Saddle Up! A Star Trek Strange New Worlds Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Saddle Up! A Star Trek Strange New Worlds Podcast

TFM

Tv & Film

Frequency: 1 episode/46d. Total Eps: 35

As Captain Pike leads the ever-growing crew of the USS Enterprise on its five-year mission, Saddle Up!—TFM’s dedicated Star Trek: Strange New Worlds podcast—explores each adventure with hosts C Bryan Jones and Matt Rushing.

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Apple Podcasts

🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
23/08/2026
#74
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
22/08/2026
#41
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
21/08/2026
#84
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
18/08/2026
#76
🇨🇦 Canada - afterShows
15/08/2026
#92
🇨🇦 Canada - afterShows
14/08/2026
#58
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
14/08/2026
#96
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
13/08/2026
#72
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
12/08/2026
#80
🇩🇪 Germany - afterShows
11/08/2026
#71

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Score global : 41%

Publication history

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Break in Case of Gorn

Episode 21

Thursday, August 17, 2023 • Duration 01:08:49

“Hegemony”

A Gorn attack on the Federation colony on Parnassus Beta threatens to turn mounting tensions into a full-blown war. When Captain Pike’s partner, Captain Batel, gets caught in the attack, he defies Admiral April’s orders and mounts a rescue mission. With Chapel also missing, Spock is happy to help, but to do so will require suiting up and flying through space.

With the help of another familiar face, Pike and Spock return to the Enterprise with their lovers, but others—not all wearing red shirts—aren’t so lucky. With part of his crew abducted in cold blood, what will Pike do? A big lizard now truly is in the Federation’s backyard as the second season of Strange New Worlds wraps up with a dramatic finish manufactured just for the occasion.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds Season 2 with the season finale, “Hegemony.” We discuss the challenges of creating drama in a prequel, elements of diplomacy in Star Trek, parallels (and not) with “Arena,” and try to make sense of the Gorn.

Chapters Intro (0:00:00) Getting to Know the Gorn (00:03:16) Jumping the Gorn (00:09:06) Internal Consistency Matters (00:16:04) Manufacturing Drama (00:21:16) Crate 32 (00:26:24) Right Place, Right Time (00:29:06) Series Identity (00:36:15) Diplomatic Connections (00:40:46) Bye Bye Batel? (00:49:10) Spock and Chapel (00:54:03) Montgomery Scott at Your Service (00:57:29) Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:00:15) Closing (01:04:13)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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Fundamental Harmonics

Episode 20

Monday, August 7, 2023 • Duration 56:47

“Subspace Rhapsody”

The discovery of a naturally occurring subspace field leads Spock to speculate that the speed of communications could be tripled. And he was sort of right, at least on a personal level, when his quantum probability field experiment goes wrong and the crew breaks out into song. Again and again. As the improbability field expands, people on other ships also begin singing. And if the Enterprise crew cannot pull off a grand finale, the phenomenon could spread across the entire subspace communications network.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our journey through Strange New Worlds Season 2 with “Subspace Rhapsody.” We discuss the concept, how they pulled it off, using the musical format to boost communications, advance storylines and clear the deck for the finale, and more.

Chapters Intro (0:00:00) Breaking Down Walls … and into Song (00:02:56) Say What You Need to Say (00:11:23) La'an and Kirk (00:17:02) Spock and Chapel (00:21:23) Pike and Batel (00:33:46) To Live Alone or Together (00:38:10) The Songs (00:40:28) The Source of Our Great Dishonor (00:46:07) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:47:31) Closing (00:52:24)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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11: The Alternate Terror

Episode 11

Saturday, July 16, 2022 • Duration 57:29

“A Quality of Mercy”

Getting a visit from your future self is rarely a good thing, but if your future self is supposed to be dead, well, you might have hopes for positive news. That’s what Captain Pike thought when a silver fox in Monster Maroons strolled into his quarters. But soon he finds himself at the wedding of … well, he's not sure who they are … in an alternate timeline in which a famous confrontation with Romulans plays out differently, and very much the same.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “A Quality of Mercy,” the final episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We explore the retelling of the classic episode “Balance of Terror,” how this new story reinforces the importance of The Original Series as the foundation of Star Trek as we know it, and how it highlights the pivotal roles which Kirk, Spock, and Pike play in history. We also debate whether the series is leading us to a soft reboot of TOS. Oh, and don't miss our Monster Maroons sidebar.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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10: Hulk Spock and Hemhura

Episode 10

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 • Duration 54:37

“All Those Who Wander”

While on their way to Deep Space Station K-7 to deliver power cells, the crew of the Enterprise respond to a distress call from the USS Peregrine and find themselves in a fight for their lives against ferocious baby Gorn. A derelict starship on an icy Class-L planet is pretty damn creepy, as Sam Kirk put it—and he was right—but that’s just the beginning as the situation takes an Alien turn and creatures start popping out of chests. In the end, they avoid becoming lizard chow, but the victory comes at a high price as they must say goodbye to Chief Engineer Hemmer.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “All Those Who Wander,” the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We explore the reimagining of the Gorn, Star Trek as a platform for horror, the indestructible nature of Sam Kirk, and ask whether the added emotional texture in this story could be a path to Shouty Spock and an upcoming storyline with Sybok. Of course, we also discuss the departure of Hemmer and his influence on Uhura as well as the rest of the crew.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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9: A Cloud Called Debra

Episode 9

Wednesday, June 29, 2022 • Duration 53:48

“The Elysian Kingdom”

While conducting a routine survey of the Jonisian Nebula, the Enterprise becomes stuck in a cloud of gas known as Debra. Soon the crew finds themselves as characters from The Kingdom of Elysian, the book which Doctor M’Benga regular reads to his daughter. To return everyone to normal, he and Hemmer, the only other person unaffected, must defeat Queen Neve. And in the end, M’Benga must also let his daughter go, so that she can live her life free of illness and explore space … with Debra.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “The Elysian Kingdom,” the eighth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We debate the choice to go to this Trek trope so early in the run of a series limited to 10 episodes per season, and delve into the resolution of the plotline involving Doctor M’enga’s daughter Rukiya. And, as certified Niners, we discuss the choice to make Benny Russell a real person in the Star Trek universe.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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8: Vulcan Affairs

Episode 8

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 • Duration 51:20

“The Serene Squall”

A humanitarian mission takes an unexpected turn when a visiting counselor, formerly of Starfleet, turns out to be not who she claims. With ulterior motives tied to Vulcan, this Dr. Aspen is more interested in capturing Spock than the Federation flagship. Meanwhile, Pike, Number One, and most of the senior staff plot a mutiny aboard the pirate ship where they're being held by an Orion. Along the way, all sorts of Vulcan affairs are revealed, including the whereabouts of one long-lost brother.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “The Serene Squall,” the seventh episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We explore Spock’s struggle with identity, the rich world building of Vulcan affairs that will transform how viewers read “Amok Time” and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, and the trajectory of the Spock–Chapel relationship. We may also do pirate imitations.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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7: Hotel Majalan

Episode 7

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 • Duration 52:49

“Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach”

When Captain Pike returns to Majalis, a planet where he once took part in a rescue mission, he meets a woman whom he may have been hitting on a decade earlier. While it may be crazy and unlikely that they are meeting again, Pike has arrived just in time to save her and a young boy from attack. Coincidence? Perhaps. But the situation is far more complicated than it seems and Pike finds himself faced with a troubling reality that he cannot stop when it turns out that the boy is destined to be sacrificed for the good of Majalan society. Meanwhile, the world’s medical technology holds the promise of saving M’Benga’s daughter.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach,” the sixth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We explore the important messages in the story about our own complacency in society, the exploitation of children, and the importance of strong father figures. We also discuss the structural flaws in the story, but focus on how the writers transcend these to deliver important and timely commentary.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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6: Spock and T’Pring’s Freaky Friday

Episode 6

Sunday, June 5, 2022 • Duration 55:52

“Spock Amok”

Spock and T'Pring rendezvous at Starbase 1 for a little R&R and quality time together, but those plans go awry when work gets in the way for both. The situation is compounded when their candle ceremony abruptly ends—or rather fails to do so—and the lovers switch bodies. Throw in Number One and La'an playing Enterprise Bingo and a fly fishing hat and the story moves dangerously close to hijinks. Ah, and don’t forget about the high-stakes negotiations.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “Spock Amok,” the fifth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We discuss the importance of humor in Star Trek, finding balance between comedy and social commentary, and how the writers have made us care about the characters in just a handful of episodes. We also explore the R’ongovians, Nurse Chapel's crush on Spock, and, of course the body swap that delivers both laughs and insight. So saddle up and trot out onto the hull with us as we sign the scorch!

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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5: Gorn to Die

Episode 5

Tuesday, May 31, 2022 • Duration 53:51

“Memento Mori”

The Enterprise travels to Finibus III on a critical supply mission while the crew observes Starfleet Remembrance Day. When they arrive, they discover that the remote colony has come under attack. Soon they learn that the assailants are none other than those reptilian bogeymen known as the Gorn. Lured into a trap and heavily damaged, the Enterprise must fight for its own survival on the very day that the crew is reflecting on those who they’ve lost in the line of duty. After deciphering Spock’s explanation of their options, Pike puts together a risky plan that involves a black hole, and La’an faces the demons of her past.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “Memento Mori,” the fourth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We get to know more about La’an and how her past experiences with the Gorn shaped who she is today, and contrast that trauma with how Pike’s future experiences are changing him. We also explore the ongoing character development and pairings of crew and debate whether it is too soon for the Gorn to be making a prominent appearance. And let’s not forget the invention every starship needs: Spockdar!

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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4: The Light Fantastic

Episode 4

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 • Duration 45:02

“Ghosts of Illyria”

When the Enterprise visits Hetemit IX, an abandoned Illyrian colony, members of the crew begin to show signs of vitamin D deficiency and an obsession with light. Illyrians are known for their genetic engineering and are therefore shunned by the Federation. But those who once lived on this colony so wanted to become Federation members that they sought to undo their enhancements. Unbeknownst to the crew, there is an Illyrian in their midst—only she is unable to help with the mystery. That falls on another of the Enterprise's genetically enhanced residents. Meanwhile, Dr. M'Benga has a secret.

In this episode of Saddle Up! hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss “Ghosts of Illyria,” the third episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ inaugural season. We get to know more about Number One and delve deep into the issue of genetic engineering as we discuss the core issues raised in the story. We also talk about the value of simplicity in plot, allowing Star Trek to do what it has always done when at its best: shed light on important issues and develop characters.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

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Saddle Up! A Star Trek Strange New Worlds Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Saddle Up! A Star Trek Strange New Worlds Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify