How One Controversial Podcast Host Landed A $60 Million Deal

How putting yourself out there can truly pay off

Introduction

It seems like everybody is starting a podcast these days, and for a good reason. Podcasts are a great way to make great income if you take the right steps and market yourself accordingly.

The wildly popular podcast “Call Her Daddy” hosted by Alex Cooper has been heavily discussed in the media due to the sexual and somewhat vulgar nature of its topics. Many people have a strong opinion on the podcast and its host, but, Alex Cooper didn’t let other people’s opinions stop her from making it big.

Originating in 2018, the podcast and its hosts partnered with Barstool Sports, a media company run by multi-millionaire Dave Portnoy. From the start, “Call Her Daddy” climbed the charts.

The podcast skyrocketed the relevancy of barstool sports into a new sector of media. Today, the extremely popular company has locked in on the new generation of media through various endeavors.

After many ups and downs along the way, including the departure of co-host Sofia Franklin, the sex and relationship podcast has climbed to the top of the charts leading to an exclusive deal with Spotify in 2021.

This $60 million, 3-year podcast deal was one of the highest deals ever seen in the industry, only behind controversial long-time podcaster Joe Rogan, as seen below.

As a long-time listener and fan, it has been a pleasure seeing Alex Cooper blossom in the entertainment industry and create something that reaches people from all over the world.

But what makes Alex Cooper’s podcast different from the rest?

She is a marketing guru and utilized three key components of her business to make her way to the top.

Community

The “Call Her Daddy” fan base is a loyal and interactive group. Through interacting with fans via social media and asking them to participate in discussions by sending in stories, Alex Cooper has been able to create buzz around her episodes.

Through her social media presence and partnership with Barstool, Alex Cooper created merchandise with common slang that she uses in her Podcast like, “I am unwell,” and many others. This merchandise spread like a wildfire and has become a pivotal part of Alex Cooper’s business and brand identity.

She also often records the podcast, most commonly when she interviews guests which many people enjoy. It is sometimes easier to connect with someone speaking when you can see them and not just hear them. Although, she does not always do this.

Keeping up with the times

Ever since striking gold with Spotify’s exclusive deal, Alex Cooper has stepped up the show’s production quality and topic list.

She has interviewed people like Jamie Lynn Spears amid the Free Brittany movement as well as people like Emma Chamberlain, the twenty-year-old making millions with her coffee brand and online presence.

Alex Cooper has now strayed away from talking about exclusively sexual topics and has pivoted to more serious things like sexuality, mental health, and societal expectations for both women and men.

The relevancy of her topics and the people she interviews have made her content more attractive to a wider variety of people and has grown her audience dramatically.

Honesty

If you have ever listed to “Call Her Daddy” you would know that Alex Cooper and her guests do not hold back.

Between Alex Cooper opening up about her past and present experience in relationships and hook-up culture, to having her guests talk about struggles with sexuality and mental health issues, honesty is a common theme throughout each episode.

Topics like these create connections with a variety of people and have allowed Alex Cooper to broaden her fan base while still making the difference that she wants to make.

Her honesty about herself and her emotions has encapsulated a crowd that has a genuine interest in whatever she puts out into the world.

Reflection

Alex Cooper has often mentioned how this money has changed her life and she wants to be smart with her success. Just a few years ago she was on unemployment checks living in New York City, and now she was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Implementing the things you love into your business regardless of criticism is how many people reach the success that they wish to achieve, and Alex Cooper did exactly that.

There are multiple interviews of her talking about her career lessons and how she was able to turn content into a multi-million dollar empire. Building an empire from the ground up is no easy task, and I think she is an inspiration that so many people can learn from.

Here are some of her career lessons:

It is always refreshing to see great things happen to those who experienced such criticism for simply being different, it is amazing to see “Call Her Daddy” and Alex Cooper rise to the top in such a short amount of time.

“Call Her Daddy” resonates with millions of people and it seems that due to Alex Cooper’s presence and personality, the podcast won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.