Xena: Warrior Nutballs

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
 
 

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/ 
 
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! ✌️

Interview #6: Doug Kamo! Multiple Character Actor - Sullus in "The Execution", Dorian in "One Against an Army" and more! 🗡️🏹

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

Interview #5: Tracey Henton! Makeup Artist and Hairstylist 💅💄💇‍♀️

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/

Interview #4: Darien Takle! Cyrene - Xena’s Mum 🍻🪓💜

This week we pull up a chair in Cyrene’s Tavern and chat with Kiwi legend Darien Takle! 
 
She is the impossibly talented actor behind Cyrene, Xena’s fierce, funny, and warrior-in-her-own-right Mum 💜
 
Darien opens up about the raw connection she feels to Cyrene as she reflects on the emotional truth she brought to the role, the magic of filming in Aotearoa New Zealand and even a slightly prophetic dream she had about Lucy Lawless. 
 
From behind-the-scenes stories to reflections on motherhood, art, and authenticity, this kōrero is full of warmth, laughter, and love. Grab an ale, it’s storytime with the one and only Darien Takle!

Interview #3: Adrienne Wilkinson! Livia/Eve, The Bitch of Rome ⚔️🔥/The Messenger of Peace ☮️

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/ 
 

Interview #2: Erik Thomson! God of the Underworld, Hades ⚡👑

This week we dive headfirst into the underworld with Erik Thomson, AFI winner, Logie winner, and all around Kiwi Aussie legend ⚡👑
Erik takes us back to the 90s to share what it was like working on such a huge international show as a local actor, and how Xena: Warrior Princess shaped Aotearoa's TV and film industry for years to come. 
Tune in for some seriously fun Xena chats with the man who made Hades unforgettable. ⚔️
And yes, consider this the start of our official campaign to get Erik Thomson to the Salute to Xena convention 2026 🎉🙌.

Interview #1: Donny Duncan! Director of Photography 🎥

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! 🎥
 
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

By the Gods, It’s Our First Episode! 🌈⚔️

Join Lou (a Kiwi newbie) and Shell (an Aussie OG fan) on their quest to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Xena: Warrior Princess. In this first episode they nerd out about why Xena still matters, what the show’s all about, and the Kiwis and Aussies they dream of chatting with who made the ‘90s cult classic legendary. 🌈⚔️