Episode-by-episode Star Trek talk aboard the Starship Texas.
Tex-Trek talks through each new Star Trek episode: who wrote and directed it, whether a character's conflict feels earned and which lines reach back into older Trek. For Starfleet Academy it gives a full episode to Easter eggs, which the show calls 'Gorn Eggs', a name taken from a Picard display screen.
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Tex-Trek is a Star Trek fan podcast that talks through the franchise one episode at a time, and the installments here cover the first season of Starfleet Academy. The frame barely changes. Stephen Fathery welcomes everyone aboard the 'Starship Texas' and names the episode. Before anything else, he reads out who wrote and directed it, so names like Kirsten Beyer and Jonathan Frakes come up. That habit leads to small observations, such as directors handling the season in two-episode blocks, as they did across all three seasons of Picard. Taylor joins him for most of this season's coverage, and their conversation is loose, chatty and ready to take sides. Much of it is about characters. Sam gets open affection: praise for the performance, and for effects that make her breakdown unsettling to watch. Her quarrel with Genesis, though, is judged a little forced. Caleb gets a more patient reading. He arrives arrogant and grows steadier and kinder the longer he spends among friends. Nobody here pretends to be neutral. One self-described big Klingon fan admits to hoping Jayden would become a favourite. The jokes are dry rather than loud. A crack about the Section 31 movie is followed by an admission that it was partly a joke, and the lack of warp core pajamas for fans to buy gets its own jab. The show's most distinctive feature is what it calls 'Gorn Eggs'. The name comes from a background gag on a display screen in Picard's first season, and it stuck as the label for the show's Easter egg coverage. For Starfleet Academy that coverage fills a whole episode, with Joel in the second chair. That episode traces a catchphrase back to Prodigy and floats the idea that Discovery's tardigrades were once an option on the table. It also follows a musical instrument back to a Next Generation episode involving the Maquis. Details like these are easy to miss on a first watch, and finding them is where the show is most useful. Episodes stream live on YouTube and come out later as audio. Now and then a note flags that a stream was pre-recorded and that comments will go unanswered. The closings also plug Thursday-night first-reaction streams with Rachel, which are separate from the discussion episodes. Spoilers are unavoidable, since these conversations are meant for after the credits roll. The usual sign-off is 'live long and prosper, y'all'.
Made for: Suits a listener who is watching Star Trek: Starfleet Academy one episode at a time and wants a spoiler-heavy conversation afterward about the writing, the performances and the characters. It also suits someone who enjoys having references to older Trek pointed out.
What sets it apart: Besides the per-episode discussion, Tex-Trek gives Easter eggs their own treatment under the name 'Gorn Eggs', tracing Starfleet Academy details back to Prodigy, Discovery and The Next Generation. The Texas framing sets it apart too, from the 'Starship Texas' welcome to the 'y'all' in the sign-off.
Star Trek talk and fandom from deep in the heart of Texas! Join us as we discuss all things Trek including episode by episode coverage of current Star Trek as well as returns to the classics.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A focused post-finale look at whether Sam's conflict with Genesis feels earned.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's season finale turns on whether its central character conflict has enough weight behind it, and Text Trek keeps that question trained on Sam's shifting view of Genesis.
A Starfleet Academy breakdown that mixes season-arc tension, close listening, and glitter-vomit comedy.
The 369th Text Trek covers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy's "300th Night" with an eye on the season's larger shape. Fathery and Ms. Taylor track Caleb's disappearance, the messages from his mother, and Jaden and Tarima taking the issue to the chancellor.
A warm, time-bending Starfleet Academy review centered on Sam's reset loop and a clean Voyager connection.
Sam sits close to the center of this PlayNext review, with the reset loop framed as a sharp way to show what happens when she receives more input than her programming can hold.
A Starfleet Academy review about duty, purpose, and the pressure of being needed.
A choice between Starfleet Academy and the demands of Kionia gives this review its spine, following a character who starts in cocky self-importance and edges toward humility, support, and a more settled sense of purpose.
Fight study, fandom, and politics in motion.
Loose nerd talk with sharp friendly friction.
Doctor Who fandom with memory and bite.
Fast fandom talk with messy canon energy.
Fast franchise talk with sharp fan instincts.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Dave review Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 6, “Whistlespeak,” directed by Chris Byrne in his final Discovery episode.
Hosts discuss their top hopes and fears for the upcoming Star Trek Section 31 streaming movie.
Tex-Trek's 347th episode reviews the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season-three finale, "New Life and New Civilizations," written by Dana Horgan and Davey Perez and directed by Maria Vervillo.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Miss Taylor review To The Journey, a 455 Films documentary about Star Trek Voyager that began production in 2020 and premiered on the 2025 Star Trek Cruise.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek: The Original Series season one episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”, written by Robert Block and directed by James Goldstone.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 5, where Sam investigates what happened to Benjamin Sisko after Deep Space Nine.
Tex-Trek interviews David Mack about Star Trek Picard: Firewall, his 31st Star Trek novel and a story about Seven of Nine joining the Fenris Rangers.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor rank four hopes and one concern for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three before its premiere.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 3, "Shuttle to Kenfori," with Taylor calling it enjoyable but not especially memorable and Fathery naming it his favorite of the season's first three episodes.
Tex-Trek examines Star Trek: The Animated Series season two episode “The Practical Joker,” written by Chuck Minville and directed by Bill Reed.
Tex-Trek’s 299th episode examines the 1998 64-page Star Trek: The Next Generation and X-Men crossover comic Second Contact.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Miss Taylor analyze Episode 5 of the Khan audio drama, written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack, with story by Nicholas Meyer and direction by Fred Greenhalgh.
Tex-Trek hosts Aaron and Joel interview Star Trek: Lower Decks creator Mike McMahan about the show’s fifth and likely final season.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Joel trace Section 31 from its Deep Space Nine debut in “Inquisition” through Enterprise, Star Trek Into Darkness, Discovery, Picard, and Lower Decks.
Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor examine Star Trek: The Original Series season one episode 18, “The Squire of Gothos,” written by Paul Schneider and directed by Don McDougal.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines the 1996 Star Trek/X-Men crossover featuring Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and the original-series Enterprise crew.
Tex-Trek episode 336 revisits Star Trek: The Original Series season-one episode Arena, written by Gene L.
Fathery and Dave of Tex-Trek compare independent lists of three hopes and one concern for Star Trek Discovery's fifth and final season.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor analyze Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3, episode 5, “Through the Lens of Time,” written by Onitra Johnson and Davey Perez and directed by Andy Armaganian.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines Star Trek: Khan episode 4, “Magical Thinking,” focusing on Khan’s leadership after internal deaths on Seti Alpha 5.
TextTrek episode 353 analyzes Star Trek: Khan Episode 7, “I Am Marla,” written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack, with story by Nicholas Meyer and direction by Fred Greenhalgh.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1, episode 9, “300th Night,” written by Kirsten Beyer and directed by Jonathan Frakes.
TextTrek hosts Fathery, Rachel, Aaron, and Brandi retrospectively assess all 20 released non-French-language episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy season one.
Hosts introduce themselves and preview a full-season recap of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, thanking patrons.
TextTrek’s three hosts examine Galaxy Quest as an “honorary Star Trek movie,” including its first-place ranking in a Star Trek film poll.
Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor examine Star Trek: The Animated Series episode “The Magicks of Megas-tu,” written by Larry Brody and directed by Hal Sutherland.
Tex-Trek episode 371 focuses on Starfleet Academy Season 1 easter eggs, starting with the hosts' long-running Gorn Eggs label from a Picard Season 1 menu typo.
Tex-Trek's 370th episode reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1 finale "Rubincon," with Fothery and Miss Taylor debating whether the Athena rescue and Noose Braca payoff work.
Fathery and Ms.
["Tex-Trek 368 covers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season 1, episode 8, 'The Life of the Stars,' with Fathery and Ms.
TexTrek episode 367 covers Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season one, episode seven, 'Ko'Zeine,' with Fathery and Miss Taylor recording a prerecorded cruise episode.
Tex-Trek hosts Fothery and Miss Taylor review Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season one, episode six, "Come, Let's Away," focusing on a training mission aboard the Miyazaki that turns into a lethal encounter with the Furies.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Miss Taylor analyze Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 5, written by Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome and directed by Larry Ting.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season one, episode four, “Vox in Excello,” which follows a Klingon refugee crisis, Jaden's family history, and Nala's effort to prevent extinction.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Ms.
Text Trek episode 361 traces Starfleet Academy’s onscreen history before Starfleet Academy premieres, beginning with Gary Mitchell’s reference to Lieutenant Kirk teaching at the Academy in “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Fathery and Joel examine Academy references in TOS, the films, TNG, Deep Space Nine, and related Star Trek stories, including Wesley Crusher’s entrance tests, Nog’s application, and Boothby’s role as a mentor.
Text Trek's 360th episode examines a 13-minute 60 Minutes report about Venezuelans deported from the United States to Seacott prison in El Salvador and removed from planned CBS News broadcast.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 19, “The First Duty,” written by Ronald D.
TexTrek’s Fathery, Rachel, and Miss Taylor revisit Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 episode “Coming of Age,” written by Sandy Fries and rewritten by Hannah Lewis Shear.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Sohail, and Miss Taylor revisit Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan after listening to the Khan audio drama, focusing on Khan's scenes.
Tex-Trek episode 356 revisits Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Space Seed" and compares its treatment of Marla with the later Khan audio drama.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek Khan episode 9, "Eternity's Face," written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack, based on a story by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Fred Greenhalgh.
Tex-Trek examines Star Trek: Khan episode 8, “Original Sin,” which jumps five years after Marla's death and Kali's birth.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Miss Taylor examine Star Trek: Khan episode 7, "I Am Marla," written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Miss Taylor analyze Star Trek: Khan episode 6, “The Good of All,” written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines Episode 5 of Star Trek: Khan, “Imagination’s Limits,” written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek reviews “Magical Thinking,” the fourth episode of the Khan audio drama, written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Taylor analyze Star Trek: Khan episode three, "Do Your Worst," written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Miss Taylor review the first two episodes of Star Trek: Khan, "Paradise" and "Scheherazade," written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack from a story by Nicholas Meyer.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor assess the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season-three finale “New Life and New Civilizations,” written by Dana Horgan and Davey Perez and directed by Maria Vervillo.
Tex-Trek episode 346 reviews Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 9, “Terrarium,” written by Alan B.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor debate whether Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 8, “Four-and-a-Half Vulcans,” earns its comic premise after a Comic-Con clip created year-long concern.
TexTrek's Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor assess Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 7, “What Is Starfleet?”, a documentary-style story directed by Sharon Lewis.
Fathery and Miss Taylor review Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 6, “The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail,” written by David Reed and Bill Wolkoff and directed by Valerie Wise.
Tex-Trek’s 342nd episode examines Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 episode 5, “Through the Lens of Time,” through a cosmic-horror and archaeological-adventure lens.
Tex-Trek reviews Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 4, “A Space Adventure Hour,” written by Dana Horgan and Catherine Lin and directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor review Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3, Episode 3, “Shuttle to Kenfori,” written by Onitra Johnson and Bill Wolkoff and directed by Dan Liu.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor compare four hopes and one concern for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3.
Tex-Trek’s 337th episode examines Star Trek: The Animated Series season two episode “The Practical Joker,” written by Chuck Minville and directed by Bill Reed.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Miss Taylor retrospectively examine Star Trek: The Original Series season one episode "Arena," including Gene L.
Tex-Trek: A Star Trek Podcast examines Star Trek: The Original Series season one, episode 18, “The Squire of Gothos,” written by Paul Schneider and directed by Don McDougal.
Fothery, Rachel, and Miss Taylor revisit Star Trek: The Original Series season one episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" ahead of Roger Corby's return in Strange New Worlds season three.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Miss Taylor, and Sohail debrief a trip to Trek Long Island, a brief Manhattan visit, and the TOS set tours in Ticonderoga.
Fathery and Miss Taylor review 455 Films’ To The Journey, a Star Trek Voyager documentary produced by Dave Zappone after a five-year production beginning on the 2020 Star Trek Cruise.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Taylor interview Stefanie Gangone, founder of Trek Long Island and Library for the Kind, about the convention’s third year in New York.
Fathery, Joel, and Aaron revisit Star Trek: The Animated Series season one episode “The Jihad,” written by Stephen Kandel and directed by Hal Sutherland.
TexTrek's 329th episode reviews Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season five, episode five, "The Assignment," with guest Stan from The Salon.
Tex-Trek examines Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 23, “I, Borg,” written by Renee Echevarria and directed by Robert Letterman.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Dave, and Miss Taylor examine Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Balance of Terror,” written by Paul Schneider and directed by Vincent McAveety.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery and Joel analyze Black Mirror Season 7, Episode 6, “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” the sequel to Season 4’s “USS Callister.” They discuss Nanette Cole’s crew surviving inside Infinity, where 30 million players and microtransactions turn the game into a dangerous economic system.
Tex-Trek's Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor retrospectively examine Star Trek: Enterprise's "Carbon Creek," about T'Pol's great-grandmother and two Vulcans stranded in 1957 Pennsylvania after studying Sputnik.
Tex-Trek hosts Fathery, Rachel, and Miss Taylor revisit Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7 episode “Dark Page,” written by Hilary J.
Tex-Trek’s Fathery, Miss Taylor, and Aaron examine Star Trek: Voyager Season 6, Episode 12, “Blink of an Eye,” their first Voyager back-trekking retrospective.
Fathery, Joel, and Miss Taylor examine Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "The Magicks of Megas-tu," which originally aired on October 27, 1973.