The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

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13-10 Star Trek Writer-Director Information - August 30, 1966 Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

One of the common threads the connects all Star Trek series is the role of the Doctor. Whether human, alien, or hologram, the Doctor often represents the compassionate, human heart at the center of Trek's stories. In an excerpt from the first season Star Trek writer's guide, Gene Roddenberry spelled out the special relationship Dr. McCoy has with his crewmates. Special guest John Billingsley drops by The Trek Files to give his own spin on how Dr. Phlox fits into the legacy and shares imporant updates about Trektivim in the real world by helping foster positive social change.

Document and additional references: Star Trek Writer-Director Information (Excerpt) - August 30, 1966

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The Trek Files Season 13 on Memory Alpha

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13-09 Reviews of New Television Shows - September 9, 1966 Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Star Trek's very first fans were made on the night of Septmeber 8, 1966 when NBC premired its newest primetime science-fiction show. The reviews may have been mixed, but a lifetime of influence and inspiration followed. We look back at a couple of Trek's earliest reviews and get to know one of the viewers from that night. Glen Henderson, author of "All I Need to Know about Success I Learned from Star Trek," joins The Trek Files to discuss the series' impact on his life and profession.

Document and additional references: Reviews of New Television Shows - September 9, 1966

Visit Glen Henderson, The Trek Whisperer

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-08 Star Trek: The Next Generation call sheet - January 23, 1992 Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Continuing our conversation with Star Trek fan-turned-professional David Benjamin Tomlinson, The Trek Files focuses on a day of production from one of his favorite episodes, TNG's "Cause and Effect." The conversation sparks reflection on the intrigue of time-based stories, the challenges of working under alien prosthetics, and the special thrill of being directed by Jonathan Frakes.

Document and additional references: Star Trek TNG "Cause and Effect" call sheet - January 23, 1992

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-07 Star Trek VI scene 202 - February 19, 1991 Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Actor David Benjamin Tomlinson returns to The Trek Files for a look back at a single, pivotal page from the script of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. As a lifelong fan, David recounts the importance of the handoff from the classic series of feature films to a new generation of storytellers and his personal jounrey joining the production of Star Trek: Discovery.

Document and additional references: Star Trek VI scene 202 - February 19, 1991

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-06 Leonard Nimoy fan mail memos - 1967 Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Continuing our celebration of Leonard Nimoy, we revisit a memo from 1967 in which he cheekily promised he had stolen enough pens to satisfy the needs of answering his fan mail. As our special guest to shed more light on his personality, The Trek Files welcomes Rich Michelson who was a collaborator, biographer, and long-time friend of Leonard. The two bonded over photography and literature and found delight in each other's humor. Rich shares poignant stories about talking to Leonard every day before his death in 2015 and carrying on to celebrate his creative work.

Document and additional references: Leonard Nimoy fan mail memos - June, 1967

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-05 Gene Roddenberry letter to Leonard Nimoy - May 20, 1983 Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

In the collaborative, high pressure environment of film and TV production, tensions often flare between creative professionals. In the lead-up to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Leonard Nimoy was preparing for his first outing as a feature film director when Gene Roddenberry sent a friendly, congratulatory letter to smooth over past disagreements. In a special episode of The Trek Files, we look back at Leonard's career ten years after his death, and we are delighted to welcome his son, Adam Nimoy, to share stories about the man, his talent, and what made him "The Most Human."

Document and additional references: Gene Roddenberry letter to Leonard Nimoy - May 20, 1983

Visit AdamNimoy.com for more information and book tour dates.

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-04 Star Trek III call sheet - Sept. 19, 1983 Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

It was the very first day of filming for Christopher Lloyd as Commander Kruge, on set on the bright of a Klingon Bird of Prey, in September of 1983. Lloyd's performance was iconic in a career already full of iconic characters. In this special episode of The Trek Files, Lloyd joins host Larry Nemecek on stage at Trek to San Francisco to discuss his career an bringing Kruge to life.

Document and additional references: Star Trek III call sheet - September 19, 1983

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-03 The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture [excerpt] - 1980 Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

There was a time when Saurians were only known for their brandy, but by the time of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the alien species was starting to flesh out a bit more. A few decades later, Saurians came into their own when Star Trek: Discovery introduced us to beloved crew member "Linus." Special guest David Benjamin Tomlinson joins The Trek Files to talk about bringing Linus to life and his own longtime love of Star Trek.

Document and additional references: The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture [excerpt] - 1980

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-02 Letter from Gene Roddenberry to John Pike - September 19. 1986 Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

As Star Trek often finds itself in transitional periods, the question always arises: what IS "Star Trek?" In 1986, Gene Roddenberry responded to Paramount Executive John Pike with a letter outlining his concepts for The Next Generation. Now, decades later, we welcome Rod Roddenberry to discuss the parallels of defining Star Trek then and now and striking a balance between the original concept and reinventing for a new audience.

Document and additional references: Letter from Gene Roddenberry to John Pike - September 19, 1986

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

13-01 Letters to Gene Roddenberry and Larry Niven - 1973 Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

In a letter to Gene Roddenberry, Dorothy Fontana makes the case for accepting a story from Larry Niven into the production of Star Trek: The Animated Series. In a separate letter to Larry, Dorothy suggests a collaborative approach to bring his story to the small screen. In this episode of The Trek Files, we are thrilled to welcome the award-winning science-fiction novelist Larry Niven himself to share his recollection of working with Dorothy and adapting his story for Star Trek!

Document and additional references: Letters to Gene Roddenberry and Larry Niven - 1973

The Trek Files Season 13 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!

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