Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, had an interesting week with the audio streaming giant Spotify. After the announcement that Spotify has ended its million-dollar deal with the royal couple due to the latter’s low productivity, leading Spotify executive Bill Simmons took to his own podcast to brand the pair as “f***ing grifters.” Now, news has emerged that the company’s executives had axed Prince Harry’s podcast on childhood trauma.
According to the news outlet Bloomberg, Prince Harry’s podcast pitch horrified Spotify bosses after he relayed it in the hope that it was a captivating and thought-provoking podcast concept. He wanted to interview influential figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin, ex-US President and businessman Donald Trump, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The focus of these conversations would be on delving into their respective “childhood trauma,” shedding light on formative experiences that may have shaped their lives—personally and professionally. This collaborative effort aimed to not only captivate audiences but also stimulate meaningful conversations about personal histories and their potential impact on global leaders.
However, Prince Harry’s podcast idea ran into hot water because of negative public perception of his potential controversial podcast guests. Trump stands impeached and indicted, Putin is in the middle of a war with Ukraine, and Zuckerberg is embroiled in data breach lawsuits.
The Duke of Sussex apparently also considered another podcast concept, focusing on the theme of fatherhood. In this proposed show, he expressed a desire to interview Pope Francis, although the Pope does not have any biological children. Since no podcast hosted by Prince Harry has been made public, it seems that his ideas for the podcast series may have been rejected or not pursued further.
Much like his famous sister-in-law The Princess of Wales’s work on mental health in the early childhood years, Prince Harry has elaborately occupied himself with the topic of “childhood trauma“.
Whether it’s his interviews, Netflix documentary “Harry And Meghan,” or the autobiography “Spare,” the royal is known to talk openly about “genetic pain,” childhood trauma, and grief. Prince Harry’s podcast on childhood trauma, had it materialized, would have been the latest installment of his exploration of these series mental health issues.
Despite, Prince Harry’s Spotify podcast controversy, his involvement aligns with his commitment to promoting mental health and raising awareness about the importance of open conversations on sensitive topics.
By exploring the childhood traumas of prominent figures, he aims to create a space where vulnerability and authenticity can shine, allowing for a deeper understanding of the human condition.