The Joy of Trek

Kay, Khaki and Greg
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The Joy of Trek Podcast

Two lifelong besties (and their trusty engineer) adventure through the vast constellations of Star Trek's decades on TV, especially the lesser-loved stories. But instead of bitching about why they’re bad, we’re going to find the joy in each of them, because everybody loves the great episodes, but it takes dedication, insight, and hard-working fools to love the clunkers too. And by Jove, we are those fools! Positive, inclusive and optimistic (though not uncritical!) we try to find the brilliance even in the least-loved episodes of our favorite TV shows!

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    The Naked Now (TNG S1 E03)

    The Naked Now (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S1 E03) was recommended by Traci Meek-Reid (she/her) (your accents are delightful- go for your life!), who said: When I was 7, one night the TV just "stopped". We all went "huh" and went off to do other things. And then 5 years later the VCR landed in our home, TV was restored, and I discovered this bright, technicolor world that came on after the Saturday morning cartoons. Star Trek! I was hooked. 2 years later, Star Trek: The Next Generation launched. I watched the premiere and after the trailer for the next episode played, I ran through the house excitedly shouting "They're doing the Naked Time! They're doing the Naked Time! With no further ado, I nominate TNG's "The Naked Now": it acknowledges its roots, it ruthlessly exposes Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher (and Riker, Troi, Data, and Yar) as the star crossed lovers/relentless horndogs that they are, and shows that space is for EVERYONE, even 14-year old kids like Wesley Crusher. And me. Because as much as I loved the dystopian depression pill delivered by "Blade Runner", 14 year old me needed hope for a future. "The Naked Now" proved that Star Trek and its themes are eternal and are not bound by one cast, one era, or one man's vision. I joyfully welcome each new iteration of Star Trek and still run through the house screaming with glee when they drop a reference to an old show. This universe is big enough for everybody. The Naked Now first aired on October 5, 1987, written by story by John D. F. Black & D. C. Fontana, teleplay by D. C. Fontana, and directed by Paul Lynch The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 8m

  2. SEP 3

    Take Me Out to the Holosuite (DS9 S7 E04)

    Take Me Out to the Holosuite (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S7 E04) was recommended by Denise, who said: I love all of DS9 but this one is my favorite. I think because it's such an "Earth" game and they are in space and because baseball can be fun to watch and play. It's such a a fun episode and that why it's my favorite. Take Me Out to the Holosuite first aired on October 21, 1998, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Chip Chalmers The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 14m

  3. AUG 27

    Observer Effect (ENT S4 E11)

    Observer Effect (Star Trek: Enterprise, S4 E11) was recommended by Nazzy (she/her), who said: I've recommended some sillier episodes of Enterprise to you boys, now I want to share one that's just genuinely *good*. Season 4 is when ENT finally, truly started playing to its strengths, even if it was ultimately too late to save it from cancellation. The problem with recommending Season 4 episodes for the purposes of the podcast is that much of the season is broken up into mini-arcs of 2 or 3 episodes, and as much as I would love to have you cover the whole "Babel" three parter, I can't ask that of you (yet). So instead I'm going to suggest an episode that's one of the few one offs of the season, and one of my favorites - Observer Effect, in which Trip and Hoshi contract an alien virus on an away mission. The Enterprise crew must scramble to save their lives, not knowing their efforts are being watched by outside observers. It's a classic Star Trek medical mystery episode, with the added twist of exactly who the observers are and how the observation is being done. It also has some lovely character moments, and since I love these characters, it's like catnip for me. Observer Effect first aired on January 21, 2005, written by Garfield Reeves-Stevens & Judith Reeves-Stevens, and directed by Mike Vejar The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 23m

  4. AUG 20

    Crisis Point (LDS S1 E09)

    Crisis Point (Star Trek: Lower Decks, S1 E09) was recommended by Hauke [ˈhɔukə] (he/his), who said: Not really an under appreciated episode of Lower Decks, it is the first one to truly show what this series is capable of. Format breaking ideas, incredible love letters to how crazy a Star Trek movie can be (or a “Starfleet Movie” as they like to say in-universe), super smart and incisive humor such as comments on old Trek shows’ problems with monocultures and centered on Mariner’s character arc beginning to reveal her deeper issues. Crisis Point first aired on October 1, 2020, written by Ben Rodgers, and directed by Bob Suarez The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 18m

  5. AUG 13

    Little Green Men (DS9 S4 E08)

    Little Green Men (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S4 E08) was recommended by Blackrain, who said: When you ask for an episode, I thought hard about for one. Thinking over all the past Star Trek series I have watched and this was the first episode that popped to my mind. I've always found it fun when Sci-fi TV shows would try to put their twist on the Roswell alien crash conspiracy theory. Whether you believe it's true or not each take on it is wonderful to see. Star Trek was just another one to jump on the Roswell crash boat, but didn't have the normal DS9 bridge crew crash land a earth. Nope they had the Ferengi's. Quark, Rom, and Nog. It had the classic first contact tropes miscommunication, the 1940s human biases and conspiracy minded, all topped off with Quark being a Ferengi trying to sale stuff to the hu-mans. Love how Quark says hu-man. This was also one were Rom starts showing his start and dominant side to Quark. Just look at Rom's face at the end of the episode. No words are say, but you know what he is thinking and he has that mischievous grin on his face. Ya'll said in a past episode a lot of people didn't like didn't like the episode with the Ferengi's in them. I love all the episodes that have Ferengi's in them or feature them. DS9 really helped to develop and advance what their culture and species was from when they first showed up in TNG. BlackRain's podcast can be found here! Little Green Men first aired on November 15, 1995, written by story by Toni Marberry & Jack Treviño, teleplay by Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe, and directed by James L. Conway The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 13m

  6. AUG 6

    The Enemy (TNG S3 E07)

    The Enemy (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S3 E07) was recommended by Leah (Lee-uh) she/her , who said: In lists of both favorite and underrated star trek episodes this one seems to get lost in the shuffle! I rarely see anybody talk about it which is baffling as its one of my all favorites. As someone playing an engineer in a Star Trek Adventures campaign I adore Geordi’s creativity in this episode! He makes it work even at such a horrible disadvantage (imo, an engineer’s best trait). The chemistry between Geordi and Bochra makes the near-friendship they form so much sweeter and Worf’s indifference towards the death of a Romulan he could have saved all the more troubling. I love trek episodes that allow characters to not always be the better person and this is a perfect example! Its also hard to ignore the line “I never lie when I’ve got sand in my shoes, Commodore” The Enemy first aired on November 6, 1989, written by David Kemper & Michael Piller, and directed by David Carson The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 30m

  7. JUL 30

    The Practical Joker (TAS S2 E03)

    The Practical Joker (Star Trek: The Animated Series, S2 E03) was recommended by FoxSan, He/Him, who said: "This desk is covered with ice! And it was almost covered with us!", romulans are knee-deep in desserts and KIRK IS A JERK! The Practical Joker first aired on September 21, 1974, written by Chuck Menville, and directed by Bill Reed The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    57 min

  8. JUL 23

    Extreme Risk (VOY S5 E03)

    Extreme Risk (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E03) was recommended by James (he/him), who said: I also ‘like’ Extreme Risk. I think Roxann Dawson’s acting is super subtle and she does grief really well. Really resonated with me with my own personal grief. As you probably know it’s after the news all the Marquis are dead and she is grieving. She isn’t her typical angry self (which for her is odd) she’s just numb. She does things like taking silly risks to ‘feel’ something. And she gets riskier and riskier. I was the rock for my family after my dad suddenly passed away in a car accident, 2 weeks before my 27th bday. Even though I was the youngest I was also the ‘smart and calm one’. My mum and sister were so emotional and I had to close down to hold them up (if that makes sense). I was back at work after a few days. Organised the funeral and sorted stuff with the police. I was numb though. I’ve worked all this stuff out but did engage in some silly behaviours a few years later that were not okay. Made worse by being in a bad relationship. Numbness was safe. I’ve saw that episode again about 18 months ago (5 years after my dad and 6 months after a breakup) and I just got her vibe. Her numbness and behaviours. As I already said, her performance is really f*****g on point. The half Klingon that was all fire. Now so subtle and carrying on. I love Trek, all iterations but subtle acting ain’t a usual part of its wheelhouse. So this was so refreshing. Extreme Risk first aired on October 28, 1998, written by Kenneth Biller, and directed by Cliff Bole The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    1h 25m
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Trailer

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About

Two lifelong besties (and their trusty engineer) adventure through the vast constellations of Star Trek's decades on TV, especially the lesser-loved stories. But instead of bitching about why they’re bad, we’re going to find the joy in each of them, because everybody loves the great episodes, but it takes dedication, insight, and hard-working fools to love the clunkers too. And by Jove, we are those fools! Positive, inclusive and optimistic (though not uncritical!) we try to find the brilliance even in the least-loved episodes of our favorite TV shows!

Information

  • Creator
    Kay, Khaki and Greg
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Kay, Khaki and Greg
  • Show Website
    The Joy of Trek

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