Podcast Host Reveals Why She Turned Down Interview with Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle visits Australia — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Australian presenter and podcast co-host, Jackie O, turned down the opportunity to interview Meghan Markle on her upcoming visit to Australia. Instead, Jackie O’s former podcast co-host, Gemma O’Neill, will interview the Duchess of Sussex at an “ultimate girls’ weekend” event.

“I keep having to pinch myself that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is coming to sit down with me,” Gemma O’Neill told News.com.au. “I’m just a mum from Sydney with a podcast that started as a passion for those trying to live their best lives.” O’Neill hosts the "Her Best Life" podcast, which recently announced a weekend retreat “that fills your cup and reminds you how powerful women are when we come together.” The three-day event invites members of the podcast community to “bring your bestie, come solo, or gather your girls.”

Meghan Markle headlines the Her Best Life retreat — The "Her Best Life" podcast retreat shared this poster for the event.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 16: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet a Koala called Ruby during a visit to Taronga Zoo on October 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski - Pool/Getty Images) — Meghan and Harry visited Australia on behalf of the Royal Family in 2018.

Following the announcement that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will travel to Australia “to take part in a number of private, business and philanthropic engagements,” "Her Best Life" podcast shared that they are “beyond excited to announce that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex will be joining us as the special guest at the "Her Best Life" Retreat!” The retreat will host 300 women and VIP tickets—which feature the most face-time with Meghan herself—cost $2,285 per person to attend.

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“It’s surreal, but I think the whole weekend is going to be pretty special and I’m incredibly excited for our "Her Best Life" community,” O’Neill said to podcast listeners. Her former co-host, Jackie O, stepped away from the podcast earlier this year amidst changes in her professional life. When Gemma O’Neill got the call about Meghan Markle’s interview, she “tried to beg” her former co-host to join her and return for the special event.

“She was adamant, ‘you need to do this yourself, and this is meant to be you’,” O’Neill revealed.

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Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.