Meghan Markle is struggling to attract A-list stars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to her new podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, highlighting the challenges she faces in building media credibility after her earlier Spotify deal ended and her efforts to reshape her post-royal public image continue to face setbacks.

Meghan Markle is no stranger to high expectations. Since stepping away from royal duties alongside Prince Harry in 2020, the Duchess of Sussex has been on a mission to redefine her identity—not as a working royal, but as a modern-day media mogul.

With her Netflix deals, her lifestyle brand in the works, and her latest podcast series, Meghan is aiming to cement herself as a serious voice in pop culture and social commentary.

But behind the polished presentations and PR-crafted narratives, a different story seems to be unfolding—one of mounting challenges and missed connections, especially when it comes to attracting the A-list company she once easily mingled with.

According to reports, Meghan has been actively trying to recruit mega-celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to appear on her newest podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, which she’s producing in partnership with Lemonada Media.

The show, said to focus on women’s leadership, empowerment, and the behind-the-scenes journeys of female entrepreneurs, was conceived as a bold new chapter after the lukewarm reception and eventual cancellation of her first podcast, Archetypes, under Spotify.

That high-profile $20 million deal ended in 2023, with both parties mutually parting ways and industry insiders hinting at creative misalignment and unmet expectations.

For Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan had ambitious plans—names like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift were on her dream list.

However, the response has been sobering. Taylor Swift, reportedly sent a handwritten letter personally penned by Meghan, declined the invitation through her representative.

The reasoning, as cited by her team, was a scheduling conflict due to her globally sold-out Eras Tour. Beyoncé’s camp, on the other hand, never responded, despite her previously public gesture of support for Meghan and Harry during their Oprah interview fallout.

These high-profile brush-offs have not gone unnoticed in the entertainment world, sparking renewed scrutiny over Meghan’s ability to transition from royalty to respected content creator.

While her initial star power and global recognition were enough to land major production deals, sustaining success in Hollywood requires more than name recognition—it demands influence, execution, and industry goodwill. And increasingly, critics suggest that Meghan may be struggling to deliver on all three.

Though Archetypes launched in 2022 with considerable fanfare and some notable guests—including Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Mindy Kaling—the series failed to maintain momentum.

Listeners noted an overreliance on Meghan’s own experiences and a tendency to veer into personal narratives rather than drawing out in-depth, journalistic interviews.

Spotify’s executive Bill Simmons even made headlines by calling the Sussexes “grifters,” implying that the couple did not produce content commensurate with their contract.

Now with Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan is attempting a course correction, aligning with Lemonada Media, a smaller but mission-driven company known for more intimate, issue-based storytelling.

The new podcast offers her another opportunity to showcase her voice and values, but its success hinges on the caliber of her guests. Without the names that draw global interest—like Swift or Beyoncé—keeping audiences engaged will be a challenge.

So far, the show has focused on up-and-coming founders, authors, and advocates—worthy guests, but not the type that create headlines or dominate social media chatter.

Some Hollywood insiders speculate that part of the problem lies in Meghan’s perceived approach to fame. While she often speaks out against the toxicity of media and celebrity culture, her persistent pursuit of high-status figures can appear contradictory.

There is also the issue of trust; many in the entertainment world are cautious about associating with figures whose personal brand comes with intense media scrutiny and political undertones.

Meghan’s critics often cite her polarizing public image as a deterrent for some celebrities who prefer to avoid controversy, no matter how well-intentioned her message may be.

Despite the setbacks, Meghan has not backed away from her goals. Her vision extends beyond podcasting into broader storytelling formats—there are rumors of future documentaries, scripted content, and even a possible memoir in the pipeline.

Alongside Prince Harry, who has focused on mental health and veterans’ issues, Meghan remains determined to use her platform for advocacy.

Her recent reemergence at SXSW, where she participated in a panel about women in media, was seen as an attempt to reestablish her position within the broader discourse around gender and leadership.

Yet, all of this unfolds within a larger context: the constant recalibration of Meghan and Harry’s post-royal identity.

With their initial burst of media deals now facing cooling interest and heightened scrutiny, the couple must now rely more on substance than spectacle to maintain relevance.

For Meghan, that means transforming her platform from a place of personal commentary to one of genuine, far-reaching influence—an outcome still very much in progress.

Ultimately, Meghan Markle’s challenges in booking top-tier talent for her podcast reflect more than a scheduling problem—they hint at the shifting sands of influence, celebrity, and credibility in a media landscape that demands both authenticity and staying power.

Whether she can overcome the silence from Hollywood’s most elite circles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the world is still watching, and Meghan isn’t done talking.