by Jay Stobie

When Star Trek actor John Billingsley began his chat with the Trek Geeks podcast in late 2021, he had no idea that the interview would launch an out-of-this-world philanthropic effort. After discussing his career, Billingsley voiced his support for Hollywood Food Coalition, a nonprofit on whose board he served. Hosts Bill Smith and Dan Davidson took note of the organization’s vital work, ultimately collaborating with Billingsley on a plan to develop a streaming telethon.

The all-volunteer team quickly grew, as Roddenberry Podcasts joined Trek Geeks to co-produce the event, and Trek Talks was born. The first Trek Talks event occurred on January 15th, 2022, and over 60 Star Trek celebrity guests – ranging from actors and producers to writers and artists – participated in virtual panels that raised over $60,000 during the course of the 8-hour stream. Donors included fans, podcasters, and professionals, as well as Eugene Roddenberry and The Roddenberry Foundation.

The group built on the telethon’s success, enlisting Star Trek: Prodigy’s Bonnie Gordon to co-host Trek Talks 2 with John Billingsley on January 13th, 2023. The second event soared to new heights, raising an astounding $107,000 for Hollywood Food Coalition. The community came together in true Trek fashion, and panel hosts included the Trek Geeks, SyFy Sistas, John Champion, and a variety of other Star Trek podcasters.

Having become an annual event, Trek Talks added acclaimed fansite TrekMovie to its production team and launched its third streamathon on January 13, 2024. With another incredible SyFy Sistas pre-show and panels that featured Star Trek: Discovery’s Doug Jones, the cast of Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Dawnn Lewis, and themed chats centered on iconic episodes such as “Those Old Scientists” and “Tuvix,” Trek Talks 3 raised an astounding $110,205 for Hollywood Food Coalition.

Now entering its fourth year, Trek Talks has announced that Trek Talks 4 will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2025, with exciting updates about its special guests coming soon. Now produced by Trek Geeks, Roddenberry Podcasts, TrekMovie, and SyFy Sistas, the event aims to continue its vital support for Hollywood Food Coalition and the people it serves, building upon the more than $270,000 of funds it has raised so far.

Trek Talks’ guest list reads like an all-star roster of Trek luminaries, as its first three telethons have featured Jeri Ryan, Anson Mount, Scott Bakula, Alexander Siddig, Gates McFadden, Doug Jones, Cirroc Lofton, Nana Visitor, Michelle Hurd, Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn, Garrett Wang, Robert Duncan McNeill, Dawnn Lewis, Tawny Newsome, Brent Spiner, Tony Todd, James Cromwell, Terry Farrell, Mike McMahan, Linda Park, Dan & Kevin Hageman, John de Lancie, Armin Shimerman, Brannon Braga, Robert Picardo, Ira Steven Behr, and many, many more.