Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast

As we near the end of Starfleet Academy‘s inaugural season, we see real character growth in our young cadets — as well as in returning characters, including Voyager‘s Doctor.

Ken and Staci empathize with Darem and Genesys trying to live up to their parents’ expectations, even if we wonder what makes a pebble identifiably Khionian.

And the parallels between Sam, Tarima, and Our Town‘s Emily Gibbs hit us in all the feels, as a returning character from Discovery gives a nuanced and gracious approach to facing trauma and living in the moment.

Stream the audio edition of Transporter Lock above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Podchaser, or the Internet Archive.
(The post Starfleet Academy S1E07–08: Ko’Zeine & The Life of the Stars first appeared on Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast.)

Photonic protagonist Sam becomes the vehicle for an unexpected and emotional coda to Deep Space Nine and the Sisko family, with familiar actors and characters once again gracing canon, leading Ken and Staci to reflect on connecting with and losing their own fathers. We then get the return of Paul Giamatti as Nus Braka in a chilling battle of wits and deception with Chancellor Ake, pairing with the previous episode to heal old wounds and reopen others.

Stream the audio edition of Transporter Lock above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Podchaser, or the Internet Archive.
(The post Starfleet Academy S1E05–06: Series Acclimation Mil & Come, Let’s Away first appeared on Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast.)

Starfleet Academy‘s youthful cast engage in petty campus squabbles in the third episode, showcasing some poignant character moments amidst some bizarre rounds of laser tag. A week later, they again demonstrate their ability to influence the entire Federation. Be the scale local or galactic, Ken and Staci enjoy seeing these saplings grow, likening their starting points to other fictional characters such as Reggie Mantle (Archie Comics) and Tahani Al-Jamil (The Good Place), and watching them come together as a class, team, and family.

Stream the audio edition of Transporter Lock above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Podchaser, or the Internet Archive.
(The post Starfleet Academy S1E03–04: Vitus Reflux & Vox in Excelso first appeared on Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast.)

Cadet Staci Lee joins the crew to review the debut of Starfleet Academy. Set in the 32nd century, the show follows the next generation of Starfleet officers against the backdrop of the Federation rebuilding itself after the Burn. The star of the show is Cadet Caleb Mir, who has a double agenda of finding his long-lost mother, torn from him by the very admiral who is now the school’s chancellor.

Ken and Staci love the new, young characters who are complemented by Discovery and Voyager veterans, as well as the new and familiar species, from Lanthanite, Exocomp, Jem’Hadar, Betazed, and Brikar to Khionian, Klingerite, Photonics, and Dar-Sha. It’s an exciting time for two Trek fans, one with a long connection to the series’ 60-year history, and one who is seeing it with fresh eyes.

Stream the audio edition of Transporter Lock above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Podchaser, or the Internet Archive.
(The post Starfleet Academy S1E01–02: Kids These Days & Beta Test first appeared on Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast.)

In the final episodes of the third season, Strange New Worlds gets its own take on “The Enemy” and Enemy Mine before Pike has his own “Inner Light” moment. It’s been a rough season with a few gems, some rushed editing, and a lot of wasted opportunities, as reviewed by Ken and Em.

We also share the news from the recent Star Trek Day, including the Khan podcast series and the pre-teen YouTube series Star Trek: Scouts. How much of it will be canon? Does it matter?

We’re off the air until more Star Trek debuts on Paramount+ in 2026. Need something to watch in the meantime? May we suggest Alan Tudyk’s Con Man or Brent Spiner’s Fresh Hell?

Stream the audio edition of Transporter Lock above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, Pandora, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Podchaser, or the Internet Archive.
(The post Strange New Worlds S3E09–10: Terrarium & New Life and New Civilizations first appeared on Transporter Lock - A Star Trek podcast.)