The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

From soap operas to Star Trek, hear the origin story of one of the most important sci-fi publications of the 20th century: Starlog! We welcome publisher Kerry O'Quinn to talk about the letter to Gene Roddenberry that kicked off a publishing empire. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A simple memo from Gene Roddenberry prior to Star Trek: TNG's third season says so much. Is the show being too "parochial" in elevating humans over aliens? We welcome Syfy Sistas host Fran Taylor bak to The Trek Files to discuss diversity in Star Trek then and now. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Fan mail to Star Trek often went to Gene Roddenberry, but in this letter from 1978, a dedicated adult Trekker shares her opinions on what a new Trek movie or series could be with the studio head who was writing the checks. John Champion joins The Trek Files for this week's discussion. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

An exchange between Rear Admiral H.L. Miller and Gene Roddenberry speaks to the connection between the armed services and Star Trek. We welcome Paramount executive Dave Rossi back to The Trek Files to share some stories about that special link behind the scenes. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

In the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gene Roddenberry sent very few memos. In this rare document, he shares specific thoughts on many aspects that set TNG apart from its predecessor and still resonate to new Star Trek series today. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A pair of documents this week herald the return of TOS director Ralph Senensky. In the latest interview, Ralph shares some of his frustrations with third season Star Trek production, the IDIC medallion controversy, and Fred Fred Freiberger. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Twenty years after Star Trek broke new ground on television, the format was revived for a new generation. Dorothy Fontana sent a memo to Gene Roddenberry outlining the ways that women characters needed to grow and evolve. Fran Taylor from SyFy Sistas joins The Trek Files to discuss how those issues looked in 1966 vs 1986. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A simple memo secured Ralph Senensky for his third outing as a Star Trek TOS director. Today on The Trek Files, Senensky returns to discuss "Obsession" and the struggles to find the right words in the script for "Return to Tomorrow." See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Anyone who knows Star Trek has a passing familiarity with the contents of Starfleet's Operating Orders - particularly the all-important Prime Directive. Our document from early in The Next Generation is the perfect subject to welcome back special guest and space-law expert Mclee Kerolle. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Remember that Gene Roddenberry TV series in the late '60s that featured motorcycles? Well, it never happened, but not because Gene and the sales manager from Cosmopolitan Motors weren't trying for it - and for a Star Trek tie-in. Hear the details and speculation when special guest Dave Rossi stops by The Trek Files. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A variety of letters to Gene Roddenberry reveal the state of the fandom in the years when Star Trek was dormant but anticipation for a new project was high. The variety of ages and emotions are the topic on this week's The Trek Files with guest John Champion. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A young fan writes to Gene Roddenberry about the inspiration she found in Star Trek and the concerns she has about the widening political and social "generation gap." Today, we welcome Fran Taylor, a Trek fan from the very beginning and co-founder of SyFy Sistas, to talk about fandom then and now and finding inspiration on the Enterprise. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Follow the SyFy Sistas Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Scheduling the workload for a show like Star Trek looked much the same way in 1968 as it did in 1988 and beyond. This week, The Trek Files welcomes back David Livingston to help us peer behind the curtain at the relationship between producers and directors. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

In a speech, Gene Roddenberry proposes a set of laws in the future that will supersede the limits of modern nations, replacing them with "Metalaw" that makes humans primarily citizens of Earth. The Trek Files welcomes Mclee Kerolle from The Space Court Foundation to explain how the law applies to space and humanity's future. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

As many creatives work in TV production, they all answer to one overwhelming force: the budget. A true insider from Star Trek's longest run, producer/director David Livingston is here to kick off season 8 of The Trek Files with a look at how producers and studios keep it all in line. Or not. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Closing out the season, The Trek Files is pleased to welcome back special guest Adam Nimoy. In this week's show, Adam discusses the sights (and smells) of his boyhood visit to the TOS set as well as creative tensions within the production. A memo about "Maiden Wine" promos discussion about Leonard Nimoy's music career. See the documents: facebook.com/thetrekfiles Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A speech given by Gene Roddenberry in 1989 to the National Space Society is the perfect starting point with this week's guest, an amateur astronomer, asteroid chaser, and space enthusiast. He also happens to have played Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager." Tim Russ joins The Trek Files for a discussion of reaching the stars. See the documents: Facebook.com/TheTrekFiles

Continuing our discussion of Susan Oliver's career, George Pappy joins The Trek Files this week to share insights into Susan's work as a director. In an industry notoriously difficult for women, Susan had secured a few directing credits and hoped to continue on Star Trek: The Next Generation. See the documents: Facebook.com/TheTrekFiles

A call-sheet from the Star Trek pilot episode "The Cage" (originally titled "The Menagerie") features Jeff Hunter as Captain and Susan Oliver as Vina. The Trek Files welcomes George Pappy, director of "The Green Girl" documentary about Oliver, to discuss the actress' rising star at the time. See the documents: Facebook.com/TheTrekFiles

"Oscar, Where Are You?" That's the question posed in a behind-the-scenes photo from the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage." Today, we welcome back guest Emmy Lou Crawford (Carey Foster) who is in that very picture to share stories of working on TOS and working with "uncle Rod." See the documents: Facebook.com/TheTrekFiles