Roddenberry Podcasts

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode, Drive, Tom enters a peace-promoting space rally. B’Elanna wonders if their relationship is running on fumes. A saboteur targets the Delta Flyer mid-race, but the biggest surprise of all? A detour into romance. Buckle up as Mission Log takes “Drive” out for a spin.

Hosted by John Champion and Norman Lao

ENTER TO WIN – The Borg Queen Skull Signature Edition prop replica from Factory Entertainment

Welcome to Mission Log, a Roddenberry Entertainment podcast, where we explore the Star Trek universe one episode at a time. Each week, Mission Log examines a single episode of Star Trek, diving into its ethical subtext, metaphors, and cultural significance. From the show’s most iconic moments to its hidden gems, we analyze what makes Star Trek one of the greatest science fiction sagas of all time. In every episode of Mission Log we…

Recap the story and analyze key moments.
Discuss the morals, messages, and meanings of the dilemmas presented.
Debate whether the episode holds up and if the themes are still relevant.

Join the Conversation: For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our exclusive Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and weekly video chats with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

SPECIAL THANKS the supporters of this week’s show: Chris Garis, Julie Miller, Stuart, Michael Park, Paul Shadwell, Matt Esposito, Alan Simonis, Mike Richards, David Takechi, Mike Schiable, VADM Erickson, and Lars Seme Thanks to all of our Patreon Supporters https://www.missionlogpodcast.com/sponsors/ Want to share your thoughts on an upcoming episode? Email us at MissionLog@Roddenberry.com for a chance to be featured during the episode. Follow us on Social Media:

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryEntertainment

THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod Did you know we’re on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn more about how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, follow us here:

RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts

RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/roddenberryofficial

THE RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/theroddenberryfoundation

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:

Listeners like you – Support Mission Log on Patreon for early access to shows and the Mission Log Discord!

Subscribe and Stay Updated:

Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your preferred podcast player, leave a review, and join Mission Log on the journey of weekly deep dives into the Star Trek universe. Technical Director – Earl Green Producer – John Champion Associate Producer – Jessica Lynn Verdi Executive Producer – Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Roddenberry Entertainment | All Rights Reserved

Star Trek: Voyager, Season 7, Episode 3, “Drive”

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Mission Log

Mission Log Live

In this supplemental episode of Mission Log: Prodigy, Char and Marina welcome writer Jennifer Muro to the show. Muro has worked with several well-known franchises, such as DC, Marvel, and Star Wars, but as a lifelong Star Trek fan, working on Star Trek has been one of her favorite experiences in her career. Char and Marina learn details about working on Prodigy’s second season, the contributions Jen’s most proud of, and tidbits about scenes cut from the four episodes she wrote for the show.

🌟 About Prodigy: Star Trek: Prodigy follows a group of young aliens who stumble upon an abandoned Starfleet ship, igniting an adventure to seek a better future. Packed with thrilling adventures, moral lessons, and the iconic Star Trek values, this series captivates audiences with its compelling storytelling and dynamic characters.

🔍 In This Episode:

Our hosts break down the Messages, Morals, and Meanings woven into this episode.
Explore how the events of this episode fit into the bigger picture of the season’s storyline.
We’ll discuss pivotal moments, major character developments, and what this episode reveals about the characters’ journeys.
Uncover connections to previous Star Trek lore and explore how this episode ties into the larger Star Trek universe.

💬 Join the Conversation: We want to hear your thoughts! What messages stood out to you? How do you think this episode shapes the season’s narrative? Share your theories and reactions with us by leaving a comment!

🔔 Subscribe and Stay Connected: Never miss an episode! Subscribe using your favorite Podcast player and leave a 5-Star Review while you’re at it! Thank you in advance!

👉 Follow the Hosts:

Charlynn Schmiedt: Twitter
Marina Kravchuk: Twitter | Instagram Marina’s Trek Events Database: Trek Calendar

Mission Log: Prodigy is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive Producer: Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. For more great content, visit Roddenberry Podcasts.

Produced and edited by Earl Green.

💖 Support the Show: Join our Patreon community for just $1/month and get access to our exclusive Discord, where you can chat about Prodigy and more with fellow fans! Your support helps us continue to bring in-depth analysis to the Star Trek universe. Visit https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Thank you for listening, and let’s keep exploring the stars together!

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Mission Log: Prodigy

Mission Log: Orville

Welcome to Gene-ology, a podcast by Roddenberry Entertainment that dives deep into the early TV writing works of Gene Roddenberry.

Gene Roddenberry’s second Shannon script was entirely his own, and both its main guest star and its concepts are clear signs of things to come in both the 21st and 23rd centuries. We hitch a ride with “The Pickup” for a glimpse into Gene’s future you won’t want to miss. Hosted by Earl Green & Ashley Thomas

About Gene-ology

Gene-ology explores Gene Roddenberry’s early television scripts, including his lesser-known works before Star Trek using the Mission Log format popularized by Roddenberry Podcasts. We analyze the themes, writing style, and cultural impact of his scripts, and we even unearth stories from the Roddenberry archives that were never produced. Join us as we trace the roots of Gene’s creative genius.

In This Episode

A breakdown of key moments and themes in “The Pickup.”
Exploring Gene Roddenberry’s evolving style and storytelling.
How this episode ties into the broader TV landscape of the time and reflects the early seeds of Roddenberry’s visionary work.
Guest stars and unique production elements that bring this episode to life.

Special Segment: Dramatic Recreation

Since this episode was never produced (or the original video can’t be found), we’ve brought it to life with a dramatic recreation! Special guests James Herrera and Quinn Elmer perform a key section of the script as Joe Shannon and Carlyle. Listen in as they bring the story to life in this exclusive performance.

Join the Conversation What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments in the comments or reach out to us on social media or email us at missionlog@roddenberry.com

Did you know Roddenberry Podcasts is on YouTube? Find the video versions of your favorite shows like Mission Log: Prodigy, Mission Log: The Orville, as well as exclusive content only available on YouTube.

Subscribe now! https://www.youtube.com/@RoddenberryEntertainment?sub_confirmation=1

Follow us on Social Media: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/roddenberrypodcasts BLUESKY https://bsky.app/profile/roddenberrypod.bsky.social THREADS https://www.threads.net/@roddenberrypodcasts FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/MissionLogPod

Our shows are part of the Roddenberry Entertainment family. For more great shows and to learn how we live the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, follow us here: RODDENBERRY PODCASTS https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryPodcasts RODDENBERRY ENTERTAINMENT https://www.instagram.com/RoddenberryOfficial RODDENBERRY FOUNDATION https://www.instagram.com/TheRoddenberryFoundation

Support the Show For as little as $1 a month, you can gain access to our Mission Log Discord Community! There, we continue the discussion with dedicated channels and a weekly video chat with the hosts. Become a member of our Patreon today! https://www.Patreon.com/MissionLog

Subscribe and Stay Tuned Be sure to subscribe to Gene-ology for more deep dives into Gene Roddenberry’s early works. New episodes are released regularly as we uncover more of Gene’s television legacy.

–

Gene-ology is produced by Roddenberry Entertainment. Executive producer Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry. Visit https://Podcasts.Roddenberry.com for more great content. Edited by Earl Green.

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Mission Log: Gene-ology

The Trek Files

Sci-Fi 5

“I have a new primary user now…me.”

The title character from M3GAN being bratty.

When the first trailers for the original M3GAN arrived, nobody quite expected it to be one of the horror movie sensations of recent years. But it sure did! Or, we should say, she sure did. Because like all the best horror movie protagonists who go by their first names alone (Freddy, Jason, you get the picture), M3GAN became a pop culture force all her own.

And for all the fun ridiculousness contained in that film (and, presumably, in the sequel, M3GAN 2.0 which is now in theaters), it actually raised some interesting philosophical questions. Of course, here at Does it Fly? we’re interested in the actual mechanics of building and designing M3GAN herself, but we also are fascinated by the implications of using a realistic A.I. as a therapeutic device. Maybe M3GAN isn’t the most nuanced subject for those conversations, but we dive into them, nonetheless.

We also had some of the most fun we’ve had this year in our final section, putting M3GAN “on trial” for her actions, with our hosts, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (prosecution) and Tamara Krinsky, Esq. (ok, not really, but she’s a hell of a defense attorney in this case) throw vibes out the window this week, so we’ll see you in court!

All this and more in the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here…

https://youtu.be/nteIYlCFAUI

SUGGESTED VIEWING

If you’re reading this, you already saw M3GAN, right? Good. If not, despite its somewhat campy reputation, it really is a fun piece of sci-fi with a horror edge and it absolutely deserved to be the box office hit it was. Just note that we hadn’t seen M3GAN 2.0 at the time of recording.

While 2004’s I, Robot isn’t beloved by Asimov purists (see our “further reading” section below), it’s better than its reputation suggests and comes from frequently underrated director Alex Proyas, so that’s good enough for us if you want a little context for the “three laws of robotics” discussed here.

Tamara also brings up Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report as a film about a technology that has theoretically good intentions…until it’s put into practice and immediately abused.

FURTHER READING

Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do!

Building Your M3GAN (please do not do this)

There are three elements of M3GAN that are rooted in science fact but ultimately keep her as science fiction.

Fine Motor Control

We’ve mentioned the incredible work in humanoid (and canine) robotics being done by Boston Dynamics before, but they don’t quite have the dexterity of M3GAN…yet.

“Apparent Reasoning”

Getting into all of the ins and outs of artificial intelligence and the debates surrounding it is beyond the scope of this show, but even ardent A.I. supporters admit that “true general intelligence” or the ability for machines to actually reason, isn’t a thing…yet. Read more here.

Power Density

Even assuming these other things were possible, the battery life of M3GAN is beyond the current “power density” of anything out there…for now.

Asimov’s Laws

As Tamara references, courtesy of Asimov’s short story collection, I, Robot…see if you can spot how many of these M3GAN breaks!

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Kids, Technology, Attention Spans…

As Hakeem and Tamara discuss, while technology can be used therapeutically for kids, like anything else, there are potential drawbacks, particularly with attention spans.

The Fisher-Price bear hack

Even though this happened over a decade ago, it’s still a warning light to heed!

Hakeem’s Favorite Astronaut

OK, yes, Cady Coleman does seem pretty awesome.

WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?

For other humanoid robot fun with deep and potentially terrifying implications, have you seen our Blade Runner episode? Or might we suggest RoboCop?

The new How to Train Your Dragon is currently in theaters and we took a look at the evolutionary possibilities of dragons right here.

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Does It Fly?

Fanaddicts

Quoting Gene Roddenberry