Roddenberry Podcasts

In August 1973, Gene Roddenberry received a letter thanking him for the Star Trek fans who truly "live" the show's message. See the original document: Paul Johnson letter to Gene Roddenberry - August 1973 The Trek Files  Season 2 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 conversa...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Second Sight," Gideon Seyetik is bigger than life, about to take on the biggest challenge he's ever faced: reigniting a dead star. Commander Sisko is up against a big, depressing anniversary. But there's something bigger than both of them and the big things they're facing: the emotional distress of Seyetik's wife - Nidell, and her imaginary double - Fenn...

The character Geordi LaForge was named for disabled Star Trek fan Georgie LaForge. In this correspondence from November and December 1987, Georgie's mother Sue thanks Gene Roddenberry for honoring her late son. See the original document: Gene Roddenberry correspondence with Sue LaForge - 1987 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory Alpha All episodes and documents:  The Trek Files on Memory Alpha Visit...

This week, Academy Award wining makeup artist and Star Trek journeyman Doug Drexler joins a group of people in the Roddenberry Nexus in Sansar to talk about his moves from makeup to art department to computer graphics to how he got started in makeup in the first place. Plus - what's Doug into now? Here's a hint: Its initials are V.R. Doug Drexler's virtual meet up in the Nexus makes a very special...

In the  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Necessary Evil," Quark gets recruited by a dangerous dame for a box job that almost leaves him a stiff. Can a gumshoe like Odo solve that and a years old murder mystery? They both point to a con that moved a lot of lettuce to a lot of sharpers. Let Rom pour you some hooch - it's going to be a bumpy ride... Hosted by John Champion & Ken Ray Welcome to Mi...

This week, Trek cosplayer, host, and fan Krystle Starr (aka Krystle Starrfleet) joins us to talk growing up with Trek - the lessons she learned, and how she's used those lessons in education. Plus, is today's Trek too dark? And is cosplay for everyone? Krystle Starr opines on this week's Mission Log Live.   Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod...

The famous Vulcan IDIC made its debut in "Is There in Truth No Beauty," but if Gene Roddenberry had his way, we would have seen it much earlier. In this memo from July 1968, Gene sends new executive producer Fred Freiberger a suggestion for how to end season three's premiere episode and work in Spock's medallion. See the original document:  Gene Roddenberry IDIC memo - July 1968 The Trek Files  Se...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Rules of Acquisition," Pel isn't like your average Ferengi. He's loyal, smart, trustworthy, and has a serious crush on Quark. Pel also happens to be a female posing as a male since Ferengi only allow males to do things like business, reading, and wearing clothes. Will Quark return from the Gamma Quadrant with a huge profit and a boyfriend who's a girlfri...

Say hello to Star Trek novelist and the guy behind some of your favorite Trek Keepsake ornaments... it's Kevin Dilmore! You may find a bigger geek, but you'd have to look hard. Topics include Star Trek: The Animated Series, hanging a sick sense of humor on a Christmas tree, and H.R. Pufnstuf.     Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod every Tuesd...

The interior and exterior of the Enterprise got an overhaul for Star Trek The Motion Picture. In this episode of The Trek Files we welcome back Andrew Probert to discuss some of his contributions as well as some of the unused directions thought up by his design colleagues. See the original document: Star Trek The Motion Picture  Enterprise design art - 1978 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory Alpha...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Melora," there's a visitor on DS9 - Ensign Melora Pazlar. She comes from a low-gravity planet which means she's got some physical disadvantages in the space station's environment, but everyone there is glad to help her out. Except Melora doesn't want their help. In fact, she's rather dismissive of everyone until a certain Doctor tries to break through he...

This week, Star Trek expert Ben Robinson joins us to talk Trek behind-the-scenes, Trek that never was, design, development, how to make a teeny-tiny starship, and how does one become a Star Trek expert, anyway?   Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod every Tuesday at 7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern

Bob Justman shares an idea with Gene Roddenberry for a potential new piece of hardware on the Enterprise. This week, The Trek Files welcomes back Paramount executive Dave Rossi to get to the bottom of the holodeck and how part of the inspiration comes from the sci-fi classic Soylent Green. See the original document:  Bob Justman holodeck memo - October 17, 1986 The Trek Files  Season 2 on Memory A...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Cardassians," plain, simple Garak is back, though there is nothing plain nor simple about the young Cardassian he's spotted on DS9. The kid's name is Rugal and he was raised on Bajor, as a Bajoran. Things get even less simple when Gul Dukat gets involved. And all pretense of simplicity gets shot out of an airlock when Rugal's biological father turns out...

This week, legendary Star Trek production illustrator/designer Rick Sternbach drops into the live show to talk   designs for the 23rd century, how the science and sci-fi art of the 1950s and 60s shaped his work, the intersection of real-world science and science fiction, and how he ended up in Starfleet. After the show, there's more to explore - read this in-depth interview with Rick at Siggraph.o...

Gene Roddenberry and Robert Vaughn had worked together on The Lieutenant, and in 1965 Vaughn was a mega-star with The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Vaughn invited Roddenberry to his performance of Hamlet, and in this episode of The Trek Files we welcome back Robert Short to connect the dots between U.N.C.L.E. and Trek, Solo and Shakespeare, and being a kid who snuck onto the Enterprise bridge! See the origi...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Invasive Procedures," Verad is one of the 9-in-10 Trill who doesn't have a symbiont living inside him. He can't seem to get over it, though, and he's got his eyes on what Jadzia has... Dax. Can he steal the symbiont from her and escape to the Gamma Quadrant? If he does, what becomes of Jadzia? Hosted by John Champion & Ken Ray Welcome to Mission Log , a...

This week, meet Dr. Erin Macdonald - astrophysicist, science consultant and a sci-fi nerd through and through. We'll talk technology, where Star Trek gets it right and where it gets it wrong, plus the good Doctor will field your thought-provoking questions. Hold onto something tight or make sure your artificial gravity is on - it's Mission Log Live!   Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission...

As early Star Trek fans were trading and collecting anything to do with the show, Gene Roddenberry's attorney was keeping a close watch over products that fell outside official bounds. In this correspondence from June and July 1968, Leonard Maizlish requests that a young fan in Chicago cease the sale of photo prints. That fan, MaryLou Tamborello, replies with a mix of awe, excitement and worry. Se...

In the  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes, "The Circle and The Siege," Major Kira must suddenly deal with feeling useless, while Li Nalas has to learn to be the hero everyone thinks he is. Quark ends up on the right side of the law, while Sisko steps outside of Starfleet orders. War is hell, and it's coming to Bajor and DS9. Hosted by John Champion & Ken Ray Welcome to Mission Log , a Roddenberr...

This week, Lisa Hansell joins us to talk about her time on Star Trek Continues, how she came to Trek, and advice for would be makeup artists. Plus she answers the age-old question, "How many drinks does it take to produce a short film?" Lisa Hansell tells all on this week's Mission Log Live!   Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod every Tuesday...

Norman Felton had a hit on his hands with "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." when Gene Roddenberry reached out to him about possibly mentoring a young actor interested in directing - Leonard Nimoy. Gene and Norman sparred a little in this 1965 correspondence, and to give it some color we brought in U.N.C.L.E. expert Robert Short who also has quite a bit of Trek experience himself. Hailing frequencies are o...

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "The Homecoming," Li Nalas - famed Bajoran resitance leader - is alive!   Sisko gives Major Kira the green light to head to Cardassia IV to retrieve him. The people are happy to have Li back. Maybe he can bring peace to Bajor. Not everyone is pleased with Kira's initiative, though. In no time, Li Nalas is named her replacement on DS9, and she is out of a...

This week, Mahogany, Barry, and Beth join us to talk about their Star Trek fandom, why it matters, and what brought them to Star Trek Las Vegas. What happens at STLV doesn't stay at STLV. Find out why and meet some new Star Trek Pals on this week's Mission Log Live!   Be sure to join us live! We're on the Mission Log Facebook page facebook.com/missionlogpod every Tuesday at 7pm Pacific/10pm Easter...

With Paramount executives ready to push forward with a new Star Trek TV series, the braintrust held a meeting in August 1977 for a production update. Gene Roddenberry along with Gary Nardino, Michael Eisner and others kicked around story, budget and logistics ideas. Surprisingly, Gene was ready to go ahead without Spock until one executive argued that it wouldn't be Trek without him. See the origi...