Thursday's Starfleet Academy premiere kicks off a brand-new era for the franchise, and we are digging into everything from character introductions and world-building to themes, canon connections, and what this premiere sets up for the future of Starfleet.

Join Girafe and the gang as they share their immediate reactions, favorite moments, and a spoiler-filled deep dive into the episode.

Episode Synopsis: After being on the run since age 6, 21-year-old Caleb, a brilliant street kid, is offered the chance of a lifetime: to join the first new Starfleet Academy class in San Francisco in over a century. There's just one problem – the person offering him the spot is newly-minted Chancellor Nahla Ake, the Starfleet captain who sentenced his mother to Federation prison 15 years ago...

Plus, what did you think about the series premiere? Your thoughts from the mailbag and live chat. That and more on episode 269 of SNP.

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We are officially ONE WEEK OUT from Starfleet Academy, and that means it’s time for WANTS & DON’T WANTS on Strange New Pod.

This episode is primarily YOUR SHOW as we dig into your hopes, concerns, and expectations for the series, along with a few of our own. And for this special edition, we can finally address some of those wants and don’t wants without spoilers, because the review embargo lifted TODAY.

Let’s talk about what we’re hoping Starfleet Academy gets right and what we really hope it avoids as launch day approaches.

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Kick off the New Year with a brand new episode of Strange New Pod as Julian and Giraffe sit down with writer and game designer Carlos Cisco for a wide-ranging conversation spanning Star Trek and tabletop RPGs.

Carlos dives into his work as a writer on Star Trek: Discovery, his contributions to Star Trek Adventures, and his role in helping develop the brand new TTRPG Daggerheart. They also take a deep look at his latest release, Pistolheart, a Western-inspired supplement for Daggerheart that brings six-shooters, frontier justice, and genre-bending storytelling to the system.

From Starfleet to the final frontier of the Old West, this episode explores storytelling across mediums, adapting tone and genre, and what it takes to build compelling worlds, whether on screen or at the table.

As Data once said, "Saddle up, lock and load." (and roll some dice).

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Merry Christmas and welcome to a special holiday edition of Strange New Pod.

Julian sits down with Jim Johnson, Project Manager for Star Trek Adventures at Modiphius, for an overdue and insightful conversation about the past, present, and future of STA.

They discuss Jim’s background and love of theater, reflect on how Star Trek Adventures Second Edition has grown since its 2024 launch, and why the Starter Set remains such a strong entry point for new players. The episode also touches on the game’s place in today’s expanding TTRPG scene, recent releases like the Technical Manual and Exploration Guide, and the latest mission brief collection, Five Year Missions.

The conversation wraps with a look ahead at what 2026 holds for Star Trek Adventures. A perfect listen for the holidays and for anyone ready to boldly go.

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This week, we are diving into some of our favorite under-the-radar Star Trek episodes that deserve a lot more love. Deep cuts, strange choices, and episodes that quietly say a lot about the franchise we love.

This week’s picks:

Julian revisits TNG Season 1’s “Arsenal of Freedom,” a rough era classic packed with big ideas, strange tech, and early-series charm.

Hawk breaks down TNG Season 6’s “Schisms,” one of the creepiest and most unsettling hours of Star Trek ever aired.

Emcee charts a course through Deep Space Nine’s “Explorers,” a heartfelt and underrated character piece with legacy, family, and stars in its sails.

Join us as we celebrate the odd, the overlooked, and the episodes that stuck with us long after the credits rolled. Like, subscribe, and engage! And thanks for making this a great year of Strange New Pod.

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With Skydance’s acquisition of Paramount, the Trek movie landscape has shifted once again. The Kelvinverse looks to be shelved (again), and now rumors are swirling about a brand new cinematic take on Star Trek from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley.

So what’s changed since our Trek at the Movies panel at Trek Long Island? A lot.

We’re breaking it all down with our friend and guest Jean Kang! The studio shakeups, the creative rumors, the possibilities for Trek’s next big-screen era, and what this could mean for the franchise moving forward.

Plus, we want to hear from you. What do you want from the future of the Trek movieverse? Which stories should Trek tell next? Who should take the captain’s chair?

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In the latest episode of Alternative Space, host Amy Imhoff sits down with the brilliant Susan and Tilly Bridges for a thoughtful, candid, and energizing conversation about representation across the Star Trek universe and beyond. Together, they dig into the realities of being women and trans creators in the writers' room, the complexities of being the “token” guest on convention panels, and how diversity has evolved (and de-evolved) throughout the Paramount era of Trek.

They also dive deep into their acclaimed new Star Trek: Voyager comic mini-series, Homecoming, now three issues in and already raising the stakes for fans hungry for more Janeway and co. Insightful, honest, and full of Trek love, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on Strange New Pod, we honor the legendary Tony Todd on what would have been his birthday and a little over a year since his passing.

We look back at his unforgettable impact on Star Trek, from Kurn, brother of Worf, to Older Jake Sisko in "The Visitor," to the formidable Hirogen Alpha on Voyager.

We also celebrate his powerful legacy in film and genre storytelling, reflecting on why his presence continues to resonate with fans everywhere.

Join us as we remember, celebrate, and pay tribute to an icon.

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