Star Trek Creators & Guests

Tawny is a sketch and improv comedian.

Paul F. Tompkins is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He gained recognition for his work on the sketch comedy show Mr. Show with Bob and David and as a frequent guest on shows like Best Week Ever. Tompkins is also well-known for his extensive work in podcasting, including hosting The Pod F. Tompkast and co-hosting the popular Spontaneanation podcast. He has appeared in films like There Will Be Blood (2007) and television shows such as BoJack Horseman, where he voiced the character Mr. Peanutbutter.

Talia Lavin is a freelance writer and author of the book Culture Warlords.

Benjamin Stiller is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director. After beginning his acting career with a play, Ben wrote several mockumentaries and was offered his own show which he produced and hosted for its thirteen-episode run. Having previously acted in television, he began acting in films. Throughout his career he has written, starred in, directed, and produced more than 50 films. He has also made numerous cameos in music videos, television shows, and films. Stiller is a member of a group of comedic actors colloquially known as the Frat Pack.

Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actress known for her deadpan delivery and autobiographical humor. She gained widespread acclaim with her 2012 stand-up album Live, which was recorded shortly after her cancer diagnosis. Notaro has since become a prominent figure in comedy, receiving Grammy and Emmy nominations for her specials. She starred in and co-created the semi-autobiographical series One Mississippi (2015-2017) and has had roles in films such as Army of the Dead (2021). Notaro is also known for her podcast Tig and Cheryl: True Story and for being a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility.

Mike McMahan is a comedy writer and television producer.

Michelle Yeoh is an actress.

Stacey Abrams is a prominent American politician, lawyer, author, and voting rights activist. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017. Abrams gained national recognition during her 2018 campaign for Governor of Georgia, where she narrowly lost but was praised for her efforts to address voter suppression. Following the election, she founded Fair Fight Action, an organization dedicated to advocating for free and fair elections. Abrams is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written both political works and fiction under the pen name Selena Montgomery. Her impactful work in politics and dedication to civil rights have made her a significant figure in American public life.

Emily St. James (formerly Emily VanDerWerff) is a critic, journalist, podcaster, and writer. Currently, she is the Critic at Large for Vox. Prior to 2019, she published under her old name, Todd VanDerWerff.St. James started her career by working for the student newspaper while studying at South Dakota State University. In 2004, she graduated and began working for newspapers, writing and copy editing, while maintaining her TV blog. Later, she wrote for the A.V. Club, first as a freelance writer, and then as an editor.