Episodes

  • Empok Nor (DS9 S5 E24)
    Jul 8 2025

    Empok Nor (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), S5 E24) was recommended by Nerdimus Prime, who said: Empok Nor, like The Omega Directive, is an unusual episode

    We have tough characters in Star Trek. We have brave ones. We have smart and sassy characters as well. And we had evil characters (looking at you Gul Ducat).

    But Garrak, as it turns out, is the only Terrifying character in Star Trek.

    And we put him against the most competent. Oh. My.

    Empok Nor first aired on May 19, 1997, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Hans Beimler, and directed by Mike Vejar

    O'Brien, Garak, Nog and an engineering team go to Deep Space Nine's abandoned sister space station, Empok Nor, to salvage components. The away team soon discover that all is not as it seems.

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

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Cease Fire (ENT S2 E15)
    Jun 24 2025

    Cease Fire (Star Trek: Enterprise, S2 E15) was recommended by nazzy (she/her), who said: For being a founding member of the Federation, the Andorians have gotten seriously short shrift over the years by various Trek series. Enterprise made that up to us, giving us more Andorians per capita than any Trek before or since! And best of all, it gave us Shran, quite possibly Jeffrey Combs's best role in a career full of them.

    And Cease Fire is a great showcase for the Andorians, and for Shran. We learn more about the long, ugly war between Andoria and Vulcan, and how that conflict has poisoned perceptions on both sides, leaving humans (in the form of Jonathan Archer) as possibly the only group capable of bridging the gap. And for a delightful bonus, we get the wonderful Gary Graham in fine form as Ambassador Soval, whose Vulcan reserve can't hide the fact he doesn't think Archer can hack it either.

    Cease Fire first aired on February 12, 2003, written by Chris Black, and directed by David Straiton

    Captain Archer negotiates a cease fire between the Andorians and the Vulcans.

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

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    1 hr and 32 mins
  • "Wearing Your Colours" (by apolesen)
    Jun 17 2025

    "Wearing Your Colours" by apolesen, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/19244734

    "Many years after the castellanship of Elim Garak, a young man finds the courage to wear a pin of his hero in an unusual colour scheme."

    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.

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    14 mins
  • JOY087 Bride of Chaotica! (VOY S5 E12)
    Jun 10 2025

    Bride of Chaotica! (Star Trek: Voyager, S5 E12) was recommended by Tonks (they/them) , who said: Mwahahaha! Intrepid crew of the USS JOYager and your Chief! You have finally met your match, for I, Tonks, present you with this truly magnificent episode to end your Voyager related woes!

    *cough* *cough* *cough*

    Where was I?

    This episode is a beautiful homage to a piece of media that inspired so many properties from Star Wars to Power Rangers to Doctor Who and a legacy that Star Trek is but one of many proud torchbearer of... That is of course the original Flash Gordon serials & its contemporaries.

    Just like your podcast, there's no hedging of bets, as this episode spends an impressive amount of time in glorious black & white. It revels in every single moment while injecting that vibrant Voyager charm & giving us a great Trek episode to boot!

    Fantastic (often over the top) acting, amazing whit, excellent one liners. It gave me an appreciation of older scifi like Flash Gordon, Asimov's Foundation, and 60s Who. Here's to Captain Proton! Here's to the Bride of Chaotica!

    Bride of Chaotica! first aired on January 27, 1999, written by story by Bryan Fuller, teleplay by Bryan Fuller and Michael Taylor, and directed by Allan Kroeker

    Paris' latest holodeck adventure The Adventures of Captain Proton takes an unexpected turn.

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

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • "Not ready" (by TFALokiwriter)
    Jun 3 2025

    "Not ready" by TFALokiwriter, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/33361315

    "Q fights for Picard not to be forcibly ascended by doing it the best way that he knows."

    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.

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    18 mins
  • Relics (TNG S6 E04)
    May 27 2025

    Relics (Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), S6 E4) was recommended by Kyyanno (Kyy for short, rhymes with Sky), he/him, who said: I've always loved the engineering side of Trek, from the designs of the ships to the entirely fictional but awesome systems that make them tick. I've read "Mr Scott's guide to the Enterprise" and the TNG "Technical Manual" from cover to cover many a time. Scotty was my favourite character from TOS, and Geordi from TNG, both making me want to pursue a career in engineering while growing up (which indeed I did!). To have both characters appearing *and* working together in the same episode of TNG was an absolute dream for me when it originally aired!

    Now that I'm older though, I watch the episode with more experienced eyes. Scotty's just trying to help and feel useful as he would have been, and yet just gets in the way, at least that's the impression he gets from Geordi, who is genuinely just trying to get his job done but doesn't quite realise his impact on Captain Scott's feelings. It's Picard's words to Scott in the holodeck, and then to Geordi later on that all a person wants is to be useful and feel wanted that *REALLY* hit home, 3 decades on.

    Sure, this episode pushes the fanboy buttons, but deep down it also makes us take a look at how we treat those around us who we feel might be past their prime (or how those of us approaching that age might feel). I did always find the "oh no, we're falling into the sun" part of the episode.... hang on.... *I SAY WE EJECT THE WARP CORE*.... don't they miraculously seem to fix everything amazingly in time to turn around and then get out of there once the doors open? Regardless, both Geordi and Scotty save the day, and the engineer in me squees with glee at it.

    Relics first aired on October 12, 1992, written by Ronald D. Moore, and directed by Alexander Singer

    The Enterprise investigates a vessel that crashed on the surface of a Dyson sphere 75 years ago. A pattern is found in the transporter buffer that turns out to be Montgomery Scott. He is released from the buffer and later agrees to return to the vessel with Geordi to help restore the logs. They become the only hope when the Enterprise is accidentally pulled inside the sphere. Guest Star: James Doohan as Montgomery Scott

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

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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • "T'Ana Takes Command" (by Wooster)
    May 20 2025

    "T'Ana Takes Command" by Wooster, can be found at https://archiveofourown.org/works/25284367

    "The USS Cerritos is under fire. With Captain Freeman and Commander Ransom out of commission, that leaves Dr. T'Ana in command of the California class ship… even if she has other things to do."

    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

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    17 mins