The Joy of Trek cover art

The Joy of Trek

The Joy of Trek

By: Kay Khaki and Greg
Listen for free

About this listen

Two lifelong besties (and their trusty engineer) adventure through the vast constellations of Star Trek's decades on TV, especially the lesser-loved stories. But instead of bitching about why they’re bad, we’re going to find the joy in each of them, because everybody loves the great episodes, but it takes dedication, insight, and hard-working fools to love the clunkers too. And by Jove, we are those fools! Positive, inclusive and optimistic (though not uncritical!) we try to find the brilliance even in the least-loved episodes of our favorite TV shows!Copyright 2026 Kay, Khaki and Greg Art Science Fiction
Episodes
  • The Vulcan Hello (DSC S1 E01)
    Feb 17 2026

    The Vulcan Hello (Star Trek: Discovery, S1 E1) was recommended by Advik Goel (he/him) - Add-vic Go-El, who said: This episode was actually my entry point into the Star Trek franchise, outside of the first of the Kelvin-verse movies, so it holds a place in my heart even if DIS as a whole doesn't relative to other series anymore.

    Beyond that, I think the debate over the Vulcan Hello and its merits has always fascinated me. The show lays it out as a debate between the Federation's principles of not being the people to fire the first shot in a potential conflict, and a signal which will ensure the Klingons' respect and prevent a war.

    I think there is something delightfully contradictory about Vulcan and Klingon cultural norms and signals being seen as oppositional to the Federation's doctrine, despite the Vulcan's being core members of the Federation.

    While Burnham's mutiny is clearly the wrong way to win an argument, I have to question why the characters meant to represent a more typical Federation viewpoint, like Georgiou, are unfamiliar or unwilling to entertain the merits of something like a Vulcan Hello. At least based on what the show reveals, T'Kumva would have been badly undermined if a Vulcan Hello was delivered rather than the perceived disrespect of diplomatic entreaty.

    The Vulcan Hello first aired on September 24, 2017, written by story by Bryan Fuller & Alex Kurtzman, teleplay by Akiva Goldsman & Bryan Fuller, and directed by David Semel

    While patrolling Federation space, the U.S.S. Shenzhou encounters an object of unknown origin, putting First Officer Michael Burnham to her greatest test yet.

    The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

    Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.

    Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 1 min
  • "Peace and Long Life" (by Ruchira)
    Feb 10 2026

    "Peace and Long Life" by Ruchira, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/26995765

    "Twenty-four years after the founding of the Federation, a meeting between old friends."

    The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

    Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.

    Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Whispers (DS9 S2 E14)
    Feb 3 2026

    Whispers (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S2 E14) was recommended by He/Him, who said: Hello! Tis I, Nerdimus Prime! (Or is it The Derp Prime, we don't know yet, but we will figure it out one day... HUSH YOU, I AM TALKING RIGHT NOW!)

    In Whispers we se Chief Brien'O once again. And a hint as to why I(we) called him the most Competent in Star Trek.

    Here we see his investigative abilities. His skill. But remember, he keeps a station with Three Species variations of technology working properly. No Star Fleet Tech Shenanigans!

    And his troubleshooting skills are exemplified here. He notices a problem, he solves it. As much as the Duplicate is not our Brien'O, he is.

    Chief O'Brien is simply put, the greatest Engineer in the series. To. Date.

    Whispers first aired on February 6, 1994, written by Paul Robert Coyle, and directed by Les Landau

    While preparing the station for upcoming peace talks, O'Brien discovers that the crew have been hiding information from him and giving orders behind his back. O'Brien begins to suspect everyone on the station is gradually being altered or replaced by an unknown force.

    The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky)

    Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon.

    Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 11 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.