Home Base Nation Favorites: First meet Admissions Coordinator Zachary Morin, and Cartoonist and Writer Garry Trudeau

We have published 120 episodes since 2019. For this new season, we thought it would be a good idea to look back on some of the highlights of our conversations and select 20 episodes that resonated with veterans, service members, military families, and the civilians who support them.

But first up, you'll hear from some of the folks at Home Base who wake up every day with the same mission in mind, no matter what they do at the Center of Excellence in the Navy Yard and beyond. 

For this episode, you will hear a brief conversation with the Admissions Coordinator at Home Base, Zachary Morin. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Zach spent two years serving with AmeriCorps in the Miami-Dade Public Schools, working with middle school students on literacy, social and emotional development, as well as civic engagement. Upon completing his service, Zachary returned to New England to lead the College Ready Communities program in Northern Rhode Island. Here, his work included holistic programming for vulnerable youth populations and overall community engagement initiatives. He also has a creative/performative side, which he will talk about.

Following my conversation with Zach, you’ll hear an episode from 2023 with the Pulitzer Prize and Emmy-winning cartoonist, Garry Trudeau. Garry is also an Army Commander’s Award for Public Service honoree. In this conversation, Garry tells us that not only did his dad and grandfather both serve, but they were also both physicians. He recounts an eye-opening visit to Walter Reed Medical Center, with stories of injury and resilience that not only informed his storytelling but have had lasting impacts on him. As a big fan of author Sebastian Junger, he discusses the innate need for the tribe to survive, and explains a bit of his creative process. Part Two will come shortly.

Run To Home Base: Join Ron and his team and sign up individually or on another team at the 16th annual Run To Home Base on July 26th, 2025, at Fenway Park! Go to runtohomebase.org

Please visit homebase.org for updates, programming, and resources if you or someone you know is struggling.

Home Base Nation is the official podcast for the Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families. Our team sees veterans, service members, and their families addressing the invisible wounds of war at no cost. This is all made possible thanks to a grateful nation. To learn more about how to help, visit us at www.homebase.org. If you or anyone you know would like to connect to care, you can also reach us at 617-724-5202.

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• The Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Army Veteran Kelly Field, Justin Scheinert, Chuck Clough, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter Smyth.
• Producer and Host: Dr. Ron Hirschberg
  Assistant Producer, Editor: Chuck Clough
  Chairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter Smyth

The views expressed by guests on the Home Base Nation podcast are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation, or any of its officials.