80s TV Ladies cover art

80s TV Ladies

80s TV Ladies

By: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson
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 4-time Podcast Awards Winner! Webby nominated for Best Indie Podcast.
80s TV Ladies is dedicated to the beloved female-driven shows of the 1980s! Do you love 80s pop culture, television and fabulous women? On our show, you’ll hear a breakdown of how these shows got made, how they were influenced by the times and, in turn, how they influenced pop-culture trends to follow. We love discussing the “two-steps forward, one-step-back” lens of media-driven feminism.

Join hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson as they talk about the fabulous ladies of television: Cagney & Lacey, Designing Women, A Different World, The Golden Girls and more.

With special guests, TV creators and stars! Do these shows we hold so dear hold up? Let's find out.

Season 1: We examine three “detective duo shows” this season, with multiple episodes and awesome guests for each TV show we cover.
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Remington Steele
Cagney & Lacey

Season 2: Multiple episodes per TV show exploring representation and behind-the-scenes insight in science fiction, drama and sitcoms!
Queer representation in 70s and 80s
9 to 5 television show
It's a Living
Designing Women
Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas
Star Trek Ladies
Moonlighting

Special guests: Eugenie Ross-Leming, Martha Smith, Robin Bernheim, Stephanie Zimbalist, Evan Ball, Debbie Evans, Barney Rosenzweig, Tyne Daly, Sharon Gless, Karen Arthur, Cynthis Beemis Abrams, Matt Baume, Jane Epsensen, Drew Greenberg, Paul Kreppel, Bryan Edward Hill, Maggie Friedman, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Stan Zimmerman, Mary Lou Belli, Nana Visitor, Glenn Gordon Caron, Shery Main and more!

We publish every other Wednesday.
Tell us: Who should we interview and what's your favorite 80s Ladies television show? https://www.80stvladies.comSusan Lambert and 134 West Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Celebrating The Golden Girls: 50 Fast Facts and Their Lasting Legacy

    Celebrating The Golden Girls: 50 Fast Facts and Their Lasting Legacy
    Oct 8 2025
    Hosts Susan Lambert Hatham and Sharon Johnson dive deep into the beloved 'The Golden Girls' with a delightful overview and 50 fun facts about the show. Discover fascinating show details, cast secrets, and notable legacy moments as they share their passion for this iconic series. Learn about the iconic characters played by Bea Arthur (Dorothy Zbornak), Betty White (Rose Nylund), Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux), and Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo). Along the way, explore production quirks and the enduring impact of 'The Golden Girls' on TV history. Explore the show's legacy, including its international remakes and impact on pop culture. Packed with laughter, nostalgia, and insightful anecdotes, this episode is perfect for longtime fans and new viewers alike. Stay tuned to learn about our next episode with a special upcoming guest - Cindy Fee, the voice behind the theme song 'Thank You for Being a Friend.' Don't miss it!CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:30 General Show Facts08:09 Cast Facts15:43 Production Facts 24:47 Legacy Facts32:26 Break32:45 Character History Facts48:55 AudioographyAUDIOOGRAPHYThe Golden Girls Streaming: Hulu, Disney+, PhiloPurchase: Apple TV, YouTube (for rent/purchase), on DVD, and moreMaude Streaming (free): Tubi, Pluto TVBook Recommendation Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai by Jim Colucci. Check it out at Amazon. Find it at Harper Books. In Memoriam Todd Cochrane: Learn more about the founder of the Podcast Awards and early podcaster in these obituaries: Obituary in Podnews, Obituary from Eagle Funeral HomesGet Involved in Your CommunityIndivisible: Find a group near you and get involved at indivisible.orgContact Your Representatives: Check out Five Calls to quickly and easily call your representatives.CONNECTGo to 80sTVLadies.com for more info and transcripts.Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. Join the Facebook page discussion at Facebook.com/80sTVLadiesDon’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! Join us for more conversations with the people who shaped TV and pop culture.Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    54 mins
  • Warrior Women & RJ Stewart: Xena and Gabrielle's Impact on 90s TV

    Warrior Women & RJ Stewart: Xena and Gabrielle's Impact on 90s TV
    Sep 24 2025
    Join hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem for an exciting episode as they take an in-depth look at the legendary 90s TV show, Xena: Warrior Princess. This episode features special guests RJ Stewart, head writer and co-creator of the series, and Anna Schekel, an artist and lifelong Xena fan. The discussion covers the evolution and impact of 'Xena: Warrior Princess,' the chemistry between Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, and how the series became a cult classic. RJ shares insights into the show's creation, the importance of female empowerment in TV, and his new post-apocalyptic novel 'Crazy Hawk.' Don't miss this blend of nostalgia and deep dive into one of the most beloved series of the 90s.

    00:02 Theme Music
    00:23 Audio Note and Season 4 Introduction
    01:02 Discussing Zena Warrior Princess
    03:10 Interview with Anna Scheckel
    05:36 Anna's Favorite Episodes and Characters
    08:30 Welcoming RJ Stewart
    11:04 RJ Stewart's Writing Journey
    37:31 Cult Classic Status and Conventions
    44:15 Discussing Creative Control and Story Arcs
    47:34 Hero Protection and Character Development
    48:17 The Impact of Female Empowerment Stories
    50:44 Working with Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor
    54:27 Navigating Industry Challenges and Gossip
    55:34 The Bond Controversy and Career Reflections
    58:57 Exploring Xena's Lesbian Subtext
    01:07:09 Memorable Moments and Industry Insights
    01:17:02 Final Thoughts and Future Projects
    01:20:47 Ad-Break
    01:20:49 Audioography

    AUDIOOGRAPHY
    Xena: Warrior Princess
    Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
    Purchase: eBay

    Crazy Hawk by RJ Stewart (Book)Purchase: Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble
    Audiobook read by Katie Hagaman: Audible.

    See Susan at Rich's LIVE show for Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf - Final NY dates: Sept 24 and Sept 27! Get Tix at Eventbrite.


    CONNECT
    Visit 80sTVLadies.com for info and transcripts.
    Join the Facebook page discussion at Facebook.com/80sTVLadies

    Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!
    Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Season 4 Premiere | Epic 90s Challenge: Xena vs Buffy TV Showdown

    Season 4 Premiere | Epic 90s Challenge: Xena vs Buffy TV Showdown
    Sep 10 2025
    "Listeners, what would be the answer for you? Is it Buffy or Xena?” Welcome to Season Four of 80s TV Ladies with hosts Sharon Johnson and Susan Lambert Hatem. In this episode, we dive into a nostalgic showdown between two iconic 90s TV heroines: Xena, the Warrior Princess, and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.Susan and Sharon discuss the origins, cultural impact, and strengths of both shows, debating who would win in a head-to-head fight, which show was more influential, and which had the best musical episode! They also speculate on which heroine iconic Wonder Woman iterations (70s WW played by Linda Carter and 2017's WW, played by Gal Gadot) would prefer.Stay tuned for exciting details about our next guest, RJ Stewart, co-creator of Xena, and some engaging audio recommendations and show notes. This episode promises a delightful mix of history, pop culture analysis, and fanfare for these beloved series.00:00 Welcome to 80s TV Ladies Season Four!00:58 Introducing RJ Stewart and the Xena vs. Buffy Debate01:35 History of Xena: Warrior Princess02:50 History of Buffy the Vampire Slayer04:45 Buffy vs. Xena: Who Would Win in a Fight?07:17 Best 90s TV Ladies Superhero Show12:25 Musical Episodes: Xena vs. Buffy17:46 Buffy vs. Xena: The Ultimate Showdown18:03 Wonder Woman's Preference: Xena or Buffy?19:43 Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman: A New Perspective24:18 90s TV Heroines: Beyond Buffy and Xena26:00 Final Tally: Buffy vs. Xena27:37 Upcoming Episodes and recommendations30:07 Sign off and FarewellAUDIOOGRAPHYXena: Warrior PrincessStreaming: Amazon Prime VideoPurchase: eBayBuffy the Vampire SlayerStreaming: Tubi (free), Hulu, Disney+Purchase: eBayCrazy Hawk by RJ Stewart (Book)Purchase: Bookshop.org, Barnes & NobleAudiobook read by Katie Hagaman: Audible.Guess What? We’re nominated!For TWO People’s Choice PODCAST AWARDS!: Podcastawards.comCONNECTVisit 80sTVLadies.com for info and transcripts.Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list.Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. Join the Facebook page discussion at Facebook.com/80sTVLadiesDon’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review! Join us for more conversations with the people who shaped TV and pop culture.Don’t miss out. Sign up for the 80s TV Ladies mailing list!Help us make more episodes and get ad-free episodes and exclusive content on PATREON.
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    32 mins
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