The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

The introduction of Hugh in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "I, Borg" added emotional depth to the franchise's most terrifying villains and reshaped Trek's approach to individuality and redemption.

This week on The Trek Files, returning guest Adam Kotsko joins us to examine the legacy of Hugh's first appearance, using a March 6, 1992 call sheet as our launch point. From behind-the-scenes insights on day one of filming to Picard's rare role as the obstacle to resolution, we dive deep into the character's mythological weight and long-lasting fan impact.

Adam also explores how Star Trek's modern "franchise era" grapples with this legacy—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—especially as lore becomes both a storytelling tool and a trap in the prestige TV arms race.

📄 Document and additional references: I, Borg call sheet – March 6, 1992

📘 Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era

The Trek Files Season 14 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!

How did Star Trek go from television soundstage to national treasure? This week, we continue our conversation with Glen Swanson, former NASA historian and author of Inspired Enterprise, to explore a deeper chapter in Trek's relationship with the Smithsonian.

Through an exchange of letters between Gene Roddenberry and F.C. Durant, Assistant Director of the National Air and Space Museum, we trace the efforts to secure original Star Trek props and artifacts—including what would ultimately bring the 11-foot U.S.S. Enterprise model into the museum's collection.

Beyond acquisition logistics, these letters reveal Durant's belief in the inspirational power of Star Trek, how its optimistic vision of the future helped fuel real-world enthusiasm for space exploration. From ZAP pistols to starship models, this is the story of how Star Trek boldly went into the Smithsonian… and stayed.

📄 Documents and additional references: 1970–1972 correspondence between Gene Roddenberry and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

📘 Guest's book: Inspired Enterprise by Glen E. Swanson

The Trek Files Season 14 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!

Long before Star Trek props toured conventions and museums, one historic copy of the pilot episode found its way into the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum with help from Leonard Nimoy and Gene Roddenberry.

This week, The Trek Files welcomes Glen Swanson, former NASA historian and author of Inspired Enterprise, to share the remarkable story of Star Trek's first contact with one of America's most iconic institutions. From a 1967 inquiry to Leonard Nimoy, to Gene's formal letter offering his 16mm color print of Where No Man Has Gone Before for the Smithsonian's collection, these early documents chart Star Trek's leap from TV series to cultural touchstone.

We'll explore rare correspondence, photos of Gene at the museum, and even a telegram from 1968—just as Star Trek was renewed for its third season—that shows how the Smithsonian connection helped boost Trek's profile in a critical moment.

📄 Documents and additional references: Correspondence between Gene Roddenberry and the National Air and Space Museum (1967–1968)

📘 Guest's book: Inspired Enterprise by Glen E. Swanson

The Trek Files Season 14 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!

We're kicking off Season 14 with a legend.

George Takei joins The Trek Files to reflect on landing the role of Sulu in Star Trek's second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before"—filmed 60 years ago in July 1965. With humor and honesty, George recalls the early days on set at Desilu's Culver Studios, working alongside James Doohan, and navigating the challenges of being a closeted gay actor in 1960s Hollywood.

In a wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation, George also shares his early talks with Gene Roddenberry about Star Trek's inclusive vision—and what it meant to see that future taking shape on screen, even in its earliest days.

📄 Document and additional references: Call sheet and shooting schedule from Where No Man Has Gone Before – July 19, 1965

George's book: It Rhymes with Takei

The Trek Files Season 14 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!

We're ending the season with a bang. Literally.

In our finale, The Trek Files revisits a seemingly ordinary Next Generation call sheet from 1990… the day a single scene changed Star Trek history. That's when Commander Riker gave the iconic order to fire on a Borg cube with Captain Picard aboard.

Joining us is the man who gave that order himself, Jonathan Frakes, for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation. From TNG finally hitting its stride to squashing long-standing rumors, and yes, a truly bizarre story involving a stolen truckload of Star Trek costumes and a trade deal for none other than K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider, Frakes brings humor, honesty, and unforgettable behind-the-scenes insight to one of Trek's most pivotal moments.

Document and additional references: The Best of Both Worlds, Part I – Script excerpt and call sheet (1990)

Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

For the first time, The Trek Files sets course for Trek's modern streaming era, and it all begins with a ship.

We're looking back at the 2016 press release that introduced the U.S.S. Discovery to the world at San Diego Comic-Con, marking the first step into a new era of Star Trek on television. Our guest is Adam Kotsko, scholar and author of Late Star Trek, who joins Larry to examine how Discovery and the shows that followed have reshaped the franchise for the 21st century.

From universe-building to "fan service," and from mythology to modern IP, this episode dives into the creative, commercial, and cultural tensions that define the current Trek landscape. Whether you're a fan of Strange New Worlds or still grappling with Picard, there's something here for every Trek-O-File.

Document and additional references: U.S.S. Discovery unveiled at Comic-Con International - July 23, 2016

Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era

The Trek Files Season 13 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 journey through Samuel A. Peeples' early story treatment for Star Trek II continues, and this week, we're venturing into some of the most imaginative territory yet.

Long before the final script for The Wrath of Khan took shape, Peeples envisioned a film that introduced entirely new characters to the Trek universe. There's a brilliant young doctor with unorthodox methods and a bold romantic interest in Dr. McCoy. Then there's Sub-Commander Thal Arctos: a towering, genetically engineered officer who's all Starfleet and part polar bear.

These ideas never made it to screen, but they offer a fascinating look into the creative what-ifs of Star Trek's cinematic future. Returning guest Ben Robinson helps us unpack these bold swings, what they tell us about the era, and why some of Trek's most intriguing concepts are the ones fans have never seen... until now.

Document and additional references: Samuel A. Peeples' Star Trek (The New Movie) – July 30, 1981 (excerpt, part 2)

ENTER TO WIN - the Borg Queen Skull from Star Trek: First contact, exclusively in partnership with Factory Entertainment

The Trek Files Season 13 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 The Wrath of Khan became the fan-favorite sequel we know today, Star Trek II went through multiple story pitches, including one from original series contributor Samuel A. Peeples. In the summer of 1981, Peeples outlined a new character: Commander SsAVIK, a half-Vulcan, half-Romulan officer with a sharp intellect and complex heritage.

This week on The Trek Files, Ben Robinson joins Larry to discuss Peeples' early concept for SsAVIK, how it evolved into the Saavik we met on screen, and the wider creative tug-of-war between Gene Roddenberry, Harve Bennett, and Nick Meyer as the sequel took shape.

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, featuring two more unused characters from Peeples' draft!

Document and additional references: Samuel A. Peeples' Star Trek (The New Movie) – July 30, 1981 (excerpt)

ENTER TO WIN - the Borg Queen Skull from Star Trek: First contact, exclusively in partnership with Factory Entertainment

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

We're back with Ronald D. Moore for part two of our dive into the wonderfully strange 1976 spoken-word album Inside Star Trek. This time, things get weird... in the best way.

From Sarek (Mark Lenard) debating Vulcan mating rituals with Gene Roddenberry, to William Shatner performing a time-bending double act as both himself and Captain Kirk, the album takes some truly unexpected turns. Ron shares his favorite moments, what they say about Trek's early self-awareness, and how even the quirkiest bits helped shape his own fandom.

Document and additional references: Inside Star Trek album and liner notes (1976)

ENTER TO WIN - the Borg Queen Skull from Star Trek: First contact, exclusively in partnership with Factory Entertainment

The Trek Files Season 13 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 he was a celebrated Star Trek writer and producer, Ronald D. Moore was a fan, just like so many of us, watching reruns, devouring The Making of Star Trek, and listening to Gene Roddenberry's 1976 spoken-word album Inside Star Trek.

In part one of our two-part conversation, Ron reflects on how that Columbia Records release shaped his early views of the franchise. We explore the stories that resonated with him most, including Gene's candid recollections of his own childhood challenges, and how those moments helped inspire Ron's own journey into the Star Trek universe.

Document and additional references: Inside Star Trek album and liner notes (1976)

ENTER TO WIN - The Borg Queen Skull Signature Edition prop replica from Factory Entertainment

The Trek Files Season 13 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!