“Eye of the Needle” 30th-anniversary reflections

The discover of a wormhole gives the Voyager crew hope that they might soon be home. But there's a catch: the wormhole is just 30 centimeters in diameter. Determined to make use of the anomaly, they figure out how to send a message in a bottle and hope for a response. The answer surprises them. Not only is it from the Alpha Quadrant, it is from a Romulan. Eventually, Janeway convinces the adversary to help them. But their hopes of being rescued are dashed by one more scientific twist.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Eye of the Needle,” the story's scientific underpinnings, the crew's hopes of getting home, and the unexpected twist.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
She Blinded Me with Science (00:02:31)
Inner Thoughts (00:07:03)
Jeri Taylor's Janeway Influence (00:13:42)
Size Matters (00:15:48)
No Doctor Left Behind (00:23:01)
Message in a Bottle (00:35:54)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:52)
Closing (00:50:20)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“The Cloud” 30th-anniversary reflections

Several weeks into their journey home, both Janeway and Voyager find their energy reserves running low. For the captain, a simple trip to what used to be her private dining room for a cup of Neelix’s even better than coffee substitute might be all that’s needed. For the ship, however, a trip into a mysterious nebula is required. Voyager is hungry for omicron particles, and there seems to be a rich supply just ahead. But this cloud is not what it seems, and Janeway may need to turn to her animal guide to save the crew.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Cloud” and how the science-heavy plot wraps a character-focused story.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
How Do Starfleet Ships Run? (00:03:03)
We Are Family (00:12:05)
How Many Torpedoes? (00:18:29)
Back to Family (00:21:25)
Tiptoeing around Chakotay (00:23:34)
A Poor Man's Quark? (00:35:02)
Strange New Life Form (00:43:17)
Sandríne‘s (00:47:27)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:54:44)
Closing (00:57:24)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Phage” 30th-anniversary reflections

Chakotay, Kim, and Neelix beam into caves on a rogue planetoid to search for dilithium; but they come back empty-handed. Not only do they have no dilithium, Neelix left something even more important behind: his lungs. With these vital organs now in the possession of mysterious aliens, the ship’s new self-proclaimed chef will have to postpone the opening of his kitchen and stay in sickbay, where the Doctor has fitted him with holographic lungs. As the crew search for the aliens and try to retrieve Neelix’s organs, Janeway is confronted with an unexpected moral dilemma. After being stalked by Vidiians, you may never listen to that famous song by The Police the same way again.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Phage” and the introduction of a fascinating alien race in a story that hits right at the heart of Star Trek.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
A Species with Depth (00:02:52)
A Neelix Problem? (00:08:34)
Cooking Up Storytelling (00:17:01)
Ripe for Serialization? (00:21:07)
Real-Life Science (00:25:30)
Wrath and Compassion (00:28:05)
The Doctor and AI Evolution (00:36:02)
Kes Finds Purpose (00:42:44)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:26)
Closing (00:48:22)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Time and Again” 30th-anniversary reflections

A planet orbiting a red dwarf presents a mystery that Janeway cannot resist, so Voyager makes a pit stop to investigate. She and Tom Paris beam to the surface and discover a timepiece that has stopped working, seemingly indicating the moment that an explosion destroyed all life. Believing there is nothing left to do, they prepare to return to the ship when the world around them suddenly changes. They’ve jumped back in time one day before the disaster, to a place where a singular color palette rules.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Time and Again” and whether another trip to the well of time is the best way to help viewers get to know the series in its third outing.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Going to the Well Too Many Times? (00:02:20)
Budget Constraints (00:11:43)
Why Are They There?! (00:16:30)
Is the Mandate Clear? (00:21:35)
Meeting Fan Expectations (00:27:20)
Kes, Tom, and Developing Characters (00:32:57)
The Technobabble Crutch (00:42:30)
One World, One Outfit (00:44:47)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:38)
Closing (00:52:28)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Parallax” 30th-anniversary reflections

Caught in a galactic escape room, the newly merged Starfleet and Maquis crews must work together to find a way out while fighting with each other. Meanwhile, the Doctor experiences shrinkage and Neelix does wonderful things with vegetables. Can Voyager become one big happy family and continue making their way home or will they remain trapped inside the event horizon of a quantum singularity?

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Parallax” and how the story advances the early concepts of the series. We also dive into Jerry Goldsmith's theme and musical mastery.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Crew Conflict (00:02:22)
Forever Stranded? (00:10:46)
Depth Perception (00:16:54)
Better without Technobabble? (00:23:14)
Finding the Characters (00:30:35)
The Incredible Shrinking Doctor (00:33:31)
Goldsmith's Theme (00:38:33)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:49:33)
Closing (00:53:25)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Caretaker” 30th-anniversary reflections

In pursuit of Maquis rebels, the starship Voyager is pulled across the galaxy and quickly becomes entangled in local affairs. Captain Kathryn Janeway and rebel leader Chakotay, whose ship was also snagged by the entity known as the Caretaker, join forces as they look for a way back to Federation space. But first they must rescue missing crew members with the help of an odd merchant and his girlfriend. Once everyone has been safely returned, Janeway is faced with a difficult decision: take her crew home and abandon a world in need or destroy the Caretaker and strand Voyager 70,000 light years from the Federation.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing bring back our dedicated Voyager podcast in honor of the 30th-anniversary and kick off a retrospective that will take you through all of the series, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Caretaker” as well as the development of the show and its premise.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Connecting with Voyager (00:04:18)
The Premise (00:15:28)
Exploring the Great Unknown (00:23:05)
Giving Themselves an Out (00:32:42)
Getting to Know the Characters (00:39:15)
Kate Mulgrew Saves the Day (00:50:34)
The Prime Directive vs. Federation Ideals (00:57:27)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:04:54)
Closing (01:11:14)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

11:59.
  
It is rare that we see an actor take time out of their contracted role to play another character in the same show. Kate Mulgrew does just that in 11:59 where she plays Shannon O'Donnell, an ancestor of Kathryn Janeway in the year 2000. 11:59 is an episode that does not stick in one's mind as a memorable; however, it does bring to light some interesting questions on ancestry, the accuracy of history, and your own legacy. 

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts, Liam Smart, and Zachary Fruhling, discuss what they think of 11:59, their own ancestry, history, new year resolutions, and with the turn of the new decade: what the last decade's legacy has been.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00) 
Slipping in the Decaf (00:02:45) 
He Wants to be With His Books (00:09:12) 
Will We Ever Get to That Kind of Future? (00:16:44) 
It all Depends on Who's Writing the History (00:23:04) 
A Penny Farthing and Other Stories (00:32:27)
The First Fleet (00:36:53)
Form Good Habits (00:41:38)
Q and Guinan?! (00:45:09)
Crew Resolutions (00:48:58)
Closing (00:52:55)
 
Hosts
Liam Smart
Zachary Fruhling
 
Production
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Liam Smart (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer)  C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Message in a Bottle.  

Comedy in Star Trek can be hit or miss. The comedy duo of the Emergency Medical Hologram, Mark I (Robert Picardo) and the Emergency Medical Hologram, Mark II (Andy Dick), however, should go down in history as one of the great comedic duos of all time. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson discuss the fourth-season Voyager episode "Message in a Bottle," also known as "Frasier and Niles in Space."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Frasier in Space (00:02:56) 
Nitpicking Mode (00:06:25) 
Without the Lens Flare (00:09:58) 
Why Not Vulcan? (00:13:13) 
It's a Turning Point (00:17:13) 
Closing (00:22:03)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Faces.  

Like many of us (except for Suzanne!), B'Elanna Torres struggles with an inner dual nature. In B'Elanna's case, the struggle consists of finding the balance between her Klingon side and her human side. When B'Elanna's two halves are split into two distinct people, one fully Klingon and the other fully human, this inner struggle is acted out dramatically on screen between the two B'Elannas.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling discuss the many faces of "Faces," from B'Elanna's dual nature and Chakotay's inner Vidiian to Sulan's inner Hannibal Lecter.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
No, I Can't Relate to That (00:02:47) 
Corn and Ranch Dressing (00:07:43) 
Not DNA Again (00:14:59) 
Are Rabbits Rodents? (00:20:25) 
Closing (00:22:34)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Innocence.  

Tuvok may be known for his Vulcan stoicism, but his Vulcan parenting skills are second to none. When Tuvok's shuttle crashes on one of the moons of Drayan Two, he's forced to care for three children who, unbeknownst to him, are actually elderly Drayans aging in reverse.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling discuss the second-season Voyager episode "Innocence," in which we see a kinder, gentler Tuvok keeping the monsters away and singing the children to sleep with a Vulcan lullaby. Suzanne and Zachary also discuss reverse-aging as a metaphor for senility in old age and the fear of death, along with Chakotay's diplomacy learning curve.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Uncle Tuvok's Storytime Hour (00:01:55) 
Mind Meld?! (00:06:41) 
Old and Busted Version (00:15:59) 
A Simpler Way of Life (00:21:17) 
Is Death Something to Fear? (00:25:32) 
Propositioning an Ambassador (00:33:48) 
Closing (00:35:53)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Nothing Human.  

The real Crell Moset may have been a 24th-century Cardassian Dr. Mengele, but his holographic representation was always such a nice guy in the fifth-season Voyagerepisode "Nothing Human." In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling discuss the pros and cons of using Crell Moset's morally questionable medical research, and the possibly tainted medical knowledge it produced, to save the life of B'Elanna Torres against her own wishes.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
It's a Great Episode for Meta Treks (00:01:56) 
Everyone Has a Relative Like That (00:06:06) 
It's a Plot Device (00:09:26) 
There Has to be a Line Drawn in the Sand (00:14:02) 
I Need Holographic Help! (00:20:54) 
I'd Snuggle That (00:25:12) 
Who's Your Second Best? (00:28:22) 
Closing (00:34:55)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Virtuoso.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson discuss the sixth-season Voyager episode "Virtuoso." From The Doctor's existential crisis and newfound musical fame with the Qomar Planetary Alliance to the diversity of musical styles in the 24th century, Zachary and Suzanne discuss the fleeting nature of celebrity and the pitfalls of letting it go to one's holographic head. Plus, we give a comparative analysis of Klingon classic rock and smooth-jazz elevator/turbolift music from Harry Kim and the Kimtones.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
24th Century Funko POP (00:06:12) 
Literally Jump Ship (00:11:46) 
The Bearded Doctor Lady (00:16:05) 
Sonic Regeneration Alcove (00:20:58) 
While Tuvok Was Sleeping (00:27:48) 
Classic Klingon Rock (00:30:27) 
Smooth Jazz Elevator Music (00:35:55) 
CMO Tom Paris (00:40:45) 
Closing (00:43:14)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Course: Oblivion.  

Things are looking up for the Voyager crew at the beginning of the fifth-season episode "Course: Oblivion," from the wedding of Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres to an enhanced warp drive. But that all changes when the ship and crew begin losing their molecular cohesion, only to discover that they are, in fact, merely biomimetic duplicates of the real Voyager ship and crew, created a year before when Voyager landed on the aptly named "Demon Planet."  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson (or perhaps their biomimetic duplicates; you be the judge!) discuss the merits of "Course: Oblivion." From the minutiae of the wedding of Fake-Tom and Fake-B'Elanna to the existential burdens of being a biomimetic duplicate, Zachary and Suzanne wrestle with  whether "Course: Oblivion" is as riveting as they recall and whether "Course: Oblivion" is really just one big metaphor for our finite human lives.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Distinguished Melting Neelix (00:03:27) 
What about Harry Kim? (00:07:28) 
Warp Cores Are Like Cats (00:10:13) 
Who Is Ensign Harper?! (00:12:21) 
This Episode Is a Metaphor for Life (00:18:02) 
Goo People and an Enhanced Warp Drive (00:20:54) 
Tom with a Tommy Gun (00:25:07) 
Not as Riveting as We Remember (00:30:14) 
Goo Gone (00:34:40) 
Closing (00:37:49)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Suzanne Williamson  

Production 
Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Defending "Threshold."  

The second-season episode "Threshold" is generally acknowledged to be one of the weakest episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. But in this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling respond to a recent challenge to give their best defense, an apologia in the classical Greek sense, of "Threshold," discussing only its merits and leaving any criticism of "Threshold" in their quarters.  

From the physics of traveling at Warp 10 and occupying every point in the universe simultaneously to the importance of "Threshold" for the character development of Tom Paris and his (um, professional) relationship with Captain Janeway, find out whether "Threshold" can be salvaged from the ash heap of Delta Quadrant history and reestablished as part of the pantheon of important and valuable episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
An 'Apologia' (00:01:53) 
Everywhere at Once (00:04:01) 
To Please Dad (00:07:58) 
A Trust-Fall Moment (00:13:33) 
Collecting Dubious Medical Data (00:17:38) 
He Doesn't Trust Her, She Doesn't Cry (00:21:49) 
Will It Go To His Head? (00:24:59) 
Neelix Saves the Day (00:28:18) 
Like the Spore Drive (00:31:47) 
Closing (00:37:16)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

Drone.  

What do you get when you cross a few Borg nanoprobes, a piece of 29th-century holographic technology, and the DNA of a Starfleet ensign? One extremely souped-up 29th-century Borg drone! But this drone also comes with a human heart, willing to sacrifice himself for the well-being of his Voyager collective.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw take a dive into a Borg maturation chamber as they discuss the fifth-season Voyager episode "Drone."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
One is the Loneliest Number (00:01:53) 
I'll Have a Deuterium Gin Fizz Please (00:04:39) 
Hashtag No Boundaries (00:07:54) 
Deborgifying is Harder Than Borgifying (00:12:39) 
Input!! Input!!! (00:19:09) 
Puffing Up Like a Prize Cockerel (00:22:16) 
We Love You Even Though You're an Accident (00:29:39) 
Grinding for XP (00:36:06) 
Command Decision Flow Chart (00:43:52) 
How Many Junior Officers Does It Take to Blow Up a Ship? (00:46:12) 
Please Don't Forget to Hibernate Your Alcove When Not in Use (00:52:18) 
Closing (00:57:41)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Prime Factors.  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling are joined by Manu Intiraymi (Icheb on Voyager) for an update on the Kickstarter campaign for his multi-genre science fiction anthology project, The Circuit: Urbiessa. Then Kay, Suzanne, and Zachary drop by the planet Sikaris in search of all things pleasurable (pecan pie or otherwise) as they discuss the first-season Voyager episode "Prime Factors."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Manu Intiraymi and "The Circuit: Urbiessa" Kickstarter (00:01:30) 
Goat Vindaloo and Cyborg Goats in Urbiessa (00:04:00) 
Kickstarter Rewards and the Sweet Spot (00:06:03) 
"The Circuit" Roadmap (00:12:04) 
Touching People's Hearts and Affecting the Culture (00:16:09) 
Initial Thoughts on "Prime Factors" (00:21:43) 
Harry Blinded Her with Science (00:23:57) 
Space Theremin - "I Wish They All Could be Sikaran Girls" (00:26:06) 
When Harry Met Sally (00:28:22) 
Seska's Imaginary Brother (00:31:54) 
Janeway/Tuvok Bookends (00:34:35) 
Prime Directive Role Reversal (00:36:10) 
Space Mithril Wardrobe (00:38:42) 
The Spatial Trajector - Why Can't They Just Build One? (00:42:55) 
Bork! Bork! Bork! (00:44:20) 
Tuvok Ex Machina (00:46:18) 
The Nature of Pleasure (00:49:03) 
Janeway and B'Elanna (00:50:04) 
Closing (01:00:32)  

Hosts 
Kay Shaw, Suzanne Williamson, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Before and After.  

In the third-season Voyager episode "Before and After," we get a glimpse into one possible future for the Voyager family. In this future we see Captain Chakotay (pips and all), First Officer Tuvok (still in gold), Security Officer Neelix (also in gold), Dr. van Gogh (with holographic hair plugs), Harry Kim as Tom Paris's son-in-law (bromanced as ever), and our first peek into the notorious Year of Hell.   

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw, in an extraordinary display of podcasting heroics, travel backward through time to discuss the Voyager future that might have been.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
The Curious Case of Kesamin Button (00:01:30) 
Tom Needs a Hug (00:04:13) 
Son-in-Law Bromance (00:07:32) 
Pips and Uniforms (00:09:07) 
Human-Ocampan Hybrids (00:14:42) 
Year of Hell - Krenim and Chronitons (00:15:57) 
B'Elanna Side-Eye - An Extraordinary Display of Medical Heroics (00:18:03) 
One Possible Future - Security Officer Neelix? (00:20:09) 
Surnames and Mononyms - Linnis Paris Kim? (00:22:51) 
Recessive Human Genes (00:25:51) 
One Day She'll See the Sun (00:28:50) 
Renchens or Roentgens? (00:30:53) 
The Metaphysics of Kes's Time Jumps - Quantum Leap Style (00:33:09) 
A Slightly Different Year of Hell - No Reset Button (00:39:26) 
Neelix Got Over It (00:44:06) 
Andrew Cleaver Kim (00:47:18) 
Kes and Tom (00:48:06) 
Closing (00:52:44)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Kay Shaw  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

"Caretaker" and Celebrating 200 Episodes.  

In this episode of To The Journey, we're taking it back to the Badlands where it all began! Trek.fm patron and To The Journey associate producer Bruce Lish joins hosts Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw to discuss Voyager's pilot episode, "Caretaker," and to celebrate To The Journey's 200th episode!  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Welcoming Bruce Lish (00:01:51) 
Dentistry in Star Trek - The Sonicare Shower (00:04:12) 
Initial Thoughts on "Caretaker" (00:07:31) 
Casting, Character Relationships, and Conflict (00:12:53) 
Holoprogram Mods (00:19:52) 
What Was Most Successful? Least Successful? (00:21:02) 
Gilligan's Island in Space (00:23:41) 
The U.S.S. Voyager Filming Model and Going Digital (00:29:15) 
Crossovers and Passing the Torch (00:33:27) 
The Progenitors Revisited (00:37:17) 
Villains and Antagonists (00:41:29) 
Loungewear and Leather (00:44:20) 
Harry Kim's Enthusiasm (00:49:06) 
Unfair Janeway Criticism (00:50:50) 
Kazon Cultural Development (01:02:46) 
Bruce's Contact Information (01:10:32) 
Closing (01:11:32)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw  

Guest 
Bruce Lish  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Heroes and Demons.  

What do the epic hero Beowulf, Dr. Schweitzer, and Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram have in common? They are as one in the first-season Voyager episode "Heroes and Demons"!  

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling go into the weeds, or rather, into the forest, in search of photonic spaghetti monsters, Klingon (Danish) blood mead, and Vulcan literature lessons from Lieutenant Tuvok.  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Initial Thoughts - For the LOLs (00:01:30) 
The Doctor - First Away Mission, First Kiss (00:03:59) 
A Warrior's Name - All Hail Schweitzer! (00:06:28) 
The Equinox Version (00:09:41) 
The Doctor and Freya - A Cold Night in Denmark (00:13:04) 
Photonic Spaghetti Monster (00:17:10) 
Tricorder Exocomps (00:21:28) 
Tuvok and Chakotay on Vulcan Literature (00:23:46) 
Klingon Blood Mead (00:28:27) 
Harry the Shield Yeoman (00:29:56) 
Not a Beowulf Scholar (00:33:11) 
French Twist or Combover? (00:35:58) 
Counselor Kes (00:38:26) 
Dante's Inferno - Virgil and Schweitzer (00:41:19) 
Closing (00:44:04)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson, Kay Shaw, and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Norman Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)  

Thirty Days. 

Of all the characters in Star Trek: Voyager, perhaps Tom Paris had the greatest degree of character growth during Voyager's run, developing from an immature ex-convict into a responsible Starfleet officer and helmsman, and a loving husband and father. The fifth-season episode "Thirty Days," however, sees Tom Paris once again in trouble with the law, and with Captain Janeway. But this time, the broken and newly demoted Ensign Paris spends his thirty days in the brig because he acted on his principles and his conscience, defying orders from the captain who gave him his second chance only five years before. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson share their thoughts on Tom's seafaring aspirations and on the inner struggles of Voyager's beloved fly-boy. 

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00) 
The One with That Guy from Sex and the City (00:02:59)
I Always Wanted To Be .... (00:04:29)
Going Deeper (00:07:39)
Tom's Demotion - Yeoman Kim (00:10:19)
Captain Proton Saves the Day (00:13:57)
The Delaney Sisters - Dimple or No Dimple? (00:15:31)
Sailor Talk (00:17:41)
Bread and Water - The Everlasting Leola Root (00:19:38)
The Walk of Shame (00:24:00)
Tom's Letter to His Father (00:24:50)
Waterworld II: The Search for Kevin Costner (00:27:43)
Environmentalism and Bureaucracy (00:29:39)
Voyager / Sex and the City Character Matching (00:32:03)
Seven of Nine - Complying with the Collective (00:35:29)
Harry and Tom - Following Through and Finishing the Letter (00:36:52)
Tiny Tom = Jailbird Joey (00:40:11)
Aquarium in the Sky (00:41:46)
Closing (00:42:42) 

Hosts
Zachary Fruhling, Kay Shaw, and Suzanne Williamson 

Production
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Jamie Duce (Associate Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Dante Hopkins (Associate Producer) Brian Beliso (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) 

Coda.  

It's safe to say that Voyager fans generally have strong feelings about the third-season episode "Coda." Janeway/Chakotay shippers tend to embrace this episode for its tender and impassioned portrayal of the special bond between Commander Chakotay and Captain Janeway. And although "Coda" suffers from the Voyager reset-button effect (after an impressive number of Janeway death scenes!), "Coda" reveals the depth of affection that the Voyager crew share for their beloved captain. From old-fashioned resuscitation techniques to the contrasting portrayals of tenderness and suspense, hosts Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw bare their souls about all things "Coda."  

Chapters 
Intro (00:00:00) 
Initial Thoughts on Coda (00:01:56) 
Janeway Death Scenes (00:04:28) 
Chakotay's Talents (00:05:56) 
Janeway's Father (00:09:17) 
Comparison with Other Star Trek Episodes (00:11:40) 
Chakotay's Rose (00:15:12) 
Death and Meaning - Watching Your Own Funeral (00:19:29) 
Coda Quotables (00:23:38) 
Crew Reactions - Tuvok's Log Entry (00:25:01) 
Contrasts in Coda (00:29:00) 
Coda Trivia (00:31:50) 
The Doctor and Euthanasia (00:36:31) 
Final Thoughts (00:42:22)  

Hosts 
Suzanne Williamson, Zachary Fruhling, and Kay Shaw  

Production 
Kay Shaw (Editor) Suzanne Williamson (Producer) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) C. Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Kenneth Tripp (Executive Producer) Jamie Duce (Associate Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Dante Hopkins (Associate Producer) Brian Beliso (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

One vs. Doctor's Orders.

Many Star Trek fans complain when a newer show "recycles" a plot from a previous series, but what if the same plot is used on two Trek shows in unique ways that make them flourish within their respective series? In this episode of To the Journey, Char and Tristan compare and contrast Voyager's "One" with Enterprise's "Doctor's Orders." We discuss the merits of having a dog for companionship, Seven's "dream" of being in the North Dakota tundra, and which hallucinations we liked best.