Meghan Markle facing fresh blow to major project as huge shake-up is on cards
The future of Meghan Markle 's podcast is up in the air amid reports that her and Harry's lucrative multi-million pound Netflix deal is not being renewed. Earlier this month, it was reported that the streaming platform has decided not to renew the contract it holds with the Sussexes once it runs out in a few months time. They are believed to have signed a five-year deal worth around $100million in September 2020.
And now, Meghan's podcast, titled Confessions of a Female Founder, could be in jeopardy as the production company behind the project prepares for a major shake-up. The Duchess of Sussex began the series in April with the intention of giving a platform to female entrepreneurs to share their personal stories and experiences of building a business.
The podcast series, which is produced by Lemonada Media rather than Spotify like her previous podcast Archetypes, was billed as a space for honest discussions and practical advice for aspiring founders.
Despite the success of Meghan's podcast that highlights female-run businesses, the future of the project is now up in the air. According to Page Six, Lemonada Media is now set to be acquired by Swedish podcast group PodX, sparking uncertainty around the future direction of the company.
The company has built a wide-ranging portfolio, including more than 50 original series and close to 40 partner shows. Alongside Meghan's podcast, its slate includes Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and The Sarah Silverman Podcast.
PodX has steadily been acquiring several production companies around the world, with the podcasts run by those companies facing uncertain futures after the acquisitions.
While the future of Confessions of a Female Founder is still unsure, the news of Lemonada's future comes after Meghan admitted she was 'spread too thin' while working on her various other projects.
The Duchess of Sussex made the frank admission during a candid chat with Emma Grede on her Aspire podcast. Meghan revealed that her own podcast would not be coming back for a second season any time soon, as she focuses more on her lifestyle brand As Ever.
Meghan acknowledged "that there is so much excitement and desire for another season" of the podcast, but added, "I need to focus on my business. People seem to forget that very rarely do people see everything that's happening behind the scenes."
The podcast launched at the same time that Meghan's lifestyle brand As Ever announced its first product drop, which Meghan said "was perfect synergy".
She reflected on the busy time in her life as she juggled her multiple businesses, saying: "As I knew I was in this building phase of my business, what an amazing opportunity to pull back the curtain and let people see what's happening at the start, when all the twists and turns are there.
"For me to have the opportunity to talk to so many female founders who've been on that full trajectory—that are on the other side of success, but still at certain chapters in their career and their growth—but to be able to be really candid and vulnerable personally about my learns and stumbles along the way and then to take everyone's advice—and mine included."
Joking with podcast host Emma Grede, Meghan said: "At a certain point, the only thing I want spread thin is my jam."
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The office replied: 'Applicant must clarify these are entertainment-based services', as well as 'specify the nature of the 'live stage performances'.' Trademark lawyers also asked the couple's legal team to define the kind of web apps they would wish to provide through the Archewell Foundation. The couple previously revealed the word Arche, which means source of action in Greek, was the inspiration behind the name of their son. A source close to the Sussexes previously declared: 'Archewell is going to be huge. Harry and Meghan will use it to support lots of causes that they feel passionately about. It will be a global organisation with international ambitions.' They had set up a similar 'not-for-profit' organisation, Sussex Royal, but were banned from using the word 'royal' when they quit official duties. The trademark status of Archewell was updated on Saturday and has now been accepted Since its launch, Archewell has continued to grow its two signature programmes - The Archewell Foundation Parents' Network and The Welcome Project. Following a successful pilot, The Archewell Foundation Parents' Network launched publicly in August 2024. Its mission is to unite parents with first-hand experience of the dangers social media poses to children. In 2023, The Archewell Foundation handed out $1.3million in grants to good causes in the US and other parts of the world. Expenditure on other costs such as salaries, event costs, legal fees and travel was just under $2million in 2023. Archewell's US tax return, published in December, also revealed that income reached $5.7million last year, mainly thanks to a mystery benefactor who gave $5million in a single donation plus $335,000 from five other individuals. By contrast, the application for Meghan's lifestyle brand As ever is still pending, and was last updated in June. In February, the Duchess renamed her American Riviera Orchard business in a bid for a fresh start, later launching a series of jams, wines and teas alongside her Netflix show With Love, Meghan. But the rebrand was off to a rocky start, as it triggered a plagiarism row in Spain as civic bosses in the sleepy Mallorca village of Porreres accused the Duchess of copying its traditional coat of arms for the As ever logo. Shortly afterwards, an independent New York clothing label with the same name as Meghan's brand pleaded for support and also considered taking legal action. Earlier this month, the trailer for the second season of With Love, Meghan was released, and showed Meghan hosting a fresh batch of celebrities and influencers at the rented California house close to her and Prince Harry's Montecito mansion. With Love, Meghan was renewed for a second season just as season one was released in March. All the episodes were filmed at the same time, it is understood. Guests on season two will include Chrissy Teigen and Jamie Kern Lima, the trailer revealed. In the one-minute, 27-second teaser, Meghan is seen eating cheese, prepping snacks and drinks with friends and even reveals the food her husband Prince Harry doesn't like. 'Do you know who doesn't like lobster? My husband,' she says as she prepares the seafood. Meghan in the new trailer for the second season of her lifestyle and cooking show As the trailer comes to an end, Meghan reveals: 'I love these moments of discovery and beauty. So let's be curious together.' Meghan's lifestyle show failed to break into Netflix 's top 300 programmes for the first half of 2025 and was even thrashed by multiple seasons of Suits. The numbers watching were 'dismal', an insider at the streamer reportedly said. Meghan has also filmed a Christmas special for broadcast in December, in a potential clash with the Princess of Wales ' annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey. The first series showed the former Suits star, 44, inviting friends and famous guests to a California estate, where she shared cooking, gardening and hosting tips. But it was panned by many reviewers who called it 'sensationally absurd and trite' with the Duchess of Sussex called 'tone-deaf' and punting a show that 'vibrates with vacuous joylessness'. It has an IMDB rating of 3.2 out of 10 and a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicates that the TV show is considered 'rotten'. Meghan was also lampooned for putting pretzels from the packet into a plastic bag, chiding one guest for using Markle as her surname instead of Sussex and one viewer threatened to sue claiming her recipe for homemade bath salts burned her skin. Meanwhile, outraged fans criticised the Duchess and Netflx after it was revealed American model Chrissy Teigen is among the guests on the second season of With Love, Meghan. Her inclusion has cast a shadow over the second installment of With Love, Meghan - even before its release - after social media users highlighted the former Sports Illustrated model's bullying row. In 2021, John Legend 's wife Chrissy faced severe backlash after abusive tweets by the star - dating back to 2011 - resurfaced online. In one, she told then-16-year-old Courtney Stodden - who identifies as they/them - to kill themselves. While the star has since apologised, it appeared fans have yet to fully forgive Chrissy for the disparaging tweets towards Courtney after they spotted her laughing and joking in the kitchen with Prince Harry's wife. The appearance of Chrissy in the show is all the more baffling, given Meghan's propensity to distance herself from pals who find themselves at the centre of controversy. Despite the bullying controversy, however, Chrissy has been close with the Duchess, especially after the Sussexes relocated to California in 2020. Now, her cameo on the forthcoming season of With Love, Meghan has called their friendship into question after several people highlighted how the Duchess has championed for stricter online safety regulations while speaking out against cyberbullying. Last October, Meghan reportedly described herself as being 'one of the most bullied people in the world' during a meeting with teenage girls at the youth leadership organisation Girls Inc in Santa Barbara. Earlier that year in August, Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation launched the Parents' Network in support of 'parents who have first-hand knowledge of the pain and destruction caused by social media use '. Netflix viewers highlighted the irony of roping in Chrissy, who said she was 'ashamed and completely embarrassed' by the tweets in her public apology to Courtney, for the show helmed by Meghan - who has consistently spoken out about children's digital safety. 'She advocates against online bullying then has Chrissy Teigen it make sense Netflix,' one X user wrote. Another message read: 'How can Meghan Markle associate with Chrissy Teigen, a self-confessed online bully and troll who purports to suport the Parents Network who are campaigning against this very thing?' Back in 2014, Chrissy and Meghan were snapped alongside Nina Agdal and Shay Mitchell in New York City as they participated in the DirecTV Beach Bowl at Pier 40 It came as experts claimed that the Sussexes' new Netflix deal is a 'downgrade' on their previous $100million five-year tie-up and more 'we'll call you' than 'here's the chequebook'. The couple signed a new 'multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects' with the streaming giant - understood to be worth less for the pair than their previous contract. The 'first-look' arrangement means Netflix can say yes or no to new film or television projects before anyone else - allowing them to pick and choose what they invest in. PR expert Mark Borkowski described the new deal as a 'downgrade', claiming it falls a long way from the jackpot figure of Harry and Meghan's original contract in 2020. He told the Daily Mail: 'I think Netflix has done a very neat job of pivoting away from two very expensive people who didn't deliver, and they've taken that deal off the table, and they've given them a modest one. 'It's not like they're gradually uncoupling – it's a downgrade. Netflix are not going to expose themselves to those budgets again. It's Netflix saying, 'Let's have a look at your content, but we'll pick and choose, mate'.' The couple's new output will include a second season of the Duchess's 'With Love, Meghan' lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December. The Sussexes are also working on 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within' - a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix which 'span a variety of content genres', including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake. Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan as well as Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead and the couple's bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan as well as being a business partner on Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever. Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract thought to be worth $100million (£74million) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes - who made the announcement with Netflix - as 'extending their creative partnership' through Archewell Productions. But the new terms are understood to be worth less for Harry and Meghan than their previous contract, according to a person familiar with the deal, and represent Netflix loosening its ties with the couple. In a statement, Meghan said: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As Ever brand.'
