Almost two years after signing a big podcast deal with audio giant Spotify, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry are making waves in the space.
Releasing the inaugural episode from Meghan’s new series Archetypes, the duchess spoke at length with her good friend and tennis legend Serena Williams, who announced her emotional exit from the game earlier this month.
For the conversation, the women had an in-depth discussion about the challenges of balancing careers and motherhood in the public eye.
The duchess has released the inaugural episode from her new podcast, Archetypes. (Image: Getty)
At one point, Serena recalled the 2018 French Open match that she played the morning after her daughter Olympia broke her wrist. Needless to say, it was a very sleepless night for all parties.
“I somehow managed to win, but I was so emotionally spent and just like so emotionally drained that it was, it was crazy. And, you know, and then like every night after that, I just was with her the whole time and was like you’re going to be with me,” Serena said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle launched Archewell Audio at the close of 2020. At the time, they branded the endeavour as a way of showcasing a range of different voices and perspectives.
“I somehow managed to win, but I was so emotionally spent and just like so emotionally drained that it was, it was crazy,” Serena said. (Image: Getty)
Their first episode, a holiday special, featured their firstborn son, Archie – then 19 months old.
Urging Archie to speak into the microphone Harry said: “You can speak into it,” before Meghan asked: “Archie, is it fun?”
The bub then responded with a simple word that melted Sussex hearts everywhere: “Fun.”
This time around, Archie featured in the podcast once more – but in a very different way. While the toddler wasn’t on the mic, he was the subject a very alarming anecdote.
Meghan explained that during her and Harry’s trip to South Africa, the royal couple left their then-four-and-a-half month old son with his nanny during their first engagement. After the event was over, the parents received word that a fire had broken out in the dormitory.
“The heater in the nursery caught on fire,” she said. “There was no smoke detector. Someone happened to just smell smoke down the hallway went in, fire extinguished. He was supposed to be sleeping in there.”
Meghan clarified that Archie and his nanny, Lauren, were in a different room at the time, but she was still shaken up upon hearing the news.
“We came back,” she continued. “And of course, as a mother, you go, Oh, my God, what? Everyone’s in tears, everyone’s shaken. And what do we have to do? Go out and do another official engagement? I said, This doesn’t make any sense.
“The focus ends up being on how it looks instead of how it feels.”
Meghan recalled the moment Archie’s dorm caught fire. (Image: Getty)
The next episode is to feature pop sensation Mariah Carey.
Also teased to be appearing on the audio show are Mindy Kaling, Margaret Cgho, Amanda Seales, and more.
