Top 10 Biggest Reveals from Meghan Markle's Podcast

The duchess’ first guest was a famous figure who also happens to be her friend. During their conversation, the podcast host observes that while she felt courageous as a child, growing older has caused her to lose some of those feelings. Williams cuts in and insists that the royal is in fact fearless. The athlete then confesses she has an intense fear of open water. She also mentions being afraid of heights. With incredible athleticism and the ability to perform under pressure, the tennis player is one of the greatest of her time. To learn that she has these kinds of fears makes her slightly more relatable.

In each episode of the podcast, the Duchess of Sussex examines a different label and how it relates to women. The second episode tackles the “diva” archetype, so who better to feature than Mariah Carey. The New York native is undoubtedly one of the greatest primadonnas from contemporary pop culture. A 2002 “MTV Cribs” special showed her at her most high-maintenance. From refusing to sit up straight to wearing 4-inch heels on a stairmaster, the singer came across as a little ridiculous. Two decades after the home tour, she reveals to the American-born royal that she plays into the image “for laughs.” Or at least, “half of it”. Exaggerated or not, Carey’s over-the-top personality is certainly entertaining.

The two famous friends have many things in common. They were born in the same year and both grew up in or around Los Angeles. Meghan even jokes that both women like redheads. These similarities apparently made the duchess wonder if an infamous article about her had mixed up their hometowns. She mentions that she was once reported to have been “(Almost) Straight Outta Compton”, and that those origins were presented as problematic. While Meghan herself is not from Compton, Williams lived in the city, south of downtown L.A., from the ages of 4 to 9. The article in question was published in British tabloid the Daily Mail, and has been held up as a prime example of racist commentary around Meghan in the media.

While the second episode of her podcast focuses on the “diva,” Meghan doesn’t directly associate herself with the term until her conversation with Carey. The pop star insists that the duchess has had her own “diva moments.” When the royal seems taken aback, Carey clarifies that she’s speaking in terms of Meghan’s fashion and beauty, not necessarily her attitude. Later on, the host reveals just how uncomfortable the observation makes her. She recognizes that the comment is meant as a compliment, but wrestles with the word’s negative connotations. Her confession reveals that people of all statuses struggle with being labeled.

During Meghan's conversation with Carey, they discuss their experiences as mixed race women in the public eye. The host reflects upon how she’s been treated at different points in her career. As an actress, Meghan describes being treated not as Black or as white, but as “in between”. That changed, though, when she began dating a member of the British royal family. Compared to other figures such as Prince William’s wife, Kate, the American faces a lot of criticism from tabloids. In the psat, she’s revealed that there were concerns within the royal family over the color of her first child’s skin. Whether it’s from the press, or her husband’s family, the host confirms that she feels the effects of racial prejudice.

Before becoming a duchess, Meghan was an actress and model. Since leaving the entertainment industry, the American born royal has become an international beauty icon. It's surprising to hear her confess that she wasn’t considered one of the pretty girls while in school. The podcast host describes what she looked like growing up, specifically referencing her frizzy hair and tooth gap. Even with those descriptors, we’re having a hard time imagining a world in which the L.A. native is not considered beautiful. With her response, Mindy Kaling speaks for us all.

Songstress Mariah Carey leads a glamorous life today, but that was not always the case. She references her troubling childhood more than once in her discussion with the podcast host. Pre-stardom, the New Yorker grew up poor and moved around frequently. She alludes to seeing her mother being knocked out and having to call the authorities. In her memoir “The Meaning of Mariah Carey”, she’s opened up about the violence she witnessed as a child, often involving her brother. The talented singer credits these experiences as the origin of her ambition to be successful. We think we can all agree though that no one should have to go through what she did in their home.

#3: The Fire in Archie's Room “The Misconception of Ambition”

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While trading parenting stories with Serena, the podcast host recalls a terrifying incident from before her daughter Lilibet was born. On tour in South Africa in 2019, Meghan and Harry left their son Archie with his nanny in order to attend a speaking engagement. After completing her duties as Duchess, the mother was informed by her staff of a fire in the nursery. It’s only by chance that Archie wasn’t in the room napping when the disaster occurred. Despite the nearly tragic accident, Meghan was advised not to cancel her next official engagement. This story makes us wonder what else goes on with the royal family that we don’t know about.

In the summer of 2022, the accomplished tennis player authored a column for Vogue explaining her decision to step away from the sport. Williams’s announcement to retire was a surprise to the public, but the duchess knew it was coming beforehand. In fact, she and her royal husband had given counsel to their friend regarding the matter. In the podcast, the guest reveals just how much the host’s support means to her. As someone who quit acting to embark on a new life as a member of the royal family, Meghan must know a thing or two about leaving an industry.

The podcast host has always been a go-getter. She was only eleven years old when she wrote a letter to the president of Procter & Gamble. The Californian began her career in the entertainment industry with ambitious aspirations, eventually landing the role of a main character on the American legal drama “Suits.” It wasn’t until she began dating a member of the royal family that the duchess realized having ambition could be considered bad. She observes that it’s only women who are criticized for pursuing success. The double standard seems unfair, especially considering that Prince Harry’s grandmother was history’s longest serving British monarch. The host’s revelation isn’t a nice one, but she and her guests are proof that women succeed even when they face opposition.