Jane Fonda: Hollywood Rebel, War Activist and Fitness Pioneer | From Big Lives

Jane Fonda: Hollywood Rebel, War Activist and Fitness Pioneer | From Big Lives

From Story of the Week with Joel Stein by Pushkin Industries

April 6, 2026 · 42 min · Season 1

About this episode

The episode explores Jane Fonda's multifaceted impact on Hollywood, politics, and fitness culture.

Jane Fonda didn’t just change Hollywood; she rattled American politics, beauty standards, and the birth of modern fitness culture. We're sharing a preview of a new podcast, Big Lives , and a special episode about Jane. Every week, journalists Kai Wright and Emmanuel Dzotsi dig into the BBC archive to explore the story behind the icons who shape our culture—trailblazers like David Bowie, Meg Ryan, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner—and better understand how each legend set the stage for our contemporary cultural landscape. Here, Kai and Emmanuel trace how the Oscar-winning “nudie cutie” became a firebrand activist, conservative boogeyman, and unlikely fitness mogul. From the 1960s Barbarella sex symbol to “Hanoi Jane” to the face of the VHS home workout revolution, we unravel the woman who kept reinventing herself—and became one of the most polarizing figures in American history. Find Big Lives wherever you get podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guests: Kai Wright, Emmanuel Dzotsi

Topics covered

  • Hollywood
  • activism
  • fitness culture
  • cultural icons
  • politics
  • reinvention

Keywords

  • Jane Fonda
  • Hollywood
  • activism
  • fitness
  • cultural icons
  • Barbarella
  • politics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Big Lives, Pushkin Industries

Books & works: Barbarella

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