In this moving episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks sits down with Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, to explore what healing looks like when a community chooses tenderness over judgment. Father Greg shares how Homeboy began at Dolores Mission in the middle of eight warring gangs—and how burying young people pushed him to build jobs, training, and a “movement” rooted in kinship. He explains why people arrive “barricaded behind a wall of shame,” and why the only thing that scales that wall is tenderness—a place to feel safe, seen, and cherished. The conversation reframes “bad behavior” as a language that points to the “thorn underneath,” inviting curiosity instead of condemnation. They discuss mental health as the defining health issue of our time, and why society should make health assessments—not moral judgments—about violence and hatred. Father Greg describes “clear love” (not tough love), and how Homeboy sets boundaries while staying connected and compassionate. The episode closes with a bold invitation: build compelling communities where there is “no daylight” between us—because none of us are well until all of us are well.

00:00 — Origins of Homeboy + “cherished” as the secret sauce

08:35 — Shame, tenderness, and why love needs “new language”

17:10 — “Find the thorn underneath”: trauma-informed curiosity

25:45 — Mental health, meds, and “it’s about health—not hate”

34:20 — Clear love: boundaries, rehab, and the “no-fly list”

42:55 — Gangs vs. gang members: hope, community, and tattoo removal

51:30 — Unconditional vs. conditional love + Homeboy’s turning point

1:00:00 — Conclusion: demonizing, healing models, and Hope Village