Episode Description
Dr. Bill Resnick first heard about Homeboy through a friend before Homeboy even existed. Years later, after a site visit, reading Tattoos on the Heart, and witnessing Homeboy’s financial crisis, he found his way into the community.
In this episode, former CEO Tom Vozzo talks with Bill about moving from donor to volunteer. A psychiatrist in long-term recovery, Bill now leads mindfulness classes at Homeboy. He shares what mindfulness really is, how to teach it in unpredictable classrooms, and why healing happens best in community, not just in a therapist’s office.
Bill also opens up about his own mental health struggles and the multiple second chances he has received. His story reveals what it truly means to be part of Homeboy, not as an expert, but as someone willing to show up, get proximate, and simply be in a relationship.
Key Takeaways
You don’t need a quiet mind to practice mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t about stopping your thoughts. It’s about noticing them, “busy mind,” “planning mind,” and gently returning to the present. The shift isn’t control, it’s awareness.
People are carrying more than you can see
At Homeboy, trainees walk in with real-life pressures, court dates, family stress, trauma. That reality shows up in the classroom, and it shapes how healing has to happen.
Mindfulness can be a shared experience
Even in silence, practicing alongside others creates connection. There’s something powerful about knowing you’re not alone in the work of being present.
Belonging is part of the healing
Volunteering becomes meaningful not because of what you give, but because you become part of something. Being recognized, welcomed, and connected matters.
It’s not about fixing, it’s about relationship
Homeboy doesn’t need experts coming in to teach. It needs people willing to listen, to show up, and to be in genuine relationship with others.
Healing isn’t one chance, it’s many
The people at Homeboy often come from deep, generational trauma. Change doesn’t happen once. It happens over time, through multiple chances, and sometimes for the first time ever.
In This Episode:
00:00 – Introduction
01:08 – How Bill first learned about Homeboy
04:29 – The Miracle of Mindfulness class
07:00 – Why mindfulness matters in daily life
10:02 – Personal mindfulness practice
13:14 – Teaching mindfulness at Homeboy
16:51 – Tools for managing stress and anxiety
19:23 – Why mindfulness works
23:05 – What it means to be a volunteer
28:53 – Philosophy of giving and philanthropy
34:07 – Being part of the Homeboy community
36:39 – Bill’s personal journey and second chances
40:22 – Closing reflections
Notable Quotes
“Healing happens best in community, not just individually.” — Dr. Bill [02:32]
“I can't meditate because my mind's too busy. I can't shut off my thoughts. If that were the requirement, nobody would be able to meditate.” — Dr. Bill [11:11]
“ We give multiple chances to people” — Tom [36:29]
Resources and Links
Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Media
Dr. Bill Resnick
Thomas Vozzo
The Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: 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