The 7th Doctor goes back to where it all began in 1963. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that sees the Doctor turn from madcap and jolly to Machiavellian in the Daleks' last appearance in Classic Who, and we get a glimpse at the so-called Cartmel master plan.

Balance of Terror is famously a WWII sub hunting story translated to outer space, but as Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss, it's also more than that, including a poignant faith subplot, a bit of Cold War maneuvering, and some great acting by guest star Mark Lenard.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli to answer their questions and make them available exclusively to them first and then later to the whole audience in a special bonus release.

The Doctor meets ... Lara Croft? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha explore this Easter encounter between the Doctor and a woman who seems a lot like the famous tomb raider as they get flung to a distant planet on London double-decker. 

When Sarek is injured on a diplomatic mission, his mental link to estranged adopted daughter Michael is his lifeline. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the selective memory and the unseen sacrifices that parents sometimes make for their children.

Continuing their discussion of reincarnation, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the Bridey Murphy case to see if her memories match the historical record and can't be explained in a natural way, then examine what the faith perspective has to say about past lives.

Reincarnation has been a part of many cultures for millennia and became popular in America in the 1950s due to one dramatic story. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the claims about reincarnation, the evidence proffered for it, and the 1950s Bridey Murphy craze.

The 6th Doctor and the 2nd Doctor cross paths in Spain to save the Earth from a Sontaran plot. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the story's setting in Spain, seeing the 2nd Doctor and Jamie together again for the first time in decades, and more.

The Enterprise crew is excited to find a comet, but the Vulcans are looking over their shoulders. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how the crew literally break the ice of the comet and break the icy relationship with their Vulcan crewmate.

Outside Detroit in August 1994, teenage Boy Scout David Hahn was discovered to have gathered a dangerous cache of radioactive materials. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore why David was stockpiling these materials, how he got his hands on them, and how the adults in his family and in authority reacted when they found out.

A companionless 10th Doctor meets a Victorian Doctor. Could he be his next regeneration? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this 2008 Christmas special that was a throwback to Dickens and featured a fakeout for fans expecting to see David Tennant's replacement.

A dangerous chemical known since ancient times has developed a bizarre health craze around it and many health gurus say everyone needs to consume this acid. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore its history, its dangers, and a government conspiracy to put it in our water supply.

The season finale raises all kinds of questions about life, death, and the afterlife, so naturally Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha dive right in. Plus they give their overall assessment of this first season of Picard and where they think the show goes from here.

People have believed in werewolves since time immemorial with tales of human beings transforming either physically or behaviorally. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what we know of these accounts, where they come from, and whether there's any truth to legends of lycanthropy.

The 5th Doctor story Black Orchid was the last of the true historicals, travels in time that feature no aliens or the like. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha delve into this story of the Edwardian era that features cricket, a costume party, and mysteries of the Amazon.

It's the penultimate episode and Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about how evil and death enter into paradise and the way that the ongoing story arc of Picard bears much resemblance to Battlestar Galactica and other scifi series.

In this special episode, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli give a brief update on how they'll be handling the topic of the coronavirus pandemic on the show and give brief faith and reason perspectives.

More than 3,000 years ago, a conspiracy was launched against the most powerful man on Earth, the Egyptian pharaoh. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore who the conspirators were, what they were trying to accomplish, and what dark arts they used in their plot.

Now that the latest season has ended, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha look at what worked, what didn't, how the season improved over the last, give their thoughts on each character, and then look ahead to what they expect to come in the future.

The broken pieces are coming together as Picard races to its season conclusion. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the "dinner table of madness"; the revelations of plot threads; and the ultimate question of what it means to be a person. 

Does our solar system contain a dramatic secret object, a hidden second star that has caused the destruction of countless life forms on Earth? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the Nemesis death star theory and whether it's responsible for a regular cycle of mass extinction on Earth.

It's a TNG reunion! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the latest episode of Picard, which includes the return of Riker and Troi, now retired and living on an idyllic world. The episode explores identity, especially as a child becomes an adult, as the bonds of trust and seeking healing in tragedy.

Genesis 6 mentions a group called the Nephilim and their identity has puzzled scholars for thousands of years. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the theories that they are angels or aliens or even something else, then ask what Genesis 6 is trying to say.

For the season finale, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the big reveals, twists, and revelations from the Doctor's confrontation with the Master and the new cybermen, plus the roots of the new mythos in classic Who and the implications for the future.

Is the Impossible Box of the title, the Romulan puzzle box? Is it Soji? Is it the Borg cube Artifact? Maybe all three? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the latest episode including the great acting by Patrick Stewart to show Picard's tortured psyche when encountering the Borg again. 

In 1977, two Air Force medics had a frightening encounter while camping in an Arkansas state park named Devil's Den. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli consider their dramatic account and physical symptoms and discuss whether this was an authentic UFO encounter and what the government might know.

The 13th Doctor's 2nd season nears its end with the first half to the two-part finale. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha dig into their theories about what's really going on, who is the mysterious Brendan, who the Timeless Children are, and how it will fit into the Doctor Who canon.

It's a heist job! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about the latest episode of Picard, the revelations about 7 of 9's post-Voyager history, the unmasking of betrayal, and the morality of lies and revenge. Plus the Easter eggs connecting back to other Trek series and a prequel novel.

Five men from Yuba City, California, disappeared in 1978 after a trip to a nearby town. Four of them died, perhaps months later, and 1 was never found. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the bizarre circumstances, how any of them survived for so long before dying, and what actually happened to them.

The Doctor visits Mary Shelley on the night she had the inspiration for Frankenstein. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the modern Prometheus, the connection to a Who villain, the big setup for the season finale, and of course English country dancing.

In Absolute Candor, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about Picard's revisiting his past failings and having to reckon with them, reconnecting with a boy that he'd become a father figure for and abandoned, and seeking help from an order of Romulan warrior-nuns who only speak the truth without any filter.

God has made Himself known throughout history, but after the Bible something changed in the way He does that. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the different kinds of revelations, how we can tell which are credible and which aren't, and what it means when the Church approves an apparition.

The Doctor and friends face their nightmares and some old foes from the Classic series. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the Eternals and Guardians as well as the new character developments in the Doctor's Companions. 

Picard returns to space, fights Romulan ninjas, and deals with the aftermath of his own decisions that led to the collapse of a friends' life. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha also discuss whether the creation of a religion ex nihilo for ex-Borg is really a good idea.

Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein revolutionized physics and our understanding of the universe with the fundamental laws of gravity. But in 1933 scientists noticed the galaxies were not behaving the way they should. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the theories to explain why, including the mysterious dark matter and dark energy.

Was Praxeus a terrible mess or a perfectly good episode of Doctor Who? This time Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha have a diversity of opinion on this episode. One thing they agree on is they were expecting more about that other Doctor.

Should we treat robots humanely? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss a central question of the Picard series that asks how much an android is akin to humans, how we should treat them, and what our behavior toward them says about us. Plus the interesting new exploration of Romulans and Borg.

It's a fifth Friday of the month, so Jimmy Akin is answering more weird questions, including teleporting the Eucharist, parallel universes, ghost haunting, resurrecting space colonists, angels appearing as dogs and cats, and more.

The unexpected return of a fan favorite character isn't even the biggest surprise of this episode. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the big twist that could potentially change everything and use their extensive Who knowledge to come up with credible theories for what to expect next.

The new Star Trek: Picard series is here and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory are excited to talk about it. Is this real Star Trek? Is it worth your time? Is Patrick Stewart Captain Picard again? But the show raises even deeper questions, such as the nature of life and being.

In AD 41, the Roman emperor Caligula was killed by his own guards, ending the rule of an uncontrollable mad tyrant. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of whether the stories of Caligula were true, what led to his death, and what mysterious connection he might have to the Bible and prophecy.

The Doctor encounters the mysterious inventor Nikola Tesla and has to save him from aliens. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the real history of Tesla and Edison and how much the episode pulled from actual events, plus the story's connections to classic Who.

The 2nd season of Short Treks gave us the broadest range of stories yet, including two animated shorts, the origin story for Tribbles, and a revealing sneak peek at Picard. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha look at the good, the bad, and what they say Trekkies have to look forward to.

People have reported being abducted by aliens for decades and in some cases have discovered inexplicable metal objects in their bodies after. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what these objects are, where they come from, what their purpose is, and whether they provide proof of alien contact.

The Doctor takes a cut-rate vacation at a spa on a toxic planet and then lectures the audience. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss why this episode falls flat, starting with the messy plot and unrealized characters and ending with heavy-handed preaching that breaks the fourth wall.

When Tom Paris is convicted of murdering a jealous husband, Tuvok is on the case. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the film noir inspiration for the story, where it works and where it doesn't, and how the episode puts the answer in front of the viewer from the beginning.

Since the beginning of history, people have offered many explanations for how the world works, including religion, magic, psychic phenomena, and science. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli sort out what these terms mean now and historically and how faith and reason approaches each.

The new season of Doctor Who is here and Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli are excited to talk about the premiere two-part episode, especially the great writing, the James Bond theme, and the big reveal of an old "friend". Find out why they think this is a promising start to the 13th Doctor's second season.

Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this first O'Brien-centric DS9 episode, which also was an early inspiration for the Jem'Hadar. They also talk about what the episode is saying about big-game hunting and the nature of free will.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli to answer their questions and make them available exclusively to them first and then later to the whole audience in a special bonus release. This time, we have a very broad range of questions.

The 1982 book Holy Blood, Holy Grail claimed a secret conspiracy to control the future of Europe would undermine the Bible and the Christian faith. It would eventually be the basis for the Da Vinci Code. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at what the book said and whether any of its claims could be true.

We wrap up our Big Finish to 2019 with a story of the Master that not only brings back a classic Who actor, but also the actors from the 8th Doctor TV movie as UNIT agents. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how the sinister Master recounts a tale of being trapped in 20th century America. But what's his plan?

Darmok is one of the most beloved episode of TNG. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha explore why this is so loved as well as the concept of a culture that communicates only in idiom and metaphor. Plus the unusual circumstance of Starfleet being more aggressive during first contact.

It's time for more weird questions with Jimmy Akin, including this time new books in the Bible; Heaven on another planet; impeaching the Pope; time travel & the Eucharist; marrying aliens; zombie apocalypses; and more.

Merry Christmas! Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha are discussing this set-at-Christmas audio play featuring the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), his Companion, and a strange Edwardian household. How does it compare to televised Christmas specials? Our Big Finish of 2019 continues.

This brief animated episode both pays homage to some Original Series stories, but also prefigures The Motion Picture as well. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss planet-eating stellar clouds with digestive and nervous systems, mind melds, and saving the children.

The Bible says, that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men (or in Greek, "magi") came from the East to find Him. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the mystery of who these magi were; whether they were kings; if there was just three of them; what a magi was; and they knew to come look for Jesus.

Continuing our Big Finish of 2019, Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about this Big Finish audio play featuring the Sixth Doctor and the Valeyard. The tables are now turned and it's the Valeyard on trial for his life. And the Doctor has to defend him. But what's really going on?

What if a petulant, immature teenager had god-like powers? That's the premise of Charlie X, which Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss in this episode, as well as the emergence of Kirk as a 1960's-style father-figure.

When strange objects appeared over Colares, Brazil in 1977, locals were terrified as light rays from the UFOs struck and injured people on the ground and some even died. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli ask what happened, what the investigations said, and what the objects could have been.

To start the "Big Finish to 2019," Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss this innovative 7th Doctor story told in the form of a series of radio broadcasts, a format only possible through an audio play like this. To finish out the year, SDW is doing four special episodes featuring favorite Big Finish audio plays.

This pivotal first season episode of Discovery introduced both Ash Tyler and Harry Mudd. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss Rainn Wilson's Mudd, talk about Tyler in light of what we later learn, and highlight Tilly's prayer for the alien creature.

On Dec. 1, 1948, an unknown man died on a beach in Somerton, South Australia and in his pocket was a piece of paper with the words "tamám shud." Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore what it could mean, why the man's identity is still unknown, and why the mystery may be solved soon.

In the final episode of the season, Donna becomes the Doctor Donna and Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss what it means, as well as whether the Meta-crisis Doctor is really a separate person from the Doctor. Plus a roundup for all the "Doctor's Children".

One of the best episodes of the first season of Enterprise reintroduced the Andorians. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha recall who the Andorians were, marvel at actor Jeffrey Coombs versatility, and talk about Vulcan religion.

In months with five Fridays, we bring you a “Weird Questions” edition of Catholic Answers Live where Jimmy Akin gives shorter answers to all kinds of questions, including this time stopping your zombie self, disembodied brains, no more souls, afterlife in another universe, and more.

As Donna Noble's time as Companion winds down, the 10th Doctor is reunited with many of his prior Companions. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the gathering threads by Russell T. Davies as his time as showrunner comes to an end too.

When a wormhole presents itself to the crew of the Voyager they get their hopes up, but it's only the first season. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss the dilemma of trying to convince an enemy to trust you about something completely improbable and desperately important. 

On November 28, 1953, Dr. Frank Olson plummeted to his death from a New York City hotel room window. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the mystery of his death. Was it an accident as his family was told? Or did it have something to do with the CIA, biowarfare, LSD, and murder?

The Fourth Doctor goes to Scotland, meets Zygons, and finds out the truth about the Loch Ness monster. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this story that features the only outing of the Zygons in classic Who, plus the departure of Harry Sullivan and the Brigadier. 

Looking at the parallels to the Tower of Babel in Genesis, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the DS9 episode Babel, including the real world disease called global aphasia and the moment when the character of Quark becomes fully realized in the series.

A lot has happened since Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli first discussed AATIP and the US Navy UFO videos in Spring 2019, so Jimmy offers here a roundup of news including claims of amazing futuristic inventions, the President's remarks on UFOs, and more.

Everything hinges on one seemingly inconsequential decision by Donna. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about the importance of one decision and one person, what the Trickster Brigade is, and the return of Rose and Bad Wolf.

Continuing the difficult first season of TNG, Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this episode that some Trek stars have called racist and which has been widely criticized. Is it really that bad? Does it have any redeeming qualities?

For centuries, many people believed a woman had once been pope and the tale of Pope Joan has had a recent resurgence. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli explore the origins of the story, its common details, its plausibility, and what the faith has to say about the possibility.

Celebrating their 150th episode, Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory engage in a typical Who fan exercise of ranking the Doctors from most favorite to least. They decide which Doctor they're most like and then let the other panelists pick for them.

Twenty years after Deep Space 9 ended, a quirky, new documentary looks back on the series through interviews with its creators. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss how the documentary was made; how these insiders perceive their own creation; and the personalities behind the show.

In the ancient world, many people believed the Earth is flat and today some still believe that it is a flat disc. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli give a fair and balanced exploration of the arguments and evidence for a flat earth and for a globe earth and offer a solution to this mystery.

The Master makes his Doctor Who debut in this 3rd Doctor story. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss this first appearance of the Master, as well as this gentle reboot of the 3rd Doctor with a new companion, a new enemy, and a new setting.

Kirk and the crew go loopy when they're exposed to a strange substance. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about Leonard Nimoy's great performance, the awful stereotype of Reilly, Sulu's sword work, and how much better it is than TNG's version.

After WWI, a mysterious new kind of radio station appeared that transmitted only numbers. Those stations have been with us ever since. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the mysterious stations, asking who started them, what they're for, and what is their mysterious message.

The 10th Doctor is stuck on a deadly planet called Midnight. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha discuss which is the greater threat: the fatal environment, the mysterious invisible creature, or the fear of his fellow passengers on the broken-down vehicle.

Burnham is now part of Discovery's crew and tasked with turning a creature into a weapon, while Stamets must do the same with his spore drive. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss the moral quandaries faced by the crew and Klingons. Plus Season 3 and Picard news.

Famed aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific as she neared the end of her record-breaking, round-the-world flight in 1937. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss Earhart's background and celebrity and then consider the theories for what caused Amelia and her navigator to vanish without a trace.

The 2nd Doctor and Companions romp on the Moon while repelling another Cybermen invasion plot that uses a gravity beam to control Earth's weather. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this fast-paced adventure, including how parts were reconstructed in animation after being lost.

The Enterprise makes contact with an Earth colony that disappeared mysteriously decades ago. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory discuss this story that is one part Lost Colony of Roanoke and one part Lord of the Flies and may be one of the weakest episodes of the series.

In the second of a two-part discussion of the Third Secret of Fatima, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the theories about the secret, whether it was really released in full in 2000; what it really means; and whether it was fulfilled already.

In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal, giving them a three-part secret. The third remained secret and speculation ran wild, until it was made public in 2000. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli talk about the history, the speculation, and the disputes.

The First Doctor has returned to Earth, but now he and his companions are really small. Jimmy and Dom enjoy this classic "little people in a big world" story that is also a murder-mystery and a cautionary tale of ecological disaster.

Voyager encounters another cloud space anomaly while Neelix pitches a fit and Janeway just wants a cup of coffee. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory also discuss the show's handling of native American spirituality and then pay tribute to the late Aron Eisenberg, Nog of DS9.

As a thanks to our Patrons, Jimmy and Dom every so often ask for their mysterious question and Jimmy provides his answers on a variety of topics. This special episode was exclusive for patrons for a limited time and is now available to our general audience.

Finishing their discussion of the first modern, well-known UFO abduction case, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli evaluate the evidence surrounding the Betty and Barney Hill incident and Jimmy reveals what he thinks really happened.

In the second of this two-part story, the Doctor and Donna come to a costly compromise with the Vashta Nerada. Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory talk about the sacrifices made, the ongoing ripples through the future of the series, and a writer's inability to commit to finality.

When Odo is the prime suspect in a murder, who investigates the investigator. Jimmy and Dom talk about the smaller than normal main plot which makes room for more introductions of the DS9 cast in this first season story.

Fifty-eight years ago, a New England couple was driving home when they sighted something strange in the sky, an event which eventually made Betty and Barney Hill the first widely reported UFO abduction. In the first of two episodes, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli review the evidence regarding their experience.

The first part of this two-part story introduces us to Dr. River Song and sets up yet another creepy scenario by script writer Stephen Moffat. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha explain why this two-part story is among their favorite New Who episodes.

With Hugh the re-humanized Borg rumored to be coming back in Star Trek Picard, Jimmy, Dom, and Fr. Cory take a look at this TNG episode that introduced the character and perhaps get a glimpse at what he will be doing in the new show.

In 1846, two French children reported an apparition of the Virgin Mary, who gave them warnings for the world and secrets for the children. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli look at the approval of the apparition by the local bishop and the controversy that has continued to this day.

The 4th Doctor takes an incredible journey into his brain to fight the Swarm. Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and Fr. Cory Sticha talk about how the episode plays off other "shrink and travel into the body" stories as well as the introduction of a beloved canine companion.

Star Trek III is funny, poignant, and action-packed, which Dom, Jimmy, and Fr. Cory conclude makes for a great Trek movie with Leonard Nimoy as the director, the original Enterprise in her swan song, and Christopher Lloyd as a great Klingon.