Meghan Markle has released the first episode for her new podcast: Confessions of a Female Founder!
Whitney Wolfe Herd – the founder of dating app Bumble – was the first guest, and she and Meghan discussed multiple topics in the debut episode.
For instance, the two spoke at length about how they’ve both learned to handle intense public scrutiny.
Whitney reflected on the criticism she faced when she first launched Bumble; for context, many negatively compared Bumble to Tinder, which Whitney also co-founded.
“It wasn’t until four, five, six years into building Bumble that people stopped with the Tinder comparison. I had to literally outgrow them, to some degree, to stand on my own two feet,” Whitney said.
And while Whitney admitted being in the public eye in that way was “horrible,” she went on to say it was nothing compared to what Meghan has gone through.
“When I see the way you’ve been treated in the media, which is a magnitude I’ll never understand, my heart breaks for you. It’s not fair and it’s brutalising,” Whitney told Meghan.
Meghan and Whitney also shared that they both experienced postpartum preeclampsia – a rare but serious condition involving high blood pressure and signs of organ damage after childbirth.
“It’s so rare and so scary,” the Duchess of Sussex candidly disclosed.
Meghan first shared details about her new podcast, which marks her second podcast overall, on March 13, 2025.
“I’ve been having candid conversations with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities, and scaled small ideas into massively successful businesses. They’re opening up, sharing their tips, tricks (and tumbles), and letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As Ever,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It has been absolutely eye-opening, inspiring…and fun! (Because what’s the point if we can’t have some fun on this wild adventure?)”
Meghan first signed a deal with podcast network Lemonada Media in early 2024 and it was announced that she would re-release Archetypes and release a new podcast (which we now know is Confessions of a Female Founder).
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” she said at the time.
“Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024.
“Our plan to re-release Archetypes so that more people can now have access to it, as well as launching a dynamic new podcast are well in the works,” she continued.
“I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
Jessica Cordova Kramer, CEO of Lemonada Media, said of the exciting news:
“We are beyond honoured that Meghan has trusted us to help democratise access to Archetypes, and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon.
“Meghan’s talent as host, creator and conversationalist is unparalleled and we are thrilled to co-create a new series with her that fosters her approach to creating art that matters.”
While Lemonada’s chief creative officer Stephanie Wittels Wachs said, “As we’ve started development with the Duchess of Sussex, we are blown away by her collaborative spirit and clear vision, along with her deep desire to build compassion and community through this work.
“The Lemonada team felt immediate kinship with Meghan and the Archewell Productions team, and we are delighted to be working together.”
The former Suits actress launched the podcast Archetypes in August 2022 as a part of a deal she and Prince Harry had with Spotify – estimated to be worth somewhere between $29 million and $37 million.
But less than a year later, in June 2023, Spotify announced they had mutually terminated their deal with the Sussexes; it was never disclosed why.
Prior to the deal collapsing, Archetypes ran for 12 episodes and focused on the different stereotypes that get levelled against women.
Among the many guest stars who appeared on Meghan’s first podcast were Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, Paris Hilton and Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell.
