Confessions of a Female Founder episode 3 recap - Meghan's inky hair and a complete lack of star power

0:03 Caloroga Shark Media. Hello and welcome through Pallas in Tree Again host Mark Francis. In the latest edition of her sinking podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, the Duchess of Sussex has opened up about the rebranding of her lifestyle venture, explaining why she abandoned the original name America Riviera Orchard in favor of as Ever. Speaking with her close friend and hair colorist Katie Wee, Meghan said, I had secured as Ever as a name in twenty twenty two, and then as everything started to evolve last year and bringing in a partner the size that it was, it became this word salad. I didn't love that so much. The Duchess had unveiled American Riviera Orchard in March of last year, but with trademark complications mounting, she returned to a name she'd previously reserved, back to the thing that I've always loved, she said. We were able to focus in the quiet and put our heads down and build on something that no one was sniffing around to even see about her.

1:09 She described the rebrand as a much needed moment of calm, saying it was really really helpful to have that quiet period. Katie Lee, who owns the Hygebrow Hippie Salon in Venice, California, joined the Duchess for the episode. Lee's clients include Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and Sigourney Weaver. Megan called Lee a dear friend and added people can't get enough of her products. Megan told a fascinating story about how she'd first met Katie in twenty twenty through hairstylist Surge Normant. Meghan explained, so, my family had just moved to California. Now there's an understatement, and we were staying in our friend's home and because it was the pandemic, I kept ordering boxed hair dye.

1:50 I thought I'm going to look just like she does on the box, and instead it was this very inky, almost Elvira esque black hair. I had texted Surge and he said, you need to see Katie, and you came over and the pair, who have since developed a close friendship, haven't looked back. The Duchess revealed she had invested in Lee's business last year, telling in Styles she was so proud to invest in her as a friend and as a female founder of the brand. She said on the podcast Look as you know, the name Highbrow Hippie is no longer just a blog and a hair salon. It's a product line too. You have a hair supplement and hair serum that you just launched last year, and it's already been named best hair serum by Oprah Daily. The conversation took a personal turn as well. Lee recalled their first meeting. I remember meeting you guys, and you were so warm, and both you and h wrapped up in these big bear hugs, and I was like, I don't even know these people, and I'm not a hugger, but let's do it. Meghan shared that her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lila bit of door, Lee, Our kids love Auntie Katy. Their favorite time they've run out when they see your car and screen Katie. I know, I feel like I look for them first. Reflecting on her own student days, Megan also reminisced about her hair care routine at Northwestern. I don't even think they made plug in flat irons at the time. I had this little stove with a flat iron that would go in and have a paper towel on the side, An industry insider commented to Radar Online about Megan's underwhelming guest lineup, saying She's dialed all the big names but no one's picked up and the absence of high profile guests and the lineup is raising eyebrows, especially hers. I mean, she lives in California.

3:25 The best she can do as a woman who runs a dating app. Jeez, there's no Taylor Swift, no Beyonce, not even a Haley Beeber. And when you're pitching female empowerment, that's a problem. It speaks volumes for her pulling power. She's not happy about her lack of appeal. Palace Intrigues. Podcasting industry insider points out Lemonada announced this thing a year ago. They couldn't book one celebrity. I'd be firing people left and right. Apple is already done promoting it and this thing is dead in the water. Speaking on The Sun's Royal Exclusive show about the podcast, gb News Royal correspondent Cameron Walker discussed Megan podcast with the Sun's Royal Exclusive Show. Walker asked, what is the USP here meaning unique selling proposition? Does it actually have a point to this or is it just because she is Megan, Duchess of Sussex. Although it was number ten on Spotify.

4:14 This podcast. Her Netflix series was also in the top ten. So although the reviews are bad, people are still watching it. So the question is going to be are people watching it because they love to hate it or do they genuinely enjoy watching it or listening. The Sun's Royal editor Matt Wilkinson then mentioned how while the podcast is US focused, it's not being massively spoken about in America. He said, it's very US focused. I think our guests are mainly based in America so far, but I think the American media have mainly ignored it. I'm led to believe that it's not really being picked up by the American media, which surely would be her target if she was moving into that sphere. Some experts are wondering if Meghan's podcast partner company Lemonada, chose the wrong time to release the podcast.

4:57 The launch coincided rather awkwardly with two me at royal events, King Charles and Queen Cambilla's state visit to Italy and Prince Harry's returned to the UK for the legal appeal over downgraded security protections. Pr expert Renee Smith told The Express, I don't think it was a particularly strategic move in terms of trying to upstage anyone. I don't think it will affect her listenership either way. I don't imagine anyone who was interested in Charles and Camilla's Italy visit was ever going to hit play on her podcast, she added, so it's unlikely this timing will hurt her audience. I don't think Megan operates for that level of external awareness, even when it comes to her husband. She's deep in her own brand ecosystem, focused on personal content and seemingly not clocking what anyone else, including Harry, is doing or might need support with. Sometimes I think we give her too much credit for strategy. It may be coincidence, or it maybe manipulation, But I can't quite tell if she's smart enough in a strategic thinking kind of way to be that manipulative. Either way, it doesn't really work in her favor. Megan's podcast was number forty five on Monday morning on the Apple US charts. When we looked this morning, it was at number sixty one. Palacentric Can we write back as the world Maun's Pope of Francis, History's most secretive transfer of power begins. Check out the new podcast, White Smoke, The Path to a New Pope, guiding you through this momentous transition. This morning, we have updates about the pope's funeral services, which are scheduled for Saturday, and

6:29 learn how each ritual unfolds, what each tradition means, and why these ancient ceremonies still matter today. Follow along as the throne of Saint Peter stands empty in a new chapter in church history begins. Check out White Smoke available wherever you get your podcasts, and it's made by your friends here at cal Rogan Shark Media, so we really really enjoy the support. Thank you very much. Some are wondering if Megan's duck video was staged. Meghan has posted a clip to Instagram in which she's been standing in a white dress at the edge of a path, watching in apparent surprise as a family of ducks waddled across. The video, believed to have been filmed on the Sussex's Montecito Estate, child many fans who called it sweet and whimsical. Others, however, were more skeptical. Someone just happened to be there with a camera. Call me cynical, but remarked one viewer on X.

7:18 Another mused someone just happened to be filming at that point in the driveway when both the ducks and Megsie popped out of the undergrowth. Yeah right, not set up at all. A third added simply, who was filming this? And where did mecan get the family of ducks? So many questions that are never answered, And there you have it. Like to email us. Our address is the Palace Intrigue at gmail dot com. Please follow us Spotify, Apple on the apple of your choice, and hey, give us a nice review. Everyone joining the show. We really appreciate it. I'm Mark Francis. My things to John McDermott, this is Pallas Indriguan. Good terms.