Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

By Tony TelladoFictionScience Fiction
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Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi episodes

  • Star Trek at 60 —“Leonard Nimoy: The First Spock”

    For the sixth chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits a remarkable 2009 conversation with Leonard Nimoy — actor, director, photographer, author, musician, and the man who originated Spock, one of the most iconic characters in science fiction history.

    But Nimoy’s creative life extended far beyond the ears and the uniform. He directed films — including Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Three Men and a Baby — released albums, wrote poetry, taught acting, served in the U.S. Army, and built a respected career in photography and stage performance.

    This episode centers on Tony’s interview with Nimoy, where he reflects on his early theater company, his artistic roots, and his evolving relationship with Star Trek.

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    18 min
  • Star Trek at 60 — “Star Trek: Insurrection — The Rebellion Within”

    In this chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits Star Trek: Insurrection, the ninth film in the franchise and the third cinematic adventure for the Next Generation cast. Directed by Jonathan Frakes and released on December 11, 1998, the film centers on a moral crisis: when the crew of the USS Enterprise‑E uncovers a conspiracy between Starfleet and the alien Son’a to forcibly relocate the peaceful Ba’ku in order to exploit their planet’s rejuvenating properties, Captain Picard and his crew choose to rebel — against orders, against politics, and against the erosion of Starfleet’s ideals.

    Featuring performances by Patrick Stewart, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy, and Anthony Zerbe, Insurrection blends ethical drama with character‑driven humor and romance. Though critics offered mixed responses — some praising Stewart’s gravitas and Frakes’s direction, others comparing the film to an extended TNG episode — the movie earned $118 million worldwide and secured nominations for both the Saturn Award and Hugo Award.

    This episode draws from Tony’s 1998 roundtable interviews with Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, and Brent Spiner, capturing their reflections at the moment the film was stepping into the world.

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    23 min
  • Star Trek at 60 — “Ethan Peck: Becoming Spock”

    For the fourth chapter of Star Trek at 60, Tony sits down with Ethan Peck, the actor who has carried the mantle of Spock across four modern Star Trek series — Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Strange New Worlds, and Very Short Treks. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Peck comes from a remarkable artistic lineage: he is the grandson of legendary actor Gregory Peck and Greta Kukkonen, and the son of Stephen Peck, a former actor, documentary filmmaker, Vietnam veteran, and longtime leader of U.S. Veterans Initiative. His mother, Francine Matarazzo, is an abstract artist.

    Before Trek, Ethan made his mark with a main ensemble role as Patrick Verona in the television adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You. But it was the role of Spock — one of the most recognizable characters in genre history — that transformed his career and connected him to a global fandom.

    This episode compiles Tony’s conversations with Ethan from New York Comic Con before Discovery Season Two and again at the start of Strange New Worlds Season Two, capturing the evolution of an actor finding his place within a legacy.

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    11 min
  • Star Trek at 60 — “Star Trek: Lower Decks — Boldly Going Below Deck”

    In this episode of Star Trek at 60, Tony dives into Star Trek: Lower Decks, the ninth series in the franchise and the first animated Trek since 1974 — as well as the first full‑on comedy in Trek history. Created by Mike McMahan for CBS All Access (later Paramount+), the series debuted in 2020 as part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded universe and quickly became a fan favorite for its mix of heartfelt storytelling, deep‑cut references, and chaotic energy.

    As the foul‑mouthed, no‑nonsense Caitian chief medical officer Dr. T’Ana, Gillian Vigman brings a feral charm and comedic bite that instantly made the character iconic.

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    14 min
  • Star Trek at 60 — Prodigy: The Next Generation of Fans

    In this installment of Star Trek at 60, Tony turns to the tenth Star Trek series — Star Trek: Prodigy, created by Kevin and Dan Hageman and released from 2021 to 2024 as part of Alex Kurtzman’s expanded universe. As the franchise’s first fully 3D‑animated series and the first designed specifically for younger viewers, Prodigy carved out a unique place in Trek history.

    Set in the 24th century, the story follows a group of young aliens who discover the abandoned starship Protostar and, through its holographic mentor Kathryn Janeway, begin learning what it means to be Starfleet. It’s a coming‑of‑age tale wrapped in Trek’s deepest values: curiosity, cooperation, and the courage to grow.

    This episode features Tony’s conversations with:

    • Kate Mulgrew — on playing both Admiral Janeway and the AI Hologram Janeway

    • Brett Gray —  Dal

    • Ella Purnell —  Gwyn

      Together, they illuminate how Prodigy became a gateway for new fans while still honoring the legacy of Trek’s past.

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      12 min
    • 🖖 “Star Trek: Echoes Across the Quadrants”

      A 59-Year Celebration Through Voices, Memories, and Missions

      My combined three-volume oral history and tribute, weaving together rare interviews, behind-the-scenes reflections, and heartfelt anecdotes from cast and crew across Star Trek: First Contact, Insurrection, and Nemesis. Supplemented by intimate conversations with actors from The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, and even a special Star Trek literary event.  

      Featuring 

      • 🎙️ Roundtable Revelations: Press junket gems from the TNG movie era

      • 📞 Personal Frequencies: Phone, Zoom, and convention interviews with legacy actors

        A blend of nostalgia and discovery—part memoir, part documentary, part celebration. Ideal for fans who want to hear oral memories

         

        59 min
      • Star Trek at 60 — “Enterprise: The First Bold Step”

        To launch Star Trek at 60, Tony revisits the series that dared to go earlier than ever before: Star Trek: Enterprise. Premiering in 2001 and set a century before Kirk and Spock, Enterprise chronicles humanity’s first true leap into deep space — fragile, inexperienced, hopeful, and determined.

        This episode blends franchise history with fresh reflections from two beloved cast members:

        • Linda Park, who played linguist Hoshi Sato, shares candid memories of the show’s earliest promos, her admiration for Scott Bakula’s leadership, and the emotional vulnerability built into her character.

        • John Billingsley, the ever‑delightful Dr. Phlox, revisits his standout episode Dear Doctor, where the Denobulan physician navigates ethics, attraction, and the complexities of early interspecies relationships.

          Together, their stories illuminate why Enterprise remains one of the franchise’s most thematically daring chapters — from the Temporal Cold War to the Xindi attack that reshaped the series and devastated Earth.

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          18 min
        • The Ghosts Of Devils Perch
          Interview with paranormal investigators Dave Schrader and Cindy Kaza about their eight part series where they investigate the paranormal in Butte, Montana. This old mining town has greed, murder, and many vices. A prime reciepe for the paranormal.
          29 min
        • Naomi Grossman
          Actor talks about her new movie, Bite Me, a kind of vampire romcom. We also talk about her role as Pepper on American Horror Story plus her one woman shows.
          30 min

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        Where Imagination Meets What It Means To Be Human