The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

Latest Episodes:

6-09 Gene Roddenberry letters to writers - 1959 Feb 16, 2021

Show notes

While aspiring writers hoped to get a foot in the door with Star Trek: The Next Generation, it was just as tough finding a job in Hollywood a generation or two prior. Gene Roddenberry sent back some discouraging notes to two of his colleagues in 1959, and today we have script supervisor Lolita Fatjo helping us connect the dots with TNG's open submission program.

See the original document: Gene Roddenberry letters to writers - 1959

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-08 Love letter to Majel Roddenberry - 1976 Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

In 1976, a fan sent a tongue-in-cheek "love letter" to Majel Barrett Roddenberry (with a nod to the Great Bird, of course). On this week's show, we're happy to welcome back Noah Averback-Katz from Star Trek: Discovery to discuss what it means to be in a Trek couple.

See the original document: Love letter to Majel Roddenberry - 1976

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-07 Journey to Babel makeup-costume note - 1967 Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

This week, we're revisiting the document that spells out the new alien species devised for the Star Trek TOS episode "Journey to Babel." We'll direct our attention to the Andorians with the help of Noah Averbach-Katz, who played Ryn on "Star Trek: Discovery," to learn what it takes to become a blue-skinned warrior.

See the original document: Journey to Babel makeup-costume note - 1967

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-06 Fan letters to Gene Roddenberry - 1975 Jan 26, 2021

Show notes

We dig back into the Gene Roddenberry fan letter bag for another round of wholesome 1970s Star Trek adoration. These letters address everything from props to music to a serious take on the roles of women if Trek is to make the leap to a new life on film.

See the original document: Fan letters to Gene Roddenberry - 1975

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-05 Letter from Franz Joseph to Lincoln Enterprises - 1973 Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Gene Roddenberry was impressed enough with Franz Joseph's proposed technical manual that he suggested contacting Lincoln Enterprises - Gene's own company for merchandising Star Trek. Joseph complied and sent along a few more details as well as concerns about the business relationship.

See the original document: Letter from Franz Joseph to Lincoln Enterprises - 1973

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-04 Letter from Franz Joseph - May 14, 1973 Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

In 1973, Franz Joseph was a retired industrial designer with a daughter who was a huge Star Trek fan. As he learned more about the fandom, he found a good place to use his talents by converting what he saw on screen into technical drawings. That sparked an idea he shared with Gene Roddenberry in 1973. The Trek Files welcomes Karen Schnaubelt, Joseph's daughter, to share the rest of the story.

See the original document: Letter from Franz Joseph - May 14, 1973

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-03 Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee - 1998 Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

In the second part of our conversation with Bill Kraft, we'll get more details about the Post Office decision to break years of tradition and run an entertainment franchise on a stamp, plus the ability to "stuff the ballots."

See the original document: Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee - 1998

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-02 Star Trek stamp campaign - October 1995 Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

When Star Trek fandom meant connecting through mailed newsletters, some fans were lobbying for an official Star Trek stamp from the U.S. Postal Service. Bill Kraft from the original Enterprise Stamp Committee joins The Trek Files to give us a look at the long journey to make the stamp a reality.

See the original document: Star Trek stamp campaign - October 1995

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

6-01 Star Trek Writer-Director Info, August 1966 Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Season 6 of The Trek Files premieres with a look back at one of the foundational Star Trek documents, the Writer-Director Information book from August 30, 1966. In it, Yeoman Janice Rand is clearly included as one of the most important regular crew-members. We're proud to welcome Jonathan Whitney Dweck as our special guest this week - son of the late Grace Lee Whitney who portrayed Rand. He provides the personal angle on his mother's journey as Rand and the years following her Trek.

See the original document: Star Trek Writer-Director Info, August 1966

The Trek Files Season 6 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

5-24 Thank you notes from Majel Barret Roddenberry - 1991 Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Star Trek's 25th anniversary occurred the same year as another milestone: the death of Gene Roddenberry on October 24, 1991. After the memorial service, Majel Barrett sat down to write a series of thank you notes to the friends and celebrities who had attended and spoken about Gene's life and impact.

In the season finale of The Trek Files, we are pleased to welcome back Rod Roddenberry to talk about his father's and mother's legacies and how his interest in Star Trek's vision was ignited.

See the original document: Thank you notes from Majel Barret Roddenberry - 1991

The Trek Files Season 5 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected