The Random Redshirt

In this episode we welcome Star Trek Royalty to the show as the Legendary Illustrator/Designer Rick Sternbach joined us. Rick is a senior production illustrator/designer who worked on some projects you may have heard of….Star Trek the Motion Picture, TNG, as well as the first two seasons of DS9 and Voyager. He has also done work for NASA, Sky and Telescope, The Planetary Society, The Smithsonian, Time-Life books and more.He worked as a scenic artist on Star Trek Nemesis, designing the Argo Shuttle, the Romulan Valdore-type sculpture, and more! He worked on Cosmos, Future Flight, The Last Starfighter, and the 2000 adaptation of Solaris. He is an Emmy and Hugo award winner. He has authored numerous Star Trek Technical manuals and is one of the geniuses responsible for so many things we've come to love and enjoy in the Star Trek universe!

We continue our Spotlight Series with the conclusion Enterprise to the two part episode with "Divergence". As the Enterprise races to save Dr. Phlox, they must attempt a daring transfer of Trip from the Enterprise to Columbia at high warp in order to remove the Klingon subroutines that have infected the Enterprise's computer system. Archer gives himself up in order to help develop a cure for the augment virus. We also learn how much the Klingons and Section 31 were involved in the development of the augment virus and their plans to sanitize the colony.

Our Section 31 Spotlight Series has reached Star Trek Enterprise! The first Enterprise installment into the Section 31 story arc takes us to Season 4 Episode 15 "Affliction". Lt Malcom Reed is recruited to continue his involvement in a secret organization (not named in this episode) in which he thought he was finished with. This involvement, while necessary in his mind to save his friend Dr. Pholx, is viewed by Captain Archer as treason and betrayal. The Klingons kidnap Phlox in order to help them with a deadly virus that is removing their forehead ridges (TOS anyone?). Full of secrets, intrigue, mystery and more, Enterprise does NOT disappoint as it continues what DS9 started.....Section 31!

The final Deep Space Nine Section 31 focused episode, "Extreme Measures", takes us inside the mind of Luther Sloan as Bashir and O'Brien attempt to find the cure to Odo's disease as mentioned in the previous episodes of DS9 "Tacking into the Wind" and "When it Rains". This episode, which appears only a few episodes from the conclusion of the series brings an end to this portion of the Section 31 story line. As Luther Sloan is dying, Bashir and O'Brien have a choice....save Odo or discover the information necessary to bring down the entire Section 31 organization. Find out our thoughts as we continue our Spotlight Series!

We continue our Section 31 Spotlight Series with episode 2, looking at Deep Space Nine's Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges. Inter arma enim silent leges is a Latin phrase that literally means "For among arms, the laws are silent" but is more popularly rendered as "In times of war, the law falls silent." While attending a conference on Romulus, which is never a good idea it would seem for Dr. Bashir, Bashir becomes embroiled in an elaborate scheme devised by Section 31 as a way to ensure the Romulans remain on the side of the Federation in the Dominion War. This episode is full of intrigue, politics, and scheming....everything that makes for a good Section 31 episode. We learn more about Sloan, Section 31 and its intentions, and how far Bashir is willing to go...or not go.

In this special short episode, we officially wrap-up our Star Trek Pilots Spotlight Series. We developed our own metrics to help us rank each pilot episode from Star Trek The Original Series to Star Trek Strange New Worlds from our least favorite to our favorite pilot in the franchise. Some of our rankings may surprise you! We also want to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite pilot is! We hope you've enjoyed this Spotlight Series as much as we have. Be sure to check our next Spotlight Series, looking at all the Section 31 focused episodes....you won't want to miss it!

We're kicking off our brand new Spotlight Series, as we explore Section 31 across the Star Trek universe! First up, is Deep Space Nine's “Inquisition”. This episode sets the foundation for all future Section 31 episodes and sets up one of the most controversial and fan favorite story arcs in the entire franchise!

We're wrapping up our Spotlight Series, looking at the Star Trek Pilots, with Strange New Worlds first episode entitled....."Strange New Worlds". We are big fans of this series and dive into the psyche of Captain Pike as he continues to be haunted by the experience he had with the Klingon Crystals in the Star Trek Discovery season 2 episode "Through the Valley of Shadows". This experience and knowledge he gains manifests itself in many unexpected locations, as visions of his disfigured face haunt him. We also meet recognizable characters from TOS and even new ones as we take the first adventure with Capt Pike and his crew aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise!

We're getting close to the end of our current Spotlight Series, looking at the Star Trek pilots, with Star Trek Picard's "Remembrance". This episode is our first look at Jean-Luc Picard since the end of Star Trek Nemesis. We know that this episode kicks off three seasons, reuniting the cast of TNG, for one final voyage. There is a lot of opinions on the first season of Picard, but one thing is certain: it was great seeing Patrick Stewart and the cast once again!

We continue our Spotlight Series, looking at the Star Trek pilots, with Prodigy's two part premiere "Lost & Found". The first Star Trek series really geared towards a young audience, Prodigy brings a significantly different approach to Star Trek story telling. We find a ton of similarities with another franchise's animated series, discuss the introduction of new characters, work through important points throughout the two part episode and more!

Star Trek Lower Decks makes its first appearance on the podcast! We continue our Spotlight Series, discussing the Star Trek Pilots, with Lower Deck's "Second Contact". We discuss our favorite moments, funny lines, main characters, where Lower Decks fits into the Star Trek Timeline, easter eggs and more!

In this episode, we are finally diving into Star Trek Discovery. We have not covered Star Trek Discovery on the podcast until now, however as part of our 'Spotlight Series', it was time to discuss the 6th show in the franchise. We welcome back a special guest to the podcast: artist Jenny Johnson! You've undoubtedly seen her work all over the internet and know how incredible it truly is. She brings her perspective to this, somewhat, controversial show as we discuss the best, and worst, of Star Trek Discovery's first episode "The Vulcan Hello"!

In this episode, we continue our Spotlight Series with Enterprise's "Broken Bow". Enterprise is the final legacy Star Trek series before we jump into 'New Trek'. Just like its predecessors, Enterprise was vastly different, this time jumping back in time to approx. 100 years before Kirk and Spock. This pilot was jam packed with action, adventure, a brand new type of intro song, new species and more! We hope you enjoy this wonderful pilot as we bring you are thoughts and feelings about the beginning of the NX-01 crew!

We're continuing our spotlight series look at the Star Trek pilots with Voyager's "Caretaker". The fourth series in the Star Trek franchise takes us on a very different journey...to the Delta Quadrant. Headlined by the first leading female captain in the franchise. Join us as we head across the galaxy and follow the daring crew of the U.S.S. Voyager as they find themselves 70,000 light years from home dealing with the Caretaker!

In this episode we continue our current Spotlight Series, Star Trek Pilots, with Deep Space Nine's “Emissary”. Originally airing on January 3rd 1993, the third installment in the franchise was VASTLY different. Looked at as the “black sheep” of the franchise for a long time, Deep Space Nine's fan base has grown exponentially in recent years due to binge watching during the pandemic, streaming services, and more. This incredible series begins in a very unexpected way. We cover all this and more on our look at Zach's favorite Star Trek series! Additionally, at the request of one of our audience members, we also share our thoughts on the fan made AI short “765874 Unification”. Find this episode and others on our YouTube channel and everywhere you get your podcasts!

In this episode we're going back to where Star Trek started....1966. We dive into the original pilot episode entitled "The Cage" which was not originally aired as well as the second pilot episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before" which actually aired after "The Man Trap" out of order because it has to be confusing right? We will dive into the differences between the pilots, the Captains and more! This 'Spotlight Series' focuses on the Star Trek pilots! We take you though each pilot, in depth, discussing our favorite moments, important scenes and some funny things that stood out to us!

This year (2024) was the 30th anniversary of the first Star Trek The Next Generation movie. This movie had some great moments and some wonderful themes but overall, we have our issues. From the death of Kirk to the destruction of the Enterprise-D to Geordi's visor there are many points in the movie that we feel they just plan messed up. We dive into all of that and more as we finally get down to ranting about this movie. Be sure to listen all the way through this video for the details on how you can enter to win a FREE Random Redshirt Podcast t-shirt!

In this episode, we sat down with actress Kandyse McClure. Kandyse is an incredibly talented actress who, born in South Africa, has an amazing career highlighted by appearances on the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama "Jeremiah", Syfy channel's adaptation of Stephen King's Children of the Corn, NBC's 2002 Carrie another Stephen King novel, Sanctuary, Smallville, Andromeda, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Snowpiercer, The Flash, Charmed, Virgin River and so much more. You probably know her best as Anastasia Dualla from Battlestar Galactica. We had such a blast learning more about Kandyse and her career and how she got started in the industry and we laughed a TON! We hope you enjoy this discussion as much as we did!

On this episode we start a brand new Spotlight series! We're deep diving the Star Trek pilot episodes! Yes, we are starting out of order with TNG, but don't fret, we will get to both of the Original Series pilot episodes soon. But first, TNG. This episode spawned what is widely regarded as the best Star Trek series in the franchise. If TNG had not done well, we would not have any of the follow-on series. We dive deep into the relationship between Picard and Q, the introduction of new characters, a new Enterprise, the awkward first encounter between Picard and Riker and much, much more! Come along with us as we explore each episode that started its respective series.

In this episode we sit down with Fanboys director, New York Times best selling author and producer Kyle Newman! Kyle is a wonderful guy and fellow nerd whose passion for D&D, Star Wars, Star Trek and more is evident. We discussed his career, passions, hobbies, future projects/books his company "Pop Culture Coffee" and more!

In this episode we're discussing all five of the Legacy Star Trek series finales. From TOS's "Turnabout Intruder" which isn't a true series finale, to the controversial Star Trek Enterprise series finale "These are the Voyages..." we're covering it all. We also discuss the role Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country plays in wrapping up the crew of The Original Series. Show finales can be very difficult to get right. What Star Trek series got it right? Find out this and more on this wonderful look back to the legacy Star Trek finales!

In this episode we discuss our thoughts, feelings, and favorite moments from this incredibly special convention! From meeting the cast and crew, to getting autographs and photos, to our favorite panel moments to the incredible Michael Hogan and his attendance, this was certainly a convention to remember. A special thank you to Creation Entertainment for making this happen! If you haven't checked our discussion of the 2003 Battlestar Galactica mini-series or some of our deep dives, be sure to check out our YouTube channel playlists and everywhere you get your podcasts for all of our Battlestar Galactica focused episodes.

In this episode we give you our list of MUST watch science fiction movies and TV shows as you prepare for Halloween night! We are not huge blood and guts fans so we will tell you which shows and movies are a must watch for any Star Trek or science fiction fan and which one(s) you might want to avoid. So turn the lights down low, light a candle and join us as we give you THE watch list for your spooky enjoyment!

In this episode we dive into the Star Trek Enterprise season 3 episode "Impulse". It wouldn't be a Halloween series without some Zombie Vulcans! Unlike our previous Halloween episode where we discussed Voyager's "The Haunting of Deck 12", this episode is about as close to horror as Star Trek gets. When the Enterprise answers a distress call by a Vulcan ship, they come across something they were not expecting....PSYCHO (Zombie) Vulcans! Once aboard the ship, things get out of hand and it begins to affect one of their crew members. Join us for an incredible Halloween centric Star Trek episode! Do you enjoy spooky, scary, creepy movies and shows but don't really like disgusting blood and guts that come with traditional Halloween movies? Well have no fear, we have some great options for you to watch leading up to Halloween and on Halloween night! Not everyone likes the traditional horror or scary movies and shows so this series gives you some great options to watch instead!

In this episode we discuss the fantastic season 6 Star Trek Voyager episode "The Haunting of Deck 12". This is a fantastic episode to watch with the lights off as Neelix tells the Borg children a "campfire ghost story" of a creepy Nebula that leads to some major ship wide issues and a creepy stow-a-way guest on board the ship. Is the story just made up or is there some truth to it? Find out in this perfect Star Trek Halloween episode as part of our Halloween Series!Do enjoy spooky, scary, creepy movies and shows? Are you not a fan of Halloween? Well have no fear, we have some great options for you to watch leading up to Halloween and on Halloween night! Not everyone likes the traditional horror or scary movies and shows so keep an eye on the channel as we discuss some fantastic science fiction options for you to watch instead of all those gross Halloween movies.

In this episode we finish our look at the legacy Star Trek mirror universe episodes with Enterprise's 2 part episode "In a Mirror Darkly". This is the only Enterprise mirror universe episodes and it does NOT disappoint! Full of drama, humor, intrigue, deception, scheming and more, we love this 2 part episode.

In this episode we jump back to Battlestar Galactica to discuss the drama filled 2 part episode "Home". The fleet has split up due to Rosalin's decision to go to Kobal in search of the Tomb of Athena. Meanwhile, Commander Adama has a tough decision to make, continue on without her or reunite the fleet. There is a lot to unpack here and we go into some of our signature deep dive moments!

In this episode we wrap up the Deep Space Nine mirror universe episodes with a very fun and whimsical episode in which Quark and Rom, for the first time, travel to the mirror universe to rescue the Grand Nagus from the grips of the Alliance. We meet some familiar characters that we've seen in past mirror universe episodes as well as some new ones! This was a fun way to finish up DS9's mirror episodes!

In this episode we do our very first Battlestar Galactica Deep Dive! 16 Days after the 12 colonies are attacked by the Cylons, "Doral" makes it aboard the Galactica only to blow himself up. This breach in security launches an independent tribunal searching for answers. We felt like this episode was a great opportunity to do some character studies on Cmdr Adama, Chief Tyrol and President Rosalin. We dive into decision making, conspiracies, leadership and more!

Episode 9 of our spotlight series brings us to the Star Trek past....but our present....2024! For the first time that we can remember, Star Trek's past intersects with our present in a very real way and highlights many issues that we still continue to struggle with today. Sisko, Dax and Bashir are accidentally sent back in time while attempting to beam down to San Fransisco to attend a Starfleet symposium. They arrive in San Fransisco however it's not the time they expected. This episode is incredibly powerful and intense and we felt it was important to discuss Star Trek's past and our present while it's actually happening! What's different? What's the same? Find out on this episode as we deep dive into the past....or actually the present!

Episode 8 of our Spotlight series takes us back to the mirror universe as we explore the next episode in the Deep Space Nine mirror episodes. This time we recap & review "Resurrection". This episode focuses primarily on the relationship between Major Kira and Bareil. An interesting episode which mirrors (pun intended) a similar situation between Sisko & mirror Jennifer. Where do we rank this episode amongst the other mirror episodes we've discussed so far? Find out this and more on this episode. Be sure to also go back and watch the other mirror universe episodes we've discussed. Find them under the "Spotlight Episodes/Deep Dives" playlist on our channel! These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This series takes us through various episodes . Sit back and enjoy our deep discussion on a variety of topics!

In this episode we dive into the 2003 mini series of Battlestar Galactica. This mini series re-launched an incredible franchise and iconic show! We break down the characters, plot, writing and other highlights that stand out to us. If you love this franchise then this episode is definitely for you! You can also find the video version of this episode and others on our YouTube channel.

Episode 7 of our Spotlight series takes us back to The Original Series as we explore what you could consider is an obscure episode..."The Gamesters of Triskelion". This episode is almost never mentioned amongst the favorites when you ask Star Trek fans what their favorite Original Series episodes is, but it certainly has a powerful message. We hope you enjoy our look at an episode that isn't super popular but worth your time! These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This series takes us through various episodes . Sit back and enjoy our deep discussion on a variety of topics!

Arguably one of the greatest science fiction franchises in the world that has grossed over $1.4 Billion worldwide, Terminator has become a massive heavy weight in not only science fiction but in pop culture. We discuss the franchise as a whole, which movies in the franchise are the best and which ones we like the least. We also discuss the rapid expanse of artificial intelligence and the role it has taken in our daily lives. Should we be worried about 'AI'? Find out in this episode!

We are incredibly thrilled to welcome actress & teacher Kaitlin Hopkins BACK to the show! If you have not caught our first discussion with her, you can find that anywhere you get your podcasts (audio only). If you are a Star Trek fan then you probably know her best as the Vorta, Kilana, in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode “The Ship”. You can also spot her impersonating Capt Janeway as Dala in the Star Trek Voyager episode “Live Fast and Prosper”. She has a storied career in film, television, theatre and teaching. We LOVE Kaitlin and we know you will too!

The fourth mirror universe episode in the Star Trek franchise, Deep Space Nine's "Shattered Mirror" takes us back into the mirror universe as Jake Sisko is taken by mirror universe Jennifer Sisko. We unpack every moment from the episode and dive into what makes up the core of one's being. A deep discussion you won't want to miss! These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This series takes us through various episodes . Sit back and enjoy our deep discussion on a variety of topics!

Sean Kanan is an incredibly talented actor who is most well known for his role as Deacon Sharpe on soap operas the Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless, AJ Quatermane on General Hospital and of course Tournament Terror and Karate's Bad Boy…Mike Barnes in the Karate Kid 3 and NOW Cobra Kai! He has appeared in films with Bruce Willis, and created and starred in his Emmy winning show “Studio City” which streams on Amazon Prime and so much more. He is also a life coach and author producing two books (Way of the Cobra & Way of the Cobra: Welcome to the Kumite)! We had a blast catching back up with Sean and hope you enjoy our discussion with us as much as we did!

We sat down with the incredibly talented Director Dan Liu. Dan's incredible work includes The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Shadow and Bone, Kung Fu, La Brea, NCIS Los Angeles, For All Man Kind, Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Star Trek Picard, and more! We had an absolutely wonderful time learning about his career and what goes in to the process of being a director!

We sat down with Star Trek Picard Playback Supervisor Todd Marks to discuss his career. A veteran in practical playback, Todd Marks has close to 30 years and 50 films and tons of television shows on his resume including Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Deep Impact, Star Trek Nemesis, Venom, The Net, The Internship, Anchorman 2, Quantum Leap, Star Trek Picard and so much more! He is the owner of “Images On Screen”, which provides quote, “a unique mix of technical and creative services for producing and playing-back high quality imagery onto computer, video and projection screen”. Images on Screen provided much of the computer playback and projection mapping systems for Star Trek Picard seasons 2 & 3. What is a playback supervisor you ask? We cover that and so much more as he shares some unbelievable behind the scenes photos and videos from Star Trek Picard & Quantum Leap! This is one episode you will absolute want to head to our Youtube channel to check out!

In this episode we team up with the Where's Beverly? Podcast to discuss a "what if?" with the legacy Star Trek Captains. We look at 8 scenarios from various legacy Trek episodes and drop other Captains into those scenarios to determine what we think they would do! This episode is filled with deep philosophical discussions and a TON of laughs! Join us along with special guests Sophia & Adrienne in part 1 of our podcast collaboration!

We're diving into this mega classic & popular episode of Star Trek, "The City on the Edge of Forever". Widely regarded by most Star Trek fans as one of if not the most popular episode of Star Trek in the entire franchise. This episode is packed with some very deep questions that we dive into! We couldn't wait to talk about this one and we hope that you enjoy a look at one of the most incredible episodes in all of Star Trek! These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This series takes us through various episodes . Sit back and enjoy our deep discussion on a variety of topics!

We're celebrating our 100th episode ! We discuss some of the most influential science-fiction of the past 100..ish years and we look back on our past 99 episodes with some of our favorite moments. Join us as we celebrate this milestone for the podcast! We are so thankful for all of your support over these past almost 3 years! We can't wait to bring some incredible content & conversations with celebrity guests over the next 100 episodes and beyond!

We're going back to the "prime universe" as many of you have requested a deep dive in to Star Trek Voyager's Year of Hell Part I & II. This two part episode is something we've also wanted to dive deep into for some time and we had an absolute blast doing it! This was a lengthy one, but we got into some incredibly difficult conversations about morality. These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This series takes us through various episodes . Sit back and enjoy our deep discussion on a variety of topics!

Join us as we look back on 2023 and discuss highlights from the year! We discuss some of our favorite things we read, watched, and even some of our favorite moments from the podcast (believe us...there were many)! We thank you all so much for the support as you've watched and listened from all over the globe. We greatly appreciate it and cannot wait to announce some of the incredible content and celebrity guest interviews we have come over the next year. You won't want to miss it!

In this episode, we sat down with legendary Hollywood producer Matt Williams! Matt is known for his work as the creator and executive producer of the hit sitcom Roseanne and co-creator and executive producer of Home Improvement. He has worked with some of the greatest minds in comedy to include Roseanne, Tim Allen, George Lopez, and Dan Akroyd. He has been nominated for Emmys and Humanitas awards and won a peabody award for outstanding achievement in television writing as well as winning multiple people's choice awards. In 1989 he founded the Wind Dancer Production Group with Carmen Finestra and David McFadzean. He has also written & directed feature films. Matt was an absolute pleasure to talk with and we know you will LOVE his stories, insight and experiences from multiple decades in theatre, television and film!

We sat down, again, with Erica LaRose one of the hosts of The Shuttlepod Show to discuss a variety of topics to include how she got into show business & modeling, her acting career, hosting The Shuttlepod Show and more!

We're discussing the next installment in the mirror universe with Star Trek Deep Space Nine's "Through the Looking Glass". This episode focuses on Sisko's first cross to the other side where he meets the mirror counterparts of so many people he knows from the prime universe including...his wife! We even do a bit of a case study of Sisko. These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This mini-series takes us through all of the mirror universe related episodes throughout the Star Trek franchise. Sit back and enjoy our discussion about all things mirror universe!

We're jumping back into the "Mirror Universe"! This time we jump forward in time to Deep Space Nine and look at the first mirror universe episode in the series titled "Crossover". These spotlight episodes deep dive into different episodes as we break them down and discuss in-depth the plot, characters, themes, etc. If you were one of the many listeners that loved our Picard season 3 reviews and asked for more, then this is for you! This mini-series takes us through all of the mirror universe related episodes throughout the Star Trek franchise. Sit back and enjoy our discussion about all things mirror universe!

In this part II look of Star Trek Enterprise, we finish up the series, discussing our favorite episodes from season 3 & 4, discuss the failures of the controversial series finale, share where Enterprise falls amongst the other legacy Star Trek series and give the entire show our famous comm badge rating. This episode also concludes season 5 of the podcast! Stay tuned for the season 6 premiere coming soon! In the mean time follow us on our social media accounts for all the latest episodes!

We got behind but we finally catch up and we discuss episodes 4-8 and recap the season/series as a whole. We share our likes and dislikes and how this series fits in with the rest of what Disney has done with Star Wars. Join us and share your thoughts on the latest installment in the Star Wars universe!

In this interview, we sat down with Art Director Liz Kloczkowski to discuss her career which spans some incredible television shows to include season 2 & 3 of Star Trek Picard. She is widely known as the genius behind resurrecting the Enterprise-D bridge. We had an absolute blast talking her and learning more about her career! We can't wait to see what else Liz does in the future and we hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did!