Phil Farrand: The Nitpicker's Guides. Many people think of nitpicking as a disrespectful act. If you enjoy a show, why pick it apart? I, however, would contend that if you love someone, it is actually a compassionate act to tell them about the dab of mustard on their upper lip! Such is the idea behind the Nitpicker's Guides, books that attempte ...…

Tomorrow Never Dies. GoldenEye was a massive success as Bond came roaring back into the cultural consciousness through the film, but also through other mediums like video games, all of which put pressure on the studio to follow up this success with, another hit movie. In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by 00 agents J ...…

Major Kira suspects that the Cardassian bookkeeper on board DS9 is guilty of war crimes. Is Marritza who he claims to be, or is he the other, more notorious person he claims to be? Can Kira see past her need for vengeance and learn compassion for this Cardassian? We put this Duet into the Mission Log. Get in touch with us! On Facebook: facebook ...…

Religion in Star Trek. “Nothing more than a substitute brain” was the characteristically dismissive phrase Gene Roddenberry once used to describe religion. This perspective found its way on screen in various episodes of The Original Series and The Next Generation that presented religious practice as misguided, primitive, or worse. It wasn’t unt ...…

This week, comedian/writer/actor/producer/nerd Dana Gould joins us to talk Star Trek and Planet of the Apes and the state of television and his television show - Stan Against Evil. He’s got a podcast as well! And you should listen to it! It’s The Dana Gould Hour - “Free! And worth it.” Much fun to be had on this week’s Mission Log Live! Be sure ...…

The Lost Episodes, Part 2. There are many scripts, script outlines, and episode and movie concepts that never made it onto the screen on The Next Generation. These lost episodes can provide a fascinating window into what might have been, what characters and concepts ended up being modified and used later, and into the behind-the-scenes writing ...…

Standard Orbit 229: We Just Want More Trek Star Trek News Update. In this episode of Standard Orbit hosts Ken Tripp, Zach Moore and Hayley Stoddart discuss the recent news surrounding the possible merger of CBS and Paramount, the next two films involving our beloved crew, the possibility of more Star Trek returning to our TV screens and more TO ...…

The Expansion of Star Trek. When CBS announced in November 2015 that Star Trek would return to television, we all celebrated the light at the end of the tunnel. The fallow years were coming to an end and, soon, the voyages of our future selves would continue where they belong: on the small screen. But details were scarce, and it took some time ...…

A Time to Sow. Morale aboard the Enterprise has been dealt a serious blow. The incident at the Rashanar battle site has left a definite stain on the career of Jean-Luc Picard, and he and his crew can't help but feel that their latest assignment is designed to get them off the radar for the time being. However, their mission to investigate a cen ...…

Toxic Fandom The Patrons’ Roundtable is a chance for us to get together with the wonderful supporters of Trek.fm to talk about Star Trek in the same format we do on our shows! In this forty-second roundtable, Brandi Jackola is joined by Patrick Carlin, Hayley Stoddard, Aaron Harvey, and Rob Chapman to discuss toxic fandom. Want to support the n ...…

Stamets. In Star Trek: Discovery, we are introduced to a new mode of transportation that utilizes spores to travel enormous distances in the blink of an eye. Lieutenant Paul Stamets is willing to sacrifice his life for the success of his spore drive, which combines physics and biology, and injects himself with tardigrade DNA when there is no ot ...…

New #WarpFive! “Oh, Hoshi, I Love You!” Season One Hoshi Moments The earliest interactions between people are often the most formative - regardless of whether those people exist in real life, or fictional characters. Though first impressions can often be wrong, many people still cling to those initial moments and form judgments of a person or c ...…

Innocence. Tuvok may be known for his Vulcan stoicism, but his Vulcan parenting skills are second to none. When Tuvok's shuttle crashes on one of the moons of Drayan Two, he's forced to care for three children who, unbeknownst to him, are actually elderly Drayans aging in reverse. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and ...…

Things are tense on Deep Space Nine. Everyone is talking about choosing sides between Commander Sisko and Major Kira. Meanwhile, they are actually leading opposing sides! The only ones acting normal are Odo and Quark. Could all of this weirdness have to do with that Klingon who beamed aboard right after blowing up his ship and right before dyin ...…

Ant-Man and The Wasp. The last we saw of Scott Lang he'd been whisked off to help Captain America, ended up on The Raft and a no-show for Infinity War, leaving fans wondering just what happened to our intrepid ex-con. In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Brandi Jackola to talk about Ant-Man and The Wasp. We discuss ...…

This week, philosophy professor David Kyle Johnson joins us to talk philosophy and Star Trek. Topics include: Colonialism (followed by post-colonialism)! Is a cashless society possible? Does Kirk wreck the alien societies he touches? Is IDIC a trap?!? Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod eve ...…

Star Trek Las Vegas 2018. For the past 17 years, thousands of fans have converged on Las Vegas every summer to see Star Trek actors and creatives, meet other fans, and celebrate what they love about the franchise. This is the largest Star Trek convention in the United States and is eagerly anticipated year after year. In this episode of Earl Gr ...…

Standard Orbit 228: A Tale of Two Saaviks A Character Review This week on Standard Orbit hosts Zach Moore, Hayley Stoddart, and Ken Tripp discuss the character of Saavik and the actors that portrayed her. This fan-favorite Vulcan is fun to explore from her origins to the very unique styles brought to her by Kirstie Alley and Robin Curtis. The S ...…

James Swallow: Fear Itself. For many fans, the breakout character of Star Trek: Discovery has been Saru, the Kelpien science officer aboard the U.S.S. Shenzhou. Kelpiens are a prey species, driven by instinct to heed their natural fear response and be hyper-alert to any danger present in their surroundings. Saru is no exception to this, and whe ...…

Dennis McCarthy Interview. Dennis McCarthy defined the sound of Star Trek by composing 257 episodes and movies of the franchise. However, the road to Trek was paved with hard work and trial-by-fire education sessions. McCarthy learned how to compose and orchestrate while on the road as a young man, playing various musical shows. McCarthy ever r ...…

"Detained" Deep Dive. In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 was issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, authorizing the deportation and incarceration of Japanese Americans. Nearly 120,00 people on the West Coast were forced into internment camps further inland under suspicion of spying for the ...…

Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 1977 changed cinema forever as George Lucas and Star Wars cemented the idea of the blockbuster but he was not the only one to revolutionize movies that year with Steven Spielberg giving the world his follow up to Jaws. In this episode of The 602 Club host Matthew Rushing is joined by Ben Davis and Bruce Gibso ...…

Schooling in Star Trek. On a Federation starship or space station, every day is an opportunity for learning. But for Starfleet officers whose families have joined them in space, providing a well-rounded education can be a challenge. Aboard the USS Enterprise-D, a host of professional educators were on hand, teaching everything from ancient hist ...…

“Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek pays Mission Log Live another visit. Between seasons of his show “The Trek Files,” Larry talks about themes and surprises from season one, directions for season two, rumors around the Khan miniseries, plus a whole lot more - plus a whole lot more - plus a whole lot more. Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log ...…

Season 1 of The Trek Files wraps up with our oldest document yet! As Gene Roddenberry was writing for “Have Gun - Will Travel,” he got the attention of an unlikely awards committee: the American Baptist Convention. Having seen a handful of Gene’s episodes, the committee reached out to recognize his work as “presenting the Christian message” to ...…

Favorite Character Moments Season 6. The Next Generation has a mostly episodic format, but over the course of the show and the movies, there are many great character moments. Those moments, both great and small, can enhance our experience of the show and lead to a new understanding of both regular and recurring characters. In this episode of Ea ...…

The Original Series Season 1 - Essential Trek Philosophy. The entire Star Trek franchise, with over 700 television episodes and 13 feature films (to date), owes its existence to the strength of season 1 of Star Trek: The Original Series. If season 1 hadn't been as strong as it was, we wouldn't have the Star Trek franchise we know and love today ...…

Remembering Harlan Ellison's "The City on the Edge of Forever." Heralded by many as the greatest episode, not only of the original Star Trek, but the whole franchise, "The City on the Edge of Forever" was written by science-fiction legend Harlan Ellison. While Star Trek fans know him best for this episode, he is well know for writing books and ...…

Georgiou. One of the first moments of Star Trek: Discovery is the introduction of Captain Philippa Georgiou. We meet her during an away mission with Michael Burnham, and her wisdom is quickly evident. She asks Burnham to trust her as they seemingly meander through the desert. We soon discover that the route was not random; rather it created a l ...…

Writing the MACOs Into Starfleet. The Military Assault Command Operations became a part of Star Trek: Enterprise in season three. Not a division of Starfleet, they were a United Earth military organization that had trained relentlessly as soldiers, but had little actual battle experience outside of simulations, though their technology and tacti ...…

Deep Space Nine is overrun with unwanted lifeforms. There are ambassadors. There is a sort of sentient computer puppy. Also, Lwaxana Troi is here - trying to get close to Odo, who is just trying to keep himself together. Literally. This week, we show The Forsaken into the Mission Log. Get in touch with us! On Facebook: facebook.com/missionlogpo ...…

Doctor. Volcanologist. Trekker. These are just three terms that describe Kayla Iacovino - Editor-in-Chief of TrekMovie.com. This week, we talk Trek rumors, including the one about Patrick Stewart heading back into the Star Trek universe. Also - can there ever be too much Star Trek? Listen and find out! Be sure to join us live! We're on the Miss ...…

With production on the third season of Star Trek fast approaching, newly-hired Executive Producer Fred Freiberger sent a memo to Gene Roddenberry about the status of developing scripts. "Spock's Brain" and "And The Children Shall Lead" are there... and so is "Shore Leave 2." While we're at it, how about room for a couple of Gene Roddenberry scr ...…

K'Ehleyr. K'Ehleyr only appeared in the episodes "The Emissary" and "Reunion" on The Next Generation, but her half-Klingon, half-human character left an indelible impression for many Star Trek fans. With her strength of character, her sense of humor, and her diplomatic skills, K'Ehleyr is a unique and beloved character. In this episode of Earl ...…

Standard Orbit 227: A Big Glass Ball in Space Yorktown Station This week on Standard Orbit hosts Hayley Stoddart and Ken Tripp discuss all things Space Station Yorktown. Star Trek Beyond was a hit for most fans and one of the more interesting locations was Yorktown Space Station. Ken and Hayley review the specifications, community, culture, and ...…

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Three years ago the Jurassic Park franchise made it’s mark on the box office once again as it surprised everyone by becoming one of the top grossing films of all time. The series is back, under the direction of J. A. Bayona and looks to pick up where the last one left off, collecting a massive sum of over $450 mi ...…

Ray Tesi talks Stage Nine Studios. In 2017, Ray Tesi began production on a Star Trek fan film entitled Starship Republic. That project is still in the works, and hopefully will be released in the not-too-distant future. Making fan films is a passion for Tesi, and that has led him to take a giant leap of faith with the acquisition of his very ow ...…

Jeff Russo Interview. Two-time Grammy Award nominee and Emmy Award-winning composer Jeff Russo is at the top of his field, scoring varied and compelling music for television, film, and video games. Russo won an Emmy and received two additional nominations for his thrilling and angst-producing score the FX series Fargo, which itself has been hon ...…

The Root of All Rage. Across the Alpha Quadrant, opinion is turning against the Renao. A terrorist group, The Purifying Flame, is responsible for the destruction of starbases and colonies in the Federation and the Klingon Empire, and now the Empire screams for blood. It's up to the crews of the U.S.S. Prometheus and the I.K.S. Bortas to investi ...…

Season 4 Retrospective Part 2. Genetically enhanced humans have popped up in all forms of science fiction media for almost as long as the genre has existed, and Star Trek is no exception. Our first look at "augments," or genetically engineered humans, came in the original Star Trek series episode "Space Seed", when we meet the unforgettable Kha ...…

Characters We Wanted More Of. Star Trek: Voyager had no shortage of one-off characters that made a lasting impression on us, so much so that we wish that they had joined the Voyager crew, or at least that they would have become recurring characters. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson discuss one-off ...…

Stop us if you've heard this one: Rumplestiltskin, a libidinous Trill and a long-dead baseball player walk into a space station... What happens next is anyone's guess when the crew of DS9 find their imaginations becoming real - and dangerous. If Wishes Were Horses goes into the Mission Log. Get in touch with us! On Facebook: facebook.com/missio ...…

Incredibles 2. Fourteen years ago, Pixar introduced us to it’s world of superheroes and the Parr family. The film was a massive success and with each announcement of new Pixar sequels the question was always, “But when are we getting an Incredibles sequel?”. Luckily for fans, the wait is over and Brad Bird has finally giving fans the long await ...…

Star Trek’s fathers: the good, the bad, and the absent. “Other people have families,” Dr. McCoy lamented in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, apparently forgetting about his own daughter, Joanna. For a utopian vision of the future, Star Trek tends to offer a decidedly unflattering portrayal of fatherhood. Many of the central characters have mark ...…

Episode 30 includes a little news and a lot of talk. Changes at CBS likely mean more Star Trek. John and Ken hit that briefly, then it’s on to the calls! Topics include comics, toys, and how to keep the Trek in the face of soul crushing news of the day. Also, a listener gets hit by the Lightning Round! Be sure to join us live! We're on the Miss ...…

"Suspicions" Commentary. Dr. Beverly Crusher has an interest in a new shielding technology developed by a Ferengi scientist and convenes a demonstration for other scientists aboard the Enterprise-D. However, what starts as an exchange of information turns into a murder mystery in the episode "Suspicions." In this episode of Earl Grey, hosts Jus ...…

As Star Trek: The Next Generation was in its earliest days of development, one writer pitched the idea to return to a formula - and a character descendant - that had worked well for TOS. How would audiences in the '80s react to "Albania Jones"? What if he was played by Robin Williams? David Gerrold suggested one of their stronger comedy writers ...…

Patrons’ Roundtable 41 Star Trek: Voyager. The Patrons’ Roundtable is a chance for us to get together with the wonderful supporters of Trek.fm to talk about Star Trek in the same format we do on our shows! In this forty-first roundtable, Bruce Gibson is joined by Chris Tribuzio, Patrick Carlin, Cory Elrod, Justin Oser, and Rob Chapman to discus ...…

Standard Orbit 226: Put That Quote on a Shirt Top 5 TOS Quotes. This week on Standard Orbit hosts Ken Tripp, Zach Moore and Hayley Stoddart share their top five favorite quotes and phrases from The Original Series. Star Trek is personal for each of us and we each have something unique that resonates with us. Some quotes are widely enjoyed on a ...…

Restarting the music. In November 2017, Melodic Treks came to an untimely end when Suliban experimentation with temporal mechanics sent ripples throughout the universe that stopped the turntable’s spin. But when associate producer Tony Robinson heard Brandon-Shea Mutala say that episode 85 was the last in the series, he knew something was wrong ...…