Article by Melinda Eddleman

If you haven’t listened to Viking Radio, which is Del Mar College’s conversational show, available anytime on Spotify, and airing weekdays locally on the radio, there’s a lot to catch up on since episodes first began airing on May 27.

Viking Radio airs Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. after the Larry Elizondo Power Hour on Retro Country 105.9 FM and 103.3 FM and Retro Tejano 104.1 FM. The episodes are then available on Spotify and YouTube after each airing.

Episodes are recorded and produced completely in-house with airings in partnership with Retro Radio and the Larry Elizondo Power Hour.

Serving as the college’s radio and podcast series, Viking Radio features conversations with local educators, leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the Coastal Bend. Designed to be casual, informative and fun, Viking Radio guests have ranged from Del Mar College students and professors with great stories to share to business owners and representatives of nonprofits who are making a difference in the community.

Check out the schedule for Oct. 5-9, specifically Oct. 9 when the guest will be actress Amy Bailey from the livestreaming series The Chosen, who is coming to Corpus Christi for the Oct. 10 event at Whataburger Field supporting the Coastal Bend Food Bank.

Next week’s schedule includes:

Monday, Oct. 5: Bachelor’s Degree? You’ve Got This!

• Guests: Christine Benavides, Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership graduate, and current BAS-OML student Sonia Carreon
• Description: Earning a bachelor’s degree is challenging, rewarding and above all, it’s possible. Del Mar College’s Sonia Carreon and Christine Benavides will visit Viking Radio to talk about how the college’s online bachelor’s degree program – the Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Management and Leadership degree – is helping them grow and advance professionally. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s looking to take the next step in their career.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: The Support Every Student Needs

• Guests: Jennifer Taylor, Student Support Specialist with Community In Schools, and Rachel M. Benavides, Del Mar College Dean of Continuing & Community Education
• Description: Helping nurture students to become successful with support, resources and good old-fashioned encouragement is a labor of love for Jennifer Taylor, Student Support Specialist with Communities In Schools within the Ricardo Independent School District. She will chat with Del Mar College’s Rachel Benavides about Community in Schools’ partnership with the college and how their intertwined goals are changing young lives in South Texas.

Wednesday, Oct. 7: The Career Readiness Blueprint

• Guest: Ann Vlach, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners (E2E)
• Description: It takes passion and dedication to lead a dynamic organization like Education to Employment Partners or E2E. Executive Director Ann Vlach will sit down with Viking Radio to explain how E2E actively partners throughout the community to promote college and career readiness among students, professional development for educators, seminars for community leaders and other efforts to encourage high school students to prepare for in-demand Coastal Bend jobs.

Thursday, Oct. 8: From Texas Champs to World Stage!

• Guests: DMC Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Interim Department Chair Lisa Pollakis, DMC Executive Chef Matthew Axtell, Baking/Pastry major and Texas Food Championship Dessert Category winner Aiyana Willingham and Culinary Arts major and Burger Category team captain Nathanael Benavides
• Description: Del Mar College culinary students crushed it during the recent Texas Food Championship held in Corpus Christi at Water’s Edge Park. Student winners Aiyana Willingham and Nathanael Benavides will bask in the glory on Viking Radio, along with their instructors, Lisa Pollakis and Executive Chef Matthew Axtell, and talk about their excitement as they prepare for the World Food Championships in Indianapolis in a few weeks.

Friday, Oct. 9: The Chosen Actress Visits Viking Radio

• Guests: Actress Amy Bailey from The Chosen and Coastal Bend Food Bank Executive Director Bea Hanson and Multimedia Communications Coordinator Micaela Calderon-Stewart
• Description: Actress Amy Bailey, who plays Joanna in the Prime Video biblical series, The Chosen, and who grew up in South Texas, will be a special guest on Viking Radio. She will discuss her journey as an actress, the passion she brings to her role in The Chosen and the big event she and her castmates are coming to Corpus /Christi to support – The Chosen Interfaith Celebration at Whataburger Field on Oct. 10. Also joining the conversation are Bea Hanson and Micaela Calderon-Stewart with the Coastal Bend Food Bank, which is hosting the event.

For anyone missing these episodes or those aired previously, listen to these conversations on Spotify or YouTube.