Reopening the Wormhole: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast
Join Jack, Kevin and Sam as they journey through the wonderful world of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one randomly selected episode at a time! Each week, they'll go over their notes on each episode, compare them with other iterations of Star Trek, complain about Voyager, talk about whatever the hell else comes to mind, and much, much more! Of course it wouldn't be Reopening the Wormhole without the requisite visit to Quark's to spin the Dabo wheel and determine next week's episode. So crack open a bottle of Kanar and let the good times roll as we Reopen the Wormhole, week after week!
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[BONUS] Catspaw (TOS 2.07)
10/29/2022
[BONUS] Catspaw (TOS 2.07)
You think Star Trek is just space guys philosophizing about morality? You think things never get spooky? I’ve got a very real giant black cat and dungeon with skeletons that say otherwise! That’s right, since it’s Halloween, we had to talk about the ONLY Star Trek Halloween episode: the original series’s Catspaw! Join Sam, Jack, and Kevin for an exciting discussion about whether this episode is scary, the quaint comfort of terrible original series episodes, and a lot of discussion about Korob, Sylvia, and the weird wand. Sam also takes us on a journey through some internet listicles about “the scariest Star Trek episodes” (spoiler: some of the choices are silly), and the team discusses all the great horror movies that have come out thus far in 2022. Not to mention another thrilling trip to the old mailbag! This discussion will enthrall all extragalactic beings, including those who can experience no sensation! And coming soon, to a podcast device near you: the continuing journey of the Tongo wheel! Have a spooky, spooky Halloween. To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Check out 2 albums’ worth of RTW music on any of your favorite streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and so much more! Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher. Lastly, check out Sam & Cam Siemer talking about early 90s Star Wars novellas on Young Jedi Knights Club at or on your favorite pod catcher.
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[TONGO 6] The Price (TNG 3.08) (with Kregg Castillo & Cam Siemer)
08/22/2022
[TONGO 6] The Price (TNG 3.08) (with Kregg Castillo & Cam Siemer)
The wormhole is, indeed, in need of some reopening, yet again! Our Tongo extravaganza is not quite complete, and here we are joined by Cam Siemer of What Were We Watching and Young Jedi Knights Club, as well as our resident Ferengi expert Kregg, to talk about this Troi-centric episode of TNG, in which another empath boards the station and seduces our fair counselor, with, as Jethro Tull it, bad intent, and a delegation of Ferengis and others haggle over the discovery of a *GASP* stable wormhole?! What is this, DEEP SPACE NINE? No, my friends, it is not, but it is the return of RTW, an episode recorded literal months ago that we are thrilled to finally have out there in the ether. Will there be another gap of notable size between this episode and the next? I DO NOT KNOW. Hopefully not? Time will tell. Anyway, enjoy this discussion and some dope rhymes. To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Check out 2 albums’ worth of RTW music on any of your favorite streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and so much more! Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher. Lastly, check out Sam & Cam Siemer talking about early 90s Star Wars novellas on Young Jedi Knights Club at or on your favorite pod catcher. And check out Cam’s amazing podcast What Were We Watching at !
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[TONGO 5] The Perfect Mate (TNG 5.21) (with Kregg Castillo & Sean Davis)
01/21/2022
[TONGO 5] The Perfect Mate (TNG 5.21) (with Kregg Castillo & Sean Davis)
I’ve heard of Shakespeare in Love, but Picard in Love? Yeah, it happened… and the RTW crew is more than ready to talk with Sean Davis about Picard’s love, Riker’s r-rated joke, Worf’s seductive growl, and since it’s a Tongo episode, you KNOW Ferengi scholar Kregg is there to add his take on some Ferengi whose horniness is only surpassed by their greed (like any good Ferengi). So enjoy a bizarre game show, some Trek talk, an epic rap, a dip into listener email for some Ryan Trek Updates (and more), and all the wild stuff you’ve come to love from the dolts of Reopening the Wormhole. Like drunken tangents. A lot of those. And get ready for more Tongo and whatever the HELL we feel like tossing your way at sporadic times throughout this new year! Because it’s Covid season baby! Nuthin’ matters! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Check out 2 albums’ worth of RTW music on any of your favorite streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and so much more! Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher. Lastly, check out Sam & Cam Siemer talking about early 90s Star Wars novellas on Young Jedi Knights Club at or on your favorite pod catcher.
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[HALLOWEEN BONUS] Night Terrors (TNG 4.17)
10/29/2021
[HALLOWEEN BONUS] Night Terrors (TNG 4.17)
Are you still reeling from our epic Caretaker takedown? Well that’s too bad! We’ve got our thrilling annual Halloween episode coming right at ya! The RTW boys fight through a myriad of technical difficulties to discuss this creepy, weird TNG episode, which is fondly remembered for scarring Jack & Sam as children. Despite the technical setbacks, the guys are excited to talk hallucinations, alien messages, and have a long discussion about the nature of dreams. We couldn’t let you guys celebrate the spooooookiest day of the year without some Trek in your life! So dive into the beautiful musings of three pals for life as they dissect creepiness and pal around. Two activities that go hand in hand. To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Check out 2 albums’ worth of RTW music on any of your favorite streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and so much more! Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher. Lastly, check out Sam & Cam Siemer talking about early 90s Star Wars novellas on Young Jedi Knights Club at or on your favorite pod catcher.
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[TONGO 4] Voyager 1.01 Caretaker (featuring Kregg Castillo and Sean Davis)
10/27/2021
[TONGO 4] Voyager 1.01 Caretaker (featuring Kregg Castillo and Sean Davis)
The Tongo Journey continues with Quark’s historic appearance in the first episode of Voyager. Warning to Voyager fans: we love you, but if you have trouble with dissenting opinions about this pilot, please do not listen. Sean Davis joins the regular RTW hosts, Sam, Jack, and Kevin, as well as Ferengiman Kregg, to discuss this disjointed, bizarre, messy pilot episode of Star Trek: Voyager. They salvage what they can from the mess, but mostly spend several hours bemoaning its many flaws. Consider these friendly nerds the caretakers of your heart as you listen to them assert deep discomfort with the way this pilot chooses to build its characters, establish its story, and set a tone. Again, Voyager fans, we still love you, but we do not shy away from expressing our negative viewpoints on this pilot, so please be warned! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher.
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[ANNOUNCEMENT] RTW Music out NOW!!!
10/05/2021
[ANNOUNCEMENT] RTW Music out NOW!!!
Oi! You! You're a Reopening the Wormhole fan! You probably enjoy the music we've done over the years... well you're in luck! A selection of RTW music has been released INTO THE WILD! You can hear 100 classic RTW tracks, spread out over two albums, with gorgeous artwork by Sam & Jack Stovold, on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, or pretty much any streaming platform you like! Just search for Reopening the Wormhole, and 100 goofy little tracks will be right at your fingertips! Look out for the next TONGO WHEEL episode coming atcha soon! Spotify: Apple Music: Amazon Music: YouTube Music:
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[TONGO 3] Unification II (TNG 5.08)
09/13/2021
[TONGO 3] Unification II (TNG 5.08)
We know what you’re thinking, you rapscallion! You’re thinking “WHERE IS RTW? I NEED MORE PODCAST!” We got your number pally. Well guess what WE’RE BAAAAACK. The Tongo wheel continues to spin around and around, and where she stopped this time around was the classic TNG episode Unification II, aka THE ONE WITH SPOCK. As always, the guys are joined by Ferengi Expert Kregg, and this time, by old pal Barm as well, to get down to the nitty gritty of what reeeeeally works in this episode, and what is a wet fart, and really dig into Spock’s attempt at reunification of the Vulcans and Romulans, and Pardek, Pardek, Pardek. And prepare yourself for another trip to Ye Olde Mailbag, where Ryan gives us another Trek Update. It’s yet another Tongo episode fit to be screened in the Tower of Commerce. … If they could screen auditory mediums somehow. T’KUVMA! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: m Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher.
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[TONGO 2] Suspicions (TNG 6.22)
06/22/2021
[TONGO 2] Suspicions (TNG 6.22)
The Tongo Experiment ventures into its second outing to talk about the TNG season six episode, Suspicions! In a rare Dr. Crusher-centric episode, she becomes Detective Bevs in order to solve the mysterious murder of a Ferengi scientist on board the ship to test out his groundbreaking invention. As always, Ferengiman Kregg joins in to weigh the good, the bad, and the tasty (mmm those Jo’Bril snacks) of this middling episode. Does the mystery aspect hold up? How do we feel about the concept of a Ferengi scientist? And what’s that new rap gonna be like? (Hint: it’s dope). Stay tuned to the end for a mailbag extravaganza, where we read and respond to a whole slew of mails from listeners. And stick around for dessert, we’re serving up heaping helpings of Jo’Bril. To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on your favorite podcatcher. Hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Jack & Richard Dunham discuss the classic 80s anime film Akira one minute on a time on Akira Minute at or on your favorite podcatcher.
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[BONUS] Mortal Kombat (2021) (with Cam Siemer)
05/13/2021
[BONUS] Mortal Kombat (2021) (with Cam Siemer)
We’ve heard your cries, your desperate pleas: “Why won’t this Star Trek podcast just give in and do a Mortal Kombat episode already?” Well the time is here! After years of unexpectedly breaking into tangents about the popular video game franchise, it only seemed right that the RTW boys would jump at the opportunity to discuss the newly released Mortal Kombat film. After a big nostalgic trip down memory lane about their experiences playing the famously violent games as children, the RTW hosts, along with special guest Cam Siemer of What Were We Watching, get into the nitty gritty of what works, what doesn’t, and just how it compares to the classic 1995 film adaptation. And Cam brings the Big Cam Energy by encouraging the guys to rank the fatalities in the movie, and also to breeze through an ENTIRE bracket about all the characters in the film in under 10 minutes. It’s a nostalgic trip down blood-soaked Kombat Lane that Kombat fans won’t want to miss! RTW WINS! Flawless Victory. (P.S. let me save you the trouble: since this episode went long, the guys didn’t get around to mailbag checking, but stay tuned for some mail readings on the next episode as the guys return to Trek with the long awaited second Tongo episode!) To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] The Wham! Bam! Thank You, Sam! Birthday Bracket
05/04/2021
[BONUS] The Wham! Bam! Thank You, Sam! Birthday Bracket
Just a *little* over a month after Sam’s actual birthday, the exciting birthday celebration bracket is finally being released into the world! Barm joins the team to answer fun questions about some of their favorite locations in the show, in order to ultimately determine the winner of this Deep Space Nine Location Bracket, in honor of the birth of one of our favorite guys. What will be the winner? Odo’s office? The Bajoran fire caves? Tune in to find out the answer, as well as to hear a bunch of rambling weirdos chit chatting about whatever pops into their heads. The bracket tradition continues, and no Deep Space Nine stone shall be unturned! Look out next for an exciting RTW diversion before we return to our Tongo experience! T’KUVMA FOREVER! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[TONGO 1] The Last Outpost (TNG 1.04)
04/08/2021
[TONGO 1] The Last Outpost (TNG 1.04)
The new chapter of the RTW story begins, with our first Tongo Bonus episode! That’s right, our journey through every non-DS9 Ferengi episode in Trek begins here, coincidentally, with the first Ferengi episode! Did we say “first”? We meant WORST! Well actually we meant both. But there’s a lot of mud to sling at this episode, and the RTW crew and Ferengi Expert Kregg are ready to call this episode out for its inanity. We’re not in Ferenginar anymore, dear listeners, but we’re excited to be bringing more Trek Talk to all of you, and we’re thrilled to have Kregg alongside us. And without Rappin’ Jake Sisko, will there be a replacement rapper? Tune in to find out! And stick around for another exciting mailbag from a first-timer who’s working through DS9 AND RTW in DS9 episode order. It is, as Spock would say, fascinating. To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[DS9 COMIC BONUS] Too Long a Sacrifice
03/01/2021
[DS9 COMIC BONUS] Too Long a Sacrifice
Man, it sure has been a while since this Deep Space Nine podcast has talked about Deep Space Nine. Well, mark this date as the date that the RTW crew is back in business to talk about a newly released limited-run DS9 comic series! Too Long a Sacrifice tells the story of Odo’s struggle to determine the perpetrator of a series of violent crimes, all while smack dab in the middle of the Dominion War. The RTW boys have a blast diving back into the subject that brought them together in the first place, and revel in the nourish atmosphere of the comic. Stay tuned to the end, as the guys unveil an exciting new chapter coming up for RTW! You won’t want to miss it! And look out for no less than five new musical compositions in this very episode! It’s got all the hallmarks of an episode of RTW, AND MORE!!!!!!!!! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] 2020: A Wormhole Trektrospective
01/29/2021
[BONUS] 2020: A Wormhole Trektrospective
2020 was a lot of things, but if there’s one thing it’ll be remembered as, it’s that it’s the year of 3 Star Trek shows. It was just too significant for the RTW boys to not share their thoughts with listeners, so they geared up to have a brief look down memory lane about the Year in Trek of 2020, and the year in general. What they got instead of over four hours of chit chat, including a ton of talk about Picard, Lower Decks, and Discovery, as well as a series of recommendations from all three hosts, as well as a high level of navel-gazing. It wouldn’t be a post-DS9 episode of RTW if there wasn’t a high level of self-congratulatory banter about our favorite episodes of our own shows, and our favorite songs that WE wrote. Spirits flow as spirits run high. Listeners who want general discussions about the three Trek seasons of 2020 won’t want to miss this episode. And if you’re looking for recommendations outside of Star Trek…. You’ve come to the right place! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: To check out a selection of original music written for RTW, visit: https://soundcloud.com/elder-young Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] A Christmas Horror Story
12/24/2020
[BONUS] A Christmas Horror Story
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good… FRIGHT? The boys are back in their Christmas best to talk about yet another Christmas-based property that has a tangential relationship to Star Trek. It’s the 2015 Canadian horror anthology A Christmas Horror Story, starring none other than William Shatner as drunken radio DJ Dangerous Dan. The guys have fun talking about this middling film and the varying qualities of the stories in the anthology, including one about Santa murdering zombie elves. As always, several digressions take place, as Kevin talks about his Coen Bros journey, and then an email from a listener opens up a much larger conversation about film. So spread the holiday cheer by listening to these three buffoons blabber on about this silly movie, and its many highs and lows. Have a merry Christmas, listeners, and a happy New Year! And don’t let Krampus, the vile enemy of Christmas, find you! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] Jack's Scrumpy Little Friendly Neighborhood Birthday Bracket (with Barm & Jason Butze)
11/20/2020
[BONUS] Jack's Scrumpy Little Friendly Neighborhood Birthday Bracket (with Barm & Jason Butze)
A birthday just isn’t a birthday unless you spend it talking at length about Deep Space Nine characters with your buddies! (I guess most of our birthdays haven’t been birthdays… that’s gloomy…) Luckily for us, there are enough fascinating characters on Deep Space Nine that we could load two completely different brackets, and still have some left over. So to celebrate the anniversary of Jack’s birth (as well as that of StarMom TechnoBarbara, and president-elect Joe Biden), the RTW team has gathered two of their favorite recurring guests to have big, long discussions about things like what Nicolas Cage as Moogie would be like, what Gowron would be like as a Thanksgiving guest, and how Grand Nagus Zek would fit into the Guardians of the Galaxy. They also take a quick dip into some listener mail, and go off the rails in all sorts of ways. Even if you can’t be there in Japan to celebrate Jack’s birthday in person, you can vicariously enjoy the nerdy discussions that made this birthday bash a night to remember! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] Star Trek: The Next Generation - Sub Rosa (7x14)
10/29/2020
[BONUS] Star Trek: The Next Generation - Sub Rosa (7x14)
As All Hallow’s Eve approaches, the Reopening the Wormhole crew felt a swelling of the Spooky Spirit that could only be expressed by watching this classic(?) somewhat spooky episode of TNG and discussing it for the benefit of you, the listener. The trend continues of discussing a generally maligned episode from the final season of TNG: Sub Rosa. In this steamy episode, Dr. Crusher falls in love with what appears to be a handsome ghost while tending to her recently-deceased grandmother’s affairs. While this episode is often cited as one of the worst Star Trek episodes, there may be some dissenting opinions among the RTW crew. Tune in to find out! And also, to hear the guys discuss some horror movies they’ve been watching recently, some general thoughts on Star Trek: Lower Decks, the validity of Scottish accents, and the sadly infrequent intrusions of eroticism across all Trek shows. So put on your best anaphasic ghost costume and prepare for the creeeeeeepiest, spoooooooookiest RTW episode of the year! This episode is sponsored by VOTING! If you live in America, get out and vote if you haven’t already! To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] Star Trek: The Next Generation - Masks (7x17)
09/28/2020
[BONUS] Star Trek: The Next Generation - Masks (7x17)
Are you wearing your masks when you go out? We sure hope so! And we hope they’re more effective than the masks worn by Data & Picard in this infamous episode of TNG. Regarded by many as one of the worst episodes of the show, we felt the time was right to give it the RTW treatment. It’s got many of the hallmarks of fun TNG episodes: Brent Spiner acting like a weirdo, Picard nerding out about anthropology, surreal atmosphere, strange visuals… one of the hosts even claims to be a Masks apologist. But there’s a lot to unpack in this bizarre 45 minutes of television. In addition to the episode discussion, we open the mailbag and catch up with the listeners, have a discussion about video games we like, launch into a Masks rap, and so very much more. Like Masaka, Reopening the Wormhole is RISING (in quality). To hear your email read on a future episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Treks, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] Birthday Bracket Bash(ir)!!! (with Paul & Jacalyn Young)
08/31/2020
[BONUS] Birthday Bracket Bash(ir)!!! (with Paul & Jacalyn Young)
RTW will go on forever! In perpetuity, doing random bonuses! And we are BACK, to quote the Romulans. This time, we’re making a big fun celebration to honor the anniversary of RTW host Kevin by taking part in a big ol’ DS9 character bracket! Kevin’s twin (whose birthday it also is) Paul Wall joins, along with his wife Jacalyn. In a fun twist on the standard tournament bracket, each choice is dictated by a unique question, hatched by the hosts themselves. While they wrestle with questions like “Who would you rather wake up next to after a night of drinking: Sisko or Damar”, they also get into tons of classic RTW tangents, silliness, and pedantry that you all know and love. Be on the lookout for three new very silly musical compositions by the team. And place your bets as to who will win the ultimate DS9 character bracket! You may be surprised at who ultimately takes it…. And keep your eyes peeled for our next random bonus episode! Coming soon to a podcast listening device near you! To hear your email read on a future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Trek, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts
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[BONUS] The Animated Series: Albatross (2x04)
08/03/2020
[BONUS] The Animated Series: Albatross (2x04)
We wouldn’t let you guys endure an ENTIRE worldwide pandemic without dropping in at some point, would we? Well we almost did…. But we’re finally here, performing for you! Recorded all the way back in the sweet, naive days of April 2020, we are back to update you all on how we’re doing, how the world is doing, share our thoughts on Star Trek: Picard, and then, finally, discuss this plague-themed episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series! It’s Albatross! When Bones is held responsible for a plague that killed off an entire species of weird-looking aliens, it’s up to the Enterprise crew to exonerate him, and it’s up to the RTW crew to talk about how lazy and goofy the animation is in this show. Always a treat, the guys have a blast talking about this beautiful, weird gift from the 70s, while allowing digressions into all sorts of subjects. It’s the banter you know and love, but this time, from a Covid-aware perspective! So put on your PPE and get ready to get VIRAL with this deep, deep dive into a silly old cartoon! To hear your email read on a future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Trek, Picard, and Lower Decks Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts
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[BONUS] Friday the 13th (2009)
03/13/2020
[BONUS] Friday the 13th (2009)
The wormhole is always going to reopen when you least expect it! And here we are, on Friday the 13th… RTW is taking a look at yet another important franchise reboot movie from 2009 that is in some way related to Star Trek - although the relation in this case is a little less obvious. In 2009’s Friday the 13th reboot, Nana Visitor, our very own Kira Nerys, plays the iconic role of Pamela Voorhees, mother of the famous Jason… for all of about 90 seconds. What ensues after that is a fairly standard Jason movie, with some good scares, dopey characters, and people dying horribly. The RTW crew reveals the depth of their Jason fandom in this upsettingly long episode, talking about everything from the Weed Hick to classic(?) PS3 game Heavy Rain to their history with horror and Jason movies, along with all the RTW features you’ve come to know and love, and, as the alcohol and the lateness slowly takes a hold of them, they cap it off by ranking all of the Friday the 13th movies from best to worst. And of course, when Rappin’ Jake fails to step up to the plate for this movie, Sam, Kevin, and Jack are up to the task for a replacement rap. There’s a lotta JASON? JASON! love to go around here, and a lot of nerdy pals making nerdy references to nerdy stuff. Basically what you’d expect from a 3-hour episode of a Star Trek podcast about a Jason movie… I guess… To hear your email read on a future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Trek, and Picard Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts
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[BONUS] Retrospective Part 2
02/26/2020
[BONUS] Retrospective Part 2
Will the self-indulgence never end???? That’s right, Sam, Jack, and Kevin are back to indulge themselves in even more wistful nostalgia and self-congratulation in PART 2 of their Reopening the Wormhole retrospective! Like all awards shows, they saved the really big awards for last here, including their favorites and least favorites of both RTW and DS9, more listener email, a discussion about the music on the show, and more! These three have been through so much over the course of this podcast’s existence, and this episode sees them finally acknowledging the significant role it’s played in their lives. They may be done covering all the Deep Space Nine episodes, but the impact that Reopening the Wormhole has had on these podcasters will leave a lifelong beauty mark on all of their souls. Remember to remain subscribed to Reopening the Wormhole! We will continue to release bonus content and keep you guys informed of Jack, Sam, and Kevin’s upcoming projects on this feed. We love our listeners, and this final Retrospective, while intended to bring closure to RTW, is nonetheless, NOT THE END! Expect another bonus episode out very soon, and keep writing us emails! We fully intend to read then ALL on the podcast in future episodes! Here’s a helpful guide to the things covered in this episode: 6:20 - Favorite Episode of a Cohost’s Other Podcast 22:32 - Favorite Kregg Episode of RTW 34:26 - Favorite Ferengi Episode of DS9 36:34 - Favorite Funniest Line/Technobabble 42:30 - Favorite Bonus Episode 56:23 - Listener Email 1:09:10 - Favorite RTW Music 1:57:20 - Bottom 5 DS9 Episodes 2:10:33 - Least Favorite RTW Episode 2:18:54 - Top 3 RTW Episodes 2:36:34 - Top 10 DS9 Episodes To hear your email read on a future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Trek, and Picard Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts
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[BONUS] Retrospective Part 1
02/18/2020
[BONUS] Retrospective Part 1
What do you do when you just can’t let go of talking about Deep Space Nine, even though you’ve talked about every episode for hours? You talk about the show as a whole, and you talk about yourself talking about it, that’s what! It’s part 1 of our Big, Bad, Bodacious Retrospective! We’re covering several categories related to both Deep Space Nine and Reopening the Wormhole, reading some listener email with some great suggestions for retrospective topics, and overall, having an absolute blast talking about DS9, podcasting, and all the fun we’ve had over the years. You’re probably asking yourself: how is this just part 1? It’s three hours! Well… you are underestimating our penchant for navel-gazing and talking Trek. We do so much of both of these things in this episode, and we know our listeners wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are the time stamps for all the subjects discussed in part one: 7:37 - A Look Back at the Last Four Years 26:00 - Listener Email 1:04:41 - Favorite Main Character 1:14:24 - Best Actor in DS9 1:19:45 - Favorite Recurring Character 1:24:01 - Favorite Single-Episode Character 1:29:31 - Favorite Alien Race 1:39:38 - Favorite RTW Cohost Performance 1:53:37 - Favorite RTW Guest Performance 2:08:12 - Listener Email 2:46:59 - Favorite RTW Cold Open Stay tuned for part 2, coming soon to a podcast listening device near you! To hear your email read on a future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discovery, Short Trek, and Picard Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam and friend of the show Brian Rudloff talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[BONUS] Mailbag Episode 4: A New Hope
01/29/2020
[BONUS] Mailbag Episode 4: A New Hope
After a loooooong hiatus punctuated only by Xmas cheer in December, RTW is returning with the long-awaited mailbaggery you’ve all been clamoring for! Technical difficulties held us back for a few months, but nothing can stop us from reading and responding to every single one of your emails. The guys are answering all sorts of questions, DS9-related and otherwise, from fans of all stars and stripes. Among the topics listeners are asking about: the universal translator, reactions to our divisive Hollow Man episode, discussions of some listener to 10 emails, Technobabble, and so much more. No matter how long it’s been since we finished discussing every episode of Deep Space Nine, our love for the show will never wane, and we will keep having discussions just like this both on and off the podcast. Because Star Trek is, like, cool. Look forward to the forthcoming Retrospective episodes to hear our detailed thoughts on our experience with Deep Space Nine and this podcast that ran our lives for so many years! To hear your email read on another future mailbag episode, mail us at: Check out Jack on Jack’s Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek: Discover, Short Trek, and Picard Podcast at or on Apple Podcasts. Also, hear Jack and friend of the show Geoff Clarke talk about all things Planet of the Apes on The Apecast at or on Apple Podcasts. Lastly, hear Sam talk about Marvel Star Wars comics from the 1970s and 80s on Marvel Star Wars Explorers at or on Stitcher or Apple Podcasts.
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[XMAS BONUS] Futurama - Xmas Story
12/23/2019
[XMAS BONUS] Futurama - Xmas Story
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee’re back! You didn’t think the RTW crew would let an Xmas go by without a small gift to our fans, did you? After a couple months off, we’re going to be back intermittently with THINGS. OF. INTEREST!!!! For Xmas this year, we just couldn’t resist getting together to watch one of our favorite sci-fi Xmas tales, the season 2 Futurama episode Xmas Story! After the guys take a moment to mourn the tragic loss of some significant Trek people, Kevin gives a rundown of a Rene Auberjonois-starring Xmas movie you can watch on Disney+, and the guys break down some of the other wacky ideas they tossed around before settling on doing this Futurama episode for the holidays. Then they get into the nitty-gritty about this hilarious and heart-warming episode, followed by the standard features you’ve come to know and love. And you’d better believe there’s more coming down the pipeline! There’s three already-recorded episodes in the bag that just need to be put through the wormhole processor before they make their way to your earholes, but we just HAD to get you guys in the RTWXMas spirit first! Be sure to rate and review us on Apple podcasts, and tell all your friends. ALL of them. Credit for the outro song goes to YouTuber John C. Worsley. Email us at:
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173 - What You Leave Behind (7x25)
10/14/2019
173 - What You Leave Behind (7x25)
A grand finale requires the grandest of episodes. And here it is, finally! After a 4-year journey, we’ve arrived at the thing that listeners almost certainly want: a nearly-five-hour-long, in-depth, off-the-wall discussion with a dog snoring in the background. If you’re a long-time listener, YOU KNEW THIS WAS COMING. We get into the nitty-gritty of the end of the Dominion War, the tragic (and not-so-tragic) death of multiple characters, the Bajoran fire caves, and so so so so so much more. And of COURSE there are detours to talk about things like Mortal Kombat, Spider-Man movies, and all the hallmarks of these three Trek fans who can’t stay on topic. It’s our final regular episode, and of course we have a LOT to get off our chests. And stay tuned to the end as we have a big discussion about series finales – which ones we like, which ones we don’t, and how What You Leave Behind stacks up. You’ll also find a whopping 8 new musical compositions (and more old ones) spread throughout the episode. 3 years from now, when you’re done listening to the episode in its entirety, you’ll be crying to yourself “WHY RTW! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO!” Well don’t worry, we’ll be back soon with some mailbag episodes and a big old retrospective about DS9 and about our experience on the podcast. And stay subscribed for random bonus episodes when you least expect them. What we leave behind is a weird podcast that changed our lives, and hopefully those of our listeners, for the better. Lastly, we dedicate this, our finale, to one of our favorite Ferengis, Aron Eisenberg. May he rest in peace.
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[BONUS] What We Left Behind - Revisited
09/11/2019
[BONUS] What We Left Behind - Revisited
This week, the RTW crew decided to postpone their episode about the series finale of DS9, and instead are taking a deep dive into the DS9 documentary. You’ll remember back in May of this year, Sam & Kevin had the privilege to see the film in theaters, but Jack was sadly unable to see it himself. Go back and listen to that episode for our larger discussion, featuring Jack listening on forlornly as Sam, Kevin, and Commander Sisko excitedly gush about the incredible film. But now that the crew owns the BluRay, they can finally get Jack’s hot take on Ira Steven Behr’s beard, and on all the things they neglected to mention to Jack. They’ll also be discussing the bonus features, and talking in some detail about all the deleted scenes, and, of course, taking detours to make obscure Simpsons references. It’s a good way for the RTW crew to get hyped up about our upcoming last regular RTW episode!!!! Coming soon! And don’t forget to rate and review us, tell your friends, and email us at to hear your thoughts read on air!
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172 - The Dogs of War (7x24) (with Kregg Castillo)
09/05/2019
172 - The Dogs of War (7x24) (with Kregg Castillo)
RTW is letting loose the Dogs of War! That’s right! It’s our penultimate regular DS9 episode! And oohhhhh what an episode it is. Our Ferengi expert and friend Kregg Castillo is along for the ride to discuss the end of the Ferengi storyline on DS9, and so so so so so much more. In fact, at OVER 4 HOURS LONG, this one officially surpasses Indiscretion as our longest episode ever! That’s because there’s so much to talk about in this episode, and on top of that, we’re getting nostalgic for the wild and crazy ride RTW has been for us all and for our fans. It’s a gushy as it is weird, as emotional as it is stupid, and so filled with music. Not the least of which is the latest P-Unit song acting as the intro for the episode, and the debut of Rappin Kregg Sisko. You’d think that with only a single Trek Check, we’d be able to keep it to a reasonable length, but nope! We’re taking detours and playing new songs and old favorites and saying AHH NIIICE so many times, and, of course, disagreeing over the new Nagus. We pulled out all the stops to make this the Ferengi extravaganza to rule them all; it may take you several days to hear it all, but it’s all worth it to hear the insight, the bad jokes, the weird jingles, and, of course, countless digressions to discuss other things. It is everything you could want AND MORE. Just… LISTEN TO IT. And don’t forget to rate and review us, tell your friends, and email us at to hear your thoughts read on air!
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171 - Second Sight (2x09) (with Josh Lee)
08/21/2019
171 - Second Sight (2x09) (with Josh Lee)
With the Dabo Wheel spinning its final spin, and only two episodes of Deep Space Nine left, things are getting heated at RTW headquarters. And as the end draws nearer and nearer, the hosts of RTW are taking a somber and serious approach to crafting the absolute best episodes for their listeners. … Ah who are we kidding? To cover this final randomly-selected episode - a fairly forgettable Sisko-centric episode from season 2 - they’ve churned out an insane 3-hour episode that was recorded from midnight to 3 a.m. for the majority of participants. Returning champion Josh Lee joins the group to discuss his burgeoning DS9 fandom, the slowly deepening Sisko father-son dynamic, Yogi Bear, the merits of self-centered egotist Seyetik, one of the all-time Trek classics on Trek Check, and an impossibly huge number of other subjects. Spirits run high and the excitement is palpable as we come closer to our final DS9 episode. So come join in on the fun! Tell your friends about this amazing Deep Space Nine podcast where they write original music about the show and somehow manage to pull off insightful discussion through the haze of liquor, navel-gazing, and pop culture references. An unexpected guest spits hot fire on a song buried deep in the Rappin Jake Sisko segment. The DS9 episode may not be one of the best, but the RTW crew are churning out some of their loopiest and best work to date. Email us at or rate us on iTunes to get your two cents read on air in on our final upcoming mailbag episode!
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170 - The Quickening (4x24) (with Richard Dunham)
07/31/2019
170 - The Quickening (4x24) (with Richard Dunham)
With only four episodes left of our podcast, the Bashir-naissance comes to a conclusion with this classic season 4 episode. In this one, we spend some time exploring the good doctor’s morality, his arrogance, his strengths, and his flaws, through the story of a planet on which all inhabitants are born with a fatal illness. It’s a heavy Star Trek episode, and Ghibli Minute’s Richard Dunham joins the team for the first time to hash it out. Along the way, they’ll also discuss their thoughts on the new trend of live action Disney movies, one of the all-time best Quark moments that starts this episode, Michael Stipe, a stellar set of Trek Check episodes, and so much more. Stay tuned to the end to hear a special announcement from Jack, and to discover how the RTW crew escapes their own terrifying encounter with the Blight. And, of course, to hear the FINAL DABO WHEEL SPIN!!!! With only three episodes left, time is running short! The crew plans on making somewhat big productions out of the final three, so they may be moving to a two-week schedule - at least until the show is over. But the end of DS9 is not the end for us! Send us your thoughts, your ideas, your requests, and anything else you’d like to hear us discuss on our retrospective RTW! Share with us what RTW has meant to you! We will read every email on air!
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169 - Our Man Bashir (4x10) (with Eric Ambler and Sean Davis)
07/24/2019
169 - Our Man Bashir (4x10) (with Eric Ambler and Sean Davis)
Here at Reopening the Wormhole, we prefer our podcasts shaken, not stirred. But we sure enjoy going STIR CRAZY as we discuss Julian’s big foray into being a super spy in the Holosuite to protect the lives of his pals who are trapped in the pattern buffer. The episode is chock-full of fun, with bad-Russian-accent Kira, eyepatch O’Brien, a surprise Eddington, and, best of all, Avery Brooks as absolutely one of the best James Bond villains ever. Eric Ambler (of What Were We Watching) and Sean Davis (of After the Credits) join us for this super-sized discussion and bring their unique perspectives as a DS9 non-fan and a Bashir superfan, respectively, to this episode, and the conversation veers off into all sorts of crazy directions! Stick around for the whole 3+ hours to hear Sean & Sam talk about their experience at the DS9 panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, LOTS of Bond talk, some other fun surprises, and… an entire conversation about guns?! There’s a world of fun to be had, including a Bashir-based Bond-style intro song. You won’t say “no” to Dr. Noah! This is our fifth-to-last episode! We’re calling on listeners to send us in your ideas and wishlists for us to cover as we revisit and rehash our wormhole-reopening experience, so start emailing us at and help us keep this wormhole open just a little longer!
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