Roddenberry Podcasts

Thirty years ago, Star Trek: First Contact brought one of the franchise's most important moments to life: humanity's first meeting with the Vulcans. This week on The Trek Files, host Larry Nemecek welcomes actor, writer, and Does It Fly? co-host Tamara Krinsky for a uniquely personal look behind the scenes of that iconic sequence.

Using an original production call sheet from April 23, 1996, the conversation takes us to the nighttime shoot at Charlton Flats in the Angeles National Forest, where dozens of extras helped populate the post-war settlement that would witness history. Among them was a young aspiring actor named Tamara, hoping to gain experience and maybe earn a coveted SAG card.

What happened next was something straight out of Hollywood legend. During filming, director Jonathan Frakes singled Tamara out from among the crowd, rebuilding part of the scene around her reaction shot. Her featured appearance in the finished film earned her a day-player contract, a SAG membership, and a memory that has stayed with her ever since.

Along the way, Tamara shares stories of chilly overnight shoots, watching the legendary cast at work, and experiencing firsthand the creation of one of Star Trek's most beloved cinematic moments.

• Star Trek: Generations II (Star Trek: First Contact) production call sheet, April 23, 1996
• Reference: Star Trek: First Contact
• Reference: Tamara Krinsky
• Reference: Jonathan Frakes
• Reference: James Cromwell
• Reference: Patrick Stewart
• Does It Fly? podcast

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

The Trek Files welcomes back visual effects veteran Stuart Ziff for a firsthand trip into the making of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. This time, the documents are original production call sheets from April 1986, detailing the now-legendary "B-Tank" shoot where the Klingon Bird-of-Prey splashed down into San Francisco Bay with George and Gracie the humpback whales.

Stu recalls the practical filmmaking wizardry behind the scenes: giant wave machines, lightning rigs, whale effects, and an enormous outdoor water tank built on the Paramount lot. Along the way, he shares stories about building a mechanical whale eye (for the wrong side of the whale), experimenting with blue dye for the tank water, and watching old Hollywood effects crews create movie magic in real time.

Larry and Stu also circle back to Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Stu's experiences during the turbulent Robert Abel & Associates era, including a revealing memory involving a young Paramount executive named Jeffrey Katzenberg.

It's a fond look back at the kind of filmmaking that required wind machines, carbon-arc lightning effects, scuba divers, towels, and "wetsuits for cast and crew."

Plus: Stu discusses the new documentary being produced about his life and career, and how fans can help support it.

Documents and additional references

• Star Trek IV production call sheets, April 18–24, 1986
• Stuart Ziff documentary campaign: Indiegogo – The Stuart Ziff Documentary
• Reference: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Reference: Leonard Nimoy

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Before Star Trek: The Motion Picture reached theaters, its visual effects production was already becoming legendary… for all the wrong reasons.

This week on The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek welcomes visual effects veteran Stuart Ziff for a firsthand account of the chaotic early days of TMP production under Robert Abel & Associates. Using internal memos and legal correspondence from 1977 and 1978, Larry and Stu trace the rapidly escalating budget, the mounting pressure from Paramount, and the growing realization that the ambitious effects work was spiraling out of control.

But this isn't just a story about production disaster. Stu shares what it was actually like inside Abel's experimental effects operation during a revolutionary moment in Hollywood filmmaking, where engineers, artists, and filmmakers were inventing techniques on the fly in the years between Star Wars and the digital era.

Along the way, Stu reveals how some of his work survived the production shakeup and made it into the finished film, including contributions to the unforgettable V'Ger probe sequence aboard the Enterprise bridge.

It's a candid look at one of the most turbulent creative periods in Star Trek history, and a reminder that sometimes cinematic magic emerges from absolute chaos.

Documents and additional references:

• December 6, 1977 legal correspondence regarding Robert Abel & Associates' agreement for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
• May 17, 1978 Paramount memo objecting to Robert Abel & Associates' revised visual effects budget.
• Guest: Stu Ziff
• Reference: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Additional reference: the upcoming Stu Ziff documentary crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo – Stuart Ziff Documentary Project

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

What if Star Trek had spun off into a full-blown sitcom starring Lwaxana Troi?

To kick off Season 15 of The Trek Files, Larry Nemecek welcomes actor, writer, comedian, and Star Trek: Lower Decks star Tawny Newsome for a deep dive into an early-1990s pitch centered on Majel Barrett Roddenberry's Betazoid ambassador.

The document up for discussion is a never-produced sitcom concept built around Lwaxana Troi; equal parts fish-out-of-water comedy, family chaos, and larger-than-life Trek energy. Together, Larry and Tawny unpack why the pitch feels both very of-its-time and strangely ahead of its time, especially now that Star Trek comedy has found new life through projects like Lower Decks.

As someone who has not only starred in Trek comedy but also developed her own comedic Trek ideas, Tawny brings a unique perspective to the conversation: what makes sci-fi comedy work and how Gene Roddenberry's world always had room for humor alongside the philosophy and adventure.

It's a fascinating look at a road not taken in Star Trek history and a reminder that sometimes the weirdest ideas in the archive are the most revealing.

Documents and additional references

• ca. 1992 sitcom pitch centered on Lwaxana Troi and a proposed Star Trek comedy spinoff
• Guest: Tawny Newsome
• Reference: Lwaxana Troi
• Additional reference: Star Trek: Lower Decks

The Trek Files Season 15 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Tim Russ joins Mission Log for a wide-ranging conversation about his life before, during, and after Star Trek: Voyager. From music to directing, from the discipline of Tuvok to the chaos of television production, Tim shares stories from a career that stretches far beyond the Delta Quadrant. Along the way, we dig into how characters are shaped, how stories are told, and why sometimes the most logical approach isn't enough.

Mission Log welcomes Tim Russ for a conversation that goes well beyond "fascinating."

Hosted by John Champion and Earl Green

Welcome to Mission Log, a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe one episode at a time. Each week, Mission Log examines a single episode of Star Trek, diving into its ethical subtext, metaphors, and cultural significance. From the show's most iconic moments to its hidden gems, we analyze what makes Star Trek one of the greatest science fiction sagas of all time. In every episode of Mission Log we…

• Recap the story and analyze key moments.
• Discuss the morals, messages, and meanings of the dilemmas presented.
• Debate whether the episode holds up and if the themes are still relevant.

Join the Conversation: For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our exclusive Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and weekly video chats with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

SPECIAL THANKS the supporters of this week's show: Chris Garis, Julie Miller, Stuart, Michael Park, Paul Shadwell, Matt Esposito, Alan Simonis, Mike Richards, David Takechi, Mike Schiable, VADM Erickson, and Lars Seme Thanks to all of our Patreon Supporters https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/sponsors/ Want to share your thoughts on an upcoming episode? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured during the episode. Follow us on Social Media:

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Subscribe and Stay Updated:Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your preferred podcast player, leave a review, and join Mission Log on the journey of weekly deep dives into the Star Trek universe. Technical Director - Earl Green Producer - John Champion Associate Producer - Jessica Lynn Verdi Executive Producer - Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry Roddenberry Entertainment | All Rights Reserved

After our Mission Log: Reactor review of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 10, "Rubincon," it's time to open the hailing frequencies. On this week's Mission Log Live, John and Jessica welcome callers to share their reactions to Starfleet Academy's first season finale.

Listeners have thoughts on Nus Braka's past and his future, and predictions (and wish lists) for the second season.

If you missed our Mission Log: Reactor episode covering "Rubincon," be sure to check it out on YouTube for our full recap and review.

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Mission Log Reactor wraps up Season 1 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy with our recap and review of Episode 10, "Rubincon."

Jessica Lynn Verdi and John Champion take their seats in the jury box as Nus Braka puts the Federation itself on trial. With an Omega particle threat hanging over billions of lives, the crew of the Athena must hold things together while the cadets step up in ways no one expected. Can a last-minute plea change a verdict? And what happens when Starfleet's ideals are forced to defend themselves in front of the entire galaxy?

Join us for a spoiler-heavy discussion of the season finale as we break down the big moments, the character arcs, and the questions the episode raises about justice, truth, and the Federation's place in the future.

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With the Starfleet Academy finale behind us, Mission Log Reactor will take a short break until the next new season of Star Trek arrives. Until then, keep the conversation going with us on the Mission Log Discord!

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After our Mission Log: Reactor review of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 9, "300th Night," it's time to open the hailing frequencies. On this week's Mission Log Live, John and Jessica welcome callers to share their reactions to the first part of Starfleet Academy's first season finale.

Listeners have thoughts on Caleb's behavior, theories aplenty about how the cliffhanger plays out, and thoughts on the wisdom of pre-installing party lighting on the Starfleet ships of the future!

If you missed our Mission Log: Reactor episode covering "300th Night," be sure to check it out on YouTube for our full recap and review.

Mission Log Patrons get Mission Log: Reactor a day early!

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Then join us every Monday at 7pm PT / 10pm ET for Mission Log Live, our weekly audience call-in show where you can share your thoughts about the latest Star Trek episodes.

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For more Star Trek podcasts, videos, and discussion:

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We're back with a fresh recap & review of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 9, "300th Night"!

Jessica Lynn Verdi and John Champion celebrate the Academy's 300th night with Klingon bonding rituals, awkward turbo-lift heart-to-hearts, and one very questionable plan involving a stolen shuttle. Meanwhile, the return of the Omega particle raises the stakes across Federation space as the cadets race headfirst into danger.

Join us for a spoiler-heavy conversation as we break down all the latest twists, character moments, and penultimate-episode drama from this exciting new television series.

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After our Mission Log: Reactor review of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 8, "The Life of the Stars," it's time to open the hailing frequencies. On this week's Mission Log Live, John and Jessica welcome callers to share their reactions to an episode that blends Thornton Wilder's Our Town with some deeply emotional Star Trek history.

Listeners weigh in on the role of the humanities at Starfleet Academy, whether theater really helps the cadets process trauma, and why the story of The Doctor and SAM struck such a powerful chord. Along the way, we get thoughtful insights from fellow theater kids, teachers, and parents about how art, empathy, and storytelling shape how we understand ourselves and each other.

If you missed our Mission Log: Reactor episode covering "The Life of the Stars," be sure to check it out on YouTube for our full recap and review.

Mission Log Patrons get Mission Log: Reactor a day early!

Sign up at:

https://www.patreon.com/MissionLog

Then join us every Monday at 7pm PT / 10pm ET for Mission Log Live, our weekly audience call-in show where you can share your thoughts about the latest Star Trek episodes.

Streaming FREE on Patreon:

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For more Star Trek podcasts, videos, and discussion:

https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/