Article by DMC College Relations

October and November are busy months at Del Mar College (DMC) with a variety of events and activities that focus on bringing community members to campus. Ranging from the annual Fall Carnival, Viking Fest and Del Mar Drama’s fall production to career opportunities and community service through Scouting, the College’s 30-minute conversational radio show and podcast, Viking Radio, will feature these community-focused offerings Monday through Friday, Oct. 26-30, airing on Retro Country 105.9 FM and 103.3 FM and Retro Tejano 104.1 FM.

Viking Radio airs from 9:30 to 10 a.m. weekdays locally and then anytime on Spotify and YouTube after each airing. Episodes are recorded and produced completely in-house with airings in partnership with Retro Radio.

Check out next week’s schedule running Oct. 26-30:

Monday, Oct. 26: Building a Theater Legacy
• Guests: Professor of Drama Carl Yowell and Drama student Rett Hobart

• Description: Drama Program faculty member Carl Yowell shares with Viking Radio reflections about his distinguished 32-year career inspiring Coastal Bend students to pursue their dreams in all aspects of theater production. Drama student Rett Hobart joins the conversation to talk about his transformative experience in the program and his big dreams for the future. Both guests also will tease DMC’s upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors, which starts Nov. 5.

Tuesday, Oct. 27: Miss This Spooky Bash
• Guests: Rita Hernandez, Dean of Student Engagement and Retention, and Director of Student Leadership and Campus Life Beverly Cage

• Description: The Viking Fall Carnival is coming up on Oct. 30 on the College’s Heritage Campus, and everyone is invited to come have a ghoulishly good time. DMC’s Rita Hernandez and Beverly Cage, who both fall under the Student Affairs Division, will explain the long-running annual event and how it has become a staple in the community, welcoming families to enjoy trick-or-treating, booths, games, food and costume contests.

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Your Next Job Could Start Here
• Guests: Jennifer Gonzales, Director of Career Development Services

• Description: Looking for a job or know someone who is? The Viking Connections Career Expo is scheduled Nov. 4 on the Windward Campus, and this event for job seekers is open to DMC students, alumni and the community. DMC’s Jennifer Gonzales drops in to chat about the career development services offered at Del Mar College, the soft skills that are important in the job-search process and the many employers who will be at the Career Expo seeking new hires.

Thursday, Oct. 29: Inside DMC’s Biggest Celebration
• Guests: Jason Houlihan, Executive Director of Marketing & Events, and Sam Garcia, Associate Professor of Welding

• Description: Del Mar College is gearing up for its signature annual event, Viking Fest, and the community is invited to join the festivities Nov. 14 at the Windward Campus for a full day celebrating the people, programs and industries that power the Coastal Bend. DMC’s Jason Houlihan and Sam Garcia will describe the day’s activities, including a Viking 5K and Kids 1K, Best Viking Costume contest, the Fifth Annual Día de los Muertos Welding Competition, food trucks, music, and hands-on activities for the whole family. Mark your calendar!

Friday, Oct. 30: A Family Mission of Service
• Guests: Professor of Speech Mike Jones and Amy Jones, Chair of the Department of Communications, Languages and Reading and faculty member

• Description: Supporting Scouting America is a family affair for DMC Speech professors Mike Jones and Amy Jones. The husband-and-wife team have brought Scouting to countless young people in the Coastal Bend over the years, even spearheading events that introduce them to the College’s life-changing programs. Their chat with Viking Radio includes the announcement that DMC President and CEO Dr. Mark Escamilla has been selected to receive one of Scouting’s most prestigious awards, the Distinguished Citizen Award.

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

Viking Radio features conversations with local educators, leaders, innovators and changemakers shaping the Coastal Bend. With a casual, informative and fun format, Viking Radio features guests ranging 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.

Article by Melinda Eddleman

You may have heard the term “Golden Oldies.” For the lineup of next week’s episodes of Del Mar College’s Viking Radio, they may not be old, but they’re golden. Drawing from the past five months, the College’s 30-minute conversational radio show and podcast, Viking Radio, will feature some of the best episodes produced during the past five months, airing Monday through Friday, Oct. 19-23, on Retro Country 105.9 FM and 103.3 FM and Retro Tejano 104.1 FM.

Viking Radio airs from 9:30 to 10 a.m. weekdays locally and then anytime 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.

Check out next week’s schedule running Oct. 19-23:

Monday, Oct. 19: Tourism Secrets Revealed
• Guest: Brook Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Corpus Christi

• Description: Brook Kaufman breaks down the art of attracting visitors to the city. Tourism is both an economic engine and a storytelling craft, and Kaufman brings both perspectives to the table as CEO of Visit Corpus Christi. She reveals how Visit Corpus Christi positions the city as a premier destination, ranging from data-driven marketing and brand development to creating memorable visitor experiences that keep people coming back.

Tuesday, Oct. 20: From DMC to Hollywood
• Guest: Lydia Blanco Garza, business owner of Hollywood-based The Blanco Agency

• Description: Lydia Blanco Garza’s story starts at Del Mar College, where a young aspiring actor first stepped onto the stage with big dreams and zero guarantees. Now the owner of The Blanco Agency, Garza returns to share her journey from Corpus Christi to Hollywood – the auditions, the setbacks, the breakthroughs and the moment she realized she wanted to help others chase the same dream. She talks about building a career in the entertainment industry and how she now prepares future stars to take their shot.

Wednesday, Oct. 21: A Life Transformed
• Guests: Del Mar College alumna Elizabeth Pacheco and Cornado Gallegos, instructor of Environmental/Petrochemical Lab Technology

• Description: DMC graduate Elizabeth Pacheco and faculty member Cornado Gallegos share a deeply personal conversation about the Environmental/Petrochemical Lab Technology Program and how it transformed Pacheco’s life. They discuss the program’s rigorous training, real‑world applications and the confidence it instills in students seeking stable, meaningful careers. It’s a story of education opening doors and reshaping futures.

Thursday, Oct. 22: Building Homes, Changing Lives
• Guest: Ben Molina, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Corpus Christi, Inc.

• Description: For more than two decades, Ben Molina has dedicated his time, talent and heart to Habitat for Humanity Corpus Christi. From volunteer to executive director, he joins Viking Radio to discuss how safe, affordable housing changes lives and strengthens communities across the Coastal Bend.

Friday, Oct. 23: Leadership with Grit
• Guests: Texas State Representative and Chairman Todd Hunter and DMC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Escamilla

• Description: Texas State Rep. Todd Hunter and DMC President and CEO Dr. Mark Escamilla share candid stories of leadership, perseverance and navigating the complexities of Texas politics. They reflect on public service, higher education and the grit required to advocate for the Coastal Bend. It’s a conversation full of insight, experience and behind‑the‑scenes perspective.

Anyone who misses these episodes or wants to hear previously aired conversations can listen on Spotify or YouTube.

Viking Radio features conversations with local educators, leaders, innovators and changemakers shaping the Coastal Bend. With a casual, informative and fun format, Viking Radio guests ranging 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.