Alex Cooper, the creator and host behind Spotify’s hit sex and relationships podcast Call Her Daddy, is launching her own creator network, according to Deadline.
The Unwell Network is a subsidiary of Cooper’s media venture Trending, which develops scripted and unscripted content targeted at Gen Z audiences as well as touring events and launching other projects. Cooper launched the venture in June with her fiance, founder and CEO of ACE Entertainment, Matt Kaplan.
“I have an uncommon and amazing relationship with my audience. We have this connection and bond built upon trust that’s allowed us to cover all sorts of topics in a way that isn’t exclusive or intrusive,” Cooper told Deadline. “We live in a world where we are inundated with content, but The Unwell Network will be the source everyone can go to for unique perspectives exploring what’s top of mind today for this generation.”
Viral TikTok stars Madeline Argy (6 million followers) and Alix Earle (8.5 million followers) are the first partners to sign with The Unwell Network, which will focus on content across a variety of mediums, according to reports. Former Studio71 senior director of podcast operations Moorea Mongelli will also head the network as president, and will work with Argy, Earle, and other hosts to create long-form content.
Mongell’s experience at global media company Studio71 includes working across hit series featuring big-name talent including The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya, and Violating Community Guidelines with Brittany Broski and Sarah Schauer. Her responsibilities at The Unwell Network will include signing, developing, launching, distributing, monetising, and marketing all podcasts.
“I’m thrilled to launch the Unwell Network with Alex and Matt,” said Mongelli. “We’ve curated a slate of hosts we know will transform long form content as we know it. Our team is delighted to bring the Gen Z audience content tailored just for them. I’m ready to get my hands dirty and maximise our audience and revenue through carefully calculated marketing, development, and monetisation.”
Cooper’s podcast Call Her Daddy was the second most popular podcast on Spotify globally, according to last year’s annual Spotify Wrapped figures, behind The Joe Rogan Experience. The podcast signed a multiyear agreement with Spotify in 2021 to bring the show exclusively to the Spotify platform.
The podcast has also been praised for its use of video, with clips often going viral across social media channels. Similarly, YouTuber Emma Chamberlain also introduced video for her podcast Anything Goes after signing with Spotify which, according to Spotify head of US studios and video Julie McNamara, “doubled her listenership” in approximately three months.
