Incoming transmissions from our ‘Star Trek’ listeners
“Star Trek” turns 50 on Sept. 8, and instead of buying it a fancy sports car, our mission is to boldly go down the “Star Trek” rabbit hole, or rather, wormhole, and nerd out about the show to mark this milestone. We spoke to fellow Trekkies, including a writer, a showrunner and a scientist, about why the series matters to them. Check out the rest of our 50th anniversary coverage here.
We asked our listeners to tell us how they identified with “Star Trek,” and share a film or episode that particularly resonated with them. Here are some of the responses:
Pat Currie from Columbus, Ohio:
Probably my favorite episode had to be the one with Captain Picard and there was a woman who could bond to whomever. And she bonded to him instead of this guy she was supposed to marry on another planet, and she said, “I like who I am when I’m with you.” And I’ve always kind of looked at my friends that way and have said, “Do I like who I am when I’m with you?”
Lee Van Grack from Boulder, Colorado:
I sort of have “Star Trek” to thank for starting my career at AOL. I sent a version of Captain Kirk’s speech and intro song as a thank you following an interview. It went something like, “The internet, the final frontier…”
Stacy Lemery from Rockford, Illinois
I think the common perception is that “Star Trek” influence is mainly visible in STEM fields. But I was also influenced by “Star Trek.” You know, I’m here representing the United States as a U.S. diplomat, and I could not be more proud.
Click the above audio player to hear the listener’s responses.
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