Satellite Sisters

The Satellite Sisters is an internet based podcast. Previously, the show was a syndicated radio program heard on the ABC Radio Networks. The program began on National Public Radio (NPR) in 2000; a year after its launch, it was syndicated on 70 radio stations. The show revolves around five real-life sisters living in different cities. Its premise is: the sisters "get together" via satellite to talk as if they were going to meet in person or talk on the phone. Typically, the sisters rotate which days they host the show, and usually the show is co-hosted by three of the five sisters simultaneously.

The show received three Gracie Awards for excellence from American Women in Radio and Television.

ABC Radio ceased syndication of the show on November 9, 2007, and show transformed into an internet based podcast, with three new shows posted per week.

In addition to the radio show/podcast, the Sisters have written a book called UnCommon Senses. Published by Riverhead Books in 2001, the book is short stories about the Dolan sisters' lives growing up in Westport, Connecticut. The sisters bring the chapters/stories to life by posting podcast readings.

The Sisters

Julie Dolan

Julie Dolan Smith is the oldest of the sisters. She is the one "true" satellite sister as she is a "trailing spouse". Among other things, she has held the position of Dean of College Admissions. Until September 2006, Julie lived in Russia and would broadcast the show from overseas. After a short stay in San Francisco, she and her husband moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and then relocated to Dallas, Texas. She has two grown sons. She is also the first of the sisters to become a grandmother. Prior to moving overseas, she had a successful career in academic university administration.

Liz Dolan

Liz Dolan is the second oldest of the sisters. Liz is a 1979 graduate of Brown University. She is a former corporate vice-president at the Nike Corporation. She played a major role in the development of the Satellite Sisters show. In Jan 2009 she was named Chief Marketing Officer for "OWN", The Oprah Winfrey Network based in Burbank, Ca. Liz resides in Santa Monica, California with her dog Ferris. Fiona

Sheila Dolan

Sheila Dolan is the middle sister. She has spent the bulk of her career in education including stints as a teacher and principal in New York City. Sheila is based in Santa Monica, California in what she refers to as "The Cozy Cottage." She has one grown daughter, Ruthie. She is often the sister who assumes the "lead" on the radio program. In a recent show, Sheila stated that she often would go into public places wearing pajama bottoms.

Monica Dolan

Monica Dolan is the second youngest sister. She is based in Portland, Oregon and broadcasts from her home there. Prior to joining the show, Monica spent the bulk of her career as a nurse. Monica has a segment which spotlight fun indie bands or artists. This is segment exposes listeners to new sounds.

Lian Dolan

Lian Dolan is the youngest sister. She is the "working mom", with a husband and two young sons. She has written for several publications including O: The Oprah Magazine and Good Housekeeping. She is based in Pasadena, California. Lian contribute a segment of the Podcast called Chaos Chronicles, which are funny stories about her life as a mom and wife in 2008. Segments include signing your children up for summer camp in January or how your children lose their school uniforms at school.

Special Segments

"Cozy Couch with Sheila"

This is a segment done by Sheila once a week (usually Thursdays), which features topics categorized by her as "trivial and mundane".

"Entertaining Sheila"

This is a segment done by Sheila Dolan once a week, in which she does movie reviews.

"International News Roundup"

This is a segment done by Julie, highlighting news from around the world.

"Lab Rats"

This is a segment by Sheila and Monica on Fridays, in which they test and evaluate everyday consumer products.

"Monica's Believe It or Not"

During this segment, Monica reads three news stories with a common theme: two are true, while the other is false. A listener is chosen to play along and guess which story is false. Usually, the other sisters co-hosting the show will also play along.

Critical reaction

June Casagrande said: "The Satellite Sisters are also cool women - the kind of people I'd like to hang out with".

UnCommon Senses

Their book Satellite Sisters' Uncommon Senses was published in 2001. People criticized it as "excessively navel-gazing". Publishers Weekly felt it worked better on the radio than on the page, and found "nothing wildly entertaining or groundbreaking" in the book.