Enterprising Individuals

Saddle up because we've got to take back "Starship Mine"!

Writer, editor, and educator Ryan Britt joins the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that blends comedy gold with action thrills! The Enterprise is in drydock for a baryon sweep and the crew is scheduled for a little R&R. But when terrorists take over the defenseless ship, Picard must become a one-man army to keep them from obtaining deadly trilithium!

One of Trek's greatest strengths is its ability to artfully slide between genres and tones, and this episode is a clinic in the franchise's flexibility. It contains some of Trek's best sly comedic moments and in its "Die Hard" sub-plot, it prefigures the action spectacle of the TNG films, the reboot films, and the Trek series of the new millennium. On this episode, we talk about Trek's facility with pastiche and homage, the brilliance of Trek's subdued world-building, putting Federation morals to the test, the oft-forgotten violence of early Trek, the disapproval of Michael Piller, the comprehensive talent of Brent Spiner, the and the stalwart Patricia Tallman.

We also discuss "Die Hard on the Enterprise", virtual horses, Wil Wheaton as the "big get", why James Bond would be a terrible Trek captain, adding new skills to Picard, loving the Beatles, building a better Moriarty, killing terrorists on your holiday, bald barbers, reading TV Guide episode descriptions, going "into darkness", exploring "TNG's Discovery", and letting Picard kick ass!

#RIPHutch

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This week, Justine Mastin and Larisa Garski of Starship Therapise join the show to discuss counseling and mental health in the Star Trek universe, therapeutic fan fiction, why there's so many unhealthy families in genre fiction, the stress and anxiety in a Starfleet career, and the therapeutic tools of the 24th century!

#babybetazed

Check out Starship Therapise and follow Justine and Larisa on Twitter!
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https://twitter.com/Spocksallears

Check out the newest member of the Just Enough Trope family, Sailor Noob!
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Break out the ice picks because we're diving into "Timeless"!

Writer and musician Fred Love joins the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Voyager that finds Harry Kim at a crossroads. Ensign Kim has helped design a quantum slipstream drive that could shave decades off of Voyager's journey. But when the drive destroys Voyager and her crew, an older and more embittered Harry enacts a plan to sacrifice himself and 15 years of history for a chance to erase his biggest mistake!

Harry Kim doesn't get enough credit (or promotions). He was an instrumental part in the success of Starfleet's most amazing mission: crossing our entire galaxy. But Harry Kim would never think to complain, or be ungrateful, or argue that the universe owes him something. He just wants to be the best Starfleet officer he can be, not just for the good of the Federation, but to satisfy the expectations he's lived with all his life. Prodigies enjoy successes, but it's the failures they can't let go of. On this episode, we talk about the psychology of Harry Kim, the way tragedy can transform you into someone you don't recognize, the 5th season's attempts to flesh out the show's under-served characters, the ethics of erasing a timeline, the shape of Trek storytelling in the late '90s, and the unknowing arrogance of being a perfectionist.

We also discuss the Garrett's raw deal, breaking Harry to explore Harry, the various types of time travel narratives, loving your boyfriend to (your) death, white Borg wasted, "Yes, mom," Harry the Redditor, being saved by your sexiness, a "Timerider" scenario, SEVEN'S SKULL, a little Picard talk, Fred wants "cerebral Star Wars", and Kal's got an X-Men reference!

Temporal Prime Directive shemporal shrime shmirective!

Follow Fred on Twitter and check out his YouTube channel and music work!
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Get the new Klingon Empire Sourcebook for Star Trek Adventures!
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Get Una McCormack's Picard novel, "The Last Best Hope", on Amazon!
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This week, Dr. Athena Andreadis joins the show to discuss biology in Trek, the "moral leaks" of the Federation, the COVID-19 response, and more!

Tardigrades in SPAAAAAAAACE!

Get "To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek" on Amazon!
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Don't bother to bring your stinking badges 'cause we're looking for "The Sword of Kahless"!

Musician and podcaster Gooey Fame is back on the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that sees our heroes leave the safety of the Federation to go on a dangerous treasure hunt. After years of searching, Dahar Master Kor believes he has found the location of the great Sword of Kahless. But can Worf, Jadzia, and Kor reach the sword before Toral, son of Duras, and will their victory mean the end of their friendships . . . and their lives?

Worf (and Worf actor Michael Dorn) is one of the unsung figures of the Star Trek Franchise, having appeared in 3 Trek series and 5 feature films. The strength, gravity, and unintentional levity he brings to his character make him one of the most appealing characters in the franchise, and his portrayal of Worf as a man in conflict with his past, his family, and his legacy has been the font of many a great Trek story (and hopefully more to come). On this episode, we talk about the history and legacy of the character, Wor's unwavering commitment to honor, why so many of his victories seem like defeats, the impressive lore of the Klingon racer, the impressively long character arc of Kor, and Trek's rock-solid bench of side characters.

We also discuss the nature of veganism in Trek, the unbelievable career of stunt man Tom Morga, innocent god swords, "Korf" is Worf's Wario, #SpockHelmet, blue crystal razors, another(!) Starlost shout-out, the 3 sacred treasures of Japan, Neutrogena T-Gel money, caves caves caves, making Christopher Plummer be in your PC game, Sisko as the "cool teacher", a little Picard talk, some Trek news, Gooey is waiting for that Worf show, and Kal's got mad Gowron love!

GIMME THAT TREK STUFF!

Follow Gooey on Twitter and check out his other podcasts!
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This week, we're taking a quick tour of Trek news, including stories about virtual conventions, Janeway statues, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! Plus, a review of Kate Mulgrew's first book, "Born With Teeth"!

There is a Mirror Universe Una McCormack!

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A quick update this week about the protests in Minneapolis and where you can donate to support protestors and local businesses. We'll be back next week with our regular programming.

#BlackLivesMatter

Minnesota Freedom Fund
https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

We Love Lake Street
https://www.welovelakestreet.com/

United Way
https://www.unitedway.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate

Stick a cortical stimulator on that dying swan because it's time to dance the "Coda"!

Jen Dallman of the Rosemary's Ladies podcast is back on the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Voyager that puts Captain Janeway's self-possession on trial. When a temporal anomaly causes her shuttle to crash, Kathryn Janeway is seemingly killed. When an apparition of her father appears to her in her seeming afterlife, she'll be forced to choose between letting go and the self-assuredness she's built her life and career on.

Twenty-five years ago, Voyager's finale "Endgame" aired on UPN, leaving the show with an alleged mixed legacy. But with the advent of streaming services and social media, Voyager was introduced to a new generation of fans who have embraced the show's ambitious premise and memorable characters, chief among them Captain Kathryn Janeway, play to the hilt by actress Kate Mulgrew. On this episode, we talk about the barriers that Voyager broke as a Trek series, the hodgepodge of initial ideas that coalesced into "Coda", why Voyager continues to endure as a series and how the fans have kept it alive, Janeway as a leader and captain, the way the series reuses and improves existing Trek stories, and the guiding hand of veteran producer Jeri Taylor.

We also discuss the series' fluctuating quality, forgetting about Kes, how much horror is *too much* horror, Ocampan back sack, demon delicatessen, improving CPR, euthanizing your captain, Happy Death Day, going all-in on Janeway, Voyager as the first "fan-fic" Trek series, starting the story in the middle, Kazon = Ferengi, #notallromulans, the Passion of the Janeway, pushups and prayer, a little New Mutants talk, a LOT of BSG talk, Jen gives thumbs down to all the 'ships, and Kal thinks Starfleet is a bunch of rubes!

"Coda" is a classic Jacob's Ladder scenario!

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This week, Mikanhana of the Just Enough Trope podcast returns to the show to ruminate on the latest Trek news! We've got stories about Strange New Worlds, canceled events, Takei's japes, Sid City, and a Voyager reunion! Plus, talk Picard, time murder, the emperor's state of dress, Viacom woes, McDermott vs. Mulrooney, and Face/Off talk . . . a LOT of Face/Off talk.

Would a *guy* watch "Chicago"?

Follow the Just Enough Trope podcast on Twitter and check out the show!
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It's a dark and stormy night and we're breaking the bank at "The Royale"!

Podcaster and Daily Star Trek News host Alison Pitt joins the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that takes a break from utopian space science fiction to play a little craps. When Riker and his away team step through a mysterious revolving door, they find themselves trapped in a living pulp novel. Now, they'll have to find a way to escape the Royale or they'll end up as dead as the bellboy!

One of the benefits of a weekly format is that it lets Star Trek expand beyond its premise and explore storytelling in other genres and formats. "The Royale" is great not only because it's incredibly fun, but also because it allows a storied franchise like Star Trek to sample from and comment on other forms of pop literature. On this episode, we talk about the merits of genre fiction, the tensions behind-the-scenes that sparked creativity on early TNG, why Trek should "go funny" more often, the way holodeck and fantasy episodes bring metafictional elements to the franchise, and Trek's strategy for turning young viewers into life-long fans.

We also discuss the thin distinctions between pulp and sci-fi, solving Fermat's Last Theorem, uplifting fan voices, missing "silly" episodes, Texas the serial killer, having a "comedy guy/girl" on your staff, cribbing from "2001", the perils of first contact, "fixing" your die, a human terrarium, googling "playwrights -shakespeare", Captain Picard using audible, Pulaski is Riker's new mom, Chief Quip Officer, Alison talks about how Star Trek Online makes a meal out of Trek canon, and Aaron has an idea for a "Royale" sequel series!

When the train comes in, EVERYBODY rides!

Follow Alison on Twitter and listen to Daily Star Trek News!
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