The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast

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The Orb is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated entirely to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, hosted since 2013 by C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing. In January 2023, we begin a 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of DS9, one episode at a time, as we shift from our format of exploring the minutiae of the show to celebrating 30 years of the greatest chapter in the Star Trek franchise with an episode-by-episode examination.

  1. Afternoon Joe

    Jun 15

    Afternoon Joe

    “Armageddon Game” 30th-anniversary reflections Sometimes, a good cup of coffee can save the day. It sure does for Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir when a mission to help two formerly warring civilizations destroy their stockpiles of deadly weapons goes awry. Taking no chances, Kellerun soldiers storm the lab and massacre the science team the moment the last weapon is neutralized. And while Miles and Julian escape, they are reported dead to Deep Space 9. It's only when Keiko notices on security footage that her husband is drinking coffee in the afternoon—something she believes he never does—that Sisko mounts a mission to find out what is really going on and ultimately rescues his officers. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Armageddon Game,” how it brings Miles and Julian together for their first real buddy adventure, how Keiko saves the day, spiky hair, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A Miles and Jules Joint (00:03:09) Almost Dax (00:11:01) Keiko's Hunch (00:17:42) Kill All the Scientists (00:23:25) The Original Concept (00:29:44) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:05) Closing (00:37:37) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    44 min
  2. Literally Malleable

    May 21

    Literally Malleable

    “The Alternate” 30th-anniversary reflections When the Bajoran scientist who first studied Odo—and whose hairstyle the changeling unconsciously adopted—arrives at Deep Space 9 with a potential clue to his origins, their reunion is anything but warm. Dr. Mora Pol's patronizing manner rekindles old resentments, even as his discovery drives them together through the wormhole to investigate a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. What they bring back threatens the station: a mysterious silicate-based life-form that escapes its containment and begins attacking crew members in the night. As Odo leads the investigation, the evidence points in a direction no one anticipated—and the truth forces him to confront the scientist who shaped him, in more ways than one. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Alternate,” how the story fills in Odo's background, explores parent-child relationship, plants seeds for the Dominion, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Literally Malleable (00:02:53) Communication through Mirroring (00:06:31) Father and Son (00:10:34) The Original Concept (00:18:02) Jekyll and Hyde (00:24:19) More Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:26:20) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:01) Closing (00:34:43) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    39 min
  3. Good Luck and Bad Luck Run Amuck

    Apr 28

    Good Luck and Bad Luck Run Amuck

    “Rivals” 30th-anniversary reflections War isn’t always fought with phasers. Sometimes the weapons of choice are drinks, dabo tables, and an extra dose of charm. That's how El-Aurian Martus Mazur sees it. Being a listener also helps. As a rival to Quark, Martus gives DS9 residents and visitors an alternative way to be bamboozled. But this isn't the only rivalry brewing on the station; Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir have their own battle going on the space racquetball court. With strange things happening all around, the outcome of it all may just come down to the laws of probability. Let's just hope no sperm whales or bowls of petunias are harmed in the process. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Rivals,” how casting impacted the final results, the surprise guest who wasn't, what the story does for the Miles–Julian relationship, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Highly Improbable Filler (00:02:57) Guinan's Wayward Son (00:07:24) Is the Story Rewatchable? (00:11:03) The Martus Problem (00:17:26) The Better Listener (00:20:58) Miles and Julian (00:23:03) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:52) Closing (00:28:58) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    33 min
  4. The Messier Side of Life

    Apr 14

    The Messier Side of Life

    “Sanctuary” 30th-anniversary reflections When a group of refugees from the Gamma Quadrant come through the wormhole, Sisko naturally extends Federation hospitality. These aliens, the Skrreeans, flew through what they call the Eye of the Universe in search of their fabled homeworld, Kentanna. According to their sacred texts, Kentanna was a place where they would plant seeds of joy. There's just one problem; the planet turns out to be Bajor. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Sanctuary,” the story's Dominion connections and social commentary on cultural concerns and immigration that remains relevant three decades later. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Cultural Communication (00:02:41) Story Origins (00:06:29) Immigration Policy (00:13:21) Cultural Concerns (00:20:44) Reassessing Bashir (00:21:16) Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:29:30) Creepy Makeup (00:31:29) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:53) Closing (00:36:57) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    41 min
  5. The Lady in Red

    Feb 27

    The Lady in Red

    “Second Sight” 30th-anniversary reflections On the anniversary of the Battle of Wolf 359, Benjamin Sisko finds himself surprised that such an important date could almost slip by. Four years have passed since he lost his wife, and life without her is becoming routine. That may be why he is open to the possibility of a relationship with someone else when he encounters a beautiful woman on the Promenade. But smiles give way to puzzlement when the woman keeps disappearing. And when she turns out to be the wife of a visiting scientist, things get really awkward. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Second Sight,”how the episode humanizes Sisko, casting saves a forgettable story, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Time Heals All Wounds (00:02:42) Story Origins (00:06:29) Station (and Life) Matters (00:10:14) Humanizing Sisko (00:14:41) Reassessing Bashir (00:21:16) The Lady in Red (00:23:34) Saving a Forgettable Episode (00:26:47) The SF Premise (00:32:34) GENESIS!!! (00:35:00) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:41:04) Closing (00:44:15) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    48 min
  6. Columbodo

    Jan 16

    Columbodo

    “Necessary Evil” 30th-anniversary reflections When someone attempts to kill Quark, Odo starts down a path that leads him to reopen a five-year-old murder investigation. Dating back to the days of Terok Nor, that mystery centered on a familiar face: Kira Nerys. After seeing her as a prime suspect in the killing of a shop owner named Vaatrik, Odo ultimately dismissed her involvement—in part to protect her from Gul Dukat—but never quite let go of the unsolved case. The presence of Vaatrik's widow aboard DS9 alongside the attack on Quark, together with the discovery of a list of eight Bajoran names, sets Odo into full Columbo mode. And what he ultimately uncovers may change how he sees Kira forever. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Necessary Evil,”how the story brings the history of the station to life, what it says about the Kira–Odo relationship, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Firsthand Occupation (00:02:38) Full Columbo Mode (00:08:00) Cardassian Arrogance (00:12:40) Things Past (00:15:80) What Makes Odo Tick (00:18:57) One Must Always Choose a Side (00:21:28) The Cut Scene (00:26:21) The Early Odo-Kira Relationship (00:31:18) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54) Closing (00:46:08) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    43 min
  7. Secret Latinum Man

    10/23/2025

    Secret Latinum Man

    “Rules of Acquisition” 30th-anniversary reflections Word is there’s profit o’ plenty in the Gamma Quadrant, and the Grand Nagus wants a piece of it. And who better to send as chief negotiator than Quark? But never forget the 48th Rule of Acquisition: “The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.” Quark’s new waiter, Pel, thinks Zek is setting him up to take the blame if a deal for the totally reasonable ask of 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine falls through. Thankfully for Quark, he won’t be alone at the table, because Pel turns out to be more than a waiter. He’s a skilled entrepreneur. And a she. Despite their combined negotiating prowess, Quark and Pel return without the wine. But they aren’t entirely empty-handed. They have the memory of an awkward kiss and information about some group called The Dominion. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Rules of Acquisition,”what the story says about identity, how it sets up The Dominion, and how DS9 makes the Ferengi matter. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Making the Ferengi Matter (00:03:31) Finding Common Ground (00:10:33) Hiding Your Identity (00:15:45) Originally a TNG Story (00:21:26) A Rom Regression? (00:25:38) Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:27:54) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54) Closing (00:46:08) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    50 min
  8. Defying Gravity

    07/02/2025

    Defying Gravity

    “Melora” 30th-anniversary reflections Doctor Bashir and Chief O’Brien prepare for the arrival of a new cartographer, Ensign Melora Pazlar. She is the first Elaysian to join Starfleet. Why? Her homeworld has low gravity, which makes it difficult for her people to function in environments common to Starfleet operations. She generally must use a wheelchair to move around, and Bashir has modified a special one for her to use while aboard Deep Space 9. When he and Melora start to fall for one another, Bashir begins searching for a treatment that could allow her to walk. But there’s a catch: she would never be able to return to her homeworld for more than a short visit. Meanwhile, some other stuff is happening with Quark. In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Melora,”what the story says about challenges and limitations, becoming comfortable with yourself, and how the character connects to the original concept for the series. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Part of the Original Series Concept (00:03:50) We All Have Limitations (00:10:56) Firsthand Experience Matters (00:12:50) The Melora Problem (00:19:53) Becoming Comfortable with Yourself (00:25:00) Not Your Doctor Anymore (Still Your Doctor) (00:29:51) Manatee Idea Balls B-Story (00:36:12) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:04) Closing (00:48:26) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

    52 min
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4.8
out of 5
163 Ratings

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The Orb is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated entirely to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, hosted since 2013 by C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing. In January 2023, we begin a 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of DS9, one episode at a time, as we shift from our format of exploring the minutiae of the show to celebrating 30 years of the greatest chapter in the Star Trek franchise with an episode-by-episode examination.

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