Xena: Warrior Nutballs

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/

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/

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/

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

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

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! ✌️

This week we’re chatting with the ever chic and impossibly talented Tracey Henton, Makeup Artist and Hairstylist for Xena: Warrior Princess seasons 5 & 6! She served looks for Livia, Eve, Aphrodite and so many more 💅⚔️ When recalling a wig flying off mid-stunt, Tracey sums up the entire spirit of our podcast in one glorious battle cry, a perfect blend of hard yakka and Kiwi ingenuity: 💥 “You learn how to get that motherf*er to stay on!” 💥🤣 Get ready for laughter, hairspray, and behind-the-scenes stories only a true warrior glam squad member could tell 👑✨ Follow Tracey on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/tracey.henton/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

It’s The Bitch of Rome! AKA Xena’s daughter, Livia/Eve! 🔥☮️ In this kōrero/talk we welcome fan favourite Adrienne Wilkinson (aka Livia/Eve) into our extended whānau. She shares what it was like coming to little old Aotearoa New Zealand as a young American actor to work on one of the biggest shows of its time. From stepping onto set with legendary Kiwis and Aussies to finding her place in the Xenaverse family. Adrienne is not just Xena’s daughter, she’s part of our whānau for life. ⚔️💜 With an impressive career that’s spanned universes from Star Wars to Star Trek, Adrienne reflects on how her time in the Xenaverse helped shape it all. ⚔️🎉🙌 Follow Adrienne on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrienne.wilkinson/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yo_adriennew/X: https://x.com/Yo_AdrienneWTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yoadriennew Visit her website at: https://www.adriennewilkinson.com/ Her consulting website: https://planamediagroup.com/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

In our very first interview we sit down with the legendary Kiwi, Donny Duncan, the Director of Photography for a whopping 77 episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess. From epic battle shots to those dark grungy tavern scenes, Donny’s eye shaped so much of the world we all love. We dive into how he captured the magic, filming in Aotearoa in the 90s. His influence went far beyond the screen, to this day, he champions women stepping into camera roles, opening doors in a male-dominated industry and changing the game for future storytellers. Join us to hear about his infamous on set cheeky prank on Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, and peek into how Donny’s craft and care helped shape the Xenaverse. Trust us, this one’s a visual feast for the ears! 🎥 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578930248317 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/ Show notes: - Donny wanted to clarify that they worked 12-hour days on set, not 10 and that the only season with 24 episodes was Season 1, the rest had 22. - This is the "Double Rainbow Ad" Lou kept banging on about that Donny shot at the same waterfall as "Altered States" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4bniXxc6no