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Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast

Meta Treks is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated to a deep examination of the philosophical ideas found in Star Trek. In each episode, Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison take you on a fascinating journey into the inner workings of Star Trek storytelling, deeper into subspace than you've ever traveled before.
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Meta Treks: A Star Trek Philosophy Podcast
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Now displaying: August, 2016
Aug 29, 2016

Return to Tomorrow.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison continue the discussion from The Ready Room episode 201 about the Original Series episode "Return to Tomorrow." Zachary and Mike discuss the core philosophical themes of this TOS episode, including mind-body dualism, trans-humanism and future evolution, dependence on technology, sensualism and physical embodiment, and this TOS episode's commentary on religion and the afterlife.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 39 (00:01:06) 
Initial Thoughts on "Return to Tomorrow" (00:02:06) 
Synopsis of "Return to Tomorrow" (00:10:21) 
Mind-Body Dualism (00:14:28) 
Trans-humanism and Future Human Evolution (00:18:47) 
Dependence on Technology (00:28:09) 
Sensualism and Embodiment (00:35:29) 
Oblivion and the Afterlife (00:44:16) 
Risk is Our Business (00:59:53) 
Final Thoughts (01:06:44)  

Hosts 
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor and Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)  

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Aug 15, 2016

Starship Phenomenology. 

Phenomenology is a post-Kantian philosophical school of thought emphasizing conceptual analysis of the objects of your first-person mental experience. In this episode of Meta Treks, Zachary Fruhling leads Mike Morrison on a guided meditation starship phenomenology thought experiment as a Star Trek inspired lesson in phenomenology. Ultimately Mike and Zachary reach the conclusion that all of Star Trek, by pushing against the boundaries of society's norms, can be thought of as a type of phenomenological analysis of the human condition. 

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 38 (00:01:07)
Phenomenology and the History of Philosophy (00:05:01)
A Star Trek Phenomenology Thought Experiment (00:13:32)
Guided Meditation - Picture a Starship (00:16:46)
Bracketing the Nonessentials (00:18:52)
A Starship Without Warp-Drive? (00:20:59)
Seeing a New Starship (00:27:16)
Starship Interiors (Incense and Sitar Music) (00:28:42)
Why is Phenomenology Important? (00:36:55)
Three Postulates - Consistency, Subjectivity, and Adequacy (00:42:07)
The Essence of the Star Trek Franchise (00:52:12)
Final Thoughts (00:59:07) 

Hosts
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling 

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) 

Send us your feedback!
Twitter: @trekfm
Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm
Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm
Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact
Visit the Trek.fm website at http://www.trek.fm/
Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm

Support the Network! 
Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

Aug 8, 2016

Deep Space Nine Season 7: Essential Trek Philosophy.  

The final season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had several jobs to do: from continuing the character arcs of an ensemble cast to wrapping up the Dominion War story line. But in addition to character arcs and story lines, season 7 of Deep Space Nine also continued what Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison have termed "philosophy arcs." From the nature of conjoined consciousness to a look at the best and worst of human nature (through Ferengi eyes), season 7 of Deep Space Nine explores well-trodden Star Trek philosophy territory but with nuances and scenarios unique to Deep Space Nine

Chapters
Welcome to Episode 37 (00:01:07)
Initial Thoughts on Deep Space Nine: Season 7 (00:01:25)
When It Rains... (00:05:51)
Extreme Measures (00:08:43)
After Image (00:20:41)
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River (00:32:51)
The Dogs of War (00:36:02)
Honorable Mention: Covenant (00:37:34)
Honorable Mention: Tacking Into the Wind (00:47:46)
It's Only a Paper Moon (00:49:06)
The Siege of AR-558 (00:54:59)
'Til Death Do Us Part (01:01:38)
Honorable Mention: Take Me Out to the Holosuite (01:06:17)
Honorable Mention: Once More Unto the Breach (01:07:07)
Honorable Mention: Chrysalis (01:08:39)
Honorable Mention: Field of Fire (01:09:48)
Honorable Mention: Strange Bedfellows (01:10:46)
Essentials Recap (01:12:18)
Final Thoughts (01:12:56) 

Hosts
Zachary Fruhling and Mike Morrison 

Production
Mike Morrison (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Aug 1, 2016

The Philosophy of Star Trek Beyond.  

In this episode of Meta Treks, hosts Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling share their initial thoughts on the philosophical themes and overall message of Star Trek Beyond. From the existential journeys of Kirk and Spock, to Spock's moral obligation to his own endangered species, to Balthazar Edison's resentment-based militarism and perpetual war, Star Trek Beyond continues the ongoing Star Trek tradition of philosophical and character-driven exploration of the human condition.  

Chapters 
Welcome to Episode 36 (00:01:06) 
Initial Impressions of Star Trek Beyond (00:03:08) 
The Existential Journeys of Kirk and Spock (00:21:51) 
Spock's Moral Obligation to His Own Endangered Species (00:41:29) 
The Tragedy of Balthazar Edison - Militarism and Perpetual War (01:03:01) 
The Message of Star Trek Beyond (01:15:32) 
To Absent Friends - Remembering the Past, Living for the Future (01:21:29) 
Final Thoughts (01:27:30)  

Hosts 
Mike Morrison and Zachary Fruhling  

Production 
Mike Morrison (Editor and Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Patrick Devlin (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)  

Send us your feedback! 
Twitter: @trekfm 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/trekfm 
Voicemail: http://www.speakpipe.com/trekfm 
Contact Form: http://www.trek.fm/contact 
Visit the Trek.fm website at http://www.trek.fm/ 
Subscribe in iTunes: http://itunes.com/trekfm  

Support the Network! 
Become a Trek.fm Patron on Patreon and help us keep Star Trek talk coming every week. We have great perks for you at http://patreon.com/trekfm

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