47 is a magical number in Star Trek. The number “47” shows up again and again, across all of the 24th-century series. It has even spread to other genre series.

I and host Jordan Hoffman discuss what makes the integer 47 so special in Star Trek and beyond on Episode #47 of ENGAGE, The Official Star Trek Podcast.

We lay some of the blame at the feet of former and current Star Trek producer Joe Menosky, and then we go off on a bunch of tangents before grudgingly circling back to the episode’s premise.

I must confess that I’ve played my part in this phenomenon, with the titular starbase of my Star Trek Vanguard saga also being known as Starbase 47.

(Bonus trivia point: this episode was taped just a few days before my birthday, so I was 47 years old when we recorded it.)