Roddenberry Podcasts

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode Lineage, B’Elanna and Tom get the life-changing news that they’re going to be parents. But joy quickly gives way to fear as B’Elanna confronts the pain of her past: her father’s abandonment, her isolation, and the shame she felt about her Klingon heritage. Convinced she’s sparing her child from pain, she attempts to re-engineer her daughter’s DNA without telling Tom. But where’s the line between protecting your child and erasing who they are? Mission Log weighs the science, the choices, and the consequences in Lineage.

Hosted by John Champion and Norman Lao

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 12, “Lineage”

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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.

Content warning: domestic violence

No writer in the history of the medium has a batting average of a thousand, but this last work Gene Roddenberry did for the late ’50s western Jefferson Drum is an especially challenging script from the archive, with messages that are both on-brand and off-brand for Gene, and a rare instance of a western tale that barely fits the show it’s in, let alone the style we’ve come to expect from its writer.

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 “Stagecoach Episode.”
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 Brandon Berhman as Jefferson Drum and Earl Green as Hank perform a key section of the script. 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.

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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

“My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts…”

Vulcans right before they guess your phone password.

We’ve all seen them do it. A Vulcan gets cozy with an individual, gently places a perfectly-manicured and long-fingered hand along their face, gets that distant look in their eye, and suddenly their minds are one. No, it’s not a clever party trick, it’s an incredibly useful information gathering tool, as well as an intimate (even emotional) act that Vulcans don’t take lightly and thus only deploy in circumstances that absolutely demand it. Yes, we’re talking about the Vulcan Mind Meld this week! And despite being one of the most famous pieces of Star Trek lore there is surprisingly (or perhaps thankfully) little on screen explanation of it.

But explaining how a mind meld may or may not work requires us to dig into how brains actually conjure up and store things like memories, the electrical impulses that make up thoughts, and actual real world non-verbal communication. There are also some fascinating pieces of Star Trek history to be uncovered in our quest to determine not just the “how” of this famed plot and story device, but the “why” of how it came to be. Our hosts, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi and Tamara Krinsky have once again performed a mind meld of their own to bring you the very best breakdown of sci-fi and pop culture you’re going to find in this quadrant.

Check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? right here if you don’t believe us!

https://youtu.be/YllWLbrhKP0?si=xJxH6Gbb2mUVnbUd

FURTHER VIEWING

Despite being one of the most famous bits of Star Trek lore, the Vulcan Mind Meld is something that’s only been used relatively sparingly on screen. You probably know the broad strokes of what it is and what it’s supposed to do, but here are the specific episodes and moments we used for reference in this episode:

Star Trek season 1 episode 9 – “Dagger of the Mind”

Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 episode 23 – “Sarek”

Star Trek: Voyager season 1 episode 8 – “Ex Post Facto”

Star Trek: Voyager season 2 episode 16 – “Meld”

Star Trek: Enterprise season 1 episode 17 – “Fusion”

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!

What is a Mind?

Oh no, are we getting all philosophical again like we did in our recent Freaky Friday episode? Well…maybe not as much this time. In fact, to prove it, here is an exceedingly scientific breakdown of what makes up the brain itself: neurons and how they work! See also: the concept of “theory of mind” which we have also discussed recently!

Brain Energy Signals

In order to detect what a brain is thinking, you need to read the signals…which may be electrical in nature but come in units of measure we aren’t used to dealing with!

Mirror Neurons

No, not neurons that make you behave like your evil double from a parallel universe (sorry, this is a Star Trek episode, so couldn’t resist), these are far more practical. And in a way, it’s a form of mind meld!

Technological Mind Melds

The scientific study that Hakeem references where scientists used technology to essentially create a mind meld was captured on video here.

Where are Memories Stored in the Brain?

In order to access the thoughts of another, they have to theoretically be stored somewhere, right? All this and more answered here.

Behind the Scenes!

If you want to go deeper into Tamara’s explanations about how the Mind Meld came to be, we always recommend These are the Voyages, TOS Season One by Marc Cushman and Susan Osborne and The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek – The First 25 Years by Ed Gross and Mark A. Altman.

WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?

This ain’t our first rodeo (in this case, “rodeo” means “exploration of concepts from Star Trek)!

Our first episode ever took on the transporter and you can watch that right here.

We also took a closer look at the Genesis Device from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Watch it here!

WE ARE RUNNING A CONTEST! WIN SOME COOL PRIZES!

Does It Fly? Presents: The Ultimate Nerd Giveaway

Roddenberry Entertainment's Does It Fly? is proud to present a giveaway that will make all of your nerd, geek, and sci-fi fan hearts flutter.

Want to know how to enter and win?

The main thing you’ll want to do is watch and listen for the secret word which will be mentioned in this and upcoming episodes. You’ll see the word appear on screen at a random point in the broadcast as our hosts say it, and it will be accompanied by a tone for our audio listeners. The secret word will appear in Does it Fly? episodes released between July 2 and August 22 so don’t miss ‘em!

But there are SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO ENTER! So log in at this link and learn all the different ways you can enter to win! https://gleam.io/IhJtq/dif-ultimate-nerd-giveaway

Now, as for those prizes…

SECOND RUNNER UP: