I’m Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. I’m here to talk about 55 years of Trek and why I enjoy being on the bleeding edge of Tech and adventure! Join me December 2nd @ 12:30 pm EST. AMA.

How does it feel knowing your father literally inspired generations of kids to become scientists?

I'm one of those. Hooked on the early shows that I had to sneak to see (past my bed time). Went on to NASA and world class astronomical observatories.

I'm met many scientists like myself - inspired by the shows.

And since we still haven't invented all the great things you showed us, we're still trying!

I couldn't be more proud of him and do my best to represent the Roddenberry name and all it stands for. Thank you for all your contributions to science, our future and helping to make my father's dream a reality.

Hello, Mr. Roddenberry. First of all, thank you so much for continuing the undeniably amazing legacy left by your parents. You've helped to bring Star Trek back to what its original purpose was: a glimpse into the future of humanity, filled with technological advancements, humor, drama, and... most of all, hope.

My question for you is this: at one point, there was word going around that all the phonemes from your mother's voice were recorded so that her rendition of Starfleet's "computer voice" could be recreated in other digital systems like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. This was several years go. Unfortunately, to date, we've never seen anything come of that. I would love to understand any insight about this that you might have, because there isn't ever anything quite as satisfying as seeing something from Star Trek become a reality. Will we ever see this come to light?

Thanks again for everything that you do—I appreciate you! Have a fantastic day!

This is 100% true and I too am excited for this to become a reality. I feel my mother, Majel Roddenberry, the voice of the computer should be the voice of the computer in reality all over the world and welcome all your support. There are a few technological as well as potentially entertainment related hurdles. If you, or someone you know is exceptionally knowledgable and talented in sound/voice engineering I would've to speak to them at some point.

I’m almost entirely certain I know someone who can help. May I ask around and get back to you?

By all means take your time and send the information to [email protected]

One of the often repeated lines of the critics of the newer Star Trek shows is that they are not in line with “Gene's Vision”. How do you feel about people who likely never met your father, and certainly didn't know him the way you did, pretending to know what he would have wanted/not wanted to see in a Star Trek series?

Great question! Complicated answer... I too sometimes wrestle with what is and is not Star Trek or what is and is not Roddenberry's Star Trek. My father was a humanist, futurist, and for the most part optimist. He believed in the potential of humanity and knew that if we learn to not just tolerate, but crave, thirst, and truly be in love with the differences between us that we can overcome all the current day and past ignorance and prejudice that stunted our intellectual growth. So I have learned over the decades that Star Trek speaks to different people on different levels. Sometimes I'm also concerned that certain shows and episodes may not represent an optimistic of a future that I or I think he would like. I do ultimately think the messages those shows still carry through and point us in a better direction.

an optimistic future.

Thanks for the reminder of what Star Trek should be. That's been lost as of late.

I do my best to always remember the foundational core principles of Star Trek. IDIC

What did you think the first time you saw an iPhone, basically a tricorder, or an iPad, basically Picards' PADD? When I watch those shows now it's amazing how far ahead of their time they were and how accurately they were able to predict (some) future technologies.

I was ecstatic and love all technology. However, a very interesting note is that my father used to correspond regularly with CalTech and JPL while making the original series. Most of the tech in Star Trek was simply extrapolated into the future from this correspondence. Check out Stephen E. Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek.

Thanks for doing this! How do you feel about the tone of the newer Star Trek shows? They seem more dark, gritty, and goofy. Watching them as a long time trek fan they often fall short of the feeling I get when I watch TOS, Next Generation, and DS9.

I love your question. I struggle with these feelings as well. Copying and pasting a previous answer that I hope addressed your question. Great question! Complicated answer... I too sometimes wrestle with what is and is not Star Trek or what is and is not Roddenberry's Star Trek. My father was a humanist, futurist, and for the most part optimist. He believed in the potential of humanity and knew that if we learn to not just tolerate, but crave, thirst, and truly be in love with the differences between us that we can overcome all the current day and past ignorance and prejudice that stunted our intellectual growth. So I have learned over the decades that Star Trek speaks to different people on different levels. Sometimes I'm also concerned that certain shows and episodes may not represent an optimistic of a future that I or I think he would like. I do ultimately think the messages those shows still carry through and point us in a better direction.

Hey! Love your father's work. What was he like as a father? If he took half as much work with his family as he did on Star Trek, I imagine he was a great guy!

Thank you for the great question. I knew my father up to the age of 17. Let's say my maturity had not fully developed by then. My father was an incredibly hard worker. We got along very well before I became... a teenager and he became more of the authority figure. I wish he were alive today because I know we would have a ton to talk about... life, Hollywood, relationships, God, politics, etc...

What is your personal all-time favorite episode of Trek (any series) and why? Top three if you can't pick just one.

Thank you for the incredibly difficult question. Ultimately I am a Next Gen fan and find many of the episodes in the 7 seasons to rank pretty high on my scale. However, if I had to select just one it would be the one that made the biggest impression on me when I was first introduced to Star Trek- TOS The Devil in the Dark. I was blown away with the antagonist, a rock monster, who turned out to simply be misunderstood and it was a mother protecting its young and the humans unknowingly were killing its children. I love the twist recognizing that we were the devil in the dark.

Hello. Thank you for what your family gifted the world.

Would you love to create your own shows in this universe and if so, do you already have an Idea?

The universe of Star Trek has such incredible potential. There are galaxies filled with stories. While I have ideas of my own, as do so many others, I'm currently not in the process of independently developing any of them. CBS, Secret Hideout, and Paramount are doing an excellent job of bringing new perspectives of Star Trek for the world.

Thank you kindly. I still hope you will keep the Star Trek universe alive, as you father did. And I hope you will have a good time doing so.

Thank you for the well wishes and I will do my best. Thank you for all your support.

I can only imagine growing up with the scrutiny you must have faced. How did you navigate your childhood and young adulthood to find and pursue your passion(s)?

Was fairly unaware of any scrutiny as a younger person. I find my life to be very privileged and don't often find too much criticism about my life or my father's. However, I always welcome well thought out feedback and comments and I am always open to dialogue. I've always had a little rebellious nature in me and therefore wanted to escape the conceived confines of being "Gene Rodenberry's" son. At first I chose things that might be more eccentric and daredevil-ish, but later found that I truly believe in the future my father envisioned and that we can only survive if we work together as a species.

Mate, you seem like a good egg. I hope my son can one day grow up to represent my values so well.

Thank you!

Who is your favourite Captain?

Until recently, Captain Picard was my favorite Captain. However, I must say that Anson Mount and his portrayal of Captain Pike in season 2 of Discovery blew me away as a leader because he led with humility and respect for the training ingenuity and talent of his crew. At this point I would say he is tied with Picard and I can't wait to see his continued portrayal of Pike in Strange New Worlds. I do not believe in leaders who govern solely with authority.

Huge thanks to your father and you for bringing us, over the decades, some amazing stories and characters!

Over the years, we've seen a lot of Star Trek concepts becoming real technology, even if not quite in the way the props and writing teams envisaged. If you could take one piece of TrekTech from any episode of any series at all - televised, movie, written, comic, videogame, anything - that doesn't exist yet, and make it real, what would it be?

Replicator. The control of the atom is going to be the great equalizer. No longer will food, medicine, and valuable tools for our intellectual development be scarce. Also, our perceived value in material items will dissipate since anyone on the planet will be able to have any item of perceived value they wish. People will begin to look inward and realize the value is within the individual, the idea, the uniqueness of who we are. All that said, I understand that humanity will have to be much more advanced and mature before we are ready to posses this kind of power.

How often do you have trouble with Tribbles?

"It is a human characteristic to love little animals, especially if they are attractive in some way." :)

What is it like watching your mother act, whether it’s TOS where she was so young, or in TNG/DS9 when she was your mom already?

Seeing and hearing my mother in her various roles on Star Trek only brings back the warmest of feelings.

Hi Rod! I really love your work at large, especially the Roddenberry podcast network. I am a fan to say the least, as I have listened to every episode of Mission Log, Mission Log Live, Women at Warp, Daily Trek News, The Trek Files, ML Prodigy and ML The Orville. I am an up and coming podcaster and would love to ask: what does it takes to be considered as a host? I would like to host a BIPOC specific Trekcast to address the beautiful diversity, representation and inclusion that has been a part of Star Trek since the 60s.

Wow! Thank you so much for listening to and supporting all of our shows. It is truly a collaboration here at Roddenberry Entertainment. I feel I can only take credit for initiating some of the show ideas and then helping find the people that turn those ideas into something far more spectacular than I could have hoped for. John and Norm from ML could really give you a more detailed response on what it takes to be a host, but more than anything we look for what it is you're talking about which is unique visions and open minds.

John and Norman follow me on Twitter! I will be sure to reach out. I believe I can bring a unique take to the Trek commentary universe through the lens of social justice, drug use in the future, and comedy! Trek does not get enough credit for its comedy! Thank you for your time! LLAP.

Thank you for your response. I'm not sure if you're familiar, but I'd ask you to please check out The Roddenberry Foundation where we spent the last few years focused on Social Justice.

What do you think about a horror film that tells us the origin of the Borg? Or more dark, gritty, scary trek content?

Also thanks for your time.

Personally I'm not a fan of horror in Star Trek. However, with recent incarnations of Star Trek I have noticed that the exploration of different genres within Star Trek can be done effectively. A horror story about the Borg could be interesting.

Hi, Rod!

One of the things I enjoy most about what's happening with the Trek franchise right now is the creativity and openness to exploring genres and formats that diverge from the historical norm. As you've helped to shepherd in the new era of Trek, what do you think about that approach, and how do you think Gene would react to seeing something like Lower Decks, for example?

Thanks!

At first it took me a moment to fully appreciate the diversity in show formats and story methods, but I too have fully come to embrace the unique approaches to the new Star Treks. When we did the documentary Trek Nation we came across an interview of my father talking about how he welcomed and was excited for new and talented writers and producers to come along and make new Star Trek in the future and do things that even he couldn't think of. It is a wonderful interview and I'll post a link where it can be seen. I know it is definitely in Trek Nation towards the end.

I know a few folks who went to Hampshire with you. Any interesting stories to tell from that time in your life? Or things you learned there that have shaped what you're doing today?

I couldn't be more appreciative and thankful for my time at Hampshire college. It truly is a unique institution that allowed me to grow and evolve my maturity from a teenager to an adult. There was tremendous freedom in the curriculum and I enjoyed the unique classes that they offered as well as being able to take classes at the other 4 neighboring colleges. I did an astronomy project there and I set up on the roof of the science building along with a tent to stay out of the elements.

Hey fellow Hampshire alum! Was that your Div III?

Hello back to you. I regret to inform you that I am a college drop out. I had always planned to go back to do my Div III, but got caught up in the entertainment industry. I once discussed with my advisor, much later on of using my documentary Trek Nation as my Div III as it seemed to meet most requirements. However, I think that ship has sailed. Hope you had as great an experience as I did at Hampshire.

Have you heard of the Kessler Syndrome? Did your father ever talk about it?

Had not heard of that. Quickly looked it up and it is something I have thought about. I understand space debris is a serious issue and can only imagine it is going to get worse. However, we are an incredibly talented and innovative species and have faith that eventually... we will find a solution hopefully before anything too catastrophic happens. No, my father never spoke to me about it, but he was well read and he had much correspondence between him and NASA on a variety of issues.

I have hope as well, but I cringe every time there’s an anti-satellite missile test in LEO. A new space treaty is long overdue. Cooperation can drive innovation as much as competition (if not more).

Couldn't agree more.

Mr.Roddenberry,

Your father has inspired and created generations of scientists. Where do you think we'll be in 50-100 years, and do you think it'll be anything like how your father may have envisioned the future to be?

Absolutely. I, like my father, believe in the human potential. Unfortunately, I think we will have to endure significant growing pains, but feel we will emerge far greater and see a future similar to what we all love about Star Trek.

Hi Rod -
1) Could you share a very fond memory of both your parents with us?

2) At what age did you first watch Star Trek?

Funny enough, as far as I can recall, one of the first times I remember watching Star Trek was in my father's home office where he had set up his 8 millimeter projector (the one he would take to conventions and show Star Trek bloopers). I didn't understand what Star Trek was at the time, but I remember giggling and laughing as actors slipped, ran into doors, and messed up their lines. My fondest memory of both of my parents as well as my extend family was during the Christmas season where everyone would come to our home. My father's brother, sister, his mother, as well as his other 2 daughters and their families. On my mothers side, her mother... it was an incredibly warm and wonderful feeling. I miss everyone who isn't with us today.

Thank you for sharing. And thank you for keeping the Roddenberry name -- and your presence -- on current Trek. Hope you have the opportunity to share more on your passion for tech. (Silicon Valley guy here. ;) )

Thank you and yes, I'm a lover of technology and feel that when used properly it can help us solve many of the world's problems.

There always seems to be some animosity between Star Trek and Star Wars fans (I like both). How do you feel about Star Wars?

I am also a huge Star Wars fan and as a child saw it far more times than I did Star Trek. They are vey different and can co-exist peacefully.

I just binged Star Trek enterprise as I had never watched it? I enjoyed it, what was your take on it’s demise?

I think Enterprise had tremendous potential and had a number of great seasons. However, there may have been circumstances above my pay grade that contributed to its premature ending.

What is your favorite memory of your dad?

When I was very young my father and I would have an afternoon together called "bumming" at Santa Monica pier. On our way there I would sit in the passenger seat, unable to see over the dash. My father would look over at me and say, "Are you ready to go "speedster", which to me meant super speed. He would then shift the car into 2nd gear without me knowing, the engine would roar, and I would grab on as if we were warping down the highway. Truthfully he was probably only going 50 -60 miles per hour. Once we got to the pier we would play the carnival games and in the arcade have a meal together then head home. Once we got home and pulled into the garage my father would turn off the engine, but leave the headlights on. He'd look over at me and say, I'm Gene "poo-poo" Roddenberry and I would reply I am Rod "poo-poo" Rodenberry. This was the ceremonious way we would end our day of bumming together.

Do you think something like the federation could exist in the future?

100%. And I think it should as a science exploratory body with minimal emphasis on defense.

Do you have a personal favorite episode in the canon?

Hey! Copying and pasting from an answer above. LOL. Thank you for the incredibly difficult question. Ultimately I am a Next Gen fan and find many of the episodes in the 7 seasons to rank pretty high on my scale. However, if I had to select just one it would be the one that made the biggest impression on me when I was first introduced to Star Trek- TOS The Devil in the Dark. I was blown away with the antagonist, a rock monster, who turned out to simply be misunderstood and it was a mother protecting its young and the humans unknowingly were killing its children. I love the twist recognizing that we were the devil in the dark.

Any way we can get Discovery shelved and redirect resources toward other Trek? It's just NOT working. We already understand that Michael is whispering Mary Sue, it's always the end of the universe with nary a moment to breathe (there's no chill), the undeveloped characters on the bridge might as well be red shirts, the crew is perpetually unstable emotionally, and everything can be solved just by saying "love" or "science" as if it's Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy.

While I too wrestle with some of the different Star Treks that are out there I have found the continuing seasons to represent many of the core ideals of Star Trek. If I may encourage you to continue watching I am hoping you might be pleasantly surprised as I feel some of the concerns you mentioned are addressed.

How come you got hundreds of millions of dollars but your older half sisters got squat?

That's an excellent question for my father!

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I am not religious, but find the concept and numerous interpretations of "spirituality" intriguing. Religion has not played any part in my growth or development. That said, I find the ideology and core values from Star Trek worthy to live by.

Who makes the call to go on the lens-flare in Discovery? Like, I typically don't notice it, but maybe this season, it's just being used so much to be distracting.

Also, what's your head-canon for all the electronics in starships being wildly explosive when the smallest banger hits a ship.

I am not bothered by lens-flare and feel the entire production and post production team does an incredible job making the current Trek TV shows look feature worthy and epic.