The Pensky Podcast

Enterprise finds a small craft – apparently from the future – adrift in space, and both the Suliban and the mysterious Tholians are intent on retrieving it. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Future Tense" and the flat-lining Temporal Cold War arc. Plus! The guys talk about T'Pol's hatred of time travel, the TARDIS, and Van Halen's discography. Are you looking for older episodes...

After receiving a message from Book, Burnham and Georgiou embark on a rogue mission to find him, leaving Saru to pick up the pieces with Admiral Vance. Meanwhile, Stamets forms an unexpected bond with Adira. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Scavengers" and why Star Trek: Discovery writes bad love songs. Plus! The guys talk about Saru getting in trouble, 32nd century communicat...

Archer is called in to mediate a territorial dispute between the Vulcans and the Andorians. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Cease Fire" and the continuing hostilities between the Andorians and the Vulcans. Plus! The guys talk about disagreements between two ill-defined groups, Rick Berman's inspiration for the character of Tarah, and why Soval is the worst Vulcan of all time....

After reuniting with what remains of Starfleet and the Federation, the USS Discovery and its crew must prove that a 930 year old crew and starship are exactly what this new future needs. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Die Trying" and the sweet relief of finally finding the Federation. Plus! The guys talk about the incoherence of Michael Burnham, Culber abdicating his respons...

T'Pol's position on Enterprise is jeopardized when the Vulcans discover that she has contracted a mind-affecting disease. Meanwhile, one of Phlox's wives comes aboard and expresses a romantic interest in Tucker, much to his discomfort. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Stigma" and curious timing of an AIDS allegory in 2003. Plus! The guys talk about it definitely NOT being T'Po...

Burnham and Adira visit the Trill homeworld while Saru's efforts on the Discovery to help the crew reconnect yield surprises. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Forget Me Not" and whether or not it's possible to look beyond the flaws of Discovery. Plus! The guys discuss the newly religious Trill, emotional fragility, and the pointless sidekick that is Michael Burnham. Are you looking for older...

While in a shuttlepod performing tests, Tucker is attacked by a hostile alien and forced to crash-land on a desolate moon. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Dawn" and why shade from the sun is overrated. Plus! The guys talk about re-doing superior episodes, the direction of Roxann Dawson, and the upcoming US Presidential election (just to date the podcast even more quickly). Ar...

Reunited with Burnham, Discovery heads to Earth to find out what has happened to the Federation in the last thousand years. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "People of Earth" and debate how much your hair can grow in a single year. Plus! The guys talk about endless platitudes, Earth in the 32nd century, and the return of the Trill to Star Trek. Are you looking for older episode...

When a deadly neutronic storm threatens the ship, the crew must take refuge for eight days inside the maintenance shafts of the warp nacelles. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Catwalk" and the template that all Star Trek: Enterprise episodes must follow. Plus! The guys discuss travel by air, Archer watching "water polo" on his iPhone, and Reed's short fuse. Are you looking...

After the USS Discovery crash-lands on a strange planet, the crew finds themselves racing against time to repair their ship. Meanwhile, Saru and Tilly embark on a perilous first-contact mission in hopes of finding Burnham. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Far From Home" and the crew of the USS Discovery coming into their own (minus Michael Burnham). Plus! The guys discuss Burn...

After Enterprise rescues a pair of aliens with a mysterious cargo, Trip finds himself in a major predicament after he accidentally opens the cargo. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Precious Cargo" and the troubles that many seem to have with writing a Star Trek script. Plus! The guys talk about Archer talking T'Pol into his tribunal charade, getting into an escape pod ass firs...

Burnham navigates a strange, new galaxy, 930 years in her future, looking for the rest of the Discovery crew. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "That Hope is You, Part I" and lay the ground work for how they're going to approach the latest season of Star Trek: Discovery. Plus! The guys talk about Star Trek becoming more ethereal and religious in its storytelling, the lack of sub...

Following her first experience with the transporter, an eerie series of events makes Hoshi think she is becoming invisible to the rest of the crew. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Vanishing Point" and the awkwardness of a phone call where you have to inform someone that a loved one is dead. Plus! The guys talk about episodes that are different every 10 minutes, Enterprise's s...

The USS Cerritos encounters a familiar enemy. Tendi helps a struggling recruit find her footing. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "No Small Parts" and why Lower Decks is more true to Star Trek than the Picard series pretends to be. Plus! The guys talk about cinematic animation, shuffling the cards at the end of a season, and why Mariner is no Michael Burnham. Are you looking fo...

Upon approaching a black hole, the crew starts exhibiting strange behavior and uncharacteristically obsesses over trivial matters. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Singularity" and debate whether or not being weird is enough to carry an episode. Plus! The guys talk about can openers, those desks from high school, and how Enterprise chooses to end episodes. Are you looking for...

Mariner repurposes Boimler's holodeck program to cast herself as the villain in a "lower decks"-style movie. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Crisis Point" and why Mariner is the heart and soul of Lower Decks. Plus! The guys talk about the walking-back of Boimler, sneaky marijuana references, and balancing Star Trek and cynicism. Are you looking for older episodes? Find this a...

During an investigation of a pre-warp alien planet, Reed accidentally leaves his communicator behind. When he returns with Archer to get the piece of technology, they are captured by soldiers who accuse them of being enemy spies. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Communicator" and how it's as if someone took seven random episodes of Enterprise and stuck them in a blender. P...

Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, and Rutherford are caught off guard when aliens force them to testify about a series of seemingly unrelated events. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Veritas" and explain why it's the strongest episode that Lower Decks has produced. Plus! The guys talk about modern sound mixing, getting stressed out when everyone starts yelling, and the need for the sho...

T'Pol asks Archer to accompany her on a top secret mission to capture a fugitive that has eluded the Vulcan High Command for two decades. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Seventh" and why being down on Enterprise episodes is different from being down on every other Trek series. Plus! The guys talk about Trip being unwilling to inflict diarrhea on his shipmates, Mayweather...

Mariner tries to impress her best friend from Starfleet Academy who is now a visiting captain. Boimler is sent to a Starfleet medical ship after a transporter accident puts him “out of phase.” In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Much Ado About Boimler" and wonder about the relationship to Shakepeare's original work. Plus! The guys talk about Lower Decks riding a joke, the show mi...

Enterprise discovers a deuterium mining colony that is being controlled by Klingon marauders. The crew trains the colonists to defend themselves and prepare for battle against their Klingon oppressors. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Marauders" and why genre shows need to abandon doing their own version of The Magnificent Seven. Plus! The guys talk about Klingons not acting l...

The lovable but awkward Ensign Fletcher makes work difficult for Mariner and Boimler. Rutherford introduces Tendi to a holodeck training program he created. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss getting what we wished for in regards to Star Trek: Lower Decks. Plus! The guys talk about bringing aboard a new main cast member, the hyper-violence of a holodeck gone bad, and give their t...

Archer spends a night in sickbay with Dr. Phlox after Porthos picks up a deadly virus on an alien planet. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss bringing your dog everywhere you go! Plus, the guys talk about using a chainsaw while very sweaty, T'Pol being the focus of the male gaze, and choosing whether to save your dog or a random stranger! Are you looking for older episodes? Find t...

Mariner is suspicious of Boimler’s new girlfriend. Tendi and Rutherford grow jealous of a bigger starship's gear. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay analyze "Cupid's Errant Arrow" and wonder if Lower Decks would be better suited to exploring the dark edge of Star Trek lore. Plus! The guys talk about sitcom plots versus Star Trek plots, mixing up the characters, and Wes gives some truncat...

Enterprise docks with a strange, automated repair space station, which proves too good to be true. In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss Enterprise switching up its "mystery" formula! Plus, the guys talk about the characterization of Malcolm Reed, Mayweather's twelve-pack, and trying to delay an automated phone service! Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other e...