his week, I’m excited to share a feature about a fascinating cultural phenomenon: Alex Cooper, the host of the blockbuster sex and relationships podcast Call Her Daddy, who recently inked an exclusive deal with Spotify that’s widely reported to be valued at $60 million for three years. The podcast was previously owned by Barstool Sports, and Cooper started hosting it solo after she and her co-host, Sofia Franklyn, had a falling out over their contract terms. Since beginning what she jokingly calls the “single father era,” Cooper has taken the podcast to the next level, bringing on celebrities like Miley Cyrus for interviews and becoming Spotify’s fifth-most-popular podcast globally. Earlier this month, WSJ. staff writer Lane Florsheim sat down with Cooper for a wide-ranging conversation, touching on what she has that other podcasters don’t; why talking about sex and pleasure more openly can make women more confident; and why she’ll never do a teeth-whitening ad on Instagram. Read the full story—which was the most read across wsj.com when it was published earlier this week—below. Elsewhere in the newsletter, get travel inspiration from a story on the Maybourne Riviera, a gorgeous new hotel that’s carved into the rock face of the Côte d’Azur; read WSJ. digital editor Myles Tanzer’s take on how the Gossip Girl reboot and a spate of other new teen shows are embracing more complex (and fun!) storylines for their queer characters; and enjoy a feature on Yangban Society, a new restuarant in L.A. that’s reinventing the American deli with a range of mouthwatering dishes. Plus, don’t miss our latest installment of My Monday Morning, featuring Full Frontal host Samantha Bee, who tells us about her list-making habit and the best “normal” thing she’s done recently. Wishing you a safe and restful weekend. |