Long before Star Trek props toured conventions and museums, one historic copy of the pilot episode its way into the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum with help from Leonard Nimoy and Gene Roddenberry.
This week, The Trek Files welcomes Glen Swanson, former NASA historian and author of Inspired Enterprise, to share the remarkable story of Star Trek’s first contact with one of America’s most iconic institutions. From a 1967 inquiry to Leonard Nimoy, to Gene’s formal letter offering his 16mm color print of Where No Man Has Gone Before for the Smithsonian’s collection, these early documents chart Star Trek’s leap from TV series to cultural touchstone.
We’ll explore rare correspondence, photos of Gene at the museum, and even a telegram from 1968—just as Star Trek was renewed for its third season—that shows how the Smithsonian connection helped boost Trek’s profile in a critical moment.
📄 Documents and additional references: Correspondence between Gene Roddenberry and the National Air and Space Museum (1967–1968)
📘 Guest’s book: Inspired Enterprise by Glen E. Swanson
The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha
All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha
Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.
The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!
From unlikely beginnings – a character created to introduce music videos to UK audiences – sprang a trailblazing, underappreciated #cyberpunk chapter in American genre TV. Sci-Fi 5 reloads Max Headroom into your memory.
Follow Sci-Fi 5 for your daily dose of science-fiction history.
Written by Shane Vaughn
Hosted by Ryan Myers
Music by Devin Curry
As we bring this Mission Log: The Orville journey to a close, we’re excited to welcome back André Bormanis—author of The Guide to The Orville, science consultant for Star Trek, and a key creative force behind The Orville since its inception. André shares insights from working on all three seasons, reflects on the evolution of the show, and discusses his approach to blending science with storytelling.
🌟 And we’re thrilled to announce the winners of our Master Replicas giveaway!
🎉 Congratulations to all the winners! If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry—more exciting content and giveaways are coming your way.
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Credits: Technical Director: Earl Green Producer: John Champion Executive Producer: Eugene Roddenberry
Produced by Roddenberry Entertainment | All Rights Reserved
The 44th edition of popular science fiction convention Shore Leave is coming up, and there are some changes afoot. Michael Schilling joined me to talk about them, plus the convention’s history and the celebrity guests you can expect to see if you attend. I’m T. Rick Jones and this is your Daily Star Trek News.
Shore Leave website: https://www.shore-leave.com/
Shore Leave on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShoreLeaveCon
Shore Leave on X: https://twitter.com/ShoreLeaveCon
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!
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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!
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.
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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.
In the Star Trek: Voyager episode The Void, Voyager gets pulled into a dark, starless region of space—no exits, no resources, and no friendly neighbors. Other ships trapped there have survived by attacking anyone new… so naturally, Janeway decides to make friends instead. Can a little Federation idealism light the way out of The Void? Mission Log finds out.
Hosted by John Champion and Norman Lao
MISSION LOG SURVEY: Take the survey NOW and you could win rare, original TOS film cells!
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…
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:
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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:
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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
She’s the voice of the computer on Star Trek Prodigy but when Bonnie Gordon isn’t acting or singing she’s hanging with some ghosts. That’s right chanteuse Bonnie Gordon loves ghosts! She tells host Clare Kramer and guest co-host Jake Marin all about how she first got into spirits, her most memorable paranormal encounters, and even how her an her mom have been written about in ghost hunting books. Only on Fanaddicts!
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Quoting Gene Roddenberry