Meghan Markle is returning to podcasting with a brand new show on Lemonada Media.
The announcement comes just months after her previous podcast, Archetypes, was abruptly canceled by Spotify following a public fallout between the Sussexes and the streaming giant.
Meghan Markle podcast with Lemonada Media
The Duchess of Sussex shared this February 13 that she is “proud” to join Lemonada and continue her “love of podcasting.”
Meghan expressed her happiness at being able to support a female-founded podcast company with a roster of “thought-provoking and highly entertaining” shows.
“I’m proud to now be able to share that I am joining the brilliant team at Lemonada to continue my love of podcasting,” said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. “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. I’m so eager to be able to share it soon, and am overjoyed to be joining the Lemonada family.”
Lemonada Media was co-founded in 2019 by Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs and is best known for creating Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ hit podcast, Wiser Than Me.
Lemonada has as its tagline “Making life suck less, one podcast at a time,” and some of the star-studded rosters who also have their podcast are Sarah Silverman and Jennette McCurdy.
“We are beyond honored that Meghan has trusted us to help democratize access to ‘Archetypes,’ and that so many more people around the world will have access to the series soon,” said Lemonada’s CEO and co-founder, Jessica Cordova Kramer.
Meghan explained that she and Prince Harry have been planning to relaunch Archetypes so that more people can access it.
They are also launching a new, unspecified podcast but that is “well in the works.” The Duchess added that she is “so eager to be able to share it soon.”
Archetypes was canceled last year amid rising tensions between Harry and Meghan and Spotify.
Spotify executive Bill Simmons even labeled the couple “f***ing grifters” and suggested he had some unflattering anecdotes about working with them.
The Sussexes originally signed a lucrative $25 million deal with Spotify in 2020 to produce a variety of content after stepping back from royal duties.
Archetypes was Meghan’s flagship podcast under the deal, featuring 12 episodes with high-profile guests discussing female stereotypes.
With her new Lemonada podcast, Meghan is forging ahead with producing audio content on her own terms post-Spotify.
Further details about the show’s subject matter and launch timeline are yet to be released.
Meghan Markle under scrutiny
Entertainment expert Mark Boardman said that Meghan Markle faces a significant challenge underscored by the scrutiny surrounding her endeavors alongside her husband, Prince Harry.
For Boardman, the paramount task lies in ensuring the delivery of substantial value in her collaborations.
Boardman highlights that the stakes are undeniably high, with any misstep potentially jeopardizing Meghan’s hard-earned reputation and eroding her star power.