Meghan Markle’s Podcast Strategy: Emulating Trump’s Spotlight Tactics?

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has once again found herself at the center of media attention with the launch of her second podcast series, Confessions of a Female Founder. The series, which debuted its first episode on April 8, 2025, features Meghan interviewing prominent entrepreneurs, starting with Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble. Despite reaching the 19th spot on Spotify’s podcast charts, the show has received mixed reviews, with critics describing it as lacking substance and failing to deliver compelling narratives. Royal expert Mark Borkowski has stirred further controversy by suggesting that Meghan’s approach mirrors that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing her of orchestrating a calculated bid to keep the world “obsessed” with her. This claim, reported by The Sun on April 15, 2025, raises questions about Meghan’s intentions, her media strategy, and the challenges of maintaining relevance in an oversaturated digital landscape.

Meghan Markle has just launched her second podcast Credit: AFP

The Podcast: A Bid for Relevance?

Confessions of a Female Founder marks Meghan’s latest venture into the podcasting world, following her earlier series Archetypes, which ended amid a high-profile fallout with Spotify. The new show aims to spotlight women who have built successful companies, offering insights into their entrepreneurial journeys. The premiere episode, featuring Wolfe Herd, was anticipated to set the tone for the series. However, reviews have been less than glowing. Critics have labeled the conversation as “vapid” and “ego-fluffing,” arguing that it offers little in the way of actionable insights or depth. One review described the episode as delivering “vapid lessons in self-love,” a sentiment echoed by audiences who expected more substance given Meghan’s platform and resources.

Royal commentator Mark Borkowski, in an interview with The Sun, suggested that the podcast’s lack of focus is part of a broader strategy. He argued that Meghan is less concerned with delivering meaningful content and more focused on generating “noise” to maintain public attention. “One could argue that’s a major success because, you know, it keeps her in this sort of public gaze and keeps the global media obsessed about her story,” Borkowski stated. He drew a provocative parallel to Donald Trump, noting that both figures rely on creating constant buzz to stay relevant, regardless of the substance behind their endeavors. “Whether it’s the President of the United States or Meghan Markle, it is all about noise now,” he added.

An expert slammed the royal for copying Trump

This follows the Duke and Duchess’ £18million podcast payout for Archetypes Credit: Getty

The Trump Comparison: Fair or Far-Fetched?

Borkowski’s comparison of Meghan to Trump is a bold one, and it has sparked debate among royal watchers and media analysts. On the surface, the two figures seem worlds apart: Meghan, a former actress turned royal and now entrepreneur, and Trump, a polarizing political figure known for his bombastic rhetoric and media dominance. Yet Borkowski’s argument hinges on their shared reliance on spectacle. He suggests that Meghan, like Trump, is adept at keeping herself in the headlines, even if the methods—podcasts, lifestyle brands, or social media posts—differ from Trump’s press conferences and tweets.

The comparison is not without merit. Trump has long mastered the art of staying in the public eye, using controversy, bold statements, and relentless media engagement to maintain his brand. Meghan, too, has shown an ability to generate headlines, whether through her royal exit in 2020, her Netflix docuseries, or her recent lifestyle brand, As Ever. Her latest podcast, despite its lukewarm reception, has succeeded in keeping her name in the news cycle, as evidenced by the flurry of articles and social media posts following its release.

However, the comparison has its limits. Trump’s approach thrives on provocation and divisiveness, often deliberately courting controversy to rally his base. Meghan, by contrast, appears to aim for a more aspirational image, focusing on themes of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and self-love. Her podcast, while criticized for lacking depth, is not overtly controversial in the way Trump’s public statements often are. Moreover, Meghan faces unique challenges as a former royal, navigating a media landscape that is often hostile and quick to scrutinize her every move. Borkowski himself acknowledged this, noting that fame today requires navigating a “highly cruel and critical world.”

The Challenges of Staying Famous

Borkowski’s critique also touches on a broader truth about modern fame: staying relevant is harder than achieving fame in the first place. “Any large personality can generate a huge Instagram following,” he said, “but how do you stop being boring?” In Meghan’s case, her attempts to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur have met with mixed success. Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched with much fanfare on April 2, 2025, but its initial product—a $14 raspberry jam—received lackluster reviews, with some critics comparing its texture to “baby food.” Similarly, her Netflix lifestyle show, released shortly before the podcast, was widely panned, further weakening her brand’s momentum.

These setbacks highlight the difficulty of transitioning from royal figure to entrepreneurial powerhouse. Brand and culture expert Nick Ede, quoted in The Sun, argued that Meghan’s “flip-flopping” over her image—shifting from royal advocate to lifestyle guru to podcast host—has diluted her brand. Unlike Trump, who has maintained a consistent (if controversial) persona, Meghan’s pivots have left audiences confused about her core message. “What are the cut-through messages?” Borkowski asked, suggesting that Meghan’s projects often feel like “the next thing that’s thrown against the wall hoping it will stick.”

Meghan’s Broader Context

Meghan’s latest endeavors cannot be viewed in isolation. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, she and Prince Harry have faced significant challenges, including strained relations with the royal family and intense media scrutiny. Sources close to Harry have described his relationship with King Charles as “distant,” with communication often limited to unanswered calls and letters. The couple’s decision to relocate to California and pursue independent careers has been both liberating and fraught, as they navigate a world where their every move is dissected.

The podcast, in this context, may represent more than a bid for fame. For Meghan, it could be an attempt to reclaim her narrative and establish herself as a thought leader in the entrepreneurial space. Her choice to feature successful women like Wolfe Herd suggests a desire to align herself with stories of resilience and innovation. Yet the execution, according to critics, has fallen short, raising questions about whether Meghan has the “skill”—as Borkowski put it—to sustain her place in the spotlight.

Noise vs. Substance

Meghan Markle’s Confessions of a Female Founder has reignited discussions about her ambitions and the strategies she employs to stay relevant. Mark Borkowski’s comparison to Donald Trump, while provocative, underscores the reality of modern fame: generating noise is often easier than delivering substance. Meghan’s podcast, like her other recent ventures, has succeeded in keeping her in the public eye, but it has yet to produce the “cut-through messages” needed to solidify her brand.

As Meghan continues to navigate her post-royal career, the challenge will be to move beyond the noise and offer something truly compelling. Whether she can achieve this remains to be seen, but for now, her ability to keep the world talking—obsessed or not—is undeniable. The question is whether that talk will translate into lasting influence or fade into the background of an ever-noisy media landscape.