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Xena: Warrior Nutballs

xenawarriornutballs

Kia Ora and G’day whānau! Join two queer overexcitable fangirls, Lou (Kiwi, new-ish fan) and Shell (Aussie, OG Xenite), as they deep-dive into Xena: Warrior Princess with charmingly mediocre wit, loads of nostalgia, and at times impenetrable accents.

As Xena: Warrior Princess celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, we’re highlighting its legacy by attempting to interview 30 cast and crew who made it legendary, the Kiwis and Aussies responsible for the leather outfits, the sword fights, and let’s be real, making us all a little bit gayer. From behind-the-scenes stories to on-set moments, we’re going to bring you the voices behind the show which changed the world.

🎧 Listen in and embrace the Nutball life! ⚔️🌈

Visit us at: https://xenawarriornutballs.com/ 

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 1 hr 2 min
  • English

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  • #25
    Wednesday · 55 min

    Interview #24: Eric Gruendemann! ✈️🌿⚔️Producer, Supervising Producer, Co-Executive Producer, and founder and Managing Director of Pacific Renaissance Pictures!😮‍💨

    This week Lou and Shell are welcoming into the whānau Eric Gruendemann - Producer, Supervising Producer, Co-Executive Producer, and founder and Managing Director of Pacific Renaissance Pictures!🎬🌿⚔️😮‍💨 Some people think the story of Xena: Warrior Princess begins with Hercules: The Legendary Journeys... but they'd be wrong. The real origin story starts years earlier, when Eric boarded a plane and headed to Aotearoa New Zealand to see if this small country at the bottom of the world could become home to an ambitious new television series.✈️ Eric didn't just help make a television show - he helped build an entire industry. 🎬💪 His vision and belief in Aotearoa put New Zealand on the map as a world-class television production destination, paving the way for countless international productions that followed. Join Shell & Lou as we travel right back to the VERY beginning and hear the incredible story of how one scouting trip changed Aotearoa New Zealand’s television history forever. 🌿✨ Follow us: 🌐 Website: https://xenawarriornutballs.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317

  • #27
    September 2 · 46 min

    Interview #23: Timothy Omundson! Eli 🧔🏻‍♀️💚🕊️

    This week, Lou and Shell have grown out their beards and donned their muumuus as we welcome into the whānau Timothy Omundson AKA Eli!🧔🏻‍♀️💚🕊️ Yes! That devilishly handsome, charismatic man with the sparkling blue eyes who arrived in Xena and Gabrielle’s lives as a street magician, before becoming one of the most important spiritual figures in the series.🎩🪄🙏 In this episode, Tim talks about connecting with Lucy Lawless, Renée O’Connor, and Kevin Smith, how much he loved working with the Kiwi cast and crew, and getting up to some proper Kiwi antics when the cameras weren't rolling.⛳ And yes… he stole his muumuu. HE STOLE HIS MUUMUU, YOU GUYS. 😂🤣 We absolutely ADORE this man. Tim is funny, warm, generous and genuinely phenomenal, and we loved hearing his memories of his time in Aotearoa and the people who made Xena so special. Show notes: Find Tim on Instagram 📸 Instagram: @omundson If you'd like to hear about Tim's recovery from his stroke, check out “Tim's 9th Stroke-iversary” on The Psychologists Are In with Maggie Lawson and Timothy Omundson, released 7 May 2026. 🎧 Listen to “Tim's 9th Stroke-iversary” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/31jzGjgNzD6XsLGlz9NvvC Find Xena: Warrior Nutballs 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 🌐 www.xenawarriornutballs.com

  • #26
    August 26 · 30 min

    Special Guest Side Quest: Xena and Gabrielle's costumes at Te Papa 🧵🏛️✨ with Curator, Stephanie Gibson

    In this Special Guest Side Quest, Lou gets up close with THE ACTUAL COSTUMES worn by Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor! 🤯⚔️ Getting to head behind the scenes at Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, with Stephanie Gibson, Curator of New Zealand Histories and Cultures. We explore the craftsmanship and artistry behind Xena’s costume, initially designed by Barbara Darragh and reworked by Ngila Dickson, and Gabrielle’s Season 6 outfit, designed by Jane Holland, with props and weapons by Rob Gillies. 🧵✨ These aren't just costumes, they're pieces of Aotearoa’s screen history, celebrating the creativity and ingenuity of the people who brought Xena: Warrior Princess to life🎬❤️ 👉 Xena’s costume: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/765775 👉 Gabrielle’s outfit: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/765776 And yes… Lou touches the chakram and absolutely loses her mind a little. 😂😭⚔️ 🌿 www.xenawarriornutballs.com 📸 Instagram: @xenawarriornutballs 📘 Facebook: Xena: Warrior Nutballs

  • #24
    August 19 · 1 hr 10 min

    Interview #22: Rob Gillies! Production Designer ⚒️🎨🖋️

    This week Lou and Shell talk with Rob Gillies, the Kiwi Production Designer on Xena: Warrior Princess⚒️🛡️🏛️⚔️ From the depths of Tartarus to the Elysian Fields, and everything in between, if you could see it in the Hercules and Xena universe, chances are Rob Gillies and his team built it. 📐⚒️🎨🖋️💪 As Production Designer across Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Young Hercules, Rob transformed parts of West Auckland into the ancient world - creating everything from taverns, castles, Amazon villages, temples, palaces, and that big ol' boat! 🍻⛵🏰🏹👑 These sets made the Xenaverse unforgettable! His team also crafted some of the franchise's most iconic props, including Xena's sword and chakram, along with Gabrielle's staff and sais. ⚔️ 🎙️ Join us as Rob takes us behind the scenes of one of television's most ambitious fantasy worlds, sharing the craftsmanship, unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories, and Kiwi creativity that brought the Xenaverse to life. We also chat about his love for the gloriously nutty sets like in Prometheus, which he affectionately dubs "The Super Egg Men."🦅⛓️🥚😂 This interview is a true celebration of the early 90’s hard yakka in Aotearoa and what it took behind-the-scenes to create the cult classic hero of Xena! 💙 Follow Xena: Warrior Nutballs for more interviews with the Kiwi and Aussie cast and crew who brought the Xenaverse to life! 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ 🌐 Website: https://xenawarriornutballs.com

  • #23
    August 5 · 1 hr 6 min

    Interview #21: Paris Jefferson! Athena 💛🦉🧵Goddess of Warfare, Wisdom, and Weaving

    This week, Lou and Shell climb the steps to Mount Olympus and enter the throne room with Paris Jefferson AKA Athena! 🦉⚔️👑 Paris joins us to look back on her unforgettable turn as Athena, the Goddess of Warfare, Wisdom, and don't forget Weaving! ⚔️🦉🧵 She shares what it was like arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand to join Xena: Warrior Princess for Season 5, stepping into one of Greek mythology's most iconic roles at the height of the series. We also dive into Athena as a canonically queer character in '90s television 🌈💜. Paris talks about how clear it was to her that Athena loved Ilainus, and why embracing that relationship felt completely natural in her performance.⚡ Paris shares what it was like wearing the breathtaking costumes created by the brilliant Jane Holland ✨💛, bringing Athena's regal presence to life with every shimmering detail. Plus, she reflects on working alongside the late Kevin Smith ❤️, Lucy Lawless ⚔️, and Renée O'Connor 🥰, sharing behind-the-scenes stories about the warmth, talent, and camaraderie that made Xena the phenomenon we Xenites know and love. Whether you've loved Xena for decades or are discovering it for the first time, this episode is packed with nostalgia, laughter, behind-the-scenes stories, as well as, the usual plots lost Nutball foolishness from Lou and Shell as they fangirl out over one of the greats, ATHENA! 🏛️✨⚡ 💛 Follow Paris Jefferson 🌐 Website: https://www.parisjefferson.co.uk/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parisjeffersonofficial/ ⚔️ Follow Xena: Warrior Nutballs 🌐 Website: https://xenawarriornutballs.com/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #22
    July 22 · 1 hr 6 min

    Interview #20: Steven L. Sears! 🤠✍️📜 Writer, Supervising Producer, & Co-Executive Producer

    This week we're extending our whānau again! 💜🌿Shell and Lou are donning our fedoras 🤠, dusting off our typewriters 📝, and heading into the Xena: Warrior Princess writers' room with one of the most influential creative forces behind the show ✨ Steven L. Sears ✨ As a writer and producer on Xena, Steven helped shape some of the series' most iconic stories, shaping Gabrielle’s hero's journey, and contributing to 100 episodes! ⚔️📜❤️ Join us as we talk all things Xena ⚔️🏹 from the non-negotiables the writers had to navigate for her character ✍️✨, to the risks he was willing to take in the scripts, knowing he had a world-class crew of Kiwis and Aussies down in Aotearoa New Zealand ready to bring it all to life 🎬🌟 Steven has long been a friend and ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, and it was an absolute privilege to welcome him into the Xena: Warrior Nutballs whānau. 💜⚔️ Penny from Xenite Retreat also cameos - giving us the low down on what Steven is REALLY like…AKA he is a bloody legend! 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts! ⚔️ Follow us from Xena: Warrior Nutballs 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ ✨ Follow Steven L. Sears 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.l.sears 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fsuwriter/ 🌐 www.stevenlsears.com Follow Xenite Retreat: 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniteRetreat/ 📸Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniteretreat/ 🌐 https://www.xeniteretreat.com/

  • #21
    July 8 · 53 min

    Interview #19: Sandi Ranyer! Xena's Riding Double and Horse Wrangler 🐎🌟

    This week Lou and Shell are joined by the amazing Kiwi, Sandi Rayner 🐎🌟 We talk about her time as riding double for Lucy Lawless and Horse Wrangler on Xena: Warrior Princess. Before CGI, before green screens, and before technology could solve every problem, there were talented people like Sandi behind the scenes working with incredible horses, and a whole lot of Kiwi ingenuity to bring us Xena! 🐴⚔️💪✨ In fact, Sandi is the very first Xena we see in the series 👀⚔️, riding Argo across our screens in full leathers before we ever lay eyes on Lucy Lawless!🖤 She talks about the enormous generosity of Lucy Lawless who personally paid for Tilly, her main riding horse in the show, and gave her to Sandi, to ensure Tilly had the best life, living out her days after the show with Sandi. 💖 This kōrero is a celebration of Kiwi hard yakka, creativity, and the can-do attitude that made the impossible possible 🛠️✨💪. Expect horses 🐴🐴🐴, stunts 🤯⚔️, laughs 😆, and plenty of appreciation for the incredible whānau who helped create the Xena-verse 🌍⚔️❤️. ➡️ Follow and support Sandi’s work caring for animals in Aotearoa New Zealand: https://www.facebook.com/LittleVillageSanctuary/ ➡️ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #19
    June 24 · 45 min

    Interview #18 Joel Tobeck! Deimos and Lucifer 😈🔥🤪

    This week Lou and Shell are joined by the wildly talented Joel Tobeck, yes whānau, that chaos gremlin you love to hate (but MAINLY love) 😈🔥🤪👺 You’ll know him as Deimos and Lucifer in Xena: Warrior Princess, but he’s known in the wider Xena-verse as Strife from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Young Hercules, serving pure foolishness with a smirk 😏😉 Xenites might even recognise him from the Aotearoa short film 1996 “Peach” where he starred alongside Lucy Lawless - OG’s we’re looooooking at you here! 🍑 Link below ⬇️ But at the heart of this episode is something really special, Joel kōrero’s (talks) about his close friendship with the late, great Kevin Smith, AKA Ares🖤⚔️ sharing personal stories, behind-the-scenes memories, and the kind of moments that remind you just how much love and camaraderie lived within the Xenaverse whānau 🫶 AND! Lou fizzes over as she gets to talk about his time acting in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King turn as Guritz, that deeply unsettling orc 👀🗡️💍🧝🧙⛰️ It’s wholesome and heartfelt 🥹 but of course with our usual unapologetic fan girl glee!! Enjoy Nutballs, this is a goodie. Show notes: 📸 Follow Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeltobeck/ 📺Watch “Peach” on NZ on Screen: https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/peach-1995 🎙️Editing of interview by Michael Allan ➡️Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 ➡️ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #20
    June 10 · 1 hr 16 min

    Interview #17: Danielle Cormack! Ephiny - Queen of the Amazons 👑⚔️🐴

    *Coo! Coo! Amazons, attack!* This week Lou and Shell welcome the incredible Danielle Cormack into the whānau! The Kiwi legend who brought the stoic, fiercely loyal, and beloved Amazon Queen Ephiny to life 👑⚔️🐴 Long before she became television royalty as Bea Smith in Wentworth, Danielle was ruling over the Amazon’s in Xena: Warrior Princess. In this kōrero, we talk about the REAL stuff - giving birth to centaurs 🤰🐎, arrows piercing boobs 🏹🍈🍈, and what it's like to see Lucy Lawless fully suited up as Xena 🤔 Her reaction? "HOT!"🔥 From behind-the-scenes stories to reflections on a career which has made her a true Kiwi icon and how her time on Xena: Warrior Princess had a hand in this. This conversation is everything Danielle is herself: warm, generous, funny, and full of aroha. Trust us you won't want to miss this one. ❤️⚔️🌿 📸 Follow Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_daniellecormack_/ ➡️Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #18
    May 27 · 51 min

    Interview #16: Jay Laga'aia! Draco 🖤🎸🔥

    This week Lou and Shell are catching up with the number one warlord, King of the Horde - Jay Laga’aia AKA the delightfully dark Draco! 🎶 😏⚔️ Jay, the iconic Kiwi-Aussie, takes us right back to “Sins of the Past” (S01E01), sharing what it was like stepping into the Xenaverse as the very first villain, including the very moment he saw Lucy Lawless in full Xena glory and knew this show was something special 😳🖤 We get a behind-the-scenes story from “A Comedy of Eros” (S02E22) 💋🏹 about an unfortunate fake beard and kiss situation 🤣 and we revisit his memories of “Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire” (S5E10) 🎸🔥 where Jay gives that iconic heavy metal mash up of “Always Something There to Remind Me”⚡🎶🖤 This one is FULL of Xenaverse magic - just the way we like it ⚔️🖤✨ Follow Jay Laga’aia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaylagaaia/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #16
    April 29 · 28 min

    Special Guest Side Quest: MaryD! Webmaster at AUSXIP 🌐📜🪶

    *Lou, Shell, and MaryD have entered the 90s AUSXIP chat room* This week we’re diving into the fandom itself with a true OG Xenite - MaryD! The absolute powerhouse behind AUSXIP 💻⚔️ Before socials, before streaming, there was AUSXIP… and MaryD was the Aussie legend running the show. We yarn about the wild west days of the internet and her work creating the 25th anniversary book “Xena: Their Courage Changed Our World” 📜🪶. MaryD’s been doing the mahi (work) keeping us Xenites informed for 30 years, and fundraising hundreds of thousands of dollars through her annual AUSXIP charity auction! We get into the legacy, the chaos, and the aroha (love) for all things Xena 💪💜. MaryD is Xena-verse icon - we ADORE her! 😌🔥 Wanna keep up with MaryD and all things Xena? Too easy: 🌐 AUSXIP: https://www.ausxip.com 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AUSXIP 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausxip Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #17
    April 1 · 1 hr 14 min

    Interview #15: Alexandra Tydings! Aphrodite - Goddess of Love 💘✨💋

    OMG babes 💖✨ we are, like, SO excited because this week, we’re adding the divine Alexandra Tydings 💘👑 to the whānau!!! Aka Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love from Xena: Warrior Princess 💕 Tubular right?! We go FULL Gaphrodite 💞🌈 yes babe, that kiss 💋💖 diving into Alex’s thoughts, angles, and all the deliciously sapphic vibes 😍💓It’s flirty, fabulous, and totally dripping in looooooooove 💕💅✨ …okay stepping out of our valley girl era for a sec, we go on a real journey in this chat - Alex is unbelievably smart and generous, and there’s truly something in here for every Xenite: from the origins of Joxer's theme tune, or working with Alexis Arquette and Kiwi Director Garth Maxwell on “The God You Know” S6E12, to wholesome memories of working with their big bro Ares, AKA Kevin Smith! 💖 We welcome the magnificent Goddess of Aroha | Love - Alex Tydings! Show notes: Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atydings/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #15
    March 18 · 1 hr 39 min

    Interview #14: Michael Hurst! Iolaus and Director of “A Day in the Life” 💪⚔️💛 + SO MUCH MORE

    Golden curls, heroic biceps, and a whole lot of Kiwi charm, this week we’re joined by Aotearoa legend Michael Hurst (ONZM) ✨ Xena fans will know Michael across the wider Xenaverse: from his iconic turn as the ever-loyal hero Iolaus in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys 💪⚔️, to popping up in Xena: Warrior Princess as Nigel and the delightfully grumpy ferryman Charon ⛵🔥. But his impact on the show goes far beyond what we see on screen. Michael also stepped behind the camera to direct some truly memorable episodes 🎬. Most famously, he directed the fan-voted favourite “A Day in the Life” (S02E15) 🐟 The beloved episode that gave us fishing, bickering, and peak domestic subtext chaos between Xena and Gabrielle ⚔️📜💛. He also helmed unforgettable episodes like “A Tale of Two Muses” (S04E06), “Lifeblood” (S05E16), “Antony & Cleopatra” (S05E18), “Who’s Gurkhan?” (S06E4), and “To Helicon and Back” (S06E15). In this episode we chat about the wild early days of the Kiwi screen industry 🎥, and what it was like helping shape one of the most beloved shows of the ’90s, both in front of the camera and behind it. It’s a joyful kōrero (conversation), full of laughs and stories, with one of the great creative forces of the Xenaverse 🌟. Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raunchy_twyford/ Keep up with Michael's work: http://michaelhurstnow.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #14
    March 4 · 1 hr

    Interview #13: Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand! Boudica and Zehra 🗡️🤎

    In this interview, Lou and Shell find themselves sitting down with one of the biggest legends in Aotearoa’s creative industries: Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand (ONZM, CNZM). 👑🎭 The 2020 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, honoured for her contributions to the arts and advocacy for Te Reo Māori, Jennifer reflects on her time in the Xena-verse.⚔️🥝 She stormed onto our screens as the fierce and formidable Boudica in “The Deliverer” (S3E4) and returned as Zehra in “The Play’s the Thing,” (S4E17) bringing gravitas and razor-sharp wit to every scene. 🛡️🔥 We talk about what it meant to bring a real-life warrior woman to life within this bold fantasy world, and her favourite memories working alongside the late great Kevin Smith - Ares 🗡️🖤 Regal, grounded, and gloriously sharp - Nutballs, you will understand after listening why we are still in awe. Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jen_wl_te_atamira 📸 Book tickets to see Jennifer in “Helen Clark in 6 Outfits” 7th to 26th April, Auckland, New Zealand: https://www.atc.co.nz/whats-on/2026-season/helen-clark-in-six-outfits Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #13
    February 18 · 1 hr 12 min

    Interview #12: Rob Tapert! Co-creator, Executive Producer, Director, and Writer 🧠🎬🎣

    He’s the co-creator, executive producer, writer, director and yes, an avid fisherman 🎣 - the one and only Rob Tapert (eeeeee!!!!!) joins us for a kōrero/chat about bringing Xena: Warrior Princess to life ⚔️ Rob takes us back to the very beginning, what drew him down to Aotearoa New Zealand, the magic of building something wildly ambitious on the other side of the world, and how a scrappy team of Kiwi and Aussie creatives managed to capture that once-in-a-lifetime lightning-in-a-bottle which turned Xena into a global pop culture phenomenon ⚡🌍 Yes, we do get him to say the words hard yakka 💪 as he reflects on the creative risks, and the secret ingredients which gave the show its heart, humour, and enduring queer legacy 🏳️‍🌈 Plus, in a moment we’ve been holding our breath for, Rob shares a candid and much-anticipated update on where things stand with that reboot script 👀 This one is candid, wholesome, and beautifully bittersweet (see what we did there?) and a rare chance to hear directly from the Kiwi-by-choice screen legend himself ❤️ Cast a line, Nutballs… this one’s a big catch 🐟✨ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #12
    February 4 · 1 hr 4 min

    Interview #11: Jodie Dorday! Solari 🔑🙄⚔️

    This interview we’re joined by the utterly hilarious kiwi Jodie Dorday ✨🎭 Xena fans will know Jodie best as Solari, the fierce Amazon warrior from “The Quest” (S2E13) and “A Necessary Evil” (S2E14). Yes, THAT Amazon, the one that serves Bruce Campbell as Autolycus, the kind of stink eye you feel in your bones 🔑☠️ 🤣 As a multiple-character actor on Xena: Warrior Princess, Jodie shares what it was really like jumping between roles on set. We dive into what it was like when Lucy Lawless returned for “The Quest” after her injury and the pressures of being a guest actor on a big international show ⚔️📺 Jodie is one of those true Kiwi lasses, charming, glamorous and outrageously funny - expect peak Kiwi humour as Jodie reminds us why she’s an absolute scene-stealer on screen and off 💥😂 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ Show notes: - Jodie will be appearing in Small Town Scandal - here's a wee link for more details! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTyJ_-SD4PH/?igsh=ZjB1MnY5bjlwYWw0

  • #11
    January 22 · 1 hr 53 min

    Interview #10: Hudson Leick! Callisto 🔥💀🖤

    We’re extending our whānau/family as we are joined by the one and only - Hudson Leick! The ultimate Xena: Warrior Princess villain, Callisto 💀⚔️ We dive deep into everything Callisto: from that iconic campfire scene with Gabrielle in “A Necessary Evil” (S2E14) 🔥🏕️, to exploring the sexual tension Callisto had with Xena ⚡💋 and her reaction to discovering Callisto would become the mother of Xena’s child 🤯. Hudson shares what it was like working in Aotearoa New Zealand, the connections she made on set, and the energy of filming in the ‘90s Xena-verse. Most importantly though, we ask the question we have all been waiting to know the answer to: 👉 Did her famous black leather bikini cause her any chafing? 🖤👙 Hudson chats openly, thoughtfully, with genuine raw heart and reflection on her time in the show, while never missing a beat to make us laugh - she is a generous soul who makes you want to grow just by listening to her speak. Far out, this is a special one whānau and we hope you enjoy as much as we did!✨🥰 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ Show notes: Follow Hudson's on Instagram - this is where her 7-day yoga challenge will be held: https://www.instagram.com/HudsonLeick/ Learn about Hudson's yoga retreats, customised malas and bracelets as well as astronomical readings: https://www.hudsonleick.com/

  • #10
    January 7 · 47 min

    Interview #9: Murray Keane! Howar from "A Day in the Life" 📜🐟🍳

    This interview we’re joined by Kiwi legend Murray Keane AKA ‘Howar’ from fan-favourite episode “A Day in the Life” (Season 2, Episode 15) ⚔️📜 Shell and Lou dive deep into one of the best episodes of the entire franchise with Murray, he talks about working within the subtext (yes, everyone knew), working with Lucy Lawless, Renée O’Connor, Michael Hurst, and the hysterical Alison Wall who played Minya 🥰. Plus, Shell finally gets her long-overdue deep dive into the food on set 🍗🍞🍇 Murray also reflects on working on the original Hercules TV movies 🏛️⚡ which launched the entire franchise, alongside Lucy Lawless before she was cast as Xena 🤯 A well-established Kiwi director🎬Murray has had an enormous career working on some of the most iconic shows Aotearoa has ever produced 🌿📺 This is a proper, wholesome kōrerorero | conversation 💬❤️ and Murray knows exactly how to keep us laughing 😂✨ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ Show notes: Murray mentions he was in a Meal Mates ad with Lucy Lawless - this is a very pixilated version of that ad! https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=meal+mates+biscuit+add+lucy+lawless&mid=7B07AA35F29A455CC9667B07AA35F29A455CC966&FORM=VIRE

  • #9
    Dec 21, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

    Interview #8: Tammy Barker! Stunt Double for Renée O’Connor | Gabrielle - Seasons 3, 4 & 5 💥⚔️

    This episode we chat with Tammy Barker, the legendary Aussie stunt double for Renée O’Connor | Gabrielle across Seasons 3, 4 and 5 💪 Tammy is the stunty who takes Gabrielle from the sweet, scroll-carrying bard 📜 to the fully fledged warrior, the “Battling Bard of Potidaea” ⚔️. This is the woman who did the hard yakka: the hits, the falls, the fire, even copping a broken nose at the end of (an extremely apologetic) Renée O’Connor’s staff in “Forgiven” (S3E14), all so Gabrielle’s evolution felt earned 🤕💥 Tammy was behind some of the most iconic moments in the entire series, including the infamous 'Gab Drag' in “The Bitter Suite” (S3E12) 🎶💔, and the blistering fire scenes in “Forget Me Not” (S3E17) 🔥😭 She reflects on what it was like working in the ’90s as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Aussie who crossed the ditch to chase her dreams in Aotearoa | New Zealand and suddenly finding herself in the middle of one of the most physical, groundbreaking TV productions of the decade 📺⚡️ Warning: this episode contains Tammy doing spins with her sais, at which point Lou and Shell absolutely fizz, fully, loudly, and with zero chill 🫠💖 It’s high-energy, behind-the-scenes gold, a love letter to stunt work 🎬, the unsung heroes who made the Xena action hit as hard as it did and just some good ol’ fashion Australia hard yakka! 💥⚔️ 📸 Follow Tammy on Instagram: @tammybarker1 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

  • #8
    Dec 10, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min

    Interview #7: Garth Maxwell! Director of 10 Episodes 🎬✨

    This week we're pulling up our director’s chairs as we sit down with Garth Maxwell, the Kiwi filmmaker who brought us absolute bangers like "Mortal Beloved" (S1), "Lost Mariner" (S2), "Devi" and "Endgame" (S4), "Seeds of Faith" and "Looking Death in the Eye" (S5), and "The God You Know" (S6)…and honestly, the list goes on, the man does not miss! 🎬✨ He reflects on working with Alexis Arquette (Caligula), Lucy Lawless (Xena), Renée O’Connor (Gabrielle), Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite), and Tony Todd (Cecrops), and shares how he approached big emotional beats like Ephiny's death with Danielle Cormack 💔 As a filmmaker and member of the LGBTQIA+ community Garth reflects on his approach to the subtext between Xena and Gabrielle, and the importance of protecting their relationship on screen 🌈⚔️...and yes, we do ask him about that infamous Gaphrodite kiss scene in "The God You Know." This is a megaphone-worthy episode packed with delicious behind-the-scenes stories from the 90s 💫 Follow Garth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_garth_maxwell_/ Watch Jack Be Nimble - Garth's film starring Alexis Arquette: https://jackbenimblefilm.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ Show notes: - Lou can't sleep at night over the fact she said in Endgame S4E20 when Xena walks away from Pompey, he says something - because he doesn't say nufink! He actually just starts creeping up on Xena with a dagger and her Xena-senses detect him and that's why she kills him. Phew, thank the Gods we have remedied that, Lou can sleep again now. - Ok, Lou still can’t sleep because she called Alexandra Tydings “a floating bauble”, instead of what Garth actually called her which was “a bauble flaffing about” which is soooo much better. Great, issue resolved! ✌️

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