With The First Link: A Star Trek TNG Podcast

The Enterprise discovers a derelict ship with three frozen passengers from the 20th century while danger looms on the borders of the neutral zone. A new threat the security of the galaxy is destroying Federation and Romulan Outposts. Ruthie and Matthew talk about what it might be like to wake up in the future and what we could accomplish without the need to struggle for economic independence. We'r...

Something is not right in Starfleet, so the Enterprise makes an unplanned trip back to Earth! Can Picard trust any of his old friends? And, perhaps more importantly, does this have anything to do with crustaceans and mealworms? Ruthie and Matthew talk about real conspiracies in the fictional world of Star Trek, and fictional conspiracies in our real world and the harm they cause. Main cover art by...

In this episode, the Enterprise starts to experience strange repeats in time, leading them to a scientist who is married to Picard's ex. Matthew and Ruthie discuss their relationship to regret, the challenge of making choices, and the feeling of being trapped between multiple dimensions. Main Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

This is a sad, sad episode. The Enterprise loses a crew member and the show loses a central cast member all because a race of titans (whom we never meet) decided to literally shed all of their negativity. Ruthie and Matthew share some ways that they take care of themselves when things are tough and do their best not to cry on-mic. Content note for death. Main cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun...

Crusher does some detective work, Picard thinks long and hard about the implications of the Prime Directive, and Yar explains to Wesley how poverty and violence can lead to addiction. Matthew and Ruthie think about why non-interference is important here on Earth, and hopefully we all learn a little bit about the difference between a symbiotic relationship and exploitation. Main cover art by Nathan...

While searching for the lost USS Drake at the planet Minos, the Enterprise crew is given an "offer it can't refuse" when an ancient weapon merchant program tries to sell them an automated probe which obliterated its own creators long ago. LaForge has to assume command in a battle while Picard is off ship, and Ruthie and Matthew talk about sales pitches and how we often feel the need to "sell" ours...

The crew of the Enterprise are a little suspicious when three Klingons on a freighter claim to have been attacked by Ferengi. Matthew and Ruthie discuss Klingon culture as a metaphor for masculinity (both toxic and non-toxic), the multiple worlds that we can inhabit, and the many different ways that we can demonstrate our strength. Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca. Theme song is An Amazin...

It's time for Wesley to take his Starfleet Academy entrance exam, and for the Inspector General's office to… investigate the Enterprise? Wesley has to face his greatest fear, the rest of the crew gets very annoyed, and Ruthie and Matthew reminisce about their days as exam-writing students. Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca. Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio And check...

Ugly giant bags of mostly water! While investigating a terraforming station, the Enterprise discovers, and accidentally starts a short war with, an inorganic life form. Matthew and Ruthie talk about pipelines, space travel, and the ways that ugly giant bags of mostly water justify destruction in the name of progress. * Cover art by Nathan Nun,  www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Advent...

A mysterious planet, once thought to be a myth, reveals itself to the Enterprise, only to then kidnap several children! Ruthie and Matthew have a lot of feelings about this episode. * Content note: This episode deals with children being taken from their homes, and we discuss the residential school system which was instrumental in the oppression and genocide of Indigenous peoples across Canada. Thi...

An admiral starts to mysteriously de-age while on a mission to negotiate a hostage situation, and a dark secret from his past comes to light! Matthew and Ruthie talk about how we define peace, why we value youth so much, and problematic ableist depictions of characters in wheelchairs. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

The holodeck has been fixed, but its enhancements distract Picard and Riker from realizing that the ship has been evacuated and commandeered! Ruthie and Matthew talk about which binaries they want to abolish, why falling in love with a person created to your specifications might not be a good idea, and how cool it is to see the Enterprise crew just relaxing. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannu...

This episode takes us to a planet where women oppress men. It isn't the study in gender politics that you might be hoping for, but Matthew and Ruthie do their best to unpack it, while also talking about intersectional feminism and portrayals of romantic and sexual relationships in the show.  * We discuss the article "I'm a black climate expert. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet" by Aya...

Data has a brother! And he's evil? Security on the Enterprise could probably be a little tighter but we're just so excited to watch Brent Spiner play two characters in the same room at the same time that we won't dwell on it (too much). Ruthie and Matthew think about family, the inherent good and evil that is present in all humans, and the hypothetical responsibility we have to any artificial life...

It's a holodeck episode! Picard, Crusher, Data, and Whalen (who's Whalen?) get stuck acting out an old Dixon Hill detective novel, but the Jarada grow irritated and impatient. Meanwhile, Matthew and Ruthie talk about the fact that tongue-in-cheek sexism is really just sexism, and how having a hard time at home doesn't give you an excuse to berate people at work. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nath...

Troi is getting married, but is she happy about it? It's actually really hard to say, but at least we have the introduction of Majel Barrett as her Lwaxana Troi to help us on our journey! Ruthie and Matthew think about destiny, 80s hair, and love that reaches across the galaxy. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

Don't you hate it when you become omnipotent and all of your friends start acting weird around you? Riker sure does! In this episode, Matthew and Ruthie compare Q to billionaires and think about the nature of power. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

A Ferengi captain has found Picard's old ship, the USS Stargazer, and wants to give it back to him! But his motives turn out to be neither charitable nor profitable. While discussing the nature of memory and political gaslighting, Ruthie and Matthew also manage to talk about the Picard Maneuver and just how proud Riker is to serve with such a wonderful captain. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.natha...

What is justice? What is the difference between a vessel full of interdimensional aliens and a god? What is the worst that can happen if you accidentally fall into some new plants? Matthew and Ruthie grapple with all of those questions, and more, while the crew of the Enterprise realize that even an Eden-like planet can have some pretty scary laws! * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . * ...

This episode has it all! Delegates won't stop chasing each other around the ship (and possibly eating each other), Picard decides to leave his body in the transporter and explore the universe as energy, and Data learns who Sherlock Holmes is! Ruthie and Matthew wade through this wacky episode while also thinking about whether they would ever travel to space. * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannu...

A propulsion scientist and his mysterious assistant make upgrades to the Enterprise's warp drive, and accidentally send the ship to the outer rim of the universe! While the crew's thoughts turn into reality, Matthew and Ruthie think about whether magic is real, why achieving your dreams isn't just about hard work and creativity, and what happens to high achieving kids when they grow up. * Cover ar...

We finally meet the Ferengi! They don't eat anyone, but they do provide us with an opportunity to talk about antisemitism and the dangers of relying on stereotypes in writing. Please note that when we talk about protests in this episode, we are not referring to the recent storm of white supremacists on the U.S. Capitol, because we recorded this well before that happened. * Cover art by Nathan Nun,...

This episode is full of anti-black racism. We don't want to summarize it, but we will talk about why it's bad.  * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

When gravity and water combine, the crew of the Enterprise get drunk! Ruthie and Matthew discuss the outfits, fake snow, soundboards, and gender dynamics of the second (third?) episode of the series, while the Enterprise crew do a pretty lousy job of virus containment.  * Cover art by Nathan Nun, www.nathannun.ca . *  Theme song is An Amazing Adventure by Flame Lion Studio

What is going on at Farpoint Station? Will the Enterprise crew pass Q's test, or will the series end after this episode? Matthew and Ruthie do their best to solve these mysteries as they recap the second half of the first mission of the USS Enterprise, NCC1701-D.