Star Trek is an undeniably sophisticated and intellectually curious franchise rife with rich themes, layered concepts and fascinatingly multi-dimensional characters worth having thoughtful discussions about. That said, sometimes it's more fun to just drop all pretenses and have really goofy and nerdy debates. Such is the case this week as hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with returning guest Tom Ball, don their hypothetical hats and argue over who would emerge victorious from a franchise battle royale. Would it be proud warrior Worf, unassumingly formidable Vulcans Spock, Tuvok or T'Pol, or perhaps a feisty wildcard like Kira or Kirk? Listen in as the trio ring the bell and talk their way through multiple rounds of astonishing matchups on their way to a show-stopping climactic bout.    Right-click to download. Read more »

Okay folks, time to abandon the light-hearted topics for now and get down to real brass tacks; what are the greatest seasons in Star Trek's rich history, and which ones failed to connect? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take on the Herculean task of determining which series dominated and which floundered, beginning with inaugural seasons and working year by year all the way to the grand finale. How do TOS's astonishing first two seasons hold up, or Deep Space Nine's slam-bang Dominion War arc? And what can be said for TNG's rocky launch? Listen in for what is sure to be a debate-sparking podcast hour!    Right-click to download. Read more »

As nice as it is to swoon over enduring Trek unions like Riker and Troi or Tom and B'Elanna, what about those spicy short-lived affairs that burnt brightly if only for a moment? In celebration of Valentine's Day 2017, hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton are on hand with their picks for the franchise's finest and direst single episode love stories. From the highs of Picard and Daren's musical connection and Kirk's tragic encounter with Edith Keeler, to the miserable lows of Harry Kim's post-coital bioluminescent affliction, the duo honor the episodes that serve as both a warm tribute to the holiday, as well as an uncomfortable affront. Plus, as a special value bonus, the Subspace crew and their witty band of fellow Vegas 2016 attendees reveal their Star Trek crushes! Right-click to download. Read more »

You know them by heart, and can probably write your own extensive list without even taking a moment to ponder. We're talking about the most iconic shots or scenes in the history of the franchise. Well, this week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton begin their critical multi-episode task of documenting all the most important legendary Trek highs for inclusion in their own personal canon. From swashbuckling tomfoolery, to de-con gel sexiness and tear-jerking flute solos, the duo begin their epic undertaking in style, albeit with all of the requisite bickering and cheap jokes you've come to expect. Enjoy! Right-click to download. Read more »

Sure, the captains are cool. But who truly makes Star Trek Star Trek is the unique and fascinating outsider characters holding a curious microscope up to the wonders and foibles of humanity. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton cock their eyebrows inquisitively as they discuss the unforgettable journeys undertaken by each of the five beloved 'other' figures who shaped and propelled their respective series. From Spock and Data, right down through Odo, Seven and T'Pol, the duo underline what makes each character special and who best grew to understand what makes us illogical beings tick. Right-click to download. Read more »

Deep Space Nine started off season 3 with a major bang thanks to its Dominion War-accelerating premiere The Search. But did the series maintain the exciting trajectory with its next big blockbuster double-length tale? This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Andy Chan, travel back to the grim Earth future of 2024 to reexamine the eerily relevant two-parter Past Tense. Over the course of this week's discussion, the trio grapple with the episodes' prescient themes, debate whether the use of convoluted time travel hijinx was justified, and consider how well the show's hostage crisis scenario works when compared to high-bars like Dog Day Afternoon or Inside Man. They also reminisce about the 1980s Fred Dryer series Hunter for some reason. Right-click to download. Read more »

When last we discussed prospective Discovery character appearances, Bryan Fuller was overseeing the show and the future was oh so bright. What a difference a few months make. Regardless, this week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton, along with special guest Carmin Carotenuto, are embracing optimism and pondering which alien races they'd like to see populating the eagerly anticipated upcoming series. From Benzites and Bolians, to Tellarites and the Xindi, the trio scour the Trek-verse in search of only the most promising and intriguing extraterrestrial species. Right-click to download. Read more »

With the decidely strange era that was 2016 behind us, what better way to usher in 2017 than by celebrating - and occasionally shuddering at - the Star Trek history that led up to it. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton dig through their dusty franchise almanacs in order to properly decide which years were the most momentous for fans, and which ones were just plain 'ol bummers. From the birth of TOS in 1966, to the uncertain 1970s, explosive 1990s and mostly barren early 21st century, the duo consider ever crucial event and setback in order to succeed in their particularly daunting mission. Right-click to download. Read more »

So how does Subspace Transmissions possibly wrap up a year as momentous and exciting as 2016? A year in which we celebrated the franchise's 50th anniversary, hosted our first live Las Vegas panel and received fantastic feedback from so many of you? By going even bigger on our third annual year-end extravaganza, that's how! In this epic retrospective, hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton bid farewell and adieu to the recent past by recalling some of their favorite moments from the past 52 podcast episodes, as well as offering their feelings about Trek's 2016 achievements and future potential. Featuring stellar appearances by occasional co-host Benjamin Yong, and intergalactically great guests Andy Chan, Tony Geluch, Patrick Johnson, Geneva Orton and Vicki Siu, this fun-filled 90 mins sees the duo reminiscing about inappropriate Worf romances, Robert April controversies, Samuel Clemens silliness and so very much more. And make sure to stick around right to the bitter end as they unveil the sequel to the spoof song sensation Vedek Bareil (They Call Me)! What more could you possibly want?! Right-click to download. Read more »

Admittedly, DS9's first couple seasons were a tad inconsistent, but man oh man did it ever soar once the training wheels came off. This week hosts Cam Smith and Tyler Orton take on its first legitimately great two-part episode The Search, wherein the Defiant uncloaks, the ominous Dominion reveals itself and our beloved Odo finally goes home. As the duo reexamine this epic tale, they find themselves quickly split over which half works more successfully, and whether the big climactic plot twist still holds up. So decide where you stand and prepare to choose sides during this passionate and nerdy deep dive into one of the most essential feature-length stories in the classic show's proud history. Enjoy! Right-click to download. Read more »