Meghan Markle reflects on 'adolescent embarrassment' in first Archetypes episode since Queen's death

The Duchess of Sussex was joined by Margaret Cho and Lisa ling for the fourth episode of her Spotify podcast series

Meghan Markle reveals 'adolescent embarrassment' on podcast after Queen's death
(Image credit: Chris Jackson / Staff)

Meghan Markle kicked off her latest episode of Archetypes by sharing an embarrassing memory, which she now recalls as being a 'humbling experience.'


Meghan Markle's podcast is back after a short hiatus, much to the delight of the royal icon's devout following. 

The Duchess of Sussex paused her Spotify series, Archetypes, in light of Queen Elizabeth II's death on September 8, just before its fourth episode was due for release. Her first three podcasts saw her joined by Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Mindy Kaling, respectively. 

With the royal period of mourning officially over, the 41-year-old has resumed regular programming and dropped the highly-anticipated fourth installment of the feminist series. 

Meghan's latest episode sees the former Suits star joined by US comedian Margaret Cho and US journalist Lisa Ling to discuss 'The Demystification of the Dragon Lady'. The episode covers a wide range of issues, including the 'toxic' stereotyping of East Asian descent in mainstream entertainment. 

"It’s kind of like evil queen adjacent but it’s also pinned to this idea that Asian-ness is an inherent threat," said Cho, referring to the 'Dragon Lady' trope. "That our foreignness is somehow going to get you."

Lisa Ling Margaret Cho

Lisa Ling and Margaret Cho 

(Image credit: Getty)

At the beginning of the episode, Meghan shares a vivid memory of her own experiences with East Asian culture as a child growing up in the United States. 

After reminiscing on her "weekends spent in Little Tokyo" and joining her friend, Kristina Wong, for dinner at a "local Chinese restaurant", the duchess recalls her frequent trips to the Korean spa with her mother, Doria. It was here that Meghan experienced an "adolescent embarrassment", which she now calls "humbling." 

Meg

Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria 

(Image credit: Getty)

"It's a very humbling experience for a girl going through puberty because you enter a room with women from ages 9 to maybe, 90, all walking around naked and waiting for a body scrub on one of these tables that are all lined up in a row," she recalls. 

"All I wanted was a bathing suit, which you're not allowed." 

After enduring the "adolescent embarrassment," Meghan and her mother would go upstairs and enjoy "a steaming bowl of the most delicious noodles." 

"We look around at all these other women, these beautiful Korean women who had embraced the generational tradition of the jjimjilbang," she remembers. 

The duchess goes on to admit she was unaware, at the time, of the stigmas and archetypes that so many women of Asian descent have been enduring in American culture throughout history. 

 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.