The Homebase Podcast

Dr. Ricky Pope
  • 5.0 (3)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Homebase Podcast is a student success podcast. Welcome to Homebase, the podcast exploring the keys to college success and personal growth. I’m your host, Dr. Pope, and today, we’re diving deep into how students can survive and thrive in their college journey. In collaboration with YMOCA (Young Men of Color Alliance), an organization committed to supporting young men of color through mentorship and community initiatives, today’s episode is focused on giving you the tools and strategies to take control of your academic experience. We’ll discuss the importance of developing agency—the power to make choices, shape your future, and overcome obstacles.

  1. JAN 13

    Becoming the Mentor You Once Needed: Pathways Through GEN S 299

    In this special episode, created as part of the GEN S 299 Homebase Service-Learning course, students share their journey toward becoming future helping professionals—educators, counselors, mentors, and youth advocates. The episode highlights the role of bidirectional mentorship, paid apprenticeships, and student-centered pathways in cultivating young men as emerging leaders in the helping professions. This podcast serves as a public archive documenting how undergraduate students discover their purpose and leadership potential through community engagement and relationship-centered learning. Through reflective conversations and real stories, we explore what it means to “become the mentor you once needed.”

    34 min

  2. JAN 13

    From 6 to 60 Planting Seeds: How Service Learning Shapes Future Helpers

    In Episode 205, we sit down with Nick Martin, a graduate assistant in his final year of the Community-Based Block (CBB) program, and Karim Plascencia, an undergraduate student with hands-on experience in youth mentoring and community-engaged service. Together, they reflect on what it means to step into the helping professions as young men navigating identity, purpose, belonging, and professional direction. The conversation highlights the transformative role of service learning, in which undergraduate students gain real-world experience supporting middle and high school students. Nick, grounded in the CBB tradition of multicultural community counseling and social justice-oriented practice, shares how relational presence, cultural humility, and meeting students where they are form the heart of his work. Karim adds perspective from the undergraduate side—how mentoring youth not only supports the next generation but also clarifies his own developing purpose and career aspirations. The episode also addresses the complex realities of transfer and commuter students, who balance work, family responsibilities, and financial pressures while questioning the value of college and seeking meaning. Nick and Karim discuss how mentorship, guidance, and exposure to youth-serving environments help young men recognize new possibilities for their identities and futures. This episode shows how service-learning courses, teaching apprenticeships, and the Homebase approach can plant seeds of leadership, opening doors for undergraduate men to imagine themselves as educators, counselors, and helping professionals.

    42 min

  3. JAN 13

    Stars in the Making

    Episode 204, “Stars in the Making,” showcases four first-year undeclared students who step into the podcast studio and—rather than simply following a script—create something entirely their own. In this lively and unscripted conversation, the group explores pop culture, identity, declaring a major, and the unpredictable journey of adjusting to college life. What emerges is a genuine, unfiltered portrayal of creative expression and real-time community building. As part of their course assignment, these students produce their very first podcast episode—and in the process, they begin crafting a shared narrative of transition, exploration, and emerging adulthood. Their humor, vulnerability, and cultural references reveal the way young people make meaning, form connections, and navigate uncertainty during the first semester.“Stars in the Making” captures more than a class activity; it documents a moment when students discover their voices, support one another, and shine together.

    44 min

  4. JAN 13

    Undeclared Edition: A President and a Peer Mentor

    In Episode 203, Homebase Peer Mentor and President of YMOCA, Jesus, sits down with three first-semester undeclared students who are navigating the early challenges of college life. This conversation highlights what it means for young men to step into SDSU without a declared major, while juggling academic expectations, family responsibilities, identity development, and the search for belonging at a large university. Jesus—an experienced student leader rooted in the Homebase mentorship model—guides the discussion with honesty and vulnerability, creating space for students to reflect on how they are learning to balance the rhythms of their new college lives. The episode shines a light on the value of peer mentorship, relational support, and culturally grounded communities such as YMOCA in helping young men adjust to the demands of higher education.Episode 203 offers a window into how first-year undeclared students build confidence, confront uncertainty, and begin piecing together the early steps of their college journey.

    31 min

  5. JAN 13

    I Am the Marching Band: First-Year Undeclared Students Finding Their Path

    Episode 202 features first-year undeclared students reflecting on the journey of entering college without a declared major—and learning, step by step, how to build identity, community, and confidence at San Diego State University. The title “I Am the Marching Band” comes from a powerful student metaphor: the idea that success in college is not about having it all figured out on day one, but about showing up, trying new experiences, and gradually assembling the pieces of who you are becoming—much like the way a marching band comes together, instrument by instrument, voice by voice, until it forms something meaningful. In this episode, students discuss the realities of the first-year experience: the excitement, the uncertainty, the pressure to choose a major, and the ongoing process of finding a sense of belonging in a large university. They explore how being undeclared is not a problem to solve, but a place to grow. This developmental moment allows them to reflect on strengths, interests, and identities without the expectation of immediate certainty.The conversation highlights how relational support, opportunities for involvement (such as the marching band, learning communities, and campus organizations), and the Homebase approach help students develop the courage to explore, ask questions, and make decisions aligned with their values and future aspirations.

    39 min

  6. 09/29/2025

    Men, Masculinity & Coming of Age Feat. Uncle Eddie, Nick Martin, and Karim Plascencia

    Homebase Podcast is back for Season 2 with a raw, layered conversation on men, masculinity, and coming of age. In this opening episode, Dr. Ricky Pope sits down with Uncle Eddie, Nick Martin, and Karim Plascencia, three voices representing different generations and life experiences, to discuss what it truly means to grow into manhood today. This isn’t a scripted take on masculinity. It’s honest, vulnerable, and sometimes messy — just like growing up. Together, the group explores how cultural expectations shape identity, how silence around emotions can harm, and how redefining strength can lead to increased connection. They reflect on the forces that shape young men — family dynamics, peer pressure, social media, education, and the weight of unspoken rules about what it means to “be a man.”Nick shares insights about wrestling with vulnerability and mental health. Karim brings the voice of a younger generation pushing for authenticity and self-definition. Uncle Eddie, with hard-won wisdom, names the lessons he wishes someone had given him earlier — about love, responsibility, and building a life rooted in truth rather than performance. Dr. Pope ties these stories to research on identity, meaning, and purpose (iMAP), helping us see how psychological safety and belonging can reframe masculinity for the next generation. Throughout the conversation, the Homebase vision comes alive: creating spaces where men can gather, speak, and find strength not in isolation but in community. The episode invites listeners to examine their own coming-of-age story — to ask, Who taught me how to be a man? What stories am I still living out? What stories do I want to write for myself and the men who come after me? What you’ll hear in this episode: Honest talk about masculinity, identity, and growth from adolescence into adulthood How silence and “being tough” can block healing and connection The Homebase approach — safe spaces where men can process and redefine strength Nick Martin sharing lived experience through poetry and reflection Uncle Eddie’s intergenerational wisdom on resilience and responsibility Karim’s perspective on forging authentic manhood in real time. Whether you’re a student, father, mentor, or simply navigating what masculinity means for you, this episode invites reflection and change. It’s for anyone tired of outdated definitions and ready to build something healthier and more whole — for themselves and the next generation. Homebase Approach Peer-reviewed research https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10755-025-09833-w

    50 min

  7. 09/29/2025 · BONUS

    The Quiet Part Out Loud (TQPOL)

    The Homebase Podcast returns with a powerful season premiere centered on Dr. Ricky Pope’s original poem The Quiet Part Out Loud (TQPOL) — a raw and resonant work about what it means to speak truth when silence feels safer. In this episode, Dr. Pope invites listeners behind the creation of TQPOL, a poem born from years of listening to students’ unspoken struggles and navigating his own quiet battles as a psychologist, professor, and mentor. The piece gives language to emotions often buried — grief, anger, hope, and longing for belonging — and challenges the cultural and institutional patterns that keep many young men of color silent in spaces where their voices matter most. Throughout the dialogue, listeners are invited to imagine “homebase” — not just as a metaphor, but as a lived practice. A homebase is a psychological and relational safe space where you can exhale, gather strength, and return to the world with clarity and purpose. For first-generation students, especially young men of color, homebase is where personal narrative meets collective support — where art, mentorship, and academic success intersect. Whether you are a student trying to find your voice, an educator searching for ways to support belonging, or anyone who’s ever wrestled with unspoken truths, The Quiet Part Out Loud will leave you inspired and challenged. It’s a call to break silence, build homebase, and step boldly into one’s own story.Episode highlights: Live excerpts of Dr. Pope’s poem The Quiet Part Out Loud How spoken word and storytelling help process mental health and identity challenges Defining “homebase” as a secure, empowering space for growth and connection

    3 min
  8. Homebase Podcast Episode 008: Orange Lines & Open Minds – An Interview with Nick Martin

    04/15/2025

    Homebase Podcast Episode 008: Orange Lines & Open Minds – An Interview with Nick Martin

    In this powerful episode of the Homebase Podcast, Dr. Pope sits down with Nick Martin, the "Orange Line Poet," who is currently pursuing his master's degree in professional counseling through the Community-Based Block (CBB) Program at San Diego State University (SDSU). Nick candidly shares his personal and professional journey, highlighting his growth as a young man dedicated to becoming a mental health provider. Throughout the episode, Nick explores various thought-provoking themes, including: His unique path to becoming a mental health professional was guided by his enrollment in the innovative, nontraditional, student-led Community-Based Block Program at SDSU, which has a legacy of over 50 years of training culturally competent therapists. A critique of Shakespeare's works, questioning their accessibility and relevance to contemporary audiences. The influence of popular culture figures, especially rapper Kendrick Lamar, on his poetry and worldviews. Noam Chomsky's ideas in "Requiem for the American Dream" impact his critical thinking and social analysis. His educational background in economics intersects with his counseling practice, which incorporates principles from Gestalt and existential theories to support healing and personal growth. Insights into navigating the complexities of group dynamics within his intensive training program. Personal reflections on vulnerability and caregiving are highlighted by a moving account of the critical support he received during a pivotal moment in the semester.

    1h 2m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Homebase Podcast is a student success podcast. Welcome to Homebase, the podcast exploring the keys to college success and personal growth. I’m your host, Dr. Pope, and today, we’re diving deep into how students can survive and thrive in their college journey. In collaboration with YMOCA (Young Men of Color Alliance), an organization committed to supporting young men of color through mentorship and community initiatives, today’s episode is focused on giving you the tools and strategies to take control of your academic experience. We’ll discuss the importance of developing agency—the power to make choices, shape your future, and overcome obstacles.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Ricky Pope
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    The Homebase Podcast