TrekTivism

We are joined by the SyFy Sistas who just launched the new round of the SyFy Sistas Legacy Fund!

The Sistas have been a huge inspiration and a direct catalyst of our podcast. In this episode Tamia Harper, Yvette Blackmon Tom, and Fran Taylor talk about the origin of the Sistas, their mission to highlight Black Creators, create a safe space for people of colour in the fandom, and of course the late Sista Subrina Wood honoured by the SyFy Sistas Legacy Fund. AND we are joined by past guest of the show now turned guest host Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein!

To support the Legacy Fund, and find some really cool swag, check out the official SyFy Sistas Store at the link below. Sales go directly to the Legacy Fund which itself supports social causes being undertaken by members of the fandom.

https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-official-syfy-sistas-store/

And if you know somebody in the fan community spearheading a TREKtivist cause, or you yourself are championing a cause that could use financial support, nominations are still being accepted! Use the form below! Fandom for the Federation Future! 🖖 "Boldly Go Grant" — $500 Nomination Form

Bjo Trimble! The Star Trek activist who mobilized the fandom to save Star Trek itself. In celebration of Star Trek's 60th Anniversary, we sat down with Bjo during Star Trek Las Vegas to talk about the letter writing campaign that saved Star Trek, Bjo's other activism work such as naming the first Space Shuttle "Enterprise", and how we all sustain our efforts as activists! Thanks to all who came to be a part of the discussion! Links: Bjo Trimble: The Woman Who Saved Star Trek Bjo's Facebook Page Bajoranresistance.info www.esthersecho.org

Does returning to the Moon bring us closer to a Federation future? Witnessing Artemis, many of us felt our Trek spirits glow as four astronauts orbited the Moon bringing hope to a troubled Earth. But this "new space" industry, to which Artemis, belongs is also fueled by colonialism, nationalism, and a disregard for ecological damage. In this episode, Professor Mary-Jane Rubenstein - author of "Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race" - explores the dark side of returning to the Moon while holding tightly to our vision for a Star Trek world. Links: Mary-Jane Rubenstein | Astrotopia Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race, Rubenstein Astronauts for America

Eddie Phanichkul is an entrepreneur, founder of medical protection device company VIDA, and a trained legal observer - a role which documents interactions between law enforcement and citizens. With ICE deployments in Minneapolis and the use of lethal militarized force against civilians, we explore legal observation as a way to push back. Links: https://www.mobilize.us https://shopvida.com/en-ca/pages/about-eddie-phanichkul https://willburrowsart.com 5calls.org https://teambree.com/

During the TREKtivism panel at STLV (Trek to Las Vegas), Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein raised the point that "Capitalism doesn't exist in the Federation. And we can't volunteer and fundraise ourself out of capitalism . We need to start thinking about system reform." In this episode, we continue that conversation with Dr. Prescod-Weinstein ( our first ever repeat guest!) to talk about reforming our economic system, Star Trek's depiction of an anti-capitalist future, and how the current for-profit space race is not the boldly going we asked for.

Books and Resources: The Edge of Spacetime: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie – Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (Preorder) The Disordered Cosmos: A journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred – Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein The Sum of Us "What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together" by Heather McGhee The Annotated Communist Manifesto Marx's Ethical Vision – Vanessa Wills Astrotopia – Mary-Jane Rubenstein The Cite Black Women in Physics Library The "Spectrum of Allies" Talking across the Divide – Justin Lee We Can't Talk About That at Work – Mary Francis Winters The Purpose of Power – Alcia Garza Dean Spade – Law professor – Trans Rights Organizer - on "activist burnout" A Few Rules for Predicting the Future - An Essay by Octavia E. Butler

Links to Support the Syfy Sistas: Subrina Wood Memory Wall The Official SyFy Sistas Store | Wear hope. Fund science, stories & STEAM. | Bonfire Boldly Go Grant Nomination Form

Like many other fans, your Trektivism hosts are headed to STLV this week! This seemed like a good time to drop our discussion from TrekTalks 4, moderated by John Champion of Roddenberry Podcasts, giving you a primer into Trektivism and what helped your hosts turn the corner from fandom to activism. Join us in person at STLV, 9 A.M. Sunday morning (August 10th) in The Lounge at Vic's Bar, to share stories of volunteerism, activism, and acts of kindness that lead us towards the future depicted in Star Trek.

Colonel Bree Fram shares her story, from her first experience with Star Trek to her career in astronautical engineering and as a Space Force Colonel. In an emotional conversation, Bree opens up about the pain of the Trump administration's ban on transgender people serving in the military, how it directly impacted her career and life, and how she's moving forward.

Links:

https://www.breefram.com/ https://www.thetrevorproject.org

"How would you describe yourself to someone who couldn't see?" asks Bruce Horak, Engineer Hemmer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Bruce joins us to talk about his work as an actor, painter, and now filmmaker with his upcoming documentary Boldly Going for which there is currently an active IndieGoGo campaign. Boldly Going is described as "a groundbreaking documentary that chronicles Bruce Horak's inspiring journey as the first blind actor to play a blind character in the Star Trek franchise (Strange New Worlds). But this a story that goes far beyond Bruce's on-screen character. Despite losing 90% of his vision to childhood cancer. In this film, we follow him across North America and beyond as he meets others who have overcome barriers to find creative freedom and purpose. In each encounter, Bruce paints a portrait of the person he encounters creating a moment of connection captured on canvas."

Support Bruce's fundraiser at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/boldly-going-documentary#/

We are excited to be joined by Jarrah Hodge of the legendary Women at Warp podcast which recently just wrapped with its final ever episode. In addition to co-hosting and producing Women at Warp, Jarrah is also a communications, advocacy and engagement specialist with extensive experience in the non-profit sector and labour movement. She is now serving as the communication lead at the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. In light of Canada's recent Federal Election and ongoing housing crisis, we were eager to hear about Jarrah's ongoing work.

We also talk about visiting another podcast – The Treksperts Briefing Room where we talked DS9's "Past Tense" with Star Trek writer Lisa Klink!

Links from the Episode:

https://www.womenatwarp.com/

https://trekkiefeminist.com/

Ladies Who Trek Ottawa Fan Group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CFUhsAx3u/

IKV Phoenix Ottawa Fan Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ikvphoenix/

Treksperts Briefing Room featuring the TREKtivism Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/past-tense-part-1-ds9-s3-ep-11-w-trektivisms-matthew/id1552937601?i=1000699624114

Library for the Kind and Trek Long Island founder Stefanie Gangone and Paul Adams, Director of Diversity Programming and Convention Operations at TLI, appear on the podcast to talk about the history of both organizations and what to expect from the upcoming Star Trek-focused event happening May 30 - June 2.