On Tuesday, Meghan Markle wrapped up the first season of her podcast with Lemonada media, Confessions of a Female Founder – but if she wants to get a season two, the ‘calculating’ Duchess needs to be ‘more authentic,’ according to a media relations specialist.
Meghan’s final episode of the first season featured Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, as the pair talked about their journey as entrepreneurs, as she also spoke about her own brand, As Ever.
Confessions of a Female Founder came after a one-season, failed podcast deal with Spotify for a show called Archetypes, while a second season of COAFF has yet to be announced.
On the podcast, Meghan, 43, revealed that she had decided to ‘just pause’ restocking her As Ever brand after previously selling out of products in less than an hour.
She said she wanted to wait until the brand was ‘completely stable and we have everything we need’ and was trying to avoid ‘annoying’ customers – only to announce in an Instagram post just hours later that a restock and new products were coming this month.
Recently, she also shared in an interview with Fast Company that she wanted to explore a clothing line and hospitality angle for As Ever.
‘I want to really focus on the hospitality angle of As Ever, but as we take the learnings, we can understand what the customer’s needs are seasonally,’ Meghan told the outlet.
Her initial release featured raspberry jam, shortbread cookie mix, and herbal teas, to name a few.
On Tuesday, Meghan Markle wrapped up the first season of her podcast with Lemonada media, Confessions of a Female Founder – but if she wants to get a season two, the ‘calculating’ Duchess needs to be ‘more authentic,’ according to a media relations specialist
She said she wants to wait until it is ‘completely stable and we have everything we need’ and was trying to avoid being ‘annoying’ to customers – only to announce in an Instagram post just hours later that a restock and new products were coming this month
Earlier this month, she also shared in an interview with Fast Company that she wanted to explore a clothing line and hospitality angle for As Ever
The line received a less than stunning review by Daily Mail’s FEMAIL team, with her jam standing out as especially runny and thin.
With all these new ventures, it certainly begs the question: what does Meghan want?
She told Fast Company that if she had to write a resume, she ‘wouldn’t know’ what to call herself.
‘I think it speaks to this chapter many of us find ourselves in, where none of us are one note,’ the mom-of-two said. ‘But I believe all the notes I am playing are part of the same song.’
But some branding experts have some ideas, like Ryan McCormick, co-founder of Goldman McCormick Public Relations.
When it comes to her podcast, McCormick said that he believes Meghan needs to be ‘more authentic, less calculating, and less guarded’ with her audience.
He also noted that COAFF differed from Archetypes, which was seen as more of a ‘casual, free-flowing conversation,’ as compared to her venture with Lemonada Media, which ‘has the intention of revealing the secrets of success.’
‘If Meghan wants to build a long term intimate connection with her listeners, she could consider allowing herself to be vulnerable at times as well as be spontaneous,’ the expert explained to Daily Mail.
When it comes to her podcast, McCormick said that he believes Meghan needs to be ‘more authentic, less calculating, and less guarded’ with her audience
On season one of her podcast, Meghan landed a lot of prominent female founders in the fashion and beauty space, like Spanx’s Sara Blakely and Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics
‘In addition, I recommend Markle carve her own niche and do something no one has done before. As far as her brand goes, I think Meghan and her team still need to clearly define what that brand is.’
He shared some suggestions for season two of the former Suits actress’ podcast, which included interviewing high-profile CEO’s in different spaces, like Lucy Guo of Scale AI and Melanie Perkins of Canva.
On season one of her podcast, Meghan landed a lot of prominent female founders in the fashion and beauty space, like Spanx’s Sara Blakely and Jamie Kern Lima of IT Cosmetics.
‘Markle could also help an up and coming female entrepreneur by featuring them for ten minutes along with her main guest,’ McCormick suggested.
‘In addition, mentioning a select charity on each episode would help a lot of people as well. The more value The Duchess brings to listeners, the more support she’ll earn from them,’ he continued.
But at the end of the day, McCormick said that Meghan’s brand messaging is still unclear.
‘I think Meghan is trying to identify as business empire with herself being the face and spokesperson,’ McCormick said
‘Chrissy is the big name in series two, and they have been friends for a long time,’ while ‘there is no sign of Harry at all in this one, and nothing of the children either’
‘I think Meghan is trying to identify as business empire with herself being the face and spokesperson,’ McCormick said.
‘Unfortunately, there is an inconsistency in commonalities with the podcasts, products, and Netflix series. It’s a lack of branding clarity. I think she’s trying to figure this out.’
The second season of Meghan’s Netflix series is slated to come out this Fall, with model, TV personality and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen set to make an appearance on the program.
Daily Mail’s Alison Boshoff was told that: ‘Chrissy is the big name in series two, and they have been friends for a long time,’ while ‘there is no sign of Harry at all in this one, and nothing of the children either.’
Daily Mail reached out to reps for the Sussex family for comment.