Enterprising Individuals

This week, Foz Rotten, the frontman of Star Trek punk outfit Boldly Go! stops by the show to talk about music, punk rock, and punk rock Star Trek music! Every Star Trek character seems to play an instrument or is musical in some way and music has always played a signature role in the Trek franchise. During the episode, we talk about Foz's history with Trek and the beginnings of Boldly Go!, as well as the necessity of punk in the Federation's future, the healing power of whale song, jammin' out with space hippies, the future "Metallica", what's in Rios's vinyl crate, Q at Woodstock, Dixieland klezmer, the Paula Cole of the 24th century, Trip and the Dropkick Murphys, and concert night on the NX-01!ANARCHY IN THE UFP!Get the Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan Extended Edition soundtrack on Amazon!https://amzn.to/2SKbYzTFollow Foz and Boldly Go! on Twitter and check out the band's music!https://twitter.com/fozrottenhttps://twitter.com/boldlygobandhttps://boldlygoband.bandcamp.comCheck out the newest member of the Just

Get ready to meet cute this week as we search for "Someone to Watch Over Me"!New York Times and USA Today best-selling author David R. George III returns to the show to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Voyager that puts an intriguing twist on an old standard. Seven of Nine is ready to start dating, and the Doctor makes a bet with Paris that he can show her the ropes of relationships and romance. But when the teacher falls for his student, Voyager's EMH will have to choose between his responsibility to his pupil and his feelings for Seven!Star Trek has never been opposed to borrowing from other media for a good story hook, and some of Trek's best hours have been the product of an "old" idea seen through the lens of a new generation. This episode begins as pure "Pygmalion" (with a little "My Favorite Year" mixed in) and ends as a touching examination of the complexities of romance on a ship of outsiders. On this episode, we talk about love being part of the human adventure, putting your own spin on a classic ta

This week, author and editor Robb Pearlman stops by the show to discuss his new book, "Body by Starfleet", a fitness guide for Star Trek fans of all ages and abilities. During the episode, we talk about Robb's history with Trek, the inspiration behind the book, valuing positive change over big muscles, working out in the holodeck, and how fitness can be just as nerdy as sci-fi. We also discuss this year's Star Trek Cruise, making a book with Charlie Kaufman, Purple Monkey Dishwasher, calming people the F down with puppies, UnderArmor vs. medieval armor, redshirt jokes, and a tourist-free New York City.There's no calories in quarantine!Get "Body by Starfleet" on Amazon!https://amzn.to/2yGqjWSFollow Robb on Twitter and check out his other work!https://twitter.com/msmazeppahttps://www.robbpearlman.comTreat yourself to the "Body by Starfleet" book trailer!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs5dOO3IvXYCheck out the newest member of the Just Enough Trope family, Sailor Noob!http://www.twitter.com/noob_sailorCommunicat

Step up to the plate this week for our discussion of "Take Me Out to the Holosuite"!Ella Pearson of the Generations Geek podcast joins the show to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that shifts from the field of battle to the ball field. Captain Sisko and Captain Solok have hated each other since the Academy, but when Solok and his team of Vulcans challenge the crew of DS9 to a friendly baseball game, Sisko will have to whip his gaggle of lollygaggers into fighting shape! Baseball died minutes after it was born in the Star Trek universe when it was declared that mankind had no time for such frivolous pursuits in its new future. But baseball is all about hope, guts, and heart, the very emotions that will always define humanity, regardless of the century in question. On this episode, we talk about the warmth and emotion present in some of DS9's best hours, how baseball and Michael Piller inspired the development of the series, the rare but welcome moments when Trek "goes funny", the episode of "Fa

This week, educator and social scientist Dr. David A Banks returns to the show to discuss the human rights of artificial life and AI as seen in the Star Trek franchise. Back in the Original Series, Captain Kirk had a knack for talking computers to death, but as the Trek franchise has evolved so has its depictions of and its opinions about artificial intelligence. During our conversation, we discuss Trek's humanoid chauvinism in the depiction of artificial life, the value of AI labor in a Marxian sense, the social sophistication required of cosmopolitan Federation citizens, the possibility of empathy being a finite resource in the future, whether the stagnation of the Federation is inevitable, and why Trek is so far behind in addressing the realities of computational intelligence. We also talk about the depiction of information security and data collection in Star Trek: Picard, how communism is the ultimate ad-blocker, trading our personal data for "fun treats", taking shifts at the Peoples' Data Co-Op, murder

Prepare your best double facepalm because we're meeting "The Offspring"!Anika Dane and Liz Barr of Antimatter Pod are back on the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that represents not only a poignant exploration of what is "human" but also an important turning point in TNG storytelling. After attending a conference on cybernetics, Data is inspired to create a "daughter" named Lal. But when Starfleet learns of the existence of another Soong-type android, Data and Picard are forced to defend Lal's essential humanity as well as Data's right to parent herStar Trek began with "Star Trek Is...", creator Gene Roddenberry's somewhat ambiguous pitch document, but over the course of a half-century, hundreds of writers and creators have worked to deepen Trek's universe and to reinforce the core values of egalitarianism and positivity that he originally proposed. Through their efforts and imagination, Trek went from a quirky TV show with dramatic potential to an exemplar of allegorica

We're back with an all-new season of shows, guests, and stories that are truly beyond belief!Writer and podcaster Scott Pearson joins the show to take our weekly challenge: watch five chilling too-weird-to-be true tales and separate the factoids and falsehoods from the real-life details we've dug up! This week's stories include a pregnancy problem, a cursed mansion, a wax executioner, a deadly bloodsucker, and Robert Z'Dar!Plus, we talk about trying to avoid indoctrinating your nerd child, give our ratings on host Jonathan Frakes, balk at Bernsen films, take bomb selfies, discuss platelet vampires, and ASWANGS!Follow Scott on Twitter and check out Generations Geek!http://www.twitter.com/smichaelpearsonhttp://www.twitter.com/generationsgeekhttp://www.scott-pearson.com

Senior Chief USN (Ret) Kenneth Tripp joins the show this week to talk about life in the Navy and whether or not the depiction of military life on Star Trek passes inspection. We also discuss the way Trek leadership styles have changed over the years, how the TOS films brought naval tradition back to the franchise, the extreme broadness of Starfleet's charter, no Ten Forward on Navy ships, getting a band together, PTSD and counseling services in the real-world armed forces, why bringing families into combat is a no-no, and what Federation citizens really think about Starfleet.Starfleet officers don't lie! *wink*Follow the Ken on Twitter and check out his show, "General Quarters"!http://www.twitter.com/bostonscpohttps://www.ufp.earth/general-quarters/Check out the newest member of the Just Enough Trope family, Sailor Noob!http://www.twitter.com/noob_sailorCommunicate with us on Facebook and Twitter and the Just Enough Trope Discord!http://www.facebook.com/eistpodhttp://www.twitter.com/eistpodhttps://discord.gg/

We are talking LIVE about the #StarTrekPicard episode "Et in Arcadia Ego Part 2”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!

We are talking LIVE about the #Picard episode "Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!

We're hitting the old familiar places this week as we revisit "It's Only a Paper Moon"!New York Times bestselling author David Mack returns to the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that explores one man's struggle to come to terms with loss and fear. Nog has survived the Siege of Ar-558 but at the cost of his leg and his self-confidence. When he turns to the holodeck for escape, he'll find that Vic Fontaine is more than just a singing hologram and that the key to life isn't winning or losing but choosing to continue playing the game.When Aron Eisenberg passed away in 2019, the world didn't just lose a husband and father and friend to many Star Trek fans; it also lost a performer of surprising depth and passion. Aron was a man who had experienced tragedy in his own life and when called upon to portray Nog's suffering, he imbued the role with an honest emotion that makes this one of DS9's finest hours. Not to be outdone, veteran performer James Darren brings his charm and musica

We are talking LIVE about the #Picard episode "Broken Pieces”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!

This week, Mikanhana of the Just Enough Trope podcast is back on board to round up the latest Trek news! We've got stories about engagements, birth announcements, casting news, corporate sales, financial turmoil, and tropical cruises! Plus, we talk about SETI@Home shutting down, throwing up coffee, coronavirus cancellations, Picard, rolling an "Elnor", backup Doctors, crazy Canadian confidence, Badmiral Jon Hamm, ripped Simon Pegg, and being all about the Benjamin (Sisko)!What does God need with a knuckle sandwich?Follow the Just Enough Trope podcast on Twitter and check out the show!http://www.twitter.com/justenoughtropehttp://www.justenoughtrope.comGet Una McCormack's new Picard novel, "The Last Best Hope"!https://amzn.to/2vTOGzECheck out the newest member of the Just Enough Trope family, Sailor Noob!http://www.twitter.com/noob_sailorCommunicate with us on Facebook and Twitter and the Just Enough Trope Discord!http://www.facebook.com/eistpodhttp://www.twitter.com/eistpodhttps://discord.gg/APk2cCyJoin our cr

We are talking LIVE about the #Picard episode "Nepenthe”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!

Grab your remote control and get ready for pain and delight as we go looking for "Spock's Brain"!Novelist William Leisner returns to the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series that has become emblematic of the low points of TOS. When a lady in go-go boots puts the whammy on the Enterprise, the crew wakes up to find Spock's cranium empty. Now, Kirk must take a cave elevator ride to the center of a cold world ruled by even colder women to rescue the cerebrum of his first officer and friend!The third season of TOS was met with budget cuts, a creative brain drain, and the defection to greener pastures of the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry. But it's perhaps the absence of former showrunner and head writer Gene L. Coon that was the biggest blow to Star Trek's credibility. Coon was a gifted and versatile writer and he knew that Star Trek needed the occasional comedic touch to counteract its often leaden didacticism. Unfortunately, Coon had left the show by the start of Trek's wobbly

We are talking LIVE about the #Picard episode "The Impossible Box”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!trek, Picard, startrek, startrekpicard, discoverage

We're taking a different path this week as we feature a special episode of the BackTrekking podcast, hosted by Ka1iban and Gooey Fame! BackTrekking examines the real-world inspirations behind classic Trek episodes and this week we're putting the 1992 classic film "The Crying Game" up against the Voyager two-parter "Scorpion, Pts. 1 & 2"!You already know the story. There's a scorpion that needs a ride and a frog willing to oblige. Halfway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog and they both start to drown, but they also have enough time for one last exchange:Frog: Why would you sting me? You've killed us both!Scorpion: I can't help it; it's in my nature.Are we all slaves to our nature? Or does that only apply to arachnids who need to bum a lift somewhere? That's the question debated by the two pieces of media we're looking at today. "The Crying Game" is a 1992 film about LGBTQ culture in '90s London that was directed by a straight man and features a nominally straight male protagonist. "Scorpion" i

We are talking LIVE about the #Picard episode "Stardust City Rag”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress!

Prepare to remodulate your phaser frequencies as we go for a ride with "Scorpion, Pts. 1 & 2"!Author, teacher, and community activist Kelli Fitzpatrick joins the show this week to discuss a pair of Star Trek: Voyager episodes that see Captain Janeway contemplating a deal with a devil she knows in order to defeat a much more terrifying enemy. Voyager's journey back to the Alpha Quadrant has finally crossed into Borg space and the crew must decide whether to press forward or give up their quest to return home. But the Borg have their appendages full with an invasion from another dimension, and Species 8472 could spell the end for Voyager, the Borg, and the entire galaxy!The fourth season of every Star Trek show starts with a bang, and Voyager is no exception. Janeway and crew are faced with a near-undefeatable enemy in Species 8472, not to mention thousands of Borg or the intractable moral quandary of restoring Seven of Nine's humanity. "Scorpion" has our characters fighting tooth-and-nail with enemies and

We are talking LIVE about the #StarTrekPicard episode "Absolute Candor”! Tweet at @eistpod with the hashtag #discoverage to join our conversation currently in progress! w/@dave_galanter