Tara Rosling played T'Rina, the President of Ni'Var, in Star Trek: Discovery's third through fifth seasons Memory Alpha. But her journey to the final frontier started decades earlier on the stages of Canada—and that's where our conversation really begins.

Mike and Jodi sit down with Tara to talk about her path from Vancouver to York University to the Stratford Festival, where she became an established theatre powerhouse. We dig into what drew her to live performance, how she balanced those demanding theatre seasons with television work, and the unique challenge of moving between two completely different artistic worlds.

Then we get into Discovery. What was it like stepping into a Vulcan president? How did she build T'Rina across multiple seasons? And what's the experience of joining one of Trek's most beloved shows as an established Canadian theatre legend?

We also talk about Impulse, The Handmaid's Tale, The Expanse, and a career built on doing exceptional work and getting called back—because once casting directors see what Tara brings to a role, they want more. This is a conversation about craft, commitment, and a performer who refuses to choose between the stage and the screen.

Welcome aboard the Clonestar Podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe through interviews, deep dives, and thoughtful conversation with the people behind the stories.

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Robert Petkoff has narrated over 350 audiobooks, won 25+ Audiofile Earphones Awards, and is currently on stage in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. But ask him what he's most proud of, and he'll tell you about narrating Star Trek audiobooks—because he's a total Trek geek, and it shows.We sat down with Robert to talk about his journey from theatre to television to the recording booth, and how he became the voice of the Star Trek: Legacies trilogy and beyond. We dig into his legendary prep process—yes, the highlighters are real—and how he captures the essence of Kirk, Spock, and Pike without slipping into caricature. We also ask him the question every narrator dreads: What Treknobabble has actually defeated you?Robert talks about the difference between live Broadway energy and the focused intensity of the recording booth, working with Judi Dench in the West End, and why audiobooks deserve the same respect as stage and screen. And of course, we ask if he's ever been tempted to change a line because "Kirk wouldn't say that."If you want to know what it takes to become one of Trek's most trusted voices, this is the episode.Welcome aboard the Clonestar Podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe through interviews, deep dives, and thoughtful conversation with the people behind the stories.

Jodi sits down with Lanita from Hailing Frequencies Open to talk about the women who are defining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. From commanding mentors to rising cadets to intriguing wild cards, these characters bring authority, heart, humor, mystery, and spark to the series in ways that feel essential to Trek's future.

We break down what makes each of them stand out—Nahla Ake, Sylvia Tilly, Jett Reno, Lura Thok, Genesis Lythe, Tarima Sadal, SAM, Anisha Mir, and Professor Illa Dax—and dig into the performances and complexity behind them. What does each character bring to the story? Where are their journeys heading? And what are the creative choices that make them feel true to Star Trek's ideals?

This is a conversation about character-driven storytelling, thoughtful fandom, and the voices reshaping the franchise. If you care about who these women are and where they're going, this episode is for you.

Welcome aboard the Clonestar Podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe through interviews, deep dives, and thoughtful conversation with the people behind the stories.

Raoul Bhaneja played seventeen characters in a single one-man Hamlet. He won Best Actor at the United Solo Festival. He fronted a Maple Blues Award-winning band. And now he's Chancellor Kelrec—commanding Starfleet's War College in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.We sat down with him to find out how one actor mastered the stage, the recording studio, and the final frontier. From his early days in theatre to his blues breakthrough to stepping into the Trek universe, this is the story of an artist who refused to be boxed in. We talk about building Kelrec from the ground up, what it's like to join one of sci-fi's most iconic franchises, and why versatility matters more than specialisation.If you've ever wondered how someone becomes this kind of multi-hyphenate creative force, this episode has the answers.Welcome aboard the Clonestar Podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe through interviews, deep dives, and thoughtful conversation with the people behind the stories.

Jodi sits down with Spotted Giraffe for this week's Women of Strange New Worlds episode, taking a close look at one of the most distinctive characters in the current Trek lineup — Erica Ortegas.

They get into what makes Ortegas tick: her sharp personality, her role at the helm of the Enterprise, and how she fits into the Strange New Worlds ensemble in a way that feels genuinely different from the characters around her. There's also a good chunk of conversation around why Ortegas has connected so strongly with fans — and what that says about what the show is doing right.

Ortegas is one of Strange New Worlds' most talked-about characters, and for good reason. She brings a kind of energy to the bridge that Trek hasn't quite had before, and this conversation gets into exactly why that matters.

Welcome aboard the Clonestar Podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe through interviews, deep dives, and thoughtful conversation with the people behind the stories.

This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Jodi Pickens sits down with veteran Star Trek author Greg Cox to discuss his latest novel, Identity Theft, written to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek: The Original Series.Set across two pivotal eras, Identity Theft revisits the legacy of Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise, while placing Pavel Chekov at the heart of a political mystery that questions how fragile peace really is. What once seemed like effortless diplomacy on the planet Voyzr begins to unravel, revealing old resentments, hidden agendas, and a dangerous plan waiting decades to be triggered.In this conversation, Greg talks about:• Writing Chekov as a central point-of-view character• Exploring the long-term consequences of “easy” peace• Balancing classic TOS voices with later-era continuity• Crafting a story that honours Trek’s past while questioning its ideals• What it means to write Star Trek at a milestone anniversaryThoughtful, timely, and deeply rooted in Trek’s moral core, Identity Theft is a story about identity, memory, and the uncomfortable truth that peace must be actively protected. This is a must-watch for fans of classic Trek and Star Trek novels alike.

This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Seo sits down with actor Timothy Carhart to talk about his unforgettable role as Lieutenant Commander Christopher Hobson in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Redemption II.”Carhart reflects on stepping into the USS Sutherland as Data’s first officer, portraying a character written with sharp edges, buried prejudice, and a pivotal role in one of TNG’s defining command stories.

We explore how he approached playing a Starfleet officer who doubts an android captain — and why that tension remains one of the most memorable parts of the episode.We get into:

• His path through film, television, and theatre• Crafting Hobson’s fraught dynamic with Captain Data

• What it was like bringing emotional conflict into a story built on logic

• Behind-the-scenes memories from filming Redemption II

• Why the episode still resonates with fans decades later

Insightful, honest, and full of great storytelling, this conversation digs into what makes Redemption II such a standout moment in the TNG legacy.

This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Mike Overton sits down with the remarkable Avaah Blackwell—stunt performer, creature actor, and the woman behind some of the most unforgettable aliens in Star Trek: Discovery and Strange New Worlds.

From wrestling heavy prosthetics to bringing movement, emotion, and life to characters hidden beneath layers of makeup, Avaah shares what it really takes to build Star Trek’s aliens from the inside out. She talks about her time on Discovery, her return in Strange New Worlds, and the physical and creative craft that most fans never get to see.

We dig into:

• Her journey into stunt work and creature performance

• What it’s like working inside full-body prosthetics for long shoot days

• The collaborative process with makeup, VFX, and stunt teams

• How she shaped the movement, personality, and presence of multiple Trek species

• Her favourite behind-the-scenes moments from both series

If you love the artistry behind Trek’s aliens — or just want to hear from one of the franchise’s hardest-working performers — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Jodi Pickens and Mike Overton sit down with veteran Star Trek writer and producer Mike Sussman for an in-depth look at his time shaping two defining eras of modern Trek — Voyager and Enterprise.

From the alternate realities of “Twilight” to the fan-favourite “In a Mirror, Darkly” and the thought-provoking “Author, Author”, Sussman reflects on the creative process behind some of the most memorable episodes of 1990s and early-2000s Star Trek.

He shares candid stories from the writers’ room, the challenges of balancing continuity and innovation, and what it was like collaborating with Trek icons from Janeway to Archer.

If you love discovering how the best Star Trek episodes were imagined and built, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

This week on The Clonestar Podcast, Mike Overton sits down with the brilliant Susan Diol to explore her remarkable career and her unforgettable role as Dr. Danara Pel in Star Trek: Voyager.From her moving on-screen chemistry with the Doctor in “Lifesigns” and “Real Life,” to her diverse career across stage and screen, Susan shares candid stories from her time on set, her connection to the character, and what it meant to bring compassion and depth to one of Voyager’s most touching episodes.We also look back on her wider career — from early guest roles in television classics to her ongoing creative work today — and reflect on how Star Trek continues to inspire both actors and fans alike.Join us for a heartfelt and insightful conversation celebrating one of Trek’s most beloved guest stars.