Is Meghan Markle's podcast in crisis? A-listers reportedly ghosting the duchess as critics slam 'Confessions of a Female Founder'

Meghan Markle, once the toast of royal rebeldom and now a Hollywood hopeful, is reportedly grappling with a humiliating setback—her new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, is failing to attract the kind of star power she had banked on. Despite relentless efforts to book A-list guests, insiders reveal that the Duchess of Sussex is being met with a wall of silence from celebrity circles.

According to sources close to the production, Markle has “dialed all the big names,” from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé, but the calls have been quietly ignored. “No one’s picking up the phone for that diva,” one industry insider bluntly told RadarOnline. “And the best she could manage for her premiere episode? The founder of a dating app. Really?”

From Palace Glamour to Podcast Ghosting
Markle’s grand vision—to create an empowering platform spotlighting women founders—appears to be losing its luster without the gravitational pull of high-profile names. Media commentators say it’s a stark contrast to the expectations one might have for a former royal turned media maven living in the heart of celebrity country—California.

Instead of household names or cultural icons, Markle has reportedly resorted to inviting influencers and startup entrepreneurs who, while impressive in their own right, lack the glitz and pull necessary to boost podcast rankings. “Not exactly red-carpet royalty,” quipped a Hollywood PR expert. “This is a show crying out for relevance, and it’s just not landing.”

A Royal Rant and Lukewarm Reviews
The struggle for star power isn’t Markle’s only challenge. Confessions of a Female Founder has been savaged by critics, with early reviews branding it a "stomach-turning" display of self-indulgence. The Telegraph, The Guardian, and The Standard all gave the show a meager two-star rating, criticizing its lack of substance and excessive focus on Markle herself.

Listeners tuning in for hard-won insights from the first guest, Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd, were instead served a podcast heavily dominated by Markle’s own stories—especially a revelation about her medical scare post-childbirth. While topics like postpartum preeclampsia and self-care are undeniably important, critics argue the conversation lacked depth and authenticity.

Chris Bennion, writing for The Telegraph, didn’t hold back: “It’s an inane stream of mindless aphorisms with no real confessions or insights. Imagine the drive, the talent, the sheer bloody ruthlessness it takes to build an empire—yet we get none of that. Just a perfumed echo chamber.”

Mission Impossible—or Merely Misguided?
As Markle faces the harsh glare of the spotlight once again—this time not for what she wore or said, but who refuses to sit across from her—questions swirl around her media credibility. Has her star power dimmed? Or is she simply the victim of high expectations and an unforgiving industry?

One thing’s clear: if the Duchess wants her podcast to thrive, she’ll need more than just a good microphone and a catchy title. She’ll need star wattage—and right now, Hollywood isn’t answering the call.