manager, helping others rebuild their lives. His story reveals how healing begins, how love can feel unfamiliar at first, and how serving others can become a powerful form of recovery. Key Takeaways When a federal record becomes a barrier Robert went on 15 job interviews before coming to Homeboy. Despite being likable and qualified, his federal record, which can never be expunged, kept doors closed until he found Homeboy. Getting paid to heal Robert was initially upset about the low pay. But through self-help classes, he discovered: "You get paid in a different way here. I'm getting paid to heal." His story now helps others heal, too. Healing as a couple, with boundaries Robert was skeptical about doing the program with his wife. But it worked because they understood: "You have your program, I have my program. Once we're healed, then maybe we can heal our marriage." "… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-homeboy-way-7492549/episodes/from-gang-member-to-case-manager-robert-valles-on-20-years-of-addiction-and-recovery/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-homeboy-way-7492549/from-gang-member-to-case-manager-robert-valles-on-20-years-of-addiction-and-recovery.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.