The Pensky Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Revisiting “Preemptive Strike” with Enchantment of Eternity Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

Lieutenant Ro is sent undercover to root out a Maquis cell.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes sits down with Marc from Enchantment of Eternity to revisit the penultimate episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Preemptive Strike". The duo discuss the uniqueness of Ro Laren, Picard being stuck in a DS9 situation, and the Maquis as the connective tissue of '90s Star Trek.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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Borderland Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Archer needs the help of a criminal to prevent war with the Klingons.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Borderland" and Star Trek: Enterprise enthusiastically digging into franchise canon. Plus! The guys chat about the acting chops of Brent Spiner, forgetting to augment your acting genes, and the versatility of the Orions.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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• e-mail: thepenskyfilevideo(at)gmail.com

An Embarrassment of Dooplers & The Spy Humongous Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

In "An Embarrassment of Dooplers", Mariner and Boimler try to track down the location of a legendary Starfleet party while the bridge crew deals with an insecure alien diplomat.

In "A Spy Humongous", Anomaly Consolidation Day on the USS Cerritos leaves the Lower Deckers with mixed emotions. Captain Freeman attempts to negotiate peace on the Pakled homeworld.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "An Embarrassment of Dooplers" and "A Spy Humongous". Plus! The guys chat about the reason that A.L.F. was canceled, Don Cheadle's early television performances, and Lower Decks spending time marinating in the joke.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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• e-mail: thepenskyfilevideo(at)gmail.com

Revisiting “The Drumhead” with Lore Reloaded Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

An overzealous Starfleet admiral begins a witch-hunt aboard the Enterprise, determined to find a conspiracy, and eventually accuses Captain Picard of treason.

In this episode of the podcast, Lore Reloaded sits down with Wes to revisit "The Drumhead" from TNG's fourth season. The two discuss the three languages of politics, Picard as an "outdated" liberal, and why "The Drumhead" is so timeless.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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Home Sep 16, 2021

Show notes

Once Enterprise finally returns to Earth, the weary crew face repercussions from their journeys, both positive and negative.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Home" and how character-based episodes work at this point in the series run. Plus! The guys talk about the worst aspects of digital video, Vulcans wanting other Vulcans to be happy, and the continuing impact of the first three seasons.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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We’ll Always Have Tom Paris & Mugato, Gumato Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

In "We'll Always Have Tom Paris", Mariner and Tendi team up for a mission to retrieve an heirloom for Dr. T'Ana. Meanwhile, the Cerritos is visited by Lieutenant Tom Paris, much to the excitement of Boimler, who is hoping to meet him. While all this happens, Rutherford is haunted by the mystery surrounding the reappearance of a familiar presence on the Cerritos.

In "Mugato, Gumato", the USS Cerritos is dispatched to a planet to investigate an unexplained sighting of a dangerous Mugato.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "We'll Always Have Tom Paris" and "Mugato, Gumato". Plus! The duo chats about the trope of bringing back the dead, the lack of a central lead character, and Star Trek: Lower Decks bringing pathos into its narratives.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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Revisiting “The Game” with Modi Operandus Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

In an upcoming run of podcasts, we'll be revisiting episodes we've already covered. Let's see if we have any new perspectives!

Wesley Crusher visits the Enterprise only to see everyone behaving strangely on account of an addictive, mind-controlling game.

In this episode of the podcast, long-time friend of the show Modi Operandus returns to give some new thoughts about "The Game". Plus! He and Wes discuss Brannon Braga's first foray into Star Trek, mind-wiping Picard, and the metaphor of male virginity.

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Storm Front Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

Archer and his crew find themselves in Earth's past, with events of World War II altered by the Temporal Cold War.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss both episodes of "Storm Front" and the end of the Temporal Cold War (huzzah!). Plus! The guys chat about the move to digital video, the logistics of changing the outcome of World War II, and the pointlessness of discussing time travel in Enterprise.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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ENT Season 3 Wrap Up Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

The third season of Star Trek: Enterprise focuses on Enterprise NX-01's mission to prevent a second Xindi attack from destroying Earth. Unlike the show's second season, Enterprise's third season embraces a heavily serialized format dedicated to the search for the Xindi primary weapon.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay break down Star Trek: Enterprise Season 3 and discuss the year as a whole. Plus! The guys chat about the best and worst episodes of the year, where Enterprise stands when compared to its Trek siblings, and the successes and failures of the Xindi arc.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

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Strange Energies & Kayshon, His Eyes Open Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

In "Strange Energies", the USS Cerritos is dispatched on a mission where it ends up in a sci-fi event resulting in "strange energy," which Commander Ransom inadvertently absorbs.

In "Kayshon, His Eyes Open", our Lower Deckers have trouble bonding with Ensign Jet Manhaver, who has been assigned Boimler's bunk and shift duties. Meanwhile, we get a glimpse of Boimler's life on the USS Titan, which is more intense than he thought it would be.

In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "Strange Energies" and "Kayshon, His Eyes Open" and how it feels to return to the "best" modern Star Trek series. Plus! The guys chat about the highs and lows of a single episode, remembering how the first season ended, and characters being a means to an end.

Are you looking for older episodes? Find this and every other episode at The Pensky Podcast! Thanks for listening.

Stay connected:

• https://thepenskyfile.com/links/
• e-mail: thepenskyfilevideo(at)gmail.com