Cowboy Diplomacy: A Star Trek Podcast

Abigail and Erin

Welcome to the Cowboy Diplomacy Podcast! This is a Montaigne inspired Star Trek podcast where we will discuss everything and anything Star Trek, from philosophical concepts to major plot decisions. If you're a fan of easy conversations, philosophy, and/or Star Trek, then please feel free to join us as we enter into space - the final frontier. 

Episodes

  1. 08/04/2025

    On the Prime Directive

    The Prime Directive. It is a core principle for the entirety of the federation, and has been both a guide and a hinderance to many a star trek captain. But what is it? Why is it important? And why is this value of non-interference the foundation for a society that actively seeks out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no-one has gone before? Aren't those two actively opposing priorities?  These are a few questions addressed in this episode where we attempt to scratch the surface of such a fundamental and often complicated directive. We'll reference episodes from Enterprise and Next Generation, with some brief mentions of Voyager and the Original Series.

    1h 31m

  2. 11/06/2024

    On Mechanical Gods

    What is the purpose of a society? What even is a society - let alone one worth living in? What is needed to make it function?  In this episode, we discuss the varities of robotic "gods" scattered throughout Star Trek and the societies they dictate: if they're worth creating, and what that creation entails. We also explore how the Original Series has a unique approach to different societies compared with other Star Trek shows. Cowboy Diplomacy indeed. Spoilers for the Original Series.

    1h 14m

  3. 09/26/2024

    On The Measure of a Man

    How do you measure consciousness? How do you prove it? What is death in the setting of a story?  This episode we talk about Data, Tasha, and the idea of consciousness, while trying to slip in The Psalm of the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers here and there.  Spoilers for Next Gen

    1h 9m

  4. 03/24/2024

    On Isolation and Identity

    Who are we? What are we in a collective? What does it mean to have an identity seperate from a collective we once called our own?  In this episode, we talk about about the few individuals who have left the Borg and forged their own identity, specifically through the lens of Jean-Paul Sartre's scattered essays.  Spoliers for Next Gen and Voyager

    1h 10m

  5. 03/21/2024

    On The Borg

    What are the Borg? What is knowledge? What does it even mean to "know" something?  These are just a few of the questions explored in this episode which is primarily focused on the Borg and the Federation - two vastly different organizations that explore the universe very differently and with very different intentions. Why? And how does that reflect our understanding of things we believe we "know"? There are spoilers, primarily referencing Next Generation and Voyager.

    1 hr

  6. 03/21/2024

    On Beginnings

    Beginnings! There are plenty of Star Trek shows to watch and on this episode Erin and Abigail discuss the different opening episodes for each show, exploring what each episode promises and what makes each Star Trek beginning compelling and inviting.  There will be spoilers.

    1h 24m
  • 6 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Cowboy Diplomacy Podcast! This is a Montaigne inspired Star Trek podcast where we will discuss everything and anything Star Trek, from philosophical concepts to major plot decisions. If you're a fan of easy conversations, philosophy, and/or Star Trek, then please feel free to join us as we enter into space - the final frontier. 

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