About
Women at Warp is a groundbreaking bi-weekly podcast committed to examining Star Trek from a feminist perspective, exploring Intersectional Diversity in Infinite Combinations with a rotating crew of six hosts. Tune in for everything from episode and character analysis to history of women behind the scenes and in fan culture to discussion of larger themes and messages throughout the franchise.
Our History
Way back in 2014, Andi was live-tweeting her first time through Star Trek, Grace was podcasting on All Things Trek, Jarrah was blogging at Trekkie Feminist, and Sue was podcasting and blogging at Anomaly Podcast. At different points in time, Andi, Jarrah, and Sue had all been guests with Grace on All Things Trek on TrekRadio – sometimes with each other, sometimes individually. Having been connected through podcasting, and with that show coming to a close, Andi proposed that we start our own. After much planning, Women at Warp launched as an independent podcast in 2015.
Shortly after launch, Women at Warp was invited to join the Trek.fm network. We were with Trek.fm from May 2015 through July 2016. Although that relationship did not last, we’re grateful for the opportunities and exposure that it brought to the show.
In August 2016, the crew attended Star Trek Las Vegas for Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, and it was the first time that all four hosts had been in the same room together.
It was during STLV50 that the crew began working with Roddenberry Entertainment and in April 2017, the Roddenberry Podcast Network was formally announced, with Mission Log, Priority One, and Women at Warp as founding shows.
In August 2020, Aliza and Kennedy joined the crew. Both women had been previous guests on the podcast and co-panelists at conventions. The addition of more hosts with varied backgrounds and experiences serves to make our content stronger and more inclusive. It was during this crew expansion that we also more clearly defined our mission: To explore Intersectional Diversity in Infinite Combinations. We’re still waiting for the day that all six hosts will be in the same room.
After a successful five-year mission with Roddenberry Podcasts, we’ve decided to plot our own course and Women at Warp will go forward once again as an independent podcast beginning in 2022.
To the best of our knowledge, when we began the show back in 2015, Women at Warp was the only Star Trek-specific fan podcast with an all-woman team, and the only one that made it a mission to explore feminist themes in the franchise. Since then, so many more women and non-binary folx have joined the Trek podcasting space, and we couldn’t be happier to see this community grow. Since the 1960s, women have been the driving force of Star Trek fandom, and that tradition will continue long into the future.
Credits:
Podcast theme song by The Doubleclicks
Banner image by Bethany Corriveau Gotschall
Morning Ladies,
Hope you are wll well. First of all, let me start by saying that I really, really love this podcast! I am someone that when I stumble over a new Trek podcast, I want to go back to the beginning and listen to every episode from the beginning so that is what I did with this podcast. Now, I reiterate again that I love this podcast, but pne criticism I had was that I felt that in the episodes in the beginning it was harder to feel the hosts’ love for all of the series? I dunno how to better explain it but it felt like the criticism of the show (which is necessary) sort of overshadowed the love and–instead of a few friends discussing something they love to the core and back–it seemed more like a critique where the downs overshadowed the over all love. I am all for criticism in and of Star Trek because nothing gets better without calling out the things that are wrong with it you know (yeah, you guys know)? There is no evolution without expressions of where something failed to achieve what it was supposed to achieve otherwise how can we be better if we don’t recognize what is wrong with how something is portrayed? However, it just felt like there was more criticism and less love for Trek in the beginning episodes? I apologize if I am misunderstanding or misreading those episodes.
However, I kept watching/listening, and–like our favorite franchise–your show grows. Now when I listen to episodes I not only feel the love for the series from the hosts and guests, but I also feel the understanding but not the acceptance of why things have been portrayed the way they have been in the past in various series. Like you get why a network/creator/writer was as narrow minded or chauvinistic as it was, that it’s not right and it can’t continue, but you also get why a lot of stupid/incorrect decisions were made in different episodes of different series (and I am glad you guys hang Berman out to dry) and yet you do not let the various series and creators get away with their missteps. You spell them out, outline why they are not good (though we should all know why already), and why we cannot continue that way in media in the present and the future. This was the first all women Star Trek podcast I came upon focusing on the prospective of not only the woman in Trek, but of the ‘other’: the views of other sexualities and minorities of these series portrayals of them and you guys seeing things that I completed missed is one of my favorite things. I take notes and keep going back to rewatch series episodes you guys outline because I like to learn from different perspectives than my own.
I feel like your podcast started out good and has evolved to be great. I cannot wait to see what it becomes and I appreciate all of the hard work and passion all of you put into this series and into every episode. I am here for all of it and look forward to learning things that I may never have previously thought of. You are all glorious, beautiful, genius rebel queens and I appreciate you and look forward to everything you do.
Sincerely,
Nicole 🙂
I came upon this podcast and website a few years ago when I was rewatching Voyager with my dad and two younger brothers.
When we came upon the episode “Retrospect” I found myself feeling angry and betrayed at the end of the episode. Angry at how Seven was treated by Kovin and bretrayed by how the crew, in my opinion, did not stand by her. When I expressed these feelings to my dad and brothers they didn’t have the same strong feelings as me. So, like any millennial who wonders if anyone feels the same way about a TV show as them I turned to the internet. As my dad and brothers started the next episode I googled “feminist interpretations of VOY Retrospect”. This search lead me to Jarrah’s post about the episode where I found my own feelings about the episode validated. From this post I found my way to the Women at Warp blog and podcasts.
Finding this podcast made me realize I was missing something in my Star Trek fandom – hearing other women talk about one of my favorite shows. My mom was never a Star Trek fan (the aliens in The Menagerie scared her when she was little) and none of my female friends love Star Trek quite as much as me. I love getting to here other women’s thoughts on Star Trek both because the give me support for some of my own criticisms of the show and challenge how some of my own privileges impact my viewing of Trek. But most of all I love that there is one more way I can get Trek in my life.
Just checked Episode 97: Citizenship and Immigration in Star Trek and wow, I couldn’t stop listening. If there’s a possibility to get in touch with one of you about your episode, I’d greatly appreciated a discussion.
Thank you,
Imran
I am not sure this is the right place to comment on individual podcasts but a couple of notes on your Past Tense podcast.
1. The one portrayal of long term mental illness in 24th century I can think of is Tuvok in alternate universe “Endgame”. Notably Tuvok is showed as being in some type of Star Fleet/Federation hospital in long term institutionalization. I take note of this as some but not all advocates mental illness sufferers have historically opposed long term institutionalization however, in Star Trek 24th canon it apparently on some circumstances it is at least one outcome of 21st century Bell Riots. I will also note that Tuvok’s mental illness at least in part can be blamed on his “service” to Star Fleet and the Federation(Essentially Tuvok is a “disabled veteran”. Additionally as I am writing this I also forgot about the DS9 episode “Statistical Probilities” where Bashir tries to help 4 Humans who are in long term Federation institutionalization due to mental health impacts of their genetic modification. Again I not saying long term institutionalization is necessarily bad in all circumstances but it is controversial and yet it is part of 24th century Federation canon in both Voyager and DS9.
**I have other issues with DS9 Statistical Probabilities as they relate to Past Tense but will leave them for another time.
2. There seems to be little discussion of how humans achieved full employment in Star Trek Canon however, I will make note of the Voyager episode Workforce which swings completely in the opposition direction of Past Tense by organizing a 24th century society around the idea of a massive labor shortage. Implicitly this seems to be relatedly to energy production and perhaps could be seen as reflective of employment “booms” related to the oil and gas industry in places like North Dakota and Fort McMurray Canada or certain Australian mining boom cities.
Greetings and Felicitations! Women at Warp:
I just finished your episode on Amok Time. Thank you for this and all the interesting podcasts.
Toward the end of the podcast you listed some Star Trek Vulcan Women. I thought of two that didn’t make the list.
IMDB lists Vulcan Girl (uncredited) played by Theresa St. Clair in the episode “The Nagus”
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0820481/
There is also a Vulcan woman named Sakonna played by Bertila Damas in the episode The Maquis: Part 1
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0071848/?ref_=fn_al_ch_1
Peldar Joy, Women at Warp
Hello my name is Maple and I am an avid fan of trek.fm and Women at Warp. I was wondering if there is a possibility of WaW maybe doing an episode dealing with depictions of Transgender people in Star trek. I know the lack of LGB characters have been discussed on other ST fan media, but not much focus has been focused on the T.
There are tidbits here, such as Data’s line Troi & Riker’s wedding, several trans actors appearing in ST, the episode “The Outcast” (which I do think is a symbol of trans* rather then LGB themes), and various androgynous & multi gendered species. I believe Odo’s species, the changelings, can be seen as gender neutral if you look at it at the right way.
I know it may be a hot button issue, but for a setting like Star Trek which espouses tolerance and diversity, I would think that some transgender issues would be explored.
Anyway, this is just an idea for a future episode, love the podcast, keep up the good work.
Thank you,
– Maple
I can’t believe I’ve only just learned of your podcast. I’ve listened to the first few (going to catch up quickly- will then hate waiting:) oh well…All Good things….) It is what I’ve been looking for in all my Star Trek podcasting. Can I just copy Karen’s post.. she says it all for me!!
Thanks and gotta go listen somemore!
Andi, Grace, Jarrah, Sue:
As a long time ST fan, I need to say that this is an idea that not only has great promise, but is long overdue! Really enjoyed the first podcast, and look forward to hearing many, many more. Scifi has (mistakenly) been treated as a male dominated genre with largely teenage boys for viewers. Its time our voices be heard from the female perspective.
I first started watching Star Trek many years ago when TOS first aired. I was just a young girl, but I was instantly hooked! It wasn’t until many years later that I learned that ST:TOS was originally approved for production by none other than Lucille Ball/Desilu production. Obviously she was a woman way ahead of her time.
Best of luck on this new endeavour!
Hello lovely ladies! I absolutely LOVED your first episode, thank you! Is there a way I can subscribe or something so I won’t miss future episodes?
Cheers,
Emma
Hi Emma! Thanks so much for the nice note. We had a lot of questions about iTunes from people on our Facebook page and here is the answer:
Question: Are you on iTunes?
Answer: Not yet. We’re waiting until we’ve released about 6 episodes before submitting to the iTunes store. Why? Well, that gives us a better chance of getting picked up by iTunes as “New and Noteworthy” and that can help a lot. BUT! You can still subscribe using iTunes to make sure you don’t miss a thing. And it’s really easy! Here’s how:
1. Open iTunes (obviously)
2. Under the File menu, choose “Subscribe to podcast”
3. Paste in http://womenatwarp.libsyn.com/rss
4. Click OKAY, and it should start downloading.
Verity Podcast tweeted about you, and I’m downloading the first episode now that I’ve found your RSS feed, since I use a different podcatcher. Especially while you’re not on iTunes, it would be helpful to have the link to the RSS somewhere prominent. I don’t know if you can stick it to your front page without altering the basic layout of your blog theme though.
Thanks for the suggestion Peter! I added a “subscribe” page with info on the RSS link and the iTunes plan, and linked in the page header so hopefully that makes it easier for folks to figure out.
-Jarrah