Let's Talk About Treks: A Star Trek Podcast
JaQ DaRino and Earl Grey discuss the latest Star Trek series from 2017 onward, comparing and contrasting perspectives through their deep knowledge and love of the franchise. They invite listener feedback via Twitter, email, or voicemail.
Episodes
270: Level V Transporter Accident
[SNW405] This week, Let’s Talk About Treks is covered in felt and has canon strings attached. Earl Grey and jaQ` Darino discuss Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season four episode five, Level 5 Transporter Accident, including whether T’Pring is gaslighting Spock, whether any of the puppet adventure actually happened, and what the whole thing says about Spock’s burnout, masking, and responsibility f
A Case of Chiaroscuro
[SNW404] This week, Let’s Talk About Treks is watching film noir through the Earl Grey super-good explanation filter. Earl Grey and jaQ` Darino discuss Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season four episode four, A Case of Chiaroscuro, including whether the season’s genre experiments are working, why this alien planet is suspiciously good at recreating 1930s Earth, and how much aluminum foil it takes
268: Human Best Friend
[SNW403] Recorded under a rug. jaQ` discovers that the human best friend is friends with a human.
267: The Griffin Incident
[SNW402] Ship Show
This week we’re bending the genre from high concept sci-fi to horror!
Come found out all about Earl and jaQ`s take on this fascinating romp through psychological horror.
266: Valles Marineris
[SNW401] New season, brah. Time travel, dinosaurs, marsians, horses; come get yourself some LTAT Therapy, my friend!
265: Escape Fantasy
[DS9207]. By now you’ve likely already broken in to season four of SNW, but before Earl and I get there, let’s wrap up out LGBTQIAP themed “month”. Capping off our foray into that arena is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, season two, episode seven, Rules of Acquisition.
Join Us! It’s mildly interesting.
263b: Chimera, Part 2
[DS9714] This episode concludes our discussion of Chimera, the one featuring Odo’s lil big bro.
Here’s some links to some things we talked about:
A fun TV ad from 11 years ago: https://youtu.be/Qg0pO9VG1J8?si=MafWSRnsaxHfHZwG
Voyager’s Original Home Station: https://youtu.be/e-FxgLzeFpg?si=uSXYp_cWK3EoqhHd
263: Chimera, part 1
[DS9714]. Happy US Independence Day. Before the fireworks, join our fireworks as we navigate the motivations of Laas, one of the hundred displaced Founder babies sent into the universe to learn how to be even more derisive. Earl and jaQ` plunder the depths of half of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7, episode 14, Chimera.
Join us next week, yes, next week for the conclusion.
262: The Fittest
[TNG516] Once again, Earl and jaQ` find themselves apologetically sprawling across another episode in the LGBTQIAP themed month of episode, this time with Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 16, The Outcast.
Please forgive our long windedness .. maybe this makes up for our wonky release schedule?
Hit us up and let us know what you think! you can email us at email@letstalkabout
261: More Instantaneous
[DS9405] It’s a two-hour extravaganza as jaQ` & Earl seem to have a lot to say about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season four episode five, Rejoined as we continue or LGBTQ themed month, emphasis on the T — for Trill?
Thanks again for your patience; we hope you enjoy the podcast.
260: Bonehead Trill
[TNG423]. Earl and jaQ` are back at home aboard the Enterprise-D for the universe’s first glimpse at the Trill species, in Star Trek: The Next Generation season four, episode 23, The Host.
Please friends, enjoy the show!
259: Magic Wormhole
[DS9619]. Welcome to the first foray Earl and jaQ` have made into The Final Frontier of Deep Space Nine, the wagontrain that was our home among the stars some three decades ago. We’re still making our way through connections to Starfleet Academy — come find out what’s the connection here ….
258: Copay
[VOY322] Blasting to days of future past not involving Professor X, Earl and jaQ` are still slaloming the plot threads of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, examining the DNA of the freshly cancelled (they don’t know yet) series by taking a good long gander at Star Trek: Voyager season three, episode 22, Real Life.
257: Seven’s Alpha and Janeway’s Omega
[VGR421] Join Earl & Greyson navigating the twenty-first episode of the second season of Star Trek: Voyager, The Omega Directive, in honor of the recent Academy usage of the same plot device.
Now’;s your first chance to hear what an LTAT-sans jaQ` is like. Let us know what you think!
256: Academy Season One
[SFAS01]. We’ve backed our reminiscence of the season with a few samples from the gorgeous Starfleet Academy Season One soundtrack. We hope this will help capitulate you to listening to the album yourself without us prattling across it. jaQ’s most highly recommended track is “Chancellor’s Address” which truly shone that one time the Athena was exiting warp and we
255: Their Little Thing
[SFA110] At long last, Earl and jaQ` have reached the final episode of season one of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Join us as we wander the edges of the Federation and try to make hurt little boys cry, and if we can’t just lock ’em up!
254: Fingernail Regenerator
[SFA109] Maaaan it’s been hard to get this editing done. Please accept my sincere apologies; I’m under the gun at work! Please enjoy the show, and thank you for your patience! Another new episode coming later this week!
253: Kaleidoprism
[SFA108] This week, Let’s Talk About Treks has two sets of memories and at least one emotional support play. Earl Grey and jaQ` D’Rino discuss Star Trek: Starfleet Academy season one episode eight, The Life of the Stars, in which Tarima returns, Tilly arrives with grief-counselor energy, Sam starts coming apart at the photonic seams, and the Doctor is finally dragged int
252: Read the Labels
[SFA107] Hello! We’re a little late, so I’ll keep this brief: this episode covers Starfleet Academy season one episode seven, Ko’Zeine. Join us in a few days for SFA 1×08. Enjoy the show; see you soon!
251: On Fleek
[SFA106] Nightcrawler joins us for some fun. Nus Braka torments Nahla Ake. Someone call Olivia Benson.
250: Flowy Dress
[SFA105]. Here in episode 250, jaQ` and Earl finally conclude their twenty-eight year journey of patience: He came back.
249: Bone Dry
[SFA104] Interestingly, very little about this episode was Bone Dry — so why not come and find out what brought us to this title? It’s very relevant, for once, as jaQ and Earl stumble aimlessly through Starfleet Academy season one, episode four, Vox In Excelso. Any premonitions about what jaQ Darino might think of this very Klingon episode? Come find out if’n you’re ri
248: Tron Neon’d Out
[SFA103] Earl and jaQ` are back with more stanning of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, having finally made it to season one, episode four, Vitus Reflux. Turns out it’s not a form of heartburn. We wander through the episode’s exploration of family and belonging against the backdrop of various kinds of competition. We get into character dynamics, particularly between Raimy and Genesis
247: Orca in a Bathtub
[SFA102] Second episode of Starfleet Academy, and unlike much of YouTube, we kinda like it! Listen now to find out why.
246: Deux Ex Programmable Matter
[SFA101] In this episode of Let’s Talk About Treks, we explore the premiere of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, focusing on Season 1, Episode 1, Kids These Days. Released on January 15, 2026, this debut introduces the audience to a new perspective in the Star Trek universe, featuring the journey of Caleb Mir, a gorgeous street-smart kid accepted into Starfleet Academy. We discuss the creati
245: The Prime Detective
[TPD001] This episode, with Earl away on Risa, jaQ` has invited The Prime Detective himself, Grayson, to come and chat about The Prime Detective, as well as a certain upcoming television series.
The Prime Detective is a podcast that follows the strange new worlds where Star Trek and real life overlap. From cults and crimes to fame and culture, we explore how Trek and other sci-fi franchises h
244: Space Ships Are Easy
[VOY504] Earl and I return to Starfleet Academy — or at least the fake-me-out nearly impeccable version that the 8472vians made … Join us as we revisit Star Trek: Voyager, for the first time covering an episode of this series, namely In The Flesh, which is the fourth episode of season five.
243: Why Are You In Here?
[TNG119] Earl and jaQ` enjoy another trip back home to the Big Fat D as Wesley walks through the Academy Horror House, and Remmick menaces the crew.
242: Zaps
[STS7-9] Merry Christmas! Today, Earl and I round off our coverage of Star Trek: Scouts for now, with episodes 7-9, the continuation of Asteroid Blasters in Space!
Don’t miss our Christmas Special, released earlier today — it’s a little nod to Spock vs. Q we hope you’ll enjoy. In this episode, we delve just a bit deeper into the tragic reality surrounding the events i
Christmas 2025 – Reality’s Fringe
[XMAS25]
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Here on Let’s Talk About Treks, we very much like bringin you a Christmas special each year.
This year, I was thinking about Spock vs. Q, which is an audio play with Jon Delancie and Leanoard Nimoy that I highly recommend
This year, I thought we’d bring you an update.
We wrote a story where Trelane, most recently seen on Strange New Worlds, decid
241: Creepy Treksta
[STS4-6] We talk about Star Trek in this episode. Namely there’s a bit on the fourth, fifth and sixth episodes of season one of Star Trek: Scouts. Boy howdy I can’t wait for Academy …
240: High Swear
[SCS1-3]. Whelp. We did it. We’re doing it. it’s happening. Please enjoy this first of three episodes wherein Earl and jaQ` discuss Star Trek: Scouts. Our episode covers the first three episodes of Asteroid Blasters.
On the heel of our 2-hour coverage of TNG’s First Duty, our gift to you is this half-hour episode. Enjoy!
239: Distracting Eyebrows
[TNG519] Returning home after many years, jaQ` and Earl take a walk through Star Trek: The Next Generation season five, episode 19, The First Duty.
Come listen; it’s a party in here.
238: A Synonym for “Enterprise”
[KHN009] We’ve reached the finale of Khan and also the Christmas season. To that end, Earl’s got a new job, and it’s retail and super busy right now, so yes, we had no bananas last week, and we feel just awful about it, but here’s a shiny new podcast episode we made just for you.
Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving!
237: One Way Friend Street
[KHN008] jaQ` & Earl take a trip down a specific street. That street is Star Trek: Khan episode eight, Original Sin. Let’s talk about Treks.
237: What Do You Call With a Catcall?
[KHN007] Hey look! jaQ` & Earl am back with another episode of their scintillating podcast. This time we’re covering episode seven of Star Trek: Khan, I Am Marla. We even talk about the episode some!
235: What Kind of Jerks are These Guys?
[KHN006] This is the episode that fully fleshes out the answer to the question at its end. Join jaQ` and Earl for a lil’ romp through the sixth episode of Star Trek: Khan, The Good of All. Also, sorry we’re late; Earl’s getting used to a new work schedule. Thank you for your patience with us!
234: Modern Time History
[KHN005] jaQ` and Earl are omg bakk at it again! Today sees us wandering through the exciting events of Star Trek: Khan episode five, Imagination’s Limits. We hope you enjoy today’s show and that you’re not still mad about last week. We hope you enjoy the show!
233: Magical Thinking
[KHN004] Having survived an internet outage and a large fairly unattractive bill placing a tremendous new workload on some of our hosts, jaQ` & Earl are back with their coverage of Star Trek: Khan for episode four, Magical Thinking. We’ll be back in your ears in a couple of days to catch up — thanks for your patience!
For those of you listening now, with other episodes past
232: Please Stop Walking
[KHN003] jaQ` and Earl walk through the third episode of the podcast Star Trek: Khan, Do Your Worst, and try to figure out whose whom among all the machinations and danger on Ceti Alpha V.
231: Wonderberries
[KHN002] The Let’s Talk About Treks coverage of Star Trek: Khan continues with jaQ` and Earl’s coverage of episode two, Sheherazade. The exposition here is overwhelming, but we toughed it out and found the talky points. Enjoy the show!
Introducing: The Prime Detective
Hello, Elteeaytee listeners! Let’s Talk About Treks is proud to introduce to you a beautiful and inspired new podcast in the Anodyne Relay pantheon, produced by your buddy and ours, @TVGuyGrayson!
(jaQ` for one, thinks this new podcast is dope!!!)
Get in on the fun, check out the trailer for this upcoming new podcast, and subscribe today!
The Prime Detective is where true
230: A Podcast About A Podcast
[KHN001] With this, their first foray into podcasts … jaQ` and Earl of the Let’s Talk About Treks Podcast, which happens to be a podcast, has chosen to cover the podcast Star Trek: Khan, namely the first podcast episode of the podcast. We hope you enjoy this podcast!
Gowron in the Sky with Diamonds
[SNW310] jaQ` and Earl journey to Sky Gowron.
228: Sloppy Burrito
[SNW309] jaQ` and Earl get stranded on an asteroid together and they try to learn to braid each others’ hair, but one of them turns out to just be wearing a tattered sheet across their head. All this while they cover Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three, episode nine, Terrarium. Get in here!
227: A Whole Person
[SNW308] jaQ and Earl cover an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds featuring six and a half Vulcans, the eighth episode of season three, Four and a Half Vulcans. It's dump on Spock day (again), and Earl and jaQ` ask: What are they doing?!
226: A Kaiju Wrapped in a Journalism Coat
[SNW307] Join jaQ` and returning Special Guest Grayson to finally answer the question What is Starfleet? as we cover Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season three, episode seven.
225: Al Dente? … mmm
[SNW306] Let’s Talk About Treks would like to talk to you about this episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the sixth episode of the third season, entitled The Sehlat Who Ate His Tail. Please join us for a jaunty open, a fun close, and mostly boring stuff in the middle. What more, we ask you, could you want?
224: The Feel of Copper
[SNW305] For this journey, we’re bringing @TVGuyGrayson along for the ride! Join us for the adventure, which we promise is not another version of The Chase.
223: A Drastic Error
[SNW304] Come hang out with jaQ` & Earl near a neutron star. Also, there’s a holodeck. (and sorry we’re late)
222: Zombie Puddle
[SNW303]. Zombies. It’s the zombie episode. What more could you want out of .. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds? Join jaQ` and Earl on the ZP as they stumble through season three episode three, Shuttle to Kenfori.
221: Wedding Bell Qs
[SNW302] jaQ’ and Earl meet Trelane and Q — at least we’re pretty sure that’s what happened.
220: Green Beef Curtains
[SNW301] The Enterprise is back. Twice. Here’s your first hit of fresh Let’s Talk About Treks for the week. Stand by; there will be more.
219: Shades of (Earl) Grey
[Segment31] Let’s pretend we’re wrapping up a season and ready to get into Strange New Worlds season three. That’s when you do the clip show, right? Our sister show, Segment 31 recently hit episode 50! Herein is a sampling of the most recent five episodes to whet your appetite for that show. There’s also a little bit of an Easter Egg regarding this upcoming season of
218: Booty Blaster
[vST105] It’s jaQ’s fault. He swears he misremembered Tendi’s line during the season one finale of Star Trek: very Short Treks, also known to be episode five, which is entitled Walk, Don’t Run. Hereinst we discusses it.
217: Aaron J Waltke
[vST104] To the tune of “We Are One” from Subspace Rhapsody, jaQ` and Earl are singing the praises of the writer of this lovely episode of Star Trek: very Short Treks, season one episode four, Holograms All The Way Down.
216: Put It in a Star Trek Costume
[vST103] This episode covers Star Trek: very Short Treks season one episode three, Worst Contact.
Eww.
215: Trolling With A Purpose
[vST[vST102] The “fun” continues? Join jaQ` & Earl on yet another review of very Short Treks, this time covering episode two, Holiday Party. We also briefly revisit the previous episode, and find reason to re-rate.
214: Think of Everyone Better
[VST101] Earl and jaQ` make a fateful first foray into veryShort Treks, with their coverage of Skin a Cat, the first episode of season one. No really. Think of everyone better.
We love you; thank you for listening!
213: Riffing on Star Trek
[Star Trek: Short Treks] We’ve come to the end of our faltering ranking system for this particular series, with a bit of extra coverage we left of of the full episodes for Star Trek: Short Treks season one episode two, Calypso, and season two, episode ten, Children of Mars, followed by a brief retrospective on the series as a whole … thus far.
Thank you for listening to this St
212: “Where No Firefly” (Apple ReUpload)
[STS105] Apple seems not to be playing the original post of this episode, so here’s a second try. All apologies 🖖🏾
212: Where No Firefly Has Gone Before
[STS205] Winding down to the big Star Trek: Short Treks finale episode, Earl & jaQ` wander through the jungle with a firefly in an ostrich egg. Join us, find out about what all the fuss is! This episode, we’re covering The Girl Who Made The Stars, a gift from Discovery along the lines of a Cally-ipso/facto.
211: The Chase
[STS204] Nearing the end of Star Trek: Short Treks, this is our ranking episode for the nine minutes of cross-generation bliss. As a testament to the vastly superior intelligence, skill and craft of the Star Trek production team, we took an entire hour to walk through this episode, season two episode four, Ephraim and Dot.
210: Pike Park
[STS203] Sure, the title of Star Trek: Short Treks, season two, episode three, is Ask Not, but where would that place us if we didn’t ask — at least in this particular circumstance. If you know what I’m talking about. As far as the episode goes. And the other thing also.
This episode, jaQ` and Earl, ask. Importantly — well, that would be telling. Did you have quest
209: The Trouble with Lucero
[STS202] This time jaQ` and Earl continue with the mini Star Trek Academy lessons and deliver their propaganda-free take on Star Trek: Short Treks season two, episode two, The Trouble with Edwards.
Did you see the guy in the background in the passageway who was wearing a Disco-era skant?
I think it was in the Enterprise, so either this episode or the one before, probably around the time Una
The Wench That Was Used
[STS201] jaQ` and Earl continue their journey through Star Trek: Shorts Treks, this time at the start of season two, this episode is their in-depth coverage of Q&A, the songstravaganza brought to you by Rebecca Romjin and Ethan Peck’s respective Number One and Spock.
207: Disco Kit Bash
[STS104] Come sip some jippers on a beach with jaQ` & Earl as they effect their escape into Star Trek: Short Treks season one, episode four, The Escape Artist.
It was a hoot making this episode; hope you enjoy it 🖖🏾
206: Built on Hope
[STS103] We’re making our way through Star Trek: Short Treks, and today we hit season one, episode three, The Brightest Star. Join us, and hear all about the things — there are a bunch!
205: I See You
[STS101] jaQ` & Earl double back to catch up on Star Trek: Short Treks. Listen in for some notable notes about season one, episode one, Runaway.
204: Chcaptain Chikotle
[PRO220] Earl joins jaQ` in winding down season two of Star Trek: Prodigy as they cover the finale, Ouroboros, Part II. It has been a long road.
203: Dal Even Fal
[PRO219] jaQ` & Earl fight and fall and fight again for the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Prodigy season two, Ouroboros, Part 1.
Join the fun. It is a party. We wish you to enjoy it, and to have a day that is nice.
202: Dirk Diggler
[PRO218]. We are closing in on the season 2 finale of Star Trek Prodigy, and though we’re not here for the end, we are here for the action and fun! Join us, as we cover Star Trek: Prodigy, season two episode 18, Touch of Grey.
201: Prehensile Ganglia
[PRO217] With Star Trek: Prodigy winding down to a close, jaQ` & Earl try not to blink during the pen-penultimate episode of season two. Herein we cover episode 167, Brink.
stalk
200: Derp Derp
[PRO217]. jaQ` and Earl cover Star Trek: Prodigy, season two episode 16, Ascension, Part II .
We’re quietly hitting a milestone, and plan to celebrate in an unnumbered show. Stay tuned 🖖🏾🖖🏼
199: The Prisoner
[PRO215] Now that would be telling …
198: Sonic Rainboom
[PRO214] Things are coming together, and jaQ` & Earl bore witness to tell the tell. Join us as we walk through Star Trek: Prodigy, season two episode 14, Cracked Mirror.
Episode 200 is coming soon; if you would like to send us a voice message to be included in a special episode that may or may not happen, please send a voicemail to either email@letstalkabouttreks.com or +1 (202) 569 ̵
197: A Tribble, Cracked
[PRO213] jaQ` Darino and Earl Grey cover Star Trek: Prodigy, season two episode thirteen, A Tribble Called Quest. It’s fun. Listen now.
196: Cotton Candy
[PRO212] Earl sails with jaQ` down a lavender river of characters into a sea of cerulean bubbles of plot teeming with teamwork (and eels) as they sail through Star Trek: Prodigy season two, episode twelve, Last Flight of the Protostar, Part Two.
jaQ` kinda goes into some sort of cathartic fixation about a computer screen for a few minutes up front, and he would like to apologize. He claims
195: s3ct1on
[Section 31] jaQ` meets Earl for a clandestine little adventure out beyond Federation space, near one of the Starbases 17.
In this episode, we cover the recent direct to streaming movie, Star Trek: Section 31, and consider the flavors, textures and fit of this movie into the broader place that is Star Trek.
194: Leave That Man’s Holes Alone
[PRO211] jaQ` and Earl check in on the Prodigy kids and find a dead bird. This is our walk through of Star Trek: Prodigy, season two episode eleven, Last Flight of the Protostar, part two.
Let us know what you think of today’s episode by screaming at us on BlueSky as @letstalkabouttrekls.bsky.app (or something like that) , shoot us an email to email@letstalkabouttreks.com or smiggedy-smack u
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