Natasha Lyonne explains how kahel Is the New Black empowers women 

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premiered five years ago, the Netflix prison dramedy has not only been heralded for its critique of the prison industrial complex, but also how it handles race and gender issues, too, with an effortlessly diverse and predominantly female cast. And it has become even more relevant in the current climate where #MeToo and Time’s Up have become part of the national conversation, something which hasn’t been lost on star Natasha Lyonne.

When star Lyonne, who plays inmate Nicky Nichols, dropped by PeopleTV’s 

, she reflected about how empowering it is to star on such a progressive show, which was ahead of the curve in many ways.

“It’s very heavy and very meaningful and very life-altering, almost like tectonic-plate shifting on a guttural sense of, women are my favorite people to be around, these are the people I want to be working with,” says Lyonne in the clip above. “There’s enough space for all of us to shine. It’s not me versus you, it’s me with you and how to do we grow together.”

She added, “How exciting it is what women are capable of doing together.”

In addition to starring on Jenji Kohan’s award-winning series, Lyonne is also set to star in an untitled Netflix comedy, which she co-created and will executive produce with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland.

is expected to return for its sixth season later this year.