The Homebase Podcast

The Homebase Podcast

by Dr. Ricky Pope
Education
Season 2
Oranges: Growing Through Change—ASMR, Student Success, and Relationships
In Episode 210, Adam—a first-year Political Science major at SDSU and Homebase College Mentor—leads a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation with middle and high school student mentees about navigating change, growth, and the transition toward college. The episode explores student success, adjusting to change, ASMR, and relationships, offering an authentic look at how younger students begin to make sense of transitions in real time. Adam and the mentees reflect on what it means to prepare for new environments, manage expectations, and build meaningful connections while staying grounded in who they are. Blending lighthearted moments with deeper reflection, the conversation touches on coping strategies—including the role of ASMR and other calming practices—as well as the complexities of friendships and relationships during periods of change and development. This episode captures the early stages of the college-going journey—highlighting growth, uncertainty, and the importance of mentorship, exposure, and community in shaping future student success.
S2 · E10
Apr 30, 2026
41:10
Inside Student Success: Leadership, Mentoring, and Real Conversations
In Episode 209, Ozzy—an SDSU undergraduate student majoring in Economics, and working on campus as an ambassador, peer mentor, and Homebase College Mentor—leads an engaging and dynamic conversation with Mr. G and student mentees. Together, they explore student success, mentorship, and pop culture, creating a space where real experiences and perspectives come to life. Ozzy brings a unique lens shaped by his leadership roles on campus, offering insight into how mentorship and representation can influence students’ academic journeys and personal growth. The conversation blends practical advice with authentic dialogue, highlighting how mentorship extends beyond academics to include identity, motivation, and cultural awareness. With contributions from mentees and Mr. G, this episode captures the importance of building community, staying grounded, and navigating the college pathway with intention.
S2 · E9
Apr 30, 2026
34:00
The Talk: A Homebase Campus Tour on Mentorship, Student Success, and Culture
In Episode 208, what started as a college tour at San Diego State University turns into a spontaneous and powerful podcast conversation. Hosted by Karim, an SDSU student and Homebase College Mentor, this episode features two Homebase mentees and Mr. G during their visit to campus. Set in real time, the group engages in an authentic dialogue about student success, mentorship, and pop culture, blending humor, honesty, and insight. The conversation captures what it looks like for young students to envision themselves in a college space while being guided by near-peer mentors who have recently walked that same path. Karim leads the discussion by bridging lived experience with mentorship in action—creating space for reflection, aspiration, and connection. From navigating school to staying motivated, and even unpacking cultural influences, this episode highlights the importance of representation, exposure, and community in shaping future college-going identities.This is Homebase in motion—where mentorship happens everywhere, even on a campus tour.
S2 · E8
Apr 30, 2026
24:06
The Way Forward: Building Belonging Through the Homebase College Mentor Approach
In Episode 207, Dr. Ricky Pope and Auriella Pope explore The Way Forward in higher education through the lens of mentorship, belonging, and applied developmental support. Centered on the Homebase College Mentor Model, this episode brings together leading voices—Dr. Liz Buffington and Nick Martin, an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, will examine how institutions can move beyond traditional student services toward more relational, proactive, and equity-driven approaches to college success. Together, the conversation unpacks how mentorship functions not just as guidance, but as a structured, intentional intervention that fosters institutional attachment, academic persistence, and holistic development—particularly for commuter students and young men of color. This episode challenges listeners to rethink what it means to support students in real time and offers a compelling vision for scalable, human-centered change in higher education. Key Topics Discussed The evolution of the Homebase College Mentor Model Mentorship as an applied developmental interventionAddressing the needs of commuter and institutionally avoidant students Building institutional attachment and belonging The role of peer mentors, graduate trainees, and faculty in wraparound careBridging academic success with mental health and social support systems Reimagining student success beyond traditional advising structures Key Takeaways Mentorship must be proactive, not reactive: Effective support meets students where they are—academically, socially, and emotionally. Belonging drives persistence: Students are more likely to succeed when they feel seen, supported, and connected. Structure matters: The Homebase model demonstrates how intentional design can create scalable, high-impact interventions. Equity requires design, not intention alone: Systems must be built to reach students who are least likely to seek help.
S2 · E7
Apr 29, 2026
30:07
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.”
S2 · E6
Jan 13, 2026
33:53
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.
S2 · E5
Jan 13, 2026
41:53
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.
S2 · E4
Jan 13, 2026
43:46
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.
S2 · E3
Jan 13, 2026
30:37
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.
S2 · E2
Jan 13, 2026
38:38
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
S2 · E1
Sep 29, 2025
49:56
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