Meghan’s next chapter – as a self-help author? How royal’s bookstore appearance revealed intriguing connections to guru Brené Brown who’s loved by Oprah

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry once said they ‘absolutely adore and love’ Texan self-help author Brené Brown – so much so, that the Duchess of Sussex included her in the September 2019 issue of British Vogue that she guest-edited.

The professor, who’s penned five New York Times bestselling books and can count A-list stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow among her fans, also featured on the couple’s first Archewell Audio podcast for Spotify.

And the links between Meghan and the popular author don’t end there; the Duchess on Saturday spoke at a bookstore co-owned by literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, who’s worked alongside Brené.

Meghan was speaking at Oprah Winfrey’s book club session at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, located just miles from where she lives in Montecito. The TV presenter is a close friend of Brené, with the pair having appeared on Oprah’s network together.

But not only do Meghan and Brené run in similar circles, it’s clear the self-help guru to the stars has become somewhat of an inspiration for Harry’s wife, who appears to be adopting some of the language and phrases used by the author.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry once said they ‘absolutely adore and love’ Texan self-help author Brené Brown (pictured)

For instance, during her tour of Colombia with the Duke of Sussex, last month, the Duchess spoke about the lessons she’s learned in life at the Afro-Descendant Women and Power: Voices of Equity summit.

With her husband in the audience, Meghan told the panel about how she’s in her ‘chapter of joy’ and linked that to gratitude. 

It’s an idea that Brené has often discussed, with the author revealing to Oprah’s website previously: ‘Joyous people are grateful people.’

The American professor added: ‘We simply cannot know joy without embracing vulnerability – and the way to do that is to focus on gratitude, not fear.’

She continued: I believe joy is a spiritual practice we have to work at. For me, that means appreciating everyday moments: a walk with my husband, fishing with my kids on the Gulf Coast. It means not living in fear of what I could lose, but softening into the moments I have.’

Meghan echoed this way of thinking during her speech when discussing how ‘we can continue to inspire and create change’.

She told the panel in Colombia: ‘From my standpoint, how I will continue to express this, both through our foundation and through being able to move through the world, I suppose, is just looking at this as my chapter of joy.

‘And the more that you are able to look at your life and really, truly, recognise that if you’re going to be grateful for your life, you have to be grateful for all aspects of it.

The professor, who’s penned five New York Times bestselling books and can count A-list stars such as Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow among her fans, also featured on the couple’s first Archewell Audio podcast for Spotify. Pictured, Meghan

Meghan was speaking at Oprah Winfrey’s book club session at Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, located just miles from where she lives in Montecito. The TV presenter is a close friend of Brené, with the pair having appeared on Oprah’s network together (pictured)

‘The parts that were opportunities of growth and may have felt very difficult as well as the parts that feel inspiring, joyful and full.’

She once again mentioned her ‘chapter of joy’ in her closing statement, telling the audience: ‘You may have noticed, my husband and I were talking about it this morning, I just really relaxed on this trip – that’s probably because it’s Colombia and you all know how to have fun.

‘There is something so liberating about being able to be yourself and be comfortable in your skin and be surrounded in a space that is excited to see you exactly the way that you are.

‘I think that is part of the chapter for me, of joy, that will hopefully continue to inspire and allow me to keep doing the work that we love to do, which is to just be of service and to see other people live their lives through that same joyful spirit.’

Another topic both Brené and the Duchess seem to agree on is setting boundaries.

During an episode of her Archetypes podcast, Meghan spoke of her frustration at ‘cowering and tiptoeing into a room’ during work situations due to the fear she could be perceived negatively.

‘I’m particular, I think a high tide raises all ships, we’re all going to succeed so let’s make sure it’s really great because it’s a shared success for everybody,’ she said.

‘But I also find myself cowering and tiptoeing into a room and – the thing I find most embarrassing – when you’re saying a sentence and the intonation goes up, like it’s a question.

‘And you’re like, ”oh my God, stop stop like whispering and tiptoeing around it.” Just say what it is that you need. 

‘You’re allowed to set a boundary. You’re allowed to be clear, it doesn’t make you demanding. It doesn’t make you difficult, it makes you clear.’

The Duchess of Sussex (pictured in Colombia in August) included her in the September 2019 issue of British Vogue that she guest-edited

And the links between Meghan and the popular author (pictured right) don’t end there; the Duchess on Saturday spoke at a bookstore co-owned by literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh (pictured centre), who’s worked alongside Brené

The mother-of-two has previously been branded ‘Duchess Difficult’ following claims about her ‘dictatorial’ behaviour and 5am emails – which allegedly prompted her aide Samantha Cohen to quit.

Other ‘broken’ royal staff told of being reduced to tears by bullying and temper tantrums. Meghan has always strenuously denied any claims of bullying.

Brené has similarly shared how setting a boundary is not a negative behaviour, explaining on Oprah.com: ‘Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. 

‘We can’t base our own worthiness on others’ approval (and this is coming from someone who spent years trying to please everyone!). Only when we believe, deep down, that we are enough can we say “Enough!”‘

Discussing similar topics isn’t their only link, the bookstore Meghan spoke at on Saturday for Oprah – close friend of Brené – is co-owned by Jennifer Rudolph Walsh.

Jennifer – previously WME’s head of worldwide literary who was thanked by Prince Harry in his book Spare, ‘for her always positive energy and soulful counsel’, according to Town & Country – has represented Oprah and Brené as clients.

Meanwhile, Meghan joined the WME stable last year as part of what experts claimed was a major relaunch following negative publicity due to Harry’s memoir and attacks on the royals in their Netflix documentary.

Her agent Ari Emanuel is a key player in the fashion industry and his wife Sarah Staudinger is the founder and designer of the luxury Staud brand, which Meghan loves.

Mr Emanuel is the chief of the talent agency WME, which represents the Sussexes’ friends Oprah and Tyler Perry, and is said to be ‘the best in the business’ when it comes to ‘corporate deals and making money’. 

Meghan’s British Vogue cover included 15 ‘trailblazers’, such as activists, artists, and fashion stars, and the issue became the publication’s fastest selling edition in history

Elsewhere, another similarity between Meghan and Brené is that both of their podcasts are now with other production companies, rather than Spotify.

Brené’s last episode for her exclusive contract with Spotify aired in 2023 and now her podcasts Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead have found a new home at the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Meanwhile, Spotify and the Sussexes’s audio production company Archewell Audio released a joint statement in 2023 saying they had ‘mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together’. 

Prince Harry’s wife announced in February that she had signed a deal with Lemonada Media, a female-founded company that wants to ‘make life suck less’.

The Duchess, who produced only one series of her podcast Archetypes for Spotify before parting ways with the company, signed with Lemonada to develop and host a new series. It’s unclear when more work will be broadcast.

In August 2020, Prince Harry revealed he and Meghan ‘absolutely adore’ Brené, who helps people ‘embrace their vulnerability’. Her online talk The Power of Vulnerability has been viewed more than 50 million times. 

Brené, a married mother of two, is known for inspirational quotes such as ‘you either walk into your own story and own your own truth or you live outside your story hustling for your worthiness’. 

On her website she writes: ‘I believe that you have to walk through vulnerability to get to courage, therefore… embrace the suck. My motto right now is: “Courage over comfort.”’

Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix; The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019

The Prince admitted Brené became a friend after he and Meghan relocated to their £11 million Californian mansion.

Speaking during an online event with members of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, the Prince spoke of his admiration for both Brené and Tristan Harris, who runs the Centre for Humane Technology, a non-profit organisation focused on the ethics of consumer technology.

He said: ‘I love the fact you’re quoting Brené Brown and also quoting Tristan Harris because they are two people we absolutely adore as well, and we know. We love them!’

This adoration for Brené was further proven when the Duchess included, as she noted, an ‘inspiring read’ from the author in the British Vogue issue she guest-edited in 2019. 

Her cover included 15 ‘trailblazers’, such as activists, artists, and fashion stars, and the issue became the publication’s fastest selling edition in history.

Brené’s article was titled: ‘”Speak Your Truth. Follow Your Wild Heart”: How Brené Brown Learned To Cope With Cruelty Online.’

Then, in 2020, Brené featured on Harry and Meghan’s first Spotify podcast, alongside the couple’s other famous friends, including Sir Elton John, Deepak Chopra and James Corden. 

The famous faces reflected on 2020 and their hopes for 2021 in the holiday special, with Harry introducing the author as ‘someone who has helped a lot of people see things more clearly this year… who we think is awesome.’

Brené has had a varied career, working as a professor, author, podcast host and self-help guru.

She has spent two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and imparts her wisdom to students, readers and listeners.

Previously struggling with addictions to smoking, alcohol and emotional eating, she has since transformed her life and now helps others.

She has penned five New York Times bestselling books and her TED Talk on The Power of Vulnerability further propelled her in the public eye, going viral with millions of views on YouTube.

Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix; The Call to Courage special debuted on the streaming service in April 2019. 

She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie.