May 6, 2025: In the latest episode of her podcast Confessions of a Female Founder, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, shared personal reflections on California, entrepreneurship, and her family life with Prince Harry. Joined by Hannah Mendoza, founder of Clevr Blends—a brand Meghan has personally invested in—the conversation was filled with warmth, nostalgia, and insights into her journey as a founder and mother.
Discussing their shared love for California, Mendoza revealed she always listens to Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” when landing at LAX. Meghan responded with her own tradition: “When my plane touched down at LAX and I was going back and forth when I was filming Suits in Toronto for a long time… I would always hear Joni Mitchell’s ‘California, I’m Coming Home’ in my head, and I would just go, ‘I’m home!’”
Now settled in Montecito with Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, Meghan reflected on how she became an early investor in Mendoza’s brand. “I had never invested in something before… One of the things within a gift basket from a friend was this [Clevr Blends] product. I said, ‘Turmeric latte, just add water? Okay.’ I tried it and said, ‘Who is this person?… What is this company?’”
Describing the investment as spontaneous yet impactful, Meghan added, “It was the first and truly organic experience of looking at something and saying, ‘I want to support this.’ I was watching a lot of Shark Tank at the time. And I said, ‘This is not Shark Tank. Think of this as Dolphin Tank. These are very friendly waters.’”
Her support helped propel Clevr Blends into the spotlight—especially when she introduced the product to Oprah Winfrey. “I remember calling you and saying, ‘I just want to share it with my wonderful neighbor, Miss Oprah Winfrey.’” Oprah’s endorsement sent website traffic soaring in seconds. “I fell off my chair,” Mendoza recalled.
Meghan also highlighted the success of her own brand, As Ever, which sold out within 45 minutes of its launch in March. “When Netflix came on as my business partner… and everything sold out so quickly, that told me people believed in me and this vision,” she said. “That becomes your proof point that those late nights and the midnight musings are worth it.”
She emphasized the importance of having a supportive network of fellow founders: “Some days are harder to show up as your best and shiniest self. Maybe something painful happened in your real life, but for your team, that is not how you show up.”
In a rare role reversal, Meghan also recently appeared as a guest on The Jamie Kern Lima Show. Opening up about her family, she said, “It’s not something to be taken for granted when you have a partner who is so behind you. H, that man loves me so much.”
Describing their bond with a charming video game reference, she added, “I always think about the end of Super Mario Bros. When you get to the final, final level and they go, ‘Slay the dragon, save the princess.’ I’m like, that’s my husband.”
Whether she’s celebrating California roots, building brands, or raising a family, Meghan Markle continues to bring intention, warmth, and authenticity to everything she does.