Ep. 12 - James Gonzales

In this powerful episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson sits down with James Gonzales, CEO of Pathway Services, whose life journey—from trauma, addiction, incarceration, and homelessness to healing, faith, and leadership—reveals what true transformation looks like. With honesty and compassion, James shares how he broke painful cycles, rebuilt his life from the inside out, and turned his lived experience into a calling to serve others navigating homelessness and instability.

This conversation offers hope for anyone who has ever felt stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed by their past.

James reminds us: healing is possible, change is possible, and there is always a pathway forward. James talks about resilience, self-judgment, surrender, and what it looks like to keep going on days when moving forward simply means not going backward.

Some quotes from the podcast:

“My story wasn’t a straight line. It was survival first—healing came later.”

“I had to unlearn the lies I believed about myself before I could step into the truth.”

“Change didn’t start with perfection. It started with surrender.”

A Message from Linda:

James’ story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the sacred power of reclaiming your narrative. His insights will stay with you long after the episode ends.

Pathways to Services Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in California’s Tri-Cities, dedicated to empowering underserved individuals and families by fostering healing, stability, and purpose. Rooted in lived experience, peer support, and faith-driven care, Pathways builds safe, compassionate environments where people can reclaim their lives and move toward long-term transformation. Their holistic, trauma-informed approach emphasizes connection before correction, stable housing as a foundation for growth, and turning stories of struggle into leadership and service. Through crisis intervention, life skills development, mentorship, supportive housing initiatives, and community partnerships, Pathways works to dismantle barriers, strengthen resilience, and cultivate lasting change for those navigating recovery and life transitions.

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Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez