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Secrets of Star Trek

Science Podcasts

The Secrets of Star Trek explores the deeper ideas, themes, and meanings behind Star Trek across its many series and films. Instead of simple recaps or reviews, this podcast dives into storytelling, character development, moral questions, and cultural...

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Location:

United States

Description:

The Secrets of Star Trek explores the deeper ideas, themes, and meanings behind Star Trek across its many series and films. Instead of simple recaps or reviews, this podcast dives into storytelling, character development, moral questions, and cultural significance — examining how Star Trek reflects on justice, identity, technology, and the human experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the franchise, the show offers thoughtful conversation that helps you understand what makes Star Trek more than just science fiction.

Twitter:

@sqpn

Language:

English

Contact:

(720) 295-7776

Episodes
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Coming of Age (TNG)

5/4/2026
Loyalty tests and entrance exams collide when the abrasive Remmick investigates the Enterprise while Wesley competes for a Starfleet Academy spot. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler on TNG's "Coming of Age." The post Coming of Age (TNG) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:51:10

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The Pirates of Orion (TAS)

4/27/2026
Spock is dying and the only cure is in the hands of Orion pirates willing to blow up an asteroid to protect their neutrality. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler on the TAS episode written by a 19-year-old. The post The Pirates of Orion (TAS) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:38:49

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Friday’s Child (TOS)

4/20/2026
A woman who hates her unborn child. A scheming Klingon. A Prime Directive that's barely an idea yet. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin unpack D.C. Fontana's bold "Friday's Child." The post Friday’s Child (TOS) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:40:35

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The Seventh (ENT)

4/13/2026
She erased the memory. The guilt came back anyway. T'Pol hunts a Vulcan fugitive on an icy moon — and relives a killing she'd had ritually purged from her mind. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin on memory, guilt, and trust. The post The Seventh (ENT) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:40:04

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Parturition (VOY)

4/6/2026
Tom Paris and Neelix crash on Planet Hell and are forced to care for a newly-hatched alien creature — and finally put their rivalry over Kes to rest. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler break down the Voyager episode Parturition. Stranded together, Paris and Neelix must cooperate to care for a newly-hatched creature. The panel examines Neelix's controlling jealousy, Janeway's command style, plot logic holes, and the writers' deliberate choice to finally resolve the Paris-Neelix tension. The post Parturition (VOY) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:43:27

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Crossfire (DS9)

3/30/2026
In DS9's "Crossfire," Odo's longing for Kira collides with First Minister Shakaar's confidence. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin ask: is Odo's emotional rigidity protecting him — or guaranteeing heartbreak? The post Crossfire (DS9) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:47:06

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The Hunted (TNG)

3/23/2026
TNG's "The Hunted" is a Vietnam allegory that rarely gets its due. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler examine what works, what doesn't, and how stronger dramatic choices could have made it truly great. The post The Hunted (TNG) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:42:52

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Rubincon (SFA)

3/16/2026
The Federation goes on trial in Starfleet Academy's season finale. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler weigh Nus Braka's cheapened backstory, Reno's command highlight, and whether Season 1 earned its emotional payoffs. The post Rubincon (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:01:02:24

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300th Night (SFA)

3/9/2026
Is Starfleet Academy finally finding its footing? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin weigh Caleb’s family choice, Sam’s stronger new edge, Omega-level stakes, and whether “300th Night” earns its season-finale momentum. The post 300th Night (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:50:51

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The Life of the Stars (SFA)

3/2/2026
Starfleet Academy turns trauma recovery into theater—smart therapy tool or off-model Trek? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler weigh Our Town’s role, Tilly’s authority shift, and Sam’s 17-years-in-2-weeks reset. The post The Life of the Stars (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:40:21

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Listening and Fasting Together

2/28/2026
Lent gets real: Lindsay Sant, Caroline Knight, and Lino Saubolle unpack Pope Leo’s call to listen deeply, fast from harmful words, and rebuild community—then Caroline flips to space with Betelgeuse’s hidden companion star. What if your words are your Lenten fast? The post Listening and Fasting Together appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:01:00:38

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Ko’Zeine (SFA)

2/23/2026
Is Ko’Zeine a bold reimagining of Amok Time—or a hollow echo? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin debate duty vs. desire, weak consequences, and whether Starfleet Academy gives us characters worth caring about. The post Ko’Zeine (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:54:15

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Series Acclimation Mil and Come, Let’s Away (SFA)

2/16/2026
Two stories, two very different tests of Starfleet discussed by Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler. First, a photonic cadet investigates Benjamin Sisko’s legacy and wrestles with destiny, identity, and love. Then a routine away mission turns deadly as pirates strike, forcing hard choices about sacrifice, leadership, and the Federation’s moral strength. The post Series Acclimation Mil and Come, Let’s Away (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:01:10:45

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Star Trek: What Might Have Been

2/9/2026
Big ideas, lost arcs, and unrealized futures take center stage as Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler mark episode 400 by asking: which abandoned Star Trek stories could have reshaped the franchise—and which are better left untouched? The post Star Trek: What Might Have Been appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:01:06:34

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Vox In Excelso (SFA)

2/2/2026
What does honor mean when survival is on the line? A Klingon refugee crisis sparks debate, brotherhood, and a controversial solution, as Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler weigh whether symbolic victory can truly save a culture. The post Vox In Excelso (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:55:00

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Vitus Reflux (SFA)

1/26/2026
Can a prank war teach future Starfleet officers real lessons? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin highlight the humor, character beats, and surprising focus on empathy—and ask if lighter stories help set up stronger Trek themes. The post Vitus Reflux (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:49:36

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Kids These Days and Beta Test (SFA)

1/19/2026
Is Starfleet Academy smart Trek—or just stylish noise? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler discuss what it gets right as well as its political hinting, teen drama vs. diplomacy, and whether this new series earns its place in the Trek universe. The post Kids These Days and Beta Test (SFA) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:01:26:44

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Star Trek and Faith with Mark Hansard

1/12/2026
Can Star Trek challenge belief—or strengthen it? Author Mark Hansard joins Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler to explain how Trek shaped his faith, why Spock’s sacrifice echoes resurrection, and whether free will survives destiny. The post Star Trek and Faith with Mark Hansard appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:50:27

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The Jihad (TAS)

1/5/2026
A stolen “Soul” that prevents a galaxy-wide jihad—what could go wrong? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler weigh TAS “The Jihad”: bold premise, shaky logic, and the eerie ethics of memory wipes and “healing” villains. The post The Jihad (TAS) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:46:10

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Metamorphosis (TOS)

12/29/2025
What if eternal life costs your humanity? This week, Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler wrestle with love, consent, and immortality in Metamorphosis. Is Zefram Cochrane right to reject paradise—and who really pays the price? The post Metamorphosis (TOS) appeared first on StarQuest Media.

Duration:00:45:09

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