Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shocked the world by announcing they were stepping back as senior royals in early 2020. They have since relocated to the United States, where they live with their two children, son Archie and daughter Lilibet. Although they retained their HRH titles, they would receive no financial support from the palace as they would no longer undertake royal duties as representatives of the monarch. Their sharp criticism of the royal family’s culture was met with some opprobrium around the world, but the couple also found a lot of support.

Since settling in Montecito in Santa Barbara, California, the Sussexes have kept a low profile, although they have made appearances in a handful of royal events in London. On Aug. 23, 2022, Meghan launched her podcast “Archetype” on Spotify.

Meghan hosts the podcast that “dives into the labels that try to hold women back.” Each episode will see the duchess speak to prominent personalities to unearth “the origin of words such as ‘diva,’ ‘slut,’ ‘the B word,’ ‘hysterical,'” and “discover how these archetypes impact our everyday lives in ways big and small … and asks the question: can we change this?”

In the introductory episode, Meghan said, “These are words you hear a lot. In the media, online, in peoples’ homes. They’re thrown around casually. And they’re usually aimed at women.” She added, “It’s time to cut through the noise. We’re gonna get to the roots of these words. And understand why they persist.”

In the fourth episode of her podcast, Meghan sat down with American comedian Jenny Slate, American actress Constance Wu and Indian actress Deepika Padukone to discuss “the insidious ways’ crazy’ is used to diminish women’s credibility.” Read on to find out how the women dealt with mental health issues in their lives.

Meghan started off the episode titled “The Decoding of Crazy” with a question: “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been called crazy or hysterical or what about nuts? Insane out of your mind, completely irrational?” She then goes on to detail her abhorrence for the use of the word to stigmatize women.

“Calling someone crazy or hysterical completely dismisses their experience and minimises what they’re feeling,” Meghan said.

“It keeps going to the point where anyone who’s been labeled it enough times can be gaslit into thinking that they’re actually unwell or sometimes worse, to the point where real issues of all kinds get ignored. Well, that’s not happening today,” she continued.

Slate, meanwhile, said she instinctively knew from a young age the damaging power of the word, saying:

“Somehow I’ve known ever since I was little that, you know, to be called crazy, like th- that’s like a big, big threat, you know.”

Wu also echoed Slate’s views about how the negative connotations of the word are ingrained from a young age.

“You’re taught that ladies don’t make scenes or like if you make a scene, you’re crazy,” Wu said.

Padukone said she regretted the way society has come to view mental illness, saying, “Our mind is very much a part of our body. But somehow, when it comes to mental illness, we start treating our minds like outside of our bodies.”

In the episode, Meghan also revealed how her husband, Prince Harry, played a pivotal role in helping her address her mental health issues. She also delved into the unhealthy coping mechanisms that she needed to almost feel inured by the toxicity of palace life.

In conversation with Padukone, Meghan disclosed how Harry managed to help her at her “worst point” psychologically.

“I think at my worst point, being finally connected to someone that, you know, my husband had found a referral for me to call. And I called this woman. She didn’t know I was even calling her,” Meghan began.

“She didn’t know I was even calling her and she was checking out at the grocery store. I could hear the little beep, beep, and I was like, ‘Hi,’ I’m introducing myself and like I can literally hear her going, ‘Wait, sorry. I’m just… Who is this?’ And saying I need help. And she could hear the dire state that I was in,” the “Suits” star continued.

“But I think it’s on all of us to be really honest about what it is that you need and to not be afraid to make peace with that, to ask for it,” Meghan concluded.

While speaking with Wu, who became very emotional and teary, the duchess opened up about how she finds it difficult to express emotion, such as by crying.

“I would love to cry this much, but I’m conditioned to still have some – a different kind of composure. … I want to like feel so deeply. … the most helpful thing in the world, is being able to use your experience to help other people not be in that same position or to know that it’s okay if they were and to take the shame away from it,” Meghan explained.

Meghan then closed the episode with some words of wisdom.

“Opening up about your mental health, it can be really difficult. But, if you feel like you need to, we encourage you to do so. … Just remember, you’re not alone.”