Meghan's podcast producer leaves role days after Archewell chief resigns

Meghan Markle's podcast producer has quit her role, making her the second Archewell employee to leave the company in the past week.

Rebecca Sananès, who was in charge of controversy-stirring Spotify podcast Archetypes With Meghan, is moving on after just over a year at the foundation with plans to launch her own project, sources tell Page Six.

As head of audio, she was instrumental in the creation of the Duchess of Sussex's podcast, the first season of which has now come to an end.

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It's yet to be announced whether there will be a second season of Archetypes, but Page Six was told if there is, the show's current main producer, Terry Wood, would helm the podcast.

Sananès was hired by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in July 2021 having previously worked for Vox Media and New York Magazine's Pivot podcast, hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway.

She joined Archewell in August 2021 and reported to Ben Browning, Archewell's head of content.

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On October 7, Sananès wrote on Instagram: "The podcast industry is severely undervaluing and under crediting the INCREDIBLY talented and hardworking producers and sound engineers behind your favorite shows. There are fewer and fewer opportunities for creators and it is stifling the industry creatively and financially."

She later edited the post to add: "TO BE CLEAR this isn't about me or my current position. It's an observation of the state of podcasting as a whole."

Whether Harry and Meghan will continue their deal with Spotify is unclear, but one industry source told Page Six: "I think they would be happy if their contracts with Netflix and Spotify went away, quite honestly. But the question is then, how else will they make money?"

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A replacement has already been hired, with Serena Regan – who was head of podcasts at Cadence 13 and bills herself as a media executive with wide experience of programing for a female audience – taking over the role.

The news comes days after it was announced Mandana Dayani, who has run Archewell for less than 18 months, had stepped down from her role by mutual agreement, and will not be replaced.

In a statement, Archewell said, "Ms. Dayani was brought on during [the Sussexes'] parental leave to move the company and its projects forward.

"Her transition was mutually planned, with intent for The Duke and Duchess to now take full lead of their company.

"There will be no replacement for this position, and Ms. Dayani is fully supportive of The Duke and Duchess in their new leadership roles, and they remain friends."