Ceti Alpha 3: A Star Trek Podcast
344 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 33 ratingsDarren, Daniel, and Phillip are marooned on Ceti Alpha 3 with only their expansive knowledge of Star Trek, and a sense of humor, to keep them alive. Join the trio as they discuss 50 years of Trek TV series and feature films.
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Episodes
093 - These Are The Frustrations
September 07, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBAre They Really That Bad - These Are the Voyages... Star Trek: Enterprise’s finale is much debated in fan circles. Did it do justice to the prematurely cancelled series? Did Tripp have to die? Was it necessary to make it a Next Generation episode? The trio revisits the episode to see if it deserves all the controversy. What do you enjoy about this series finale?
092 - Working Niner to B5
August 31, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBContrasting DS9 & Babylon 5 The battle of the space stations raged in the 1990s. Darren and Phillip introduce Daniel to "Babylon 5" thru the first season episode "Believers." They examine the "faith vs. science" story thru the lens of how "Deep Space Nine" might tackle a similar conundrum with Dr. Julian Bashir. Are you a fan of "Babylon 5"?
088 - U.S.S. Lollipop, Dominion Fighter
August 27, 2018 18:00 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBCA3 RPG, Part Two "And now, the conclusion..." Last week left Lt. Hegg and Lt. (jg) Thovin captured by Dominion forces. In this part two of Ceti Alpha 3's inaugural roleplaying game, Darren and Daniel have to figure out how to escape a Dominion prison and return to Starfleet forces. Or will another adventure be their fate? Join them as they face down a Vorta, conduct a fire fight with the Jem'Hadar, and using their cunning with GameMaster Phillip.
091 - Yo Gamma Gamma
August 24, 2018 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MBBuilding the Gamma Quadrant. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced us to the Gamma Quadrant. It's controlled by The Dominion, with Founders, Vorta, and Jem'Hadar. But surely there's more to the quadrant than one regime? We explore what more we saw, and what we could have seen, other than hunting Tosk and dealing with game board shilling aliens. What would a Gamma Quadrant-based Star Trek series look like? Join us through a journey down the wormhole in exploring the Gamma Quadrant.
090 - Things Fall Apart
August 17, 2018 05:00 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBAre They Really That Bad? - Threshold "Star Trek: Voyager" gave the franchise one of its most infamous episodes in 50 years with "Threshold." Is it so bad, it's good? Or just bad? The trio is joined by Voyager-expert Charlynn to help determine the answer. Are they diamonds in this rough? What can be saved? And what makes Team Lizard Babies so iconic. Let us know where you rate "Threshold," based on it's reputation.
089 - Unexpected But Delightful
August 09, 2018 08:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBThe Return of Jean-Luc. With the revelation that Star Trek fans will see the return of Jean-Luc Picard to the small screen, the trio is a-Twitter with excitement, mixed feelings, and speculation. They look at what possibilities await our favorite captain on CBS All-Access, and what it could mean for the future of the Trek franchise. What are you looking forward to with a future Picard series?
087 - Don't Order the Cardassian Sunrise
July 27, 2018 05:30 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBCA3 Role Playing Game (RPG) It was only a matter of time - in this episode, Phillip, Darren, and Daniel talk general Trek & their thoughts about season two of "Star Trek: Discovery," after the teaser trailer dropped (00:00 to 24:51). The trio then begins (24:52) their inaugural RPG campaign: Darren and Daniel reprise their previously used characters in other Star Trek RPG formats - Lieutenants Hegg and Thovin, respectively. The two junior officers find themselves on a special mission to Gorn...
086 - Ready Player Quark
July 20, 2018 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBAre They Really That Bad? Move Along Home. Daniel continues his series of giving those "bad reputation" episodes another look. In this second installment, the trio looks at Deep Space Nine's entry, "Move Along Home." This season one episode is considered to be among the pantheon of terrible episodes - but is there more to this Gamma Quadrant alien board game demonstration? From increasing the difficulty of levels, to writing more of a story, to considering how many contributions the chu-la K...
085 - Air With Words
July 13, 2018 05:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBOriginal Star Trek Stories on Big Finish This month marks the debut of "Star Trek" on Big Finish productions (https://www.bigfinish.com). The first set of stories are an audiobook - but what could this mean for original audio dramas? Phillip, Daniel, and Darren pitch different ideas that incorporate Star Trek actors and continue the stories of "lower decks" characters. They also discuss the different approaches to canon and the Trek novel-verse. What story would you pitch as an original Sta...
084 - B'elannatrix Lestroi
July 06, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBStar Trek at Hogwarts Darren, Daniel and Phillip imagine a far of world where Hogwarts has been populated not by witches and wizards but by Star Trek characters. Listen as we try to see just how far we can stretch this idea.
083 - The Controller
June 29, 2018 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAre They Really That Bad? - Spock's Brain Daniel kicks off his series, focusing on so-called infamous Star Trek episodes. But are they really that bad? The trio begins with The Original Series entry "Spock's Brain." A mix of odd camera angles, a focus on secondary characters, and an episode title that just can't be ignored, this third season opener becomes a mixed bag. But Daniel, Darren, and Phillip discuss whether it deserves the title of worst episode ever. What's your most memorable pa...
082 - Officer in Charge of Sitcoms
June 22, 2018 05:00 - 51 minutes - 46.7 MBProposed Star Trek Spinoffs, Part 2 Star Trek is wonderful - fans are gifted with so many series (and movies) to watch, from the 22nd to the 24th Century. But - what if there was MORE Star Trek? Phillip, Daniel, and Darren take another meeting and pitch their ideas for more spinoffs from the existing Star Trek live series. What if we finally saw a “whatever happened to Prime Lorca?” series from “Star Trek: Discovery”? What about a show about intergalactic con men and women “cleaning up” from...
081 - Turbo Lift Pitch
June 15, 2018 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBProposed Star Trek Spinoffs Star Trek is wonderful - fans are gifted with so many series (and movies) to watch, from the 22nd to the 24th Century. But - what if there was MORE Star Trek? Phillip, Daniel, and Darren take a meeting and pitch their ideas of spinoffs from the existing Star Trek live series. What if Star Trek: The Next Generation led to a medical drama starring Nurse Ogawa? What if Star Trek: Deep Space Nine saw an "Office"-like comedy prequel based on Utopia Planetia? A "Saved b...
080 - Wunderkind
June 08, 2018 08:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBStar Trek in Wonderland. Star Trek provides so much to their fans - great stories and characters, a sense of hope for the future, a dazzling prediction of future technology and more. There is also the simple sense of wonder - whether in special effects or small moments. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip look at the moments of "wonder" in Star Trek, and why they are so important. What's your favorite "wonder"ful moment in Trek?
079 - Last Contact
June 01, 2018 05:00 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBWhat If ... It Wasn't the Vulcans at First Contact? April 5, 2063 - one of the most historic days for Earth in "Star Trek." However, Daniel, Darren, and Phillip imagine a reality where it wasn't the Vulcans that landed in Montana. What if it had been the Klingons? Or Cardassians? Or Denobulans? The trio goes through the effects on human history if Earth's first contact had been with any other Trek alien species. Which alien species would you most want to have first contact with?
078 - No Spock = Rage Quit
May 18, 2018 07:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB"The Cage" Overview The season one finale of "Star Trek: Discovery" gave viewers their first glimpse of the Captain Christopher Pike-led starship Enterprise since The Original Series. Phillip, Daniel, and Darren decide to view the original source material of the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," to see where the season two premiere episode of DSC will lead us. They discuss the characters, technology, and other features from the first ever episode of Trek that they are looking forward to see...
077 - It's A Small Galaxy After All
May 11, 2018 19:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBStar Trek Theme Park With Star Wars land coming to the Disneyland Resort next year Daniel, Darren and Phillip decide what a Star Trek theme park would look like. Located in central Montana your stay will be surrounded by Klingons, Vulcans and Starfleet. What would you add to your Star Trek theme park?
076 - Crisis of Infinity Treks
May 04, 2018 05:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBWriting the Star Trek Discovery Movie The final scene of Star Trek Discovery's first season showed us the starship Discovery meeting the U.S.S. Enterprise. The trio decides to pitch their idea of a Discovery movie that answers the question - what happens next? They imagine an epic story where Captain Pike's distress signal leads to a starship Enterprise caught in a temporal dimensional eddy leading to the Discovery crew traveling among multiple Enterprises -- but only one can survive in the ...
075 - Do You I Do?
April 27, 2018 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBTrek Marriages. We know that romantic stories can play a part in many “stories of the week” in the Star Trek franchise. But what about the long-term romances? Phillip, Daniel, and Darren look at the trial and tribulations of committed couples in Starfleet and wonder why they are so rare. Who is your favorite married couple in Trek?
074 - 1701-D4
April 20, 2018 05:00 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBIf the Enterprise-D Had Lived in the Movies We all know that the Enterprise-D was destroyed and unable to be salvaged in "Star Trek: Generations." In this episode, Darren, Daniel, and Phillip try to imagine the rest of the Next Generation feature films with our favorite Galaxy-class vessel. What if the flagship went through the same evolution as The Original Series' Enterprise in the movies - with a modified version as its successor, analagous to the "All Good Things" model. How would it hav...
073 - Replicator Games
April 13, 2018 07:30 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBThe Ultimate Star Trek Crew Bracket. There has been a lot of uses of “pop culture” brackets following the end of sports ball bracket season. Daniel, Darren, and Phillip put their own spore drive spin on the concept - they pick a captain and crew member from each series and “pit” them against each other in a “Hunger Games”-esque scenario. Which pair will come out on top? And which partners might turn on each other? What Trek character makes it to the end, with arms raised in victory? Join thi...
072 - Chang is Lady MacBeth
April 06, 2018 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBShakespeare in Star Trek VI In this week of 4/1, the Ceti Alpha 3 duo tackle the ubiquitious use of William Shakespeare in The Original Series' final feature outing, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. From the film title itself to General Chang's frequent quotations, Jessica and Phillip look at how Klingon culture embraces the Bard and more. What is your favorite Shakespeare line from the movie?
071 - Not the Farragut
March 30, 2018 05:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBPicking Your Fantasy Starfleet Assignment We all dream of serving on the Enterprise with Captain Kirk or Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. But the trio decides to pick their fantasy Starfleet assignments outside of the "main" ships and space stations. This leads to some surprising choices across time and space. Join the stranded team as they do a round-robin exercise of picking their future starship assigments. Which secondary Star Trek ship would you choose to serve on?
070 - USS Diversity
March 23, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBStar Trek: Titan Pilot Episode. Star Trek fans hunger for the continuing adventures of the 24th Century. Many of those stories live on in the novels, including those with Captain William T. Riker and the starship Titan. However, Daniel, Darren, and Phillip decide to write and pitch their own television pilot for “Star Trek: Titan,” with new characters and some familiar faces. They fill in the senior officers with a diverse group of aliens, and a story that strikes at the heart of the United F...
069 - Ensign Comp
March 16, 2018 06:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBSwitching Trek Crew Roles Every so often in Star Trek, a crew member will be asked to take another's role - Worf took over for Yar after her death in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and Saru got placed on the command track after Burhnam was sentenced to life in prison in "Star Trek: Discovery." In this thought experiment episode, Phillip goes through every live-action Star Trek television series and has Daniel and Darren fill a "vacated position" with an existing person from that same seri...
068 - On The Big Screen
March 09, 2018 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBEpisodes That Should Have Been Movies. We love our Star Trek movies (er, most of them...) and those two- and three-part episodes. However, there are still some individual Star Trek episodes that could have shined on the silver screen. Darren, Daniel, and Phillip take turns pitching episodes from 50 plus years of Star Trek that would have brought our favorite characters to feature length stories (and budgets). Which idea do you think would be the best movie? Which episode should have been mad...
067 - Moriarty's Holodeck Escape Room
March 02, 2018 06:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBCreating a Star Trek Escape Room The trio has been stranded on Ceti Alpha 3 for while, so it's time to think about escape! Daniel, Phillip, and Darren are joined by Escape Room GameMaster Zach LaVoy (@ZachLaVoy) as they create a Star Trek-themed escape room. They establish "Professor Moriarty's Holodeck Mis-adventure," as well as specialized escape room ideas for each of the live-action Star Trek series/movies. Join them as they use Satan's Robot to give clues, have an apple waiting in the K...
066 - Trek Konvention
February 23, 2018 12:00 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBThe Ultimate Star Trek Convention Daniel, Darren and Phillip plan the ultimate 2 day Star Trek Convention. There will be sets, stars, cosplay, music, bars, dancing, escape rooms and more. Listen as we spare no expense to make thousands of fans happy.
065 - Season 2 The Search for Spock
February 16, 2018 06:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MB"Will You Take My Hand?" Analysis Chapter one (or is it chapter two?) of "Star Trek: Discovery" comes to a close with this season finale. Daniel, Darren, and Phillip take one last trip in the Crossfield-class Starfleet vessel before turning off the mushroom drive for hiatus. They discuss whether the Klingon War came to a satisfying end, how Michael's redemption was earned, and if all the characters landed in an interesting place at season close. They also give their season one ratings and lo...
064 - Spoooorrrrreeeppeeeeedoooooeeeeessss
February 09, 2018 09:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBThe penultimate episode of season one gives us a Mirror Empereor with a surprising new role, a devasted and perhaps morally-wounded Federation, and a plan to end the Klingon War once and for all. So this should all get wrapped up nicely in the one remaining episode! Darren, Daniel, and Phillip follow the episode chronologically, looking at character moments and how all the previous episodes have led the Discovery crew to desperate acts. The trio attempts some predictions for the season finale...
063 - Space Risk
February 02, 2018 06:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MB"What's Past is Prologue" Analysis The first season of "Star Trek: Discovery" is coming to a close, and things are happening fast. So fast, that the trio does their first-ever "quick reaction" episode, recording just an hour after "What's Past is Prologue" was uploaded onto CBS All Access. With all the twists and turns in this Mirror episode, and a plot moving at mushroom warp speed, Phillip, Daniel, and Darren try to absorb it all in, talk about how fan predictions were proved wrong (or rig...
062 - Strategema on the Brain
January 26, 2018 09:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MB"Vaulting Ambition" Analysis In the shortest episode of Star Trek ever we get many confirmations, reveals and questions about what the last 3 episodes will hold. Captain Lorca is ... revealed. And the trio has a lot to say about it. Join them as they examine the Discovery’s continued adventure into the Mirror Universe with Emperor Georgiou, sampling Kelpien dishes, and Stamets meets himself & his departed partner. Where do you think these storylines are going? What surprised you the most?
061 - I'm a Mirror For You Too
January 19, 2018 06:00 - 56 minutes - 52 MB"The Wolf Inside" Analysis "Star Trek Discovery" finally commits to revealing some long-awaiting plot twists in "The Wolf Inside," but unfortunately the Mirror Universe swallows co-host Darren Moser. However, Daniel and Phillip welcome Andi VanderKolk (@firsttimetrek) to help discuss Lt. Ash Tyler's tendency to sweat and look nauseous, when it's appropriate to tell someone who their Mirror version counterpart is, and Captain Lorca's true identity. Join this Mirrorverse trio, and then let us ...
060 - Captain Killy
January 12, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MB“Despite Yourself” Analysis Star Trek: Discovery returns with a mid-season premiere that puts our crew in the Mirror Universe ... and starts killing people off. The trio is join by Lee Hutchison to not only gauge the accuracy of Captain Lorca’s Scottish accent but how we should handle all the plot twists in this episode. Are the myriad of “surprises” getting you excited about the rest of season one? Or does the producers’ chants of “trust us” make you nervous? Let us know!
059 - To Boldly Go
January 05, 2018 06:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MB"Star Trek Continues" Series Finale Discussion The five year mission of the original starship Enterprise, NCC-1701, was cut short by NBC in the 1960s. But fans kept the stories alive in a variety of forms, one of those being the recent series "Star Trek Continues" (http://www.startrekcontinues.com). The two-part series finale "To Boldly Go" features our favorite Star Trek characters, along with "new" members of the STC crew, joining together for a final mission that leads to goodbyes, promo...
058 - Rom and Quark Discover Christmas
December 29, 2017 09:30 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBCeti Alpha 3 Holiday Special. The trio has spent over 50 episodes talking about the Star Trek franchise. This holiday week, Daniel, Phillip, and Darren take the time to reflect on holidays in Star Trek, how various characters would view the myriad of Christmas traditions, and what makes a Ferengi say "Bah Humbug!" Join the stranded crew and enjoy the festive roundtable discussion of a Ceti Alpha 3 Holiday Special (with no mentions of Life Day ... we swear).
057 - They Left the Bag in the Probe
December 22, 2017 06:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBTrek Outside of Trek, Part 2 There are a variety of Star Trek episodes that take place outside of the environment of starships, space stations, aliens, and technology. They depict almost "day in the life" episodes that are far and away from the trials and tribulations of Starfleet and its time. In this second installment, the trio looks at two such "Treks" outside of Trek with "Carbon Creek" (ENT) and "Far Beyond the Stars" (DS9). The former is considered a good entry for its series, while t...
056 - Dystopia Planitia
December 15, 2017 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBStarship Design Daniel, Darren and Phillip design their own starships in the Star Trek universe. Will this year have more warp nacelles or double hulls? Ring drives or spore drives? Listen and find out.
055 - The Orville
December 08, 2017 06:00 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MB"The Orville" Season One Discussion Star Trek fans cannot help comparing Fox's "The Orville" to CBS All Access' "Star Trek: Discovery." The trio leaves all comparisons aside, and instead talk about the first season of Seth MacFarlane's new science fiction series. Characters, aliens, and new technology all make this television show a unique series. How much like Star Trek is it? Does Seth capture the heart of Star Trek: The Next Generation and other Trek series, or is it simply a basis for a...
054 - Picard is The One
December 01, 2017 06:00 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBTrek Outside of Trek, Part 1 There are a variety of Star Trek episodes that take place outside of the environment of starships, space stations, aliens, and technology. They depict almost "day in the life" episodes that are far and away from the trials and tribulations of Starfleet and its time. In this first installment, the trio looks at two such "Treks" outside of Trek with "The City on the Edge of Forever" (TOS) and "The Inner Light" (TNG). Both these episodes are considered fan favorites...
053 - And Now For Something Completely Different
November 24, 2017 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBHumor in Trek. Every mid-season hiatus deserves a laugh, or at least that’s how the trio is spending their first non-Star Trek Discovery episode. They discuss all the light-hearted moments, characters, and lines from around the Star Trek franchise. What’s your favorite laugh out loud Trek moment?
052 - Death Closet
November 17, 2017 06:30 - 1 hour - 78 MB"Into the Forest I Go" Analysis The mid-season finale of "Star Trek: Discovery" packs a spore-filled punch - so the trio welcomes Hayley Stoddart as a guest-host to discuss the episode. From Krazy Klingons, boarding parties, and missing admirals, this episode creates a great cliffhanger while wrapping up some storylines. What do you think awaits the crew of the Discovery in January?
051 - Captain Tilly
November 10, 2017 10:30 - 1 hour - 70.3 MB"Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" Analysis. Energy beings and Klingon plots prove to be so complicated that the trio is joined by guest Norman Lao (co-host, “Blood of Kings” & “DiscoVille” podcasts) to discuss this episode. They attempt to figure out if anyone died, whether possessed characters have culpability for their actions, and what the cliffhanger ending means for the mid-season finale. Let us know your thoughts — did we get it right?
050 - Spore Drive! Spore Drive! Spore Drive!
November 03, 2017 05:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MB"Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" Analysis Join the party as Tristan Riddell (co-host, "Punch It" and "Nerd Nuptial") join the stranded trio on Ceti Alpha 3 to talk episode seven of "Star Trek: Discovery." The quartet goes round and round on Harry Mudd, Michael's ability to romance, and how much of a party animal Stamets can be on the Discovery. How much of a villain do you think Harry Mudd is? Did you enjoy the DISCO party? Let us know!
049 - The Vulcan Matrix
October 27, 2017 08:30 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBDarren and Daniel are joined by Char (@ohtheprofanity) from "Punch It" as they discuss the Star Trek: Discovery's 6th episode "Lethe". What past is Captain Lorca hiding? How can Michael enter the matrix of Sarek's mind? This backstory heavy episode takes us deeper into these characters history.
048- Stamet' Jim, I'm a Tardigrade, Not a Navigator
October 20, 2017 05:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MB"Choose Your Pain" Analysis Harry Mudd, Starfleet prisoners, Acting Captain Saru ... and lots of TV-MA material! All this and more in episode five of "Star Trek: Discovery" as the trio is joined by guest co-host Grace Moore (@BonecrusherJenk) of "Women at Warp - A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast." They discuss the continuing story of Captain Lorca, not knowing character names, and idenitfying the right Klingon. What did you think of the adult themes in this episode? Are you looking forward to...
047 - Don't Fear the Ripper
October 13, 2017 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.3 MB"The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry" Analysis. Rank None Micheal Burnham begins to settle in with the crew of the Discovery as the trio talks episode four with guest co-host Michelle Toven (@mtoven). Captain Lorca sends the ship on its first mission via the spore drive, and we say goodbye & hello to members of the crew. Join the discussion of the newest episode of Star Trek: Discovery. What surprised you most about this episode?
046 - Dread Pirate Lorca
October 06, 2017 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB"Context is for Kings" Analysis The trio talks the third episode of "Star Trek: Discovery," which finally introduces the starship Discovery, its captain, crew, and mission. Guest co-host Eric Barry (@trekkieb47) of "Starfleet Escape PodCast" transports to Ceti Alpha 3 to help discuss prisoner Michael Burhnam's arrival on the Discovery, her landing party mission on the starship Glenn, and how everyone hates her on the dastardly pirate crew.
045 - Robot Face
September 29, 2017 08:30 - 1 hour - 85.5 MB"The Vulcan Hello"/"Battle at Binary Star" Analysis. ?The first two episodes of "Star Trek: Discovery" gave audiences a taste of what's to come in this sixth live action entry in the Star Trek franchise. The trio dives into the design of the show, the intricacies of the characters and their moral choices, and why each episode needs more of the "Robot Face" character. There is still much more to learn about this new series, but what do these first two entries tell us about what is to come? W...
044 - Remain Klingon
September 26, 2017 06:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MBStar Trek: Discovery Premiere Reactions In this supplemental transmission, the stranded trio shares their first thoughts about episodes one and two of Star Trek: Discovery. With CBS and CBS All Access (as well as Netflix, across the globe) showing this new Trek series, Daniel, Phillip, and Darren discuss what stood out, where they think the series is going, and what hit them as life-long Star Trek fans encountering the newest series in the franchise. What were your first impressions? And ha...