Meghan Markle has sparked fresh debate after being granted yet another high-profile award, this time for her recently launched podcast—despite its brief run and poor performance.
Short-Lived Podcast Earns Two Signal Awards
Markle’s new audio series, Confessions of a Female Founder, has won two awards at the prestigious Signal Awards, which honor what they describe as “meaningful podcasts.”
The Duchess of Sussex, 44, debuted the series in April through Lemonada Media. The weekly podcast featured conversations with well-known female entrepreneurs, including Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, Kitsch creator Cassandra Thurswell, and IT Cosmetics founder Jamie Kern Lima.
Despite the high-profile guests, Confessions failed to gain traction, dropping out of the Spotify charts just weeks after its launch. The show ended after only eight episodes, plus a single bonus interview held over Zoom with Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother.
Awards Despite Poor Reception
Although the show received little critical praise and suffered low engagement, the Signal Awards recognized it with two honors. The series won gold in the category of “Businesspeople & Entrepreneurs Shaping Culture.” It was also named “Listener’s Choice” in the same category.
These surprising accolades left many podcast listeners confused and skeptical.
Public Reaction and Criticism
Social media quickly lit up with questions about why the podcast was being recognized at all.
“These podcast awards baffle me,” one user wrote. “The Confessions of a blah, blah were abysmal. After each episode, the ratings got less and she was raked over the coals because she couldn’t stop talking about herself long enough to have her guests talk.”
Another claimed, “To qualify, you have to pay a modest entry fee. There are several bodies seeking to gain credibility in the podcast awards market. Publicity might be key.”
Future of the Podcast Still Uncertain
While discussing the direction of her projects in a recent business interview, Meghan addressed the uncertain future of the podcast.
“There’s interest in doing a second season of Confessions of a Female Founder, and many female founders have approached her to be a guest on the series,” the report said. “But Meghan is now involved in such a wide range of projects, she’s sure to find some way to tell her story.”
Since stepping back from royal duties, Meghan and Prince Harry have amassed a considerable collection of awards, ranging from civil rights recognitions to humanitarian honors. Earlier this month, the couple was named “humanitarians of the year” for their efforts to raise awareness about mental health issues in the digital age.