Xena: Warrior Nutballs

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!✨🥰

 

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/

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 😂✨

 

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

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

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/ 

 

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! ✌️

This week we get a behind-the-scenes look at what it was really like to be one of those brilliant Kiwi actors who popped in and out of the Xenaverse as completely different characters, the ultimate ’90s TV shapeshifters.

 

We're chatting with Doug Kamo, the Kiwi character actor who perfected the fine art of playing, as he so quaintly puts it, 'dicks' of Xena: Warrior Princess. You may recognise him from 🏹 Sullus in The Execution (S02E17), 👞 Brother #2 in If the Shoe Fits (S04E12), 🛡️ Border Guard in Amphipolis Under Siege (S05E14), or as 🗡️ Dorian in One Against an Army (S03E13) AKA the dick who gets Gabrielle shot with a poisoned arrow...or do we actually owe him thanks for creating all that hurt-comfort drenched subtext? 🤔

 

Doug takes us behind the scenes of "One Against an Army" the emotional powerhouse which launched a thousand fanfics and is still widely considered one of the best episodes of the entire show. He reflects on subtext, and the joy of working with Lucy Lawless, and Renee O'Connor.  

 

Full of laughs, heartfelt nostalgia, and an unfortunate pineapple accident involving Lucy Lawless, this kōrero celebrates the unsung heroes of the series, the character actors who gave the Xenaverse texture, life, grit, - you know, the dicks. 

 

👉 Follow Doug on Instagram: @dkcm_entertainment