Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Alex Cooper (podcaster)

Alexandra Cooper is an American podcaster who co-created and hosts Call Her Daddy, a weekly comedy and advice podcast. In 2021, Time called her "arguably the most successful woman in podcasting" after she signed a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify worth $60 million. Making $20 million per year made her Spotify's highest-earning female podcaster and the second-highest-paid podcaster, behind only Joe Rogan. The show was also the second-most-popular podcast globally on Spotify for 2024, behind Rogan.

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Alex Cooper
Cooper interviewed by Barstool Radio in 2023
Born
Alexandra Cooper

(1994-08-21) August 21, 1994
Newtown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materBoston University
OccupationPodcaster
Years active2018–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2024)​
Association football career
Position Midfielder
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Boston University Terriers 49 (1)

Alexandra Cooper (born August 21, 1994) is an American podcaster who co-created and hosts Call Her Daddy, a weekly comedy and advice podcast. In 2021, Time called her "arguably the most successful woman in podcasting" after she signed a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify worth $60 million.1 Making $20 million per year made her Spotify's highest-earning female podcaster and the second-highest-paid podcaster, behind only Joe Rogan.23 The show was also the second-most-popular podcast globally on Spotify for 2024, behind Rogan.4

Rolling Stone labeled her "the new generation's Barbara Walters" for frequently enlisting high-profile Hollywood talent and influential individuals in American popular culture to be guests on her podcast.5 In 2023, Cooper was named to the TIME100 Next list.6 In 2025, Cooper was named to Time magazine's inaugural "TIME100 Creators" list—appearing in the "Titans" category—for her impact as the creator and host of the Call Her Daddy podcast.7

Early life and education

Cooper was raised in Newtown, Pennsylvania,8 and is the youngest of three siblings. Her father is a TV sports producer and her mother is a psychologist.9

She attended St. Andrew's Catholic School and The Pennington School in Mercer County, New Jersey. She enrolled at Boston University in 2013, where she studied film and television and played on the school's Division I soccer team.10

Career

Barstool Sports (2017–2021)

After college, Cooper moved to New York City and worked in advertising sales. In 2018, Cooper and her roommate, Sofia Franklyn, created the Call Her Daddy podcast. One month after its first episode, it was acquired by Barstool Sports.2 The podcast rapidly increased in popularity, with downloads rising from 12,000 to 2 million in two months.11

Spotify (2021–2024)

In 2021, Cooper signed a three-year exclusive deal with Spotify worth $60 million.12 Following her public split with Franklyn, Cooper transitioned the show to an interview format where the second voice was always provided by her guests.3 The podcast amassed over 4.4 million followers on Spotify.13

Since signing with the music streaming service, Cooper "steadily grown in stature," according to Vanity Fair,14 which reported that her show became "an increasingly common forum for celebrity interviews and the leading archetype in a large ecosystem of podcasts centered on relationships and advice."14

In 2023, Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, noted Cooper's podcast helped drive engagement of younger women with the service, contributing to a surge in year-over-year monthly active users and revenue by 27% and 11%, respectively.15 Spotify data showed that guest appearances on Cooper's podcast led to dramatic spikes in musicians' streaming numbers.16 Anitta's streams rose 155%, Madison Beer's climbed 130%, John Legend's 200%, and John Mayer's 350%.16

In September 2023, Cooper started The Unwell Network, a podcast network to partner with Spotify's enterprise platform, Megaphone, for the hosting and distribution of popular podcasts. She signed Alix Earle and Madeline Argy for Hot Mess with Alix Earle and Pretty Lonesome with Madeline Argy.171819 In February 2025, it was reported that Alix Earle departed from the network.20

Cooper was a commentator and host during NBC coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympics.21

SiriusXM and Unwell expansion (2024–present)

In August 2024, Cooper signed a $125 million, three-year deal with SiriusXM which replaced Spotify as her distribution and advertising partner beginning in 2025.2223

In November 2024, Cooper announced the launch of Unwell Hydration, a beverage line produced in partnership with Nestlé and aimed at women's wellness. Introduced as an electrolyte-infused drink, it debuted exclusively at Target stores and online in the United States on January 1, 2025. Cooper stated that the drink was developed in response to a market she perceived as predominantly targeting men.2425

In June 2025, Cooper was the seventh highest-earning creator on the Forbes Top-Earning Creators list, with estimated earnings of $32 million in 2024, making her the highest-earning female creator on the list.26

In July 2025, Cooper performed "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at a Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game at Wrigley Field, a performance that was received unfavorably by the crowd.27

In October 2025, Cooper launched Unwell Creative Agency, an advertising and creative agency operating under her media company, Unwell.28 The agency positioned itself as a conduit for brands seeking to reach Gen Z audiences through podcasts, live events, and original productions. The agency secured its first reported client through a multiyear creative and media agreement with Google, involving the production of social media advertising and live event activations tied to Google’s Pixel and Android products.28

Call Her Alex documentary

In 2025, Cooper was the subject of Call Her Alex, a two-part documentary series that premiered at the Tribeca Festival before streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Directed by Ry Russo-Young, the docuseries traced Cooper's life and career from her childhood in Pennsylvania through the launch and massive success of the Call Her Daddy podcast. It featured behind-the-scenes footage of her first live tour and provided insight into the end of her professional partnership with Sofia Franklyn. The documentary also included an account of her collegiate athletic career, during which Cooper alleged she was subjected to years of sexual harassment by her former Boston University soccer coach.29

Acting debut

Cooper is slated to make her acting debut in the upcoming film adaptation of Verity (2026), in which she will appear as herself, hosting her podcast Call Her Daddy and interviewing the character Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway.30

Personal life

In 2023, Cooper became engaged to film producer Matt Kaplan. They married on April 6, 2024, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.631 In May 2026, Cooper announced that she and Kaplan were expecting their first child together.32

References

References

  1. Dockterman, Eliana (July 21, 2021). "Call Her Daddy's Alexandra Cooper Made Her Name Talking About Sex. With Her Massive Spotify Deal, She's Pushing Beyond That". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. Caruso, Skyler (August 24, 2023). "All About Alex Cooper, Host of the 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast". People. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. Serrano, Beatriz (July 2, 2023). "How podcaster Alexandra Cooper built a million-dollar empire off discussing intimacies and 'girl stuff'". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  4. "Revealed: The Top Artists, Songs, Albums, Podcasts, and Audiobooks of 2024". Spotify. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  5. Dickson, Ej (September 19, 2023). "Alex Cooper Went From Raunchy Podcaster to Gen-Z's Barbara Walters". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. "2023 TIME100 Next: Alexandra Cooper". Time. September 13, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  7. "The 100 Most Influential Creators of 2025". TIME. July 9, 2025. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  8. Sofield, Tom (August 21, 2024). "Newtown-Raised Podcaster Alex Cooper Signs $125 Million Deal". newtownpanow.com.
  9. Hennemuth, Britt (September 20, 2023). "Alex Cooper Is Taking 'Call Her Daddy' to New Heights". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  10. "Alexandra Cooper – Women's Soccer". Boston University Athletics. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  11. Lorenz, Taylor (May 19, 2020). "The 'Call Her Daddy' Feud: What Happened?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  12. Spangler, Todd (June 15, 2021). "Spotify Clinches $60M-Plus Deal With Alex Cooper for 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast, Yanking It Away From Barstool". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  13. "'Call Her Daddy' Podcast Host Alex Cooper Signs $100 Million Deal With SiriusXM". Bloomberg. August 20, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  14. Adler, Dan (November 9, 2023). "The Enrapturing Church of Alex Cooper and Call Her Daddy". Vanity Fair. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  15. Goldsmith, Jill (July 25, 2023). "Spotify Eyes Younger-Skewing Podcasts As CEO Gives Shout-Out To 'Call Her Daddy', Mum On Archewell; Q2 Subscribers Jump, Losses Widen". Deadline. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. Aswad, Jem (July 6, 2023). "Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast Brings Big Bump in Streams for Anitta, John Mayer, More". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. Huston, Caitlin (October 12, 2023). "Spotify Partners With Alex Cooper's The Unwell Network". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  18. Spangler, Todd (August 8, 2023). "'Call Her Daddy' Host Alex Cooper Launches The Unwell Network, Inks Development Deals With Influencers Alix Earle and Madeline Argy". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  19. Tingley, Anna (September 14, 2023). "TikTok Star Alix Earle Announces Podcast 'Hot Mess' for Alex Cooper's Unwell Network (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  20. Shafer, Ellise (April 22, 2025). "Alix Earle's 'Hot Mess' Podcast Dropped From Alex Cooper's Unwell Network". Variety. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  21. Steinberg, Brian (April 3, 2024). "NBC Sports Taps 'Call Her Daddy' Host Alex Cooper for Paris Olympics Parties on Peacock". Variety. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  22. Maruf, Ramishah; Wagmeister, Elizabeth (August 20, 2024). "Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Daddy' podcast signs deal with SiriusXM for $125 million". CNN. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  23. SiriusXM (August 20, 2024). "SiriusXM Inks New Multi-Year Agreement with Alex Cooper, the World's Leading Female Podcaster; "Call Her Daddy" Finds a New Home". PRNewswire. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  24. Shafiq, Saman. "'Call Her Daddy' host Alex Cooper announces new drink 'designed specifically for women'". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  25. Daniels, Colin (December 5, 2024). "Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper Launches Her First Product". Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  26. Bertoni, Steven. "Forbes Top Creators 2025—Instagramers, YouTubers & Other Digital Creators". Forbes. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  27. Alex Cooper BOOED for 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' Performance. YouTube. Entertainment Tonight. July 7, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  28. Deighton, Katie (October 6, 2025). "'Call Her Daddy' Podcaster Alex Cooper Opens an Unwell Ad Agency". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  29. Tingley, Anna (2025). "Alex Cooper's 'Call Her Alex' Documentary Sets Premiere Date on Hulu". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  30. Pinder, Jaeden (April 16, 2026). "Alex Cooper to Make Acting Debut in Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' Adaptation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  31. Macon, Alexandra (April 24, 2024). "Inside Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan's Intimate Beachside Wedding in Riviera Maya". Vogue. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  32. "Alex Cooper pregnant, expecting first baby with husband Matt Kaplan". Page Six. May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
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