Explore every episode of the podcast The Star Trek Academy Podcast

Rodney and Michael give the controversial Section 31 movie mixed reviews, addressing both good and disappointing aspects.

Rodney and Michael reflect on the Lower Decks series finale, and the series as a whole, including the production design and the morals to the story.

While Rodney grades final tests and papers, Michael examines Lower Decks S5xE9, an alternate reality story with many legacy characters, leading up to a multiverse-wide cliffhanger.

Rodney and Michael Unpack Lower Decks S5xE9, Upper Decks. At first it seems like just a fun story, but the professors find a lot of meaning and a unifying theme.

Rodney and Michael unpack Lower Decks S5xE8. At first it seems like just a fun episode, but the professors find that there are some solid themes and messages connecting the subplots.

This time it's Star Trek Lower Decks S5xE7, with the Away Team trapped down on the planet, giving us lots of character development, lessons about competition and communication, and about plagiarizing someone else's vibe.

This time we deconstruct the character development, symbolism, and meaning in Star Trek Lower Decks S5xE6, which is about angles, not angels no matter what your autocorrect tells you.

It's Star Trek Lower Decks S5xE5 this time, a lot of talk about the "second chances" theme, and character development, story arcs, and lessons learned.

This time it's Star Trek Lower Decks S5xE4, including the production design, themes, character development, story arcs, and lessons learned.

Here are our thoughts about Star Trek Lower Decks S5xE3, including the production design, themes, character development, story arcs, and the lessons to be learned about leadership.

We share our analysis of Star Trek Lower Decks S5 episodes 1 & 2, including the themes of authoritarianism, leadership, capitalism, self-determination, and discrimination based on meaningless differences.

We wrap up our coverage of Star Trek Prodigy season 2, considering episodes 15-20 and the season and series as a whole, including the production design and a lot of meaning and philosophy contained in the episodes.

Your hosts consider the middle episodes in Star Trek Prodigy season 2, episodes 8-14, including the production design and a lot of meaning and philosophy contained in the episodes.

Your hosts consider their first group of Star Trek Prodigy, season 2 episodes, including the production design and philosophy of the episodes.

Michael and Rodney consider the Star Trek Discovery series finale, "Life, Itself" including the production design and philosophy of the episode, the series as a whole, and what cones next for Star Trek.

The Academy faculty deconstruct part 1 of the Star Trek Discovery series finale, Lagrange Point, including strengths, things that might have been handled differently, and thoughts about the conclusion of the series next time.

Star Trek Discovery S5xE87, Labrynths, is a hard core character development episode. Ridney and Michael deconstruct new insights into Burnham's fears, as well as new understanding about Moll and Ruhn.

Join Dr. Rodney and Dr. Michael for Star Trek Discovery S5xE7, Erigah, as the story balances "the needs of the many" with self-determination for Moll and puts us on course for a final clue in the Progenitor Tech quest.

Join us for Star Trek Discovery S5xE6, Whistlespeak, addressing spiritualism in a way Star Trek may never have done before. There is a lot of meaning to talk about in this episode.

We reflect on the Star Trek Discovery S5xE5 episode Mirrors, a strong character development episode supporting season-long themes of connections, change, and choices.

We examine the Star Trek Discovery S5xE4 time loop episode Face the Strange. We deconstruct the episode, including a lot of production details plus the messages and themes.

We examine Star Trek Discovery S5xE3, Jinall. This episode has a strong theme of Connections, which we examine from multiple directions.

Michael and Rodney examine the first two episodes of Star Trek Discovery's final season, including a lot of production details as well as the ethics and themes of the episodes.

The Academy professors finish their rewatch of Star Trek Discovery Season 2, including a lot of the discussion of the themes and ethics seen in the episodes, including how to make AI ethical.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, episodes 8, 9, 10 & 11, including the implications of the story arc of the season using AI as the "Big Bad" antagonist and how that connects to today.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, deconstructing episodes 4, 5, 6, & 7, focusing on the growing complexity of the story arc and new insights about the characters.

The Academy professors rewatch Star Trek Discovery Season 2, deconstructing episodes 1, 2 & 3, including production details, creative decisions, and portrayal of ethics.

The Academy professors wrap up their coverage of Star Trek Discovery Season 1, looking at the final two episodes and the overall messages of the season.

Our special series rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2 continues, looking at the four S1 episodes set in the Mirror Universe. We look at the production design as well as the philosophy and messages that are coming forward as the season nears its end.

Our special series of podcasts rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2 continues, looking at the episodes leading up to the S1 mid-season finale cliffhanger, considering the production design as well as the philosophy and messages of the episodes.

The Academy faculty begin a special series of podcasts rewatching Star Trek Discovery, seasons 1 & 2. This time, they look at the first four episodes, considering the production design as well as the philosophy and messages of the four episodes.

The Academy faculty talks Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE10, Old Friends, New Planets, including the important context between the Mariner and Locarno characters, and the take-away lessons of the season finale.

The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE9, The Inner Fight, including a lot of talk about what we learn about Mariner in this episode and a huge prediction about next week's season finale.

The Academy faculty deconstructs Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE8, Caves, including a lot of talk about the lessons about conspiracy theory, friendship, and storytelling in the episode.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE7, A Few Badgeys More. Badgey, Peanut Hamper, and Agimus return for a story filled with messages about parenting and decision-making.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE6, Parth Ferengi's Heart Place, featuring the return of Rom and Leeta as Ferenginar asks to join the Federation, and Mariner grappling with her chaotic lifestyle.

The Academy faculty considers Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE5, Empathological Fallacies, including T'Lyn's questioning whether she is "Vulcan enough" and...poetry slams.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks S4xE4, Something Borrowed, Something Green, including how the episode addresses feminism and Riverboats related to Star Trek nobody else is talking about.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4, episode 3, In the Cradle of Vexilon, including production details and the messages of the episode about leadership.

The Academy faculty considers the Star Trek Lower Decks Season 4 double-feature premiere, including the plots, production details, and their distinctive take on the two episodes, including a solid look at the philosophy and ethics.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct the story and the ethical dilemmas in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE10, Hegemony, including how the massive cliffhanger may be resolved in season 3.

Professors Rodney and Michael explore the first-ever Star Trek musical episode, Strange New Worlds S2xE9, Subspace Rhapsody. They talk about the music as well as the deep character development in the story.

Professors Michael and Rodney do a deep dive into the ethics and philosophy in Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE8, Under the Cloak of War. The episode explores how war affects those who survive it, and the characters face multiple ethical dilemmas.

Professors Rodney and Michael deconstruct the Star Trek Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks crossover episode, "Those Old Scientists," going beyond the humor and Easter eggs to talk about the production design, character development, themes, and messages of the episode.

Professors Michael and Rodney deconstruct Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE6, "Lost in Translation." We look at the primary story, about an unusual alien encounter, but also at the complex character development of multiple characters.

Professors Rodney and Michael discuss Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE5, "Charades." It focuses on the complicated relationship between Spock and Chapel, addressing social and ethical issues, as aliens temporarily turn Spock completely human.

Professors Michael and Rodney reflect on Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE4, "Among the Lotus Eaters." It continues the story from the very first ever episode of Star Trek, and has intriguing messages about how memory and past painful experiences shape our lives.

Professors Rodney and Michael really liked the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE3 episode "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" except for it throwing out 50 years of Star Trek continuity and moving the Eugenics Wars to a different century.

Professors Michael and Rodney analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds S2xE2 episode "Ad Astra per Aspera." This stand-out episode is filled with social commentary, strong acting, and beautiful visual design.

Professors Rodney and Michael analyze the Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 2 premiere, "The Broken Circle," including production details, storytelling, and ethics from their academic/faculty perspective.