Episode
Jane Fonda on Why The Homeboy Way Matters Now
- Podcast
- The Homeboy Way
- Published
- Mar 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2098
- Processing state
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- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-homeboy-way/episodes/Jane-Fonda-on-Why-The-Homeboy-Way-Matters-Now-e3g8tmg
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Summary
Jane Fonda, Oscar-winning actress and lifelong activist, first learned about Homeboy Industries in the 1980s through her then-husband, Tom Hayden. He came home energized by a Jesuit priest who had opened a bakery employing formerly incarcerated gang members. Years later, at a Homeboy gala, she finally heard Father Greg Boyle speak and knew she wanted to be part of something so transformative. In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with Jane to reflect on her seven years as a board member and what continues to draw her to a community built on healing and second chances. She shares how walking through Homeboy’s doors feels like “sinking into a warm bath,” and why, at 88, she still finds herself learning from the homegirls she calls “smarter than me in so many ways.” For Jane, leadership begins with humility, and real change starts by listening from the heart. Key Takeaways Jobs are not enough. Healing comes first. Father Greg realized quickly that employment alone would not create lasting change. Deep trauma, left unaddressed, leads people back into trouble. Homeboy evolved into a healing-centered community where recovery comes before placement. Cherish, don’t judge. To cherish someone is to fully receive them into your heart. Healing begins there. Transformation requires proximity. It's wonderful when rich people throw money out from their homes up on the hill to people who need it," Jane says. Generosity from a distance is good. But real change happens shoulder to shoulder. Being present, listening, and building relationships transforms everyone involved. Hate the behavior, not the person Bad behavior is often the language of trauma. You can reject harm while still honoring human dignity. We give because we see ourselves. Homeboy’s mission resonates because we are a…