The Star Trek Academy Podcast

We examine the Star Trek Discovery S5xE4 time loop episode Face the Strange. We deconstruct the episode, including a lot of production details plus the messages and themes.

We examine Star Trek Discovery S5xE3, Jinall. This episode has a strong theme of Connections, which we examine from multiple directions.

Michael and Rodney examine the first two episodes of Star Trek Discovery's final season, including a lot of production details as well as the ethics and themes of the episodes.

The Academy professors finish their rewatch of Star Trek Discovery Season 2, including a lot of the discussion of the themes and ethics seen in the episodes, including how to make AI ethical.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, episodes 8, 9, 10 & 11, including the implications of the story arc of the season using AI as the "Big Bad" antagonist and how that connects to today.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, deconstructing episodes 4, 5, 6, & 7, focusing on the growing complexity of the story arc and new insights about the characters.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, deconstructing episodes 1, 2 & 3, including production details, creative decisions, and portrayal of ethics.

The Academy professors wrap up their coverage of Star Trek Discovery Season 1, looking at the final two episodes and the overall messages of the season.

Our special series rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2 continues, looking at the four S1 episodes set in the Mirror Universe. We look at the production design as well as the philosophy and messages that are coming forward as the season nears its end.

Our special series of podcasts rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2 continues, looking at the episodes leading up to the S1 mid-season finale cliffhanger, considering the production design as well as the philosophy and messages of the episodes.

The Academy faculty begin a special series of podcasts rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2. This time, they look at the first four episodes, considering the production design as well as the philosophy and messages of the four episodes.

The Academy faculty talks Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE10, Old Friends, New Planets, including the important context between the Mariner and Locarno characters, and the take-away lessons of the season finale.

The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE9, The Inner Fight, including a lot of talk about what we learn about Mariner in this episode and a huge prediction about next week's season finale.

The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE8, Caves, including a lot of talk about the lessons about conspiracy theory, friendship, and storytelling in the episode.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE7, A Few Badgeys More. Badgey, Peanut Hamper, and Agimus return for a story filled with messages about parenting and decision-making.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE6, Parth Ferengi's Heart Place, featuring the return of Rom and Leeta as Ferenginar asks to join the Federation, and Mariner grappling with her chaotic lifestyle.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE5, Empathological Fallacies, including T'Lyn's questioning whether she is "Vulcan enough" and...poetry slams.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE4, Something Borrowed, Something Green, including how the episode addresses feminism and Riverboats related to Star Trek nobody else is talking about.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4, episode 3, In the Cradle of Vexilon, including production details and the messages of the episode about leadership.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4 double-feature premiere, including the plots, production details, and their distinctive take on the two episodes, including a solid look at the philosophy and ethics.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the story and the ethical dilemmas in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE10, Hegemony, including how the massive cliffhanger may be resolved in season 3.

Professors Rodney and Michael explore the first-ever Star Trek musical episode, Strange New Worlds S2xE9, Subspace Rhapsody. They talk about the music as well as the deep character development in the story.

Professors Michael and Rodney do a deep dive into the ethics and philosophy in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE8, Under the Cloak of War. The episode explores how war affects those who survive it, and the characters face multiple ethical dilemmas.

Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct the Star Trek Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks crossover episode, "Those Old Scientists," going beyond the humor and Easter eggs to talk about the production design, character development, themes, and messages of the episode.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE6, "Lost in Translation." We look at the primary story, about an unusual alien encounter, but also at the complex character development of multiple characters.

Professors Rodney and Michael discuss Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE5, "Charades." It focuses on the complicated relationship between Spock and Chapel, addressing social and ethical issues, as aliens temporarily turn Spock completely human.

Professors Michael and Rodney reflect on Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE4, "Among the Lotus Eaters." It continues the story from the very first ever episode of Star Trek, and has intriguing messages about how memory and past painful experiences shape our lives.

Professors Rodney and Michael really liked the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE3 episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" except for it throwing out 50 years of Star Trek continuity and moving the Eugenics Wars to a different century.

Professors Michael and Rodney analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE2 episode "Ad Astra per Aspera." This stand-out episode is filled with social commentary, strong acting, and beautiful visual design.

Professors Rodney and Michael analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 2 premiere, "The Broken Circle," including production details, storytelling, and ethics from their academic/faculty perspective.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the Star Trek Picard series finale, "the Last Generation" including production details, storytelling, ethics, and thoughts about the series as a whole.

Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct Star Trek Picard season 3, episode 9, "VÕX," which is sure to be a long-term fan favorite because of [massive mega spoilers deleted].

Professors Michael and Rodney analyze Star Trek Picard season 3, episode 8, "Surrender," which has strong themes of family and connection.

Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct Picard season 3, episode 7, "Dominion," which represents the end of the "second act" of the Picard series. In particular, they comment on the many questions of ethics in this Picard episode.

Professors Michael and Rodney consider Picard season 3, episode 6, The Bounty, including a LOT of familiar returning characters and ships, and comment on the episode's story, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages, plus thoughts about what is coming next.

Professors Michael and Rodney consider Picard season 3, episode 5, Imposters,  commenting on the episode's story, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages, plus thoughts about what is coming next.

Professors Rodney and Michael consider Picard season 3, episode 4, No Win Scenario,  commenting on the episode's story, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages, plus thoughts about what is coming next.

Professors Michael and Rodney consider Picard season 3, episode 3, Seventeen Seconds,  commenting on the story, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages of each episode, plus some thoughts about what is coming up in the season.

Professors Rodney and Michael dive into Picard season 3, episode 2, Disengage,  including about the production, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages of each episode, plus some thoughts about what is coming up in the season.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the Picard season 3 premier,  including thoughts about the production, continuity, philosophy, ethics, and messages of each episode, plus some thoughts about what is coming up in the season.

The Academy faculty deconstruct the Prodigy season 1 finale and look ahead to season 2 with their distinctive take, including the messages and themes, production details, and the ethics and philosophy of the finale.

The Academy faculty deconstructs episodes 17 & 18 of Star Trek Prodigy Season 1 with their distinctive take, including the messages and themes, production details, and the ethics and philosophy displayed.

The Academy faculty considers episodes 14, 15 & 16 of Star Trek Prodigy Season 1, including the messages and themes, production details, and predictions for the rest of the season with their distinctive take.

The Academy faculty considers the 11th, 12th & 13th Star Trek Prodigy Season 1 episodes, including the messages and meanings, production details, and their distinctive take on the three episodes.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks  Season 3 finale, The Stars at Night, including the messages and meanings of the story, production details, and their distinctive take on the episode.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks  Season 3 Episode 9, Trusted Sources, including the messages and meanings of the story, production details, and their particular take on the episode.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks  Season 3 Episode 8, Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus. The episode pokes a lot of fun at movie making and sequels, but also has some deep philosophical messages.

The Academy faculty considers the "Mathematically Perfect Redemption" of the exocomp robot Peanut Hamper in Star Trek Lower Decks  Season 3 Episode 7.   It's an unusual episode, and we get below the surface to understand the meanings and messages.

The Academy faculty considers the return of the Star Trek franchise to Deep Space 9 in the Lower Decks Season 3 Episode 6, Hear All, Trust Nothing, including the messages and meanings of the story, production details, and their overall take on the episode.

The Academy faculty consider Star Trek Lower Decks Season 3 Episode 5, Reflections, including the messages and meanings of the story, production details, and their particular take on the episode.