To The Journey: A Star Trek Voyager Podcast

Course: Oblivion.  

Things are looking up for the Voyager crew at the beginning of the fifth-season episode "Course: Oblivion," from the wedding of Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres to an enhanced warp drive. But that all changes when the ship and crew begin losing their molecular cohesion, only to discover that they are, in fact, merely biomimetic duplicates of the real Voyager ship and crew, created a year before when Voyager landed on the aptly named "Demon Planet."  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson (or perhaps their biomimetic duplicates; you be the judge!) discuss the merits of "Course: Oblivion." From the minutiae of the wedding of Fake-Tom and Fake-B'Elanna to the existential burdens of being a biomimetic duplicate, Zachary and Suzanne wrestle with  whether "Course: Oblivion" is as riveting as they recall and whether "Course: Oblivion" is really just one big metaphor for our finite human lives.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Distinguished Melting Neelix (00:03:27)  What about Harry Kim? (00:07:28)  Warp Cores Are Like Cats (00:10:13)  Who Is Ensign Harper?! (00:12:21)  This Episode Is a Metaphor for Life (00:18:02)  Goo People and an Enhanced Warp Drive (00:20:54)  Tom with a Tommy Gun (00:25:07)  Not as Riveting as We Remember (00:30:14)  Goo Gone (00:34:40)  Closing (00:37:49)  

Hosts  Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson  

Production  Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

What Voyager Means To Us.  

In this 50th episode of To The Journey with the hosting team of Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling, we take a personal look at the Voyager moments and circumstances that meant the most to us in the course of our ongoing love affair with Star Trek: Voyager. From first impressions of Voyager to the ways Voyager has helped us through life's darkest moments, we take a personal look at the meaningfulness of Voyagerthrough our own personal stories and reflections. Plus we have an important announcement about the future of To The Journey and the journey ahead.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  An Announcement (00:01:52)  It's Learning to Survive on Their Own That Will Help Them to Evolve (00:06:29)  Like All Fear, You Eventually.... Vanish (00:11:12)  Grandma's House (00:18:16)  Who Am I? What Do I Want in Life? (00:23:20)  The Truth About Harry Kim (00:29:57)  They Belong Together as a Family (00:32:59)  Introspection vs Action (00:35:57)  To The Journey (00:38:47)  Why Voyager? (00:45:21)  Closing (00:50:50)  

Hosts  Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Non-Doctor/Seven Episodes in Seasons Five through Seven.  

Seasons five through seven of Star Trek: Voyager are known for their many memorable episodes featuring the great on-screen chemistry and friendship of Robert Picardo and Jeri Ryan as The Doctor and Seven of Nine, so much so that one might naturally think that seasons five through seven are really just the Doctor/Seven show! In this episode of To The Journey, however, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling go in search of their favorite non-Doctor/Seven episodes from the last three seasons of Star Trek: Voyager.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Not Just The Doctor/Seven Show (00:01:53)  Time Travelling with Zima (00:03:25)  Harry Grows a Pair (00:08:45)  Praaaaaaax!! (00:16:35)  Sky People Action Figures (00:22:30)  Klingons are Chekov (00:25:42)  Feeling Meta Tonight (00:29:48)  Baking with a Set Square (00:31:00)  A Soldier AND a Philosopher (00:36:50)  A Better Ending (00:41:31)  A Holy Time of Awakening (00:46:19)  Honorable Mentions (00:49:11)  Closing (00:54:41)  

Hosts  Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

We Need to Talk about Chakotay.  

Unquestionably the character of Commander Chakotay was underutilized in Star Trek: Voyager. But beyond merely being underutilized, some Star Trek fans have developed a form of loathing for Commander Chakotay, partly because of his nonplussed demeanor and partly because of his amalgam of stereotypes about Native American beliefs and spirituality. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson come racing to Commander Chakotay's defense with a discussion of what they love about, and what was done right with Voyager's intrepid first officer.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  The Man in Black (00:01:55)  She Didn't Know That He Liked Dante (00:07:00)  Lost, or Found? (00:12:32)  A Mashup of Han Solo and Indiana Jones (00:18:48)  Jack of All Trades (00:25:13)  Seska Is Very Questionable (00:30:43)  Maybe We're All Chakotay (00:36:42)  Closing (00:44:22)  

Hosts  Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

"Year of Hell" Commentary.  

The two-part episode "Year of Hell" is taken by many to be one of the highlights of season four of Star Trek: Voyager, if not of the entire Voyager series. From memorable moments with a certain replicated pocket watch to Annorax's Captain Ahab-like quest against time itself, "Year of Hell" shows the strength of the Voyager crew as a family, even in Voyager's darkest hours (the Voyager reset button aside). Switch on your temporal shielding and join hosts Kay Shaw, Zachary Fruhling, and Suzanne Williamson in this episode of To The Journey for an audio commentary on "Year of Hell," parts I and II.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Initial Thoughts (00:01:53)  Commentary Part I (00:04:55)  Commentary Part II (00:51:13)    Final Thoughts (01:36:48)  Closing (01:40:03)  

Hosts  Kay Shaw, Zachary Fruhling, and Suzanne Williamson  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

Prixmas Potluck.  

Prixmas season is a time for merriment, Talaxian cheerfulness, and (of course) food! In this special holiday episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw attend the Voyager Prixmas potluck in search of the crew's favorite Alpha Quadrant and Delta Quadrant holiday potluck dishes. Find out what the Voyager crew would bring for a little taste of home in the Delta Quadrant. Also, we solve the mystery of how exactly it's possible to burn food in the replicator.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Merry Happy Prixmas (00:01:53)  Her Favorite Food (00:02:43)  Burnt with Love (00:10:37)  A Smorgas-borg (00:19:30)  Captain Proton Rocket Grill (00:24:41)  "It Tastes Good!" (00:29:13)  Womaning the Pancake Station (00:34:00)  Harry Dim Sum (00:38:41)  Closing (00:44:50)  

Hosts  Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Desert Island Episodes - Voyager Season 4.  

Season 4 of Star Trek: Voyager saw a great deal of change with the departure of Kes and the arrival of Seven of Nine. But it's also safe to say that Voyager hit its full stride in season 4, with the exploration of Seven of Nine's reclaimed humanity and some of the most memorable episodes in Voyager's entire run.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw continue their "Desert Island" series, comparing their high-stakes choices for the top three Voyager episodes from this season that they would take with them to a desert island, forsaking all other episodes from season 4 forever. Find out who's coming over for Voyager night in whose desert-island hut, and who's watching which season 4 episodes alone.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Barbecues and Babies (00:01:53)  It's All About the Pocket Watch (00:03:55)  The 'Frasier' Episode (00:12:21)  Voyager's 'Odyssey' (00:20:31)  A Person in Uniform (00:29:09)  They'd Have to Sedate Me (00:34:33)  You Can't Go Wrong With Ray Wise (00:39:08)  Honorable Mentions (00:43:42)  Closing (00:52:18)  

Hosts  Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Daddy Issues.  

While the crew of Voyager rightly constitute their own adopted family aboard Voyager, an important aspect of many Voyager characters' backstories is their troubled, or at least challenged, relationship with their respective fathers and father figures. From Tom Paris's sense of inadequacy in living up to Admiral Paris's expectations to The Doctor's ongoing attempt to build a relationship with his father-figure and creator, Dr. Lewis Zimmerman, the crew of Voyager frequently explores the murky realm of parental and familial relations.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling explore the complex and often troubled paternal relationships of the Voyagercrew, building new bridges and tearing down old walls along the journey!  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  Qualifying in the Daddy Issue Category (00:01:54)  A Tattoo and a Quest for Vengeance (00:06:18)  Salamander Blues (00:13:28)  'Son' Issues (00:17:52)  Survivor Guilt (00:24:39)  She Has All the Issues (00:30:08)  'Oh Look We Got Assimilated... Whoops!' (00:36:13)  Looking at Her With Suspicion (00:41:38)  Closing (00:49:21) 

Hosts  Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Defending "Threshold."  

The second-season episode "Threshold" is generally acknowledged to be one of the weakest episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. But in this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling respond to a recent challenge to give their best defense, an apologia in the classical Greek sense, of "Threshold," discussing only its merits and leaving any criticism of "Threshold" in their quarters.  

From the physics of traveling at Warp 10 and occupying every point in the universe simultaneously to the importance of "Threshold" for the character development of Tom Paris and his (um, professional) relationship with Captain Janeway, find out whether "Threshold" can be salvaged from the ash heap of Delta Quadrant history and reestablished as part of the pantheon of important and valuable episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  An 'Apologia' (00:01:53)  Everywhere at Once (00:04:01)  To Please Dad (00:07:58)  A Trust-Fall Moment (00:13:33)  Collecting Dubious Medical Data (00:17:38)  He Doesn't Trust Her, She Doesn't Cry (00:21:49)  Will It Go To His Head? (00:24:59)  Neelix Saves the Day (00:28:18)  Like the Spore Drive (00:31:47)  Closing (00:37:16)  

Hosts  Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

The Conclusion.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson go back into the writers' room to craft the conclusion of their hypothetical Voyager feature film trilogy, The Progenitors 3: Dennis Alexio Must Die!

From the Guardian of Forever to Henry Starling, the ever-present Q, time travel, Borg nanoprobes, and love triumphant, Zachary, Kay, and Suzanne follow the crews of the Starship Voyager and the Timeship Relativity on a fantastic journey through time, space, and the human heart.  

Chapters  Intro (00:00:00)  No Loose Ends (00:01:52)  Where Were We? (00:04:28)  The Redemption of Henry Starling? (00:07:31)  Ship of the Damned (00:09:52)  A Meshing of Two Old Favorites (00:11:38)  Joe Carey Speaks Whale (00:15:08)  There's No Place Like The Relativity (00:21:11)  Let's Do the Time Loop Again (00:25:32)  Dennis Alexio Must Die (00:29:13)  Probing the Nanoprobes (00:34:54)  It's Better Than Cheese (00:38:17)  Henry Starling Invents the Tamagotchi (00:44:18)  Closing (00:51:02)  

Hosts  Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson  

Production  Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)