Primitive Culture is a Trek.fm podcast dedicated to a deep examination of the connections between Star Trek and our own history and culture. In each episode, Duncan Barrett, Clara Cook, and Tony Black take you on a fascinating exploration of how our world inspires the franchise we love—and how that franchise inspires us.
http://trek.fm/primitive-culture
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episode 92: It’s Alive!
Frankenstein and the Star Trek universe. We look at how Mary Shelley’s iconic novel has influenced the franchise’s writers.
episode 91: What’s in a Name, Part II
Episode titles in The Animated Series and The Next Generation. We continue our look at Star Trek episode titles, asking just what is sharper than a serpent’s tooth and who does watch the watchers?
episode 90: The Thing That Wouldn’t Die
Talking Horror with Brannon Braga. We chat with the former Star Trek writer and executive producer about some of his most horrifying episodes.
episode 89: What’s in a Name, Part I
Episode Titles in The Original Series. We look at the meanings behind the names of some of Star Trek’s original 80 episodes.
episode 88: You Have to Keep Making the Sausage
Trekonomics, with Manu Saadia. We’re joined by the author of Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek for a look at both the imaginary economics of Star Trek and the real-world economics of getting the show on the air—and turning a profit from it.
episode 87: Brigadon’t
“Meridian” and Brigadoon. We discuss the DS9 episode and the 1954 Hollywood musical that inspired it.
episode 86: The Best Is Yet to Come
Ocean’s 11 (1960) and “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang.” We look at the links between Frank Sinatra 1960 Rat Pack film and the DS9 based on the casino-heist concept.
episode 85: The End of History
Cold War Détente and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. We look at Francis Fukuyama’s seminal essay and its influence on the final film featuring the original cast.
episode 84: The Ultimate Family Doctor
Voyager’s “Critical Care” and the current global pandemic. We discuss the parallels between this 20-year-old episode and the situation now facing healthcare systems in the US and UK.
episode 83: From Nemesis to Hubris
Picard Season 1, Part II. We continue our look at historical and cultural reference points found in the first season of Star Trek: Picard.