Maude's Dilemma: Pioneering TV, Abortion Conversations and Reproductive Rights | Jennie Wetter

Maude's Dilemma: Pioneering TV, Abortion Conversations and Reproductive Rights | Jennie Wetter

Author: 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson January 21, 2026 Duration: 1:27:36
"It's interesting how relevant these conversations remain today." - Jennie Wetter

Join 80s TV Ladies hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson with guest Jennie Wetter, director of the RePros Fight Back Initiative at the Population Institute, as they explore the groundbreaking two-part 'Maude' episodes addressing abortion - Maude's Dilemma, Part 1 and 2.

They discuss the historical context of reproductive rights in America, the impact of the Roe v. Wade decision, and the portrayal of women's healthcare on television before and after its airing. The episode dives into the relevance of these discussions in today's political climate, offering insights on supporting reproductive rights. Featuring reflections on impactful pop culture moments, this conversation underscores how far we’ve come and the battles still ahead.

AUDIOOGRAPHY
Find RePROs Fight Back Podcast at Reprosfightback.com
   - FInd them on major podcast platforms and socials under "RePROs Fight Back"

Find Shout Your Abortion at ShoutYourAbortion.com
Support Abortion Funds at abortionfunds.org
Need an abortion? Go to AbortionFinder.org or Ineedana.com
Abortion pills by mail: PlanCpills.org
Lawyering for Reproductive Justice at ifwhenhow.org
Donate to TRR Foundation (started by our own Melissa!) 

Select RePROs Fight Back  episodes on Later Abortions:
Access to Later Abortion Will Always Be Needed
Everything You Need to Know about Abortion Later in Pregnancy

Watch Maude for free at Tubi TV
Purchase Maude on DVD via Shout Factory, now Gruv.com
Or at Ebay.  

SPECIAL 8TL PROMO DEALS
Get awesome sheets and pajamas at COZY EARTH.
Click through from this page, the discount should automatically apply. If not, use the promo code: 80STVLADIES. Happy Shopping!

JANUARY 8TL DEALS BLOCK:
Get your 80s TV Ladies deals and discounts:

Cozy Earth bamboo sheets and pjs (41% Off)
Old Glory iconic music, movies, TV and sports shirts (15% Off)
🔗 Get them at: https://MyDeals.Page/19wy
🎁Code: 80STVLADIES

NEW DEALS - Just added!
Bear Knuckles premium leather work gloves (15% Off)
Afuera Coffee sustainable coffee (15% Off)
🔗 Get them at: 

Remember those iconic women from television who defined an era? 80s TV Ladies revisits the groundbreaking, often delightfully campy, female-driven series that filled our living rooms with big hair and even bigger personalities. Hosts Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, under the 134 West banner, aren't just offering nostalgic recaps. They dig into the fascinating stories behind how shows like "Murder, She Wrote," "Kate & Allie," or "Designing Women" were actually made, examining the creative forces and network battles that brought them to air. Each episode explores how the politics and social climate of the 1980s shaped these narratives, and conversely, how the characters and stories themselves pushed cultural conversations forward, often in a complex dance of progress and tradition. This podcast celebrates the legacy of these programs while honestly assessing their place in history through that "two-steps forward, one-step-back" lens. It's a deep, engaging listen for anyone who loves television history, cultural analysis, and the powerful, complicated women who made the decade's TV so memorable. The show's quality is underscored by its recognition as a 4-time Podcast Awards winner and a Webby nominee for Best Indie Podcast. Tune in for thoughtful, well-researched discussions that go far beyond the opening credits.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

80s TV Ladies
Podcast Episodes
Ch-ch-ch-changes: The 20 Most Revolutionary 80s Music Videos (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:49
"The more that things change, the more they stay the same... Nevertheless, we have to keep pushing forward. We have to keep moving that line forward in order to make a better tomorrow for all of us." - Sharon JohnsonWelc…
RERUN: Bruce Boxleitner | The Scarecrow And Mrs. King Years, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:22
“Katie and I, our relationship could be a little exciting -- I had to watch my step, I had to toe the line. I had to behave myself or I’d get taken to the principal’s office... And she was the principal.” -- Bruce Boxlei…
RERUN: Bruce Boxleitner: The Scarecrow and Ms. King Years, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:23
“Kate was able to go off script. Then I found I could go with her. Pretty soon we’re doing stuff that is not on the written page. That’s where we found the little ‘in-between’ moments.” - Bruce BoxleitnerREWIND EPISODE:…
Writing 80s Icons: Dallas, Fame, and One Day at a Time | Linda Elstad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:40
“We asked her daughter, our friend Karin, to come on and talk with us about her mom, Linda, and what it was like to grow up the daughter of an eighties TV lady.” - Susan Lambert HatemSusan and Sharon welcome Karin Elstad…
Special Presentation: The Love Boat Podcast with Loretta Swit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:18
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: The Love Boat Podcast with Loretta Swit80s TV Ladies is thrilled to introduce you to The Love Boat Podcast with this exclusive Feed Drop from The Love Boat Podcast. Before we set sail, we pause to h…