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Meghan Markle is opening up about the hidden challenges of new motherhood in a very personal way. In the first episode of her new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, she sits down with Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, to talk about balancing the demands of being a mom while also pursuing ambitious careers. The two women share their experiences with postpartum preeclampsia, a rare and serious condition that can affect new mothers, and how they faced it quietly while still working hard on their professional goals.
Meghan, who launched the podcast through Lemonada Media on April 8, explained how she and Whitney had to navigate the difficult condition without many people knowing what they were going through. She called postpartum preeclampsia “so rare and so scary,” adding that it was a challenge to juggle everything in life while no one outside knew the struggles they were facing behind the scenes.
Whitney Wolfe Herd, who was really inspired by Meghan’s strength, remembered how Meghan made her public debut with her newborn son, Archie, just two days after giving birth in 2019. Whitney was in awe, saying, “How is this woman doing this?” while also sharing her own difficulties as a new mom.
The conversation also touched on how the pandemic changed their lives as working moms. Meghan talked about how working from home allowed her to be present for her children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. She said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t want to miss those moments.” Meghan shared how she balanced important work calls with things like picking up kids from preschool and even potty training. She emphasized that both her career and family were equally important to her.
Both Meghan and Whitney also acknowledged the role technology has played in helping parents have more flexibility. Whitney pointed out that working parents can now do a great job on calls while they’re sitting in the carpool line, which was a huge help for both of them.
Meghan’s podcast series will dive deeper into her entrepreneurial journey with her lifestyle brand, As Ever, as well as share stories from other female founders. In an exclusive interview, she spoke about the incredible inspiration she’s found in learning from women who’ve turned their dreams into powerful realities. Meghan reflected on how at first, you’re just figuring out how to take your first steps, and then you want to learn how to run and eventually fly.
This podcast marks Meghan’s return to podcasting after her successful 2022 show Archetypes. Through Confessions of a Female Founder, she hopes to shed light on the personal and professional challenges women face and show how resilience can shine through, even in the most quiet and hidden struggles.