First Flight Podcast

Episode 135 - Season 4 Ep 10 Daedalus Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about heroes, transporters and loyalty. The inventor of the transporter, Doctor Emory Erickson - a friend of Archer's father - boards Enterprise with his daughter in order to test a new form of subquantum transport that would make starships and warp drive obsolete. The risky experiment has deadly consequences though, and is far from what it seems. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf

Episode 131- Season 4 Ep 9 Kir'Shara Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about the Shran and Soval relationship, katras and Vulcan social evolution. Archer, T'Pol and T'Pau attempt to bring the Kir'Shara — an artefact believed to contain Surak's original writings — to the Vulcan capital, as the NX-01 gets involved in a Vulcan-Andorian military clash. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

EP 130 BONUS- Interlude #1  February 2026 Welcome to First Flight's Bonus Interludes, our bimonthly short chat about two tracks of Trek music that we love. Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and have given themselves, and the Carrot Crew, some franchise spanning, music moments to highlight and analyze.  This month of (February) we are discussing "Sleepy Space Flute" (DS9- Sanctuary), "Go Fast" (Prodigy- Supernova Pt 2),  "Missing Scans" & "Beginning of Healing" (VOY- Latent Image). Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these bimonthly music tracks and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings or thoughts of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

Episode 129- Season 4 Ep 8 Awakening Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Plus, this episode we have special guest Jim Moorehouse from the Trek Ranks Podcast!  Chris, Jim and Abby talk about parents, the Vulcan arc over the franchise and Soval's evolution.   Stick around after the regular episode to hear more details on Jim's experience manning the tactical console (literally!) on "Awakening"!  Archer and T'Pol encounter the Syrrannites, a radical group hiding in the Vulcan desert, while the NX-01 crew contends with Vulcan power ploys with the Andorians. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

Episode 128- Season 4 Ep 7 The Forge Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about losing a beloved character, going to Vulcan and pets! Admiral Forrest is killed in a terrorist bombing at the Earth embassy on Vulcan. When the Vulcan High Command believes a religious group known as the "Syrranites" to be responsible, T'Pol learns her mother is a suspected member, and has gone into hiding. Along with Captain Archer, T'Pol ventures into Vulcan's desert-- The Forge, in an attempt to locate her. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

EP 127 BONUS- January 2026  Trek of the Month Welcome to First Flight's bimonthly Bonus Trek of the Month episodes chat! Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and Melanie has assigned them two great episodes to discuss. This month is (January) and our episodes are (DS9 S1 Ep 12 Vortex) and (TNG S2 Ep 15 Pen Pals).  Take a listen and hear what we love, what we question, what we find important and a Grappler Rating. Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these bimonthly episodes and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf

Episode 126- BONUS  Starfleet Academy First Thoughts First Flight loves ALL Trek and today we bring you a bonus episode that lets Abby and Chris reflect and chat about their first thoughts on the premiere episodes of Starfleet Academy. Beware of SPOILERS ahead! Feel free to let us know your thoughts on this thread or any Porthos' Picks, Grappler Ratings, Viewscreen On picks, VAMF and Flipping Duras Awards and/or your general thoughts so we can share them on our next Mail Bag episode.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

Episode 125- Star Trek: Khan Abby and Chris discuss the new audio drama Star Trek: Khan! Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Pros (analysis of episode) -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

Episode 124 - Season 4 Ep 6 The Augments Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about provoking the Klingons, augmented genomes and siblings. In defiance of their "father," Arik Soong's Augments devise a heinous plot against the Klingons which will surely lead to interstellar war. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

EP 123 BONUS- Dec. 2025 Trek of the Month Welcome to First Flight's Bonus Trek of the Month thematic episodes chat! Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and have given themselves, and the Carrot Crew, some franchise spanning, thematic episode choices for each month.   This month of December the theme is Christmas/Solstice, and our episode picks are (The Gift VOY S4 Ep 2 and (Generations Movie TOS/TNG)  Take a listen and hear why we picked them for this theme, a connection to our personal lives and a Grappler Rating. *** Next Month in (January) look forward to 2026 with a new miniseries!*** Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these monthly episodes and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf

Episode 122 - A Heart Divided: The History of the Xindi Civil War | (BONUS) As Chris and Abby worked their way through Enterprise's 3rd season, Chris was inspired to write a fictional history of the Xindi Civil War. This bonus episode serves as an audiobook version the introductory chapter of this fictional historical record of the events which led up to the Xindi Civil War and the Great Cataclysm. Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

Episode 121- Season 4 Ep 5 Cold Station 12 Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about Dr. Lucas, holey clothes and extremism. Arik Soong leads his band of Augments to a medical facility where hundreds of genetically enhanced embryos are still stored, intending to retrieve them and bring them to life. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

Episode 120- Season 4 Ep 4 Borderland Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about the strong family genes with Soongs, genetic enhancements and more. When genetic supermen left over from the Eugenics Wars hijack a Klingon ship, Archer must rely on their creator, the criminal Dr. Arik Soong, to help hunt them down and avert an interstellar war. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

EP 119 BONUS- Nov. 2025 Trek of the Month Welcome to First Flight's Bonus Trek of the Month thematic episodes chat! Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and have given themselves, and the Carrot Crew, some franchise spanning, thematic episode choices for each month.   This month of November the theme is Veterans Day and/or Thanksgiving, and our episode picks are (Forget Me Not DSC S3 Ep 4) and (Under the Cloak of War SNW S2 Ep 8)  Take a listen and hear why we picked them for this theme, a connection to our personal lives and a Grappler Rating. *** Next Month in (December) the episodes are (The Gift VOY S4 Ep 2) and (Generations Movie TOS/TNG) *** Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these monthly episodes and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf

Episode 118- BONUS Trek Thread Solving Problems Through Time First Flight loves ALL Trek and today we bring you a bonus episode that lets Abby and Chris reflect and chat about the theme of solving problems through time throughout the franchise.   The episodes discussed are: TNG- All Good Things, VOY- Shattered, VOY- Relativity, PRO- Time Amok, PRO- Shattered Mirror and DSC- Face the Strange, Feel free to let us know your thoughts on this thread or any Porthos' Picks, Grappler Ratings, Viewscreen On picks, VAMF and Flipping Duras Awards and/or your general thoughts so we can share them on our next Mail Bag episode.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

Episode 117- Season 4 Ep 3 Home Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about the repercussions of going back to Earth after the Xindi War, love, trauma and family. Once the NX-01 finally returns to Earth, the weary crewmen face repercussions of their journeys, both positive and negative. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf    

EP 116 BONUS- October 2025 Trek of the Month Welcome to First Flight's Bonus Trek of the Month thematic episodes chat! Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and have given themselves, and the Carrot Crew, some franchise spanning, thematic episode choices for each month.   This month of October the theme is Halloween, and our episode picks are (Genesis TNG S7 Ep 19) and (The Haunting of Deck 12 VOY S6 Ep 25)  Take a listen and hear why we picked them for this theme, a connection to our personal lives and a Grappler Rating. *** Next Month in (November) the episodes are (Forget Me Not DSC S3 Ep 4) and (Under the Cloak of War SNW S2 Ep 8) *** Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these monthly episodes and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf

Episode 115 - Season 4 Ep 2 Storm Front, Part 2 Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about the surprise Space Natzis, the Temporal Cold War and costumes galore. With Silik's help, Archer hones in on, Vosk, the temporal operative who altered Earth's past and threatens to destroy all of time. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

Episode 114- Season 4 Ep 1 "Storm Front"  Season 4 is here and First Flight, and the Carrot Crew, have many things to discuss!  Chris and Abby talk about the surprise Space Natzis, the Temporal Cold War and costumes galore. Archer and the NX-01 find themselves in Earth's past, with events of World War II altered by the Temporal Cold War. Season 4 Format: -Welcome & Reed Alert (spoiler warning) -Captain's Log & Haiku (episode recap) -Pros and Decons (analysis of episode) - Viewscreen On (calling out a beautiful visual shot or director's choice of shot) - Flipping Duras and/or VAMF (Vulcan as a Mother Flipper) Awards as needed -Porthos' Pick (our favorite parts) -Trivia -Vulcans' Verdict (rating the episode on a scale of 1-10 grapplers) Feel free to let us know your Porthos' Picks and Grappler Ratings, VAMF Awards, Flipping Duras and/or your general thoughts on this episode! We save these and share them on special Mail Bag episodes.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Threads & Facebook: @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Email us feedback and voice recordings (90 secs or less) firstflightpod@gmail.com Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf  

EP 113 BONUS- Sept. 2025 Trek of the Month Welcome to First Flight's Bonus Trek of the Month thematic episodes chat! Chris and Abby love ALL Trek and have given themselves, and the Carrot Crew, some franchise spanning, thematic episode choices for each month.   This month of September the themes are Labor Day and Back to School, and our episode picks are (Into the Breach Pt 1-2 PRO S2 Ep 1-2) and (Bar Association DS9 S4 Ep 15)  Take a listen and hear why we picked them for this theme, a connection to our personal lives and a Grappler Rating. *** Next Month in (October) the episodes are (Genesis TNG S7 Ep 19) and (The Haunting of Deck 12 VOY S6 Ep 25) *** Feel free to let us know your thoughts on these monthly episodes and if you have any connections or Grappler Ratings of your own.  (Please note, contributions might be shared on the podcast!) Find Us on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Facebook:  @FirstFlightPod Abby: @abbymsommer Chris: @ShelfNerds  Find Us on YouTube: Chris' Channel : Completing the Shelf