Continuing Conversations: Sci-Fi Storytelling & Star Trek Adventures

Adam Selvidge, founder of Star Trek Book Club, joins Jim and Michael to talk about the vast universe of stories contained within Star Trek novels and comics. Hear about our favorite books in addition to how to choose where to start if you want to get into the novels and comics. It is a big galaxy of stories. This episode will give you some good options for starting points. https://linktr.ee/studio...

Star Trek Adventures writer Stephen Near joins Jim and Michael to riff about building an episodic campaign to tantalize your players. How to do it? What are some cool ways to keep players invested in the episodes and character development? What tools are available (FOR FREE) to help build a great episodic gamer? Tune in to help plan your next great adventure.   https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

Star Trek Adventures writer Stephen Near joins Jim and Michael to tackle the controversial question, "Can the captain be an NPC in your Star Trek Adventures game? What are the pros and cons? Opportunities and threats?" Get ready for some distinct opinions and new ideas to get your tribbles chirping. https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

Join us on Continuing Conversations as we sit down with legendary Star Trek author Dayton Ward to discuss his thrilling new novel set after Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard. We dive into temporal mysteries, Wesley Crusher’s return, Romulans, what’s at stake when history itself begins to unravel, and how Star Trek Adventures seeps into the novel. Along the way, we also celebrate 60 years of Star Trek...

What happens when tabletop roleplaying moves beyond entertainment and becomes a tool for transformation? On this episode of Continuing Conversations, Jim and Michael sit down with storyteller, educator, and game designer Marcy Brown to explore how roleplaying games can unlock creativity, build empathy, and create deeper learning experiences for young people. As Lead Storyteller with the Mycelium Y...

Al Spader and Alex Boer join Jim and Michael to dish out some good advice about running a one-shot Star Trek Adventures RPG. Whether your friends are short on time, you are introducing the game to newbies, or you are taking up the GM mantle at a convention or online, these tips will ensure everyone has an incredible time in 2-3 hours (or even less sometimes). https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

Al Spader and Alex Boer join Jim and Michael to explore Scars and Trauma in STA. Featured in the 23rd Century Sourcebook, scars and trauma can deepen your characters' back stories and make for amazing storytelling. Time to riff! https://linktr.ee/studiotembo

In this episode of Continuing Conversations, we sit down with acclaimed cartoonist and animation director Derek Kirk Kim to explore a creative journey that moves seamlessly between indie comics and major animated series. From his Eisner and Harvey Award-winning work on Same Difference and Other Stories to his time directing on Amphibia, Derek shares how his approach to storytelling has evolved whi...

Unlock the Secrets of Global Storytelling with Author Nova McBee!  How do you turn real-world adventures into an international bestselling series? In this episode of Continuing Conversations, we sit down with Nova McBee, the powerhouse author and screenwriter behind the hit young adult thriller series, Calculated. Drawing from over 20 years of living in China, Asia, and the Middle East, Nova revea...

The definitive Star Trek history is finally here! Join the "Trekstorians"—Derek Tyler Attico, Kelli Fitzpatrick, Jim Johnson, and Michael Dismuke—for an exclusive look at the groundbreaking new release from DK Books: Star Trek Timelines. Launching November 3, 2026, for the Star Trek 60th Anniversary, this 336-page hardcover masterwork charts the entire franchise history from the Big Bang to the en...

Dr. Una McCormack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling science fiction author known for bringing depth, politics, and humanity to some of the genre’s most beloved universes. With more than twenty novels, she has written acclaimed stories for Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Firefly, including Star Trek: Picard – The Last Best Hope and the autobiographies of Spock and Kathryn Janeway.  An academ...

Two writers. Two vantage points. One honest conversation about breaking into science fiction. In this episode, Jim and I sit down with Candace Kade, an experienced voice in the field, and Kyra Walters, a new writer navigating the path to publication. Together, we dig into flash sci-fi, storytelling craft, and the real questions every writer asks when starting out—cutting through the noise with can...

Thomas Marrone flies back in to Continuing Conversations to talk about 15 years of Star Trek Online goodness! For a quarter of Trek's existence, Thomas and team have been creating a portal into the Trek universe via STO for hundreds of thousands of video gamers. Now in lead of STO development, we dive into the stories that have riveted new and old Trek fans and keep them coming back for more. Also...

Susan and Tilly Bridges grace us with their presence as they give us the dish on their run on Star Trek Voyager comics from IDW Publishing. Ever wish for that 8th season of Voyager? Well, here it is in comic form!

Today on Continuing Conversations, we’re joined by Laurie Ulster—a New York-based writer, freelance journalist, TV producer, and seasoned copy editor whose work spans digital, print, audio, and television. Laurie’s bylines have appeared in outlets like Biography, ScreenRant, CBS Watch, and TrekMovie.com, and she’s a Senior Editor and podcast co-host for All Access Star Trek, blending deep fandom w...

Star Trek legends Bonnie Gordon (Star Trek: Prodigy) and John Billingsley ("Phlox" on Star Trek: Enterprise) join us to banter about storytelling, boxer shorts, and amazing events like the Trek Talk Telethon to support the Hollywood Food Coalition. Join us for good laughs and great causes!

We sit down with the stunning sci-fi writer Dylan Johnson in this week's episode! YAY! Dylan emphasizes community—championing other writers, supporting their causes, and the belief that every life has worth and a story to tell. Tune in for an inspiring sit-down!

This week we have the brain-bursting Christoper Cantwell on the show and WOW!! Some insider previews of the NEW Star Trek comic launch coming on Star Trek Day 2026 in celebration of Trek's 60th anniversary! Christopher Cantwell is an American writer, producer, and director who has worked in television, film, and comic books. He is best known as one of the two co-creators of the TV series Halt and...

In this episode, Michael and Jim welcome Pavel “Flour” Dąbrowski, one of the brilliant minds in the Star Trek Adventures community, to discuss his innovative reimagining of the Extended Task mechanic. Pavel explains how adapting this system for personal and professional missions adds depth to character arcs—transforming what was once a mechanical hurdle into a storytelling engine that tracks growt...

This week, Jim and Michael sit down with editor and publishing pro TwylaBeth Lambert for a candid conversation about the unsung hero of writing—editing. From recognizing when to hire an editor to understanding the levels of edits—developmental, line, and copy—they explore how trust, communication, and role clarity can turn revisions into revelations. Whether you’re querying agents or going indie,...

In this episode, we dive deep into the creative process behind Star Trek Adventures Mission Briefs with writers Cory Belote and Marco Rafala. We explore how to craft compelling narratives for JAG-style legal dramas and expansive Five Year Missions. Cory and Marco share their tips for balancing Federation ideals with high-stakes conflict, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling techni...

This week on Continuing Conversations: We’re joined by Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek — legendary Star Trek authority, bestselling author of Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, archivist, host of The Trek Files podcast, and creator of the deep-dive fan experience Portal 47. With decades of insider knowledge from behind-the-scenes archival interviews, convention stages, and documentary work, Larry...

Ever wondered how a video game writer handles the "Kobayashi Maru" of storytelling? Dan Martin (Writer, Star Trek: Resurgence) joins us to reveal how Telltale-style branching narratives are built and why Riker makes the perfect Captain. In this episode of Continuing Conversations, Michael and Jim sit down with Dan Martin to discuss the challenges of writing for a beloved IP like Star Trek. Dan bre...

Jim and Michael are joined by the writers behind the Star Trek Adventures: Species Sourcebook to talk deep Trek lore, game design, and how to bring the galaxy’s many cultures to life at your table. Al Spader, Nathan Dowdell, Rachael Cruz, and Stephen Near gather to discuss designing iconic species, expanding player options, and giving GMs new tools to add depth, flavor, and IDIC to their campaigns...

Jim Johnson is back in the co-pilot seat this week alongside Michael Dismuke to interview best-selling romance author Alys Murray. Alys has made a name for herself writing "sweet" romance novels that capture the cozy, heartwarming feel of a Hallmark movie—but with her latest work, she is adding a magical twist. In this episode, the trio discusses the enduring appeal of the "small town" trope, why...