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Bloomberg OriginalsMeghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on Life and Business Beyond the Royal Spotlight | The Circuit
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CHAPTERS
Chapter summaries
Smash burgers with a duchess: setting the tone for Meghan as a businesswoman
Over smash burgers in Santa Barbara, the host frames the episode as an attempt to understand Meghan as an entrepreneur rather than a tabloid figure. The goals and tensions are laid out: a second act in business, skepticism from the public, and the challenge of being seen on her own terms.
- •The host contrasts public narratives about Meghan with the episode’s focus on her as a businesswoman
- •Meghan and the host bond over the simple moment of eating smash burgers together
- •The episode tees up Meghan’s recent launches: a Netflix show, a podcast, and a lifestyle brand
- •Central question introduced: whether she can build an entrepreneurial “second act” despite scrutiny
Bookstore walk-through: safe spaces, parenting reads, and a Duolingo habit
The conversation moves to a bookstore Meghan describes as a meaningful place and a “safe space.” They talk about how parenting shapes what she reads and how she’s spending late-night time relearning French.
- •Meghan highlights bookstores as places for discovery and finding “your story”
- •She describes how reading is dominated by children’s and parenting books right now
- •Meghan shares that her late-night indulgence is using Duolingo to relearn French
- •The host notes Meghan’s appearance at the bookstore’s opening and asks about why it felt safe
Why Montecito feels like home and the importance of owning your story
Over coffee orders, Meghan explains what drew her family to Montecito and what daily life there enables. She emphasizes that owning your story is essential, while acknowledging how difficult it is when a public caricature takes over.
- •Meghan says Montecito offers a supportive community and a chance for a “sweet life” with school routines
- •She calls owning your story “the most important thing in the world” and says she does own hers
- •She describes the challenge of stories being told about a “caricature” that isn’t her
- •Meghan says anchoring into self-knowledge helps: you can show who you are without constant explanation
Childhood activism and identity: the 11-year-old who wrote letters
The host brings up Meghan’s childhood moment protesting a sexist ad, and Meghan connects it to the broader context of growing up in Los Angeles during a tense period. She reflects on how that experience shaped her confidence and sense that her voice could create change.
- •Meghan recalls being upset by boys’ reactions to a sexist message and deciding to write letters
- •She places the moment alongside the atmosphere in Los Angeles during the LA riots
- •Meghan describes feeling empowered that her voice could be heard before social media
- •She says her core character hasn’t changed even as different life roles bring out different sides
Relatability vs. title: authenticity, rules, and not needing to prove anything
Asked whether being relatable conflicts with being a duchess, Meghan rejects the tension and says she’s simply herself. She points to past constraints—like what she could wear and how vocal she could be—as moments that felt less authentic than her current chapter.
- •Meghan says she doesn’t feel tension trying to be relatable while being a duchess
- •She contrasts her current freedom with earlier periods where she couldn’t be as vocal
- •She uses dress rules (like wearing nude pantyhose) as an example of feeling inauthentic
- •Meghan says she’s now comfortable and doesn’t feel she needs to prove anything
Inside 'With Love, Meghan': launch-day mindset, production scale, and mixed reviews
Meghan describes being calm on launch day because the work is done and she has to let it go. She explains the extensive preparation and large crew behind the show, and responds to criticism by focusing on audience fit and her original intention: sharing herself and having fun.
- •Meghan says she’s “very zen” on launch day because she’s done what she can
- •She describes substantial prep, including testing recipes and planning around who she’s hosting
- •Meghan notes the production scale, saying the show had a crew of 80 people
- •She addresses mixed reviews by saying she knew the audience she was trying to reach and points to renewal as validation
Responding to 'trad wife' critiques: the middle ground between perfection and practicality
When the host brings up commentary about glorifying homemaking, Meghan says the framing feels odd and stresses she’s not chasing an idealized version of domestic life. She describes her own approach as thoughtful but realistic—embracing shortcuts and small touches without judging others’ choices.
- •Meghan says she hadn’t heard the “trad wives” critique and finds it odd
- •She jokes she doesn’t have time to churn butter and doesn’t think it earns a gold star
- •Meghan describes practical habits like ordering takeout and plating it beautifully
- •She emphasizes she has no judgment for trad wives and prefers finding joy in a middle ground
As Ever demand shocks: sellouts, scaling pain, and the details of making jam at volume
Meghan explains how quickly products sold out and why that’s both exciting and challenging for a new business. She describes the leap from small-batch thinking to massive purchase orders and details the painstaking work of scaling home recipes without losing quality or flavor.
- •Meghan says the rosé sold out in 44 minutes and later inventory sold out in hours
- •She calls fast sellouts a double-edged sword because it limits learnings about which products are most coveted
- •Meghan describes scaling as tedious—teaching production at a million-unit level to match home flavor
- •She highlights the “tiny nuances” involved in production decisions as the brand scales
Pricing and differentiation: affordability, keepsakes, and authenticity in a crowded celebrity market
Meghan explains how her early experiences with limited money shaped As Ever’s pricing approach. She argues that the brand should feel accessible, not unattainably aspirational, and says authenticity and price point are key differentiators even amid many celebrity products.
- •Meghan says her background influences pricing, recalling saving for specific clothing as a teen
- •She highlights the $9 jam as a “hero product” meant to be affordable and reusable as keepsake packaging
- •Meghan says authenticity and a reachable price point help the brand stand out
- •She expresses a belief that there’s room for many brands and that “a high tide raises all boats”
Why Netflix is the investor: creative control, no other backers, and a non-generic vision
Meghan describes Netflix’s role as both partner and investor, saying the platform left creative decisions with her. She explains why she chose not to raise money elsewhere for now, then outlines what she wants As Ever to feel like and how she thinks about scaling toward profitability.
- •Meghan says Netflix told her the brand is her “baby,” leaving creative and final decisions with her
- •She describes Netflix’s consumer-products capabilities and how she can green-light products after testing
- •Meghan says she has no other backers and isn’t seeking other investors at the moment
- •She outlines goals: avoid anything generic or cookie-cutter, and pursue profitability through scaling and retail partners beyond direct-to-consumer
Social media, clickbait culture, and making peace with criticism
Meghan discusses returning to Instagram as a joyful but intentional choice, while also describing how she protects herself from online negativity. She frames relentless coverage as part of an income-generating “machine,” saying many stories are about a created caricature rather than her real self.
- •Meghan says returning to Instagram wasn’t rebranding; it’s sharing the self that’s been there for a long time
- •She describes social media as a place to share joy and “play in public”
- •Meghan says she protects herself from seeing criticism and emphasizes compartmentalizing
- •She highlights the economic incentives behind clickbait and SEO-driven stories and says they often target a caricature, not her
From politics to humanity: navigating charged times and choosing when to speak
Over drinks and burgers, the conversation turns to polarization, community, and public events in Los Angeles. Meghan emphasizes maintaining values and humanity, reflects on LA’s resilience, and explains that she now makes deliberate choices about what to comment on publicly.
- •Meghan says people should hold onto values, feel safe, and remember shared humanity amid polarization
- •She describes LA as resilient and says the city’s strength in coming together isn’t new
- •Asked about past comments on Trump, Meghan says it was a different time and she’d speak if something felt necessary
- •She says she hasn’t said anything publicly on that topic since 2016 and chooses what matters to her now
Names, fashion impact, and what’s next: 'Meghan effect,' brand categories, and 'Dolphin Tank' investing
Meghan explains how her legal name and family naming conventions work and reflects that a name doesn’t change who she is. The host raises her measurable influence on products she wears; Meghan says she takes that responsibility seriously, discusses supporting smaller and female-founded brands, and shares openness to expanding As Ever while investing in founders with a “friendly water” approach.
- •Meghan says she’s the same person regardless of title and explains her legal name includes “Duchess of Sussex,” with Sussex used as a family name
- •She responds to the idea that her fashion choices can drive sales, saying it’s flattering and something she takes seriously
- •Meghan says she has used fashion intentionally to uplift smaller brands, especially female-founded designers, and appreciates being able to identify exact brands via Instagram tools
- •She says she’s open to expanding As Ever into categories like beauty or fashion, and describes her investing approach—supporting women founders and adding value beyond attention
Money lessons and motherhood: financial literacy, normalizing life for kids, and handling what they’ll read
Meghan talks about early financial habits—coupon clipping, working young, and living paycheck to paycheck as an actor—and ties that to how she spends, invests, and teaches her children. She describes trying to normalize life for her kids through hands-on parenting and values-based routines, while acknowledging they’ll eventually encounter what’s written about their family.
- •Meghan says she grew up clipping coupons, working from a young age, and valuing what she earned
- •She calls financial independence for women empowering and tied to self-reliance
- •Meghan says she and Harry normalize life for their children through participation and everyday responsibilities
- •She says she’ll tell her kids the truth in age-appropriate ways and that they also see who their parents are daily
Humphrey Yogart nostalgia, least-duchess moments, and the truth she wants people to know
The host surprises Meghan with frozen yogurt from her first job, prompting reflection on unpredictability and how life changed when she fell in love. Meghan shares how she navigates difficult moments through trusted support, and closes by naming the one truth she wants people to hold: that she’s a real person, even when public coverage becomes dehumanizing.
- •Meghan reacts to seeing Humphrey Yogart again and recalls it as her first job
- •She reflects that life can’t be predicted and mentions leaving a long-running TV path because she fell in love
- •Meghan says navigating tough situations requires trusted friends and support, especially her partner
- •She says she wants people to remember she’s a real person—a mom with longstanding friends—despite dehumanizing clickbait culture, and the segment ends with a brief exchange about the term “girl boss” versus simply being a boss
