Meghan Markle Set to Feature in SXSW Women’s Panel alongside Katie Couric and Brooke Shields

Meghan Markle Headlines SXSW Womens Panel with Katie Couric and Brooke Shields

Meghan Markle, Katie Couric, and Brooke Shields Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Meghan Markle, along with Katie Couric and Brooke Shields, will be speaking at South By Southwest 2024.

She has been selected as a keynote speaker for the opening day panel titled "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen," which will be presented by The Archewell Foundation and The 19th on Friday, March 8.

Meghan, who co-founded the Archewell Foundation and Archewell Productions with her husband Prince Harry, will be attending an event in Austin, Texas. She will be joined by Couric, Shields, and Nancy Wang Yuen, a sociologist and diversity equity and inclusion consultant for Peoplism.

The panel discussion, moderated by Errin Haines, host of “The Amendment” podcast and editor-at-large for The 19th, will take place on International Women’s Day. The focus of the discussion will be on how social media has created a harmful environment, particularly impacting the mental health of teenage girls.

Additionally, the panelists will be discussing "women's representation across media, entertainment, and social media," as reported by The 19th.

"Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen, and Errin Haines are the perfect finale to eight days of amazing Keynote Speakers," stated Hugh Forrest, co-president and chief programming officer of SXSW. "We are truly honored to have this distinguished group join us on International Women's Day for an important conversation on the significance of representation in media and entertainment."

Meghan inked a partnership with Lemonada Media in February. According to a source, the Duchess of Sussex is working on a new and exciting podcast. Her previous podcast, "Archetypes," was launched on Spotify in August 2022. However, it was taken down from the platform in June of the following year when the deal ended. Through her collaboration with Lemonada, Meghan will be re-releasing episodes of "Archetypes."

The insider shared that Meghan's focus for the podcast is mostly on philanthropic content. She sees herself as more academic than just entertainment-focused. The Duchess is not aiming for a celebrity-driven podcast, although there will be some guest appearances from stars.

The podcast will feature "inner reflecting" and personal stories from the former Suits actor, according to a source.

Meghan shared in a statement to We on February 13, "Supporting a female founded company with a lineup of thought-provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a great way to start 2024. Our goal is to re-release Archetypes to reach a wider audience, and we are also working on launching an exciting new podcast."

The 2024 SXSW festival will feature keynote speeches from Oscar-winning directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (also known as Daniels), as well as rock band The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney.

Other notable speakers at the festival include creatives with projects screening, such as Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate), Lilly Singh (Doin’ It), Alex Garland, Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, and Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), Colman Domingo, Paul Raci, and Clarence (Divine Eye), Maclin (Sing Sing), Pamela Adlon, Ilana Glazer, and Michelle Buteau (Babes), and Nick Kroll (I Don’t Understand You) with Conan O’Brien.

SXSW will take place in Austin from March 8-16.

Editor's P/S:

The announcement of Meghan Markle, Katie Couric, and Brooke Shields as keynote speakers at SXSW 2024 is a testament to their influence and dedication to empowering women. The panel discussion, titled "Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives," promises to be a powerful exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing women in media and society today. The focus on the harmful impact of social media on teenage girls' mental health is particularly timely, and the panelists' insights will undoubtedly be invaluable.

The article also highlights Meghan Markle's continued commitment to philanthropy and content creation through her partnership with Lemonada Media. Her re-release of "Archetypes" and the launch of a new podcast suggest that she is using her platform to engage in meaningful conversations and inspire positive change. The festival's lineup of renowned creatives and thought leaders underscores its status as a hub for innovation and cultural exchange, making it an ideal setting for these important discussions.