Call Her Daddy Podcast: Host, Controversy & Why It’s So Popular

A podcast that started with two roommates chatting about sex and relationships now commands a $125 million media empire. Call Her Daddy didn’t just grow—it exploded, then fractured, then rebuilt itself into something entirely different. Here’s the full story of how it got there, from the acrimonious Barstool split to the celebrity-studded present.

Launch year: 2018 ·
Current host: Alex Cooper ·
Claim: Most listened-to podcast by women on Spotify ·
Instagram followers: 3.8 million ·
Former co-host: Sofia Franklyn ·
Distribution history: Barstool Sports (2018–2021), independent/Spotify (2021–present)

Six key data points, one pattern: Call Her Daddy has consistently traded up in platform and value, even after losing its co-founder.

What is the point of Call Her Daddy podcast?

Call Her Daddy started as a raw, unfiltered advice show. According to TIME (news magazine), the show’s early episodes focused on sex, relationships, and comedy delivered by two young women who were then roommates. The tone was confessional and explicit, designed to feel like eavesdropping on a private conversation between friends.

What topics does Call Her Daddy cover?

• Originally: sex advice, hookup stories, and comedic banter.
• After 2021 pivot: celebrity interviews, personal storytelling, and pop culture commentary.

The shift was dramatic. By 2022, episodes featured Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and Hailey Bieber — conversations that bore little resemblance to the earlier “daddy gang” lore. As Britannica (encyclopedia) describes it, the podcast “expanded to include celebrity interviews and personal stories.”

Who is the target audience?

Apple Podcasts (podcast platform) calls Call Her Daddy “the most-listened to podcast by women.” That female skew is intentional: the show’s marketing and content speak directly to millennial and Gen Z women, often framing its advice as empowerment through candor. The shift to celebrity interviews broadened that base without alienating the core.

Who hosts Call Her Daddy podcast?

The show has had two hosts, but only one survived the breakup.

Who is Alex Cooper?

Alex Cooper created Call Her Daddy alongside her then-roommate Sofia Franklyn in 2018, according to Britannica (encyclopedia). After the 2021 split, Cooper became the sole host and face of the brand. She negotiated a three-year contract with Barstool, then leveraged her following into a $60 million deal with Spotify (Variety (entertainment news)). In 2024, she moved the show to SiriusXM in a deal valued at $125 million (CNN (news network)).

Who was Sofia Franklyn?

Sofia Franklyn co-created and co-hosted the podcast from its launch until April 2021. According to TIME (news magazine), the two women believed they were underpaid during renegotiations with Barstool. Franklyn left after failing to reach a new deal, and later launched her own podcast, Sofia with an F.

What happened with the Call Her Daddy podcast?

The story of Call Her Daddy is a case study in podcasting leverage — and what happens when talent believes it’s bigger than its network.

The Barstool Sports split

In spring 2020, the show went silent. After the April 8 episode titled “Kesha… The End,” the hosts disappeared. According to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia), Cooper and Franklyn said they “legally can’t speak out yet,” sparking fan speculation. Wikipedia (open encyclopedia) notes that Barstool founder Dave Portnoy then addressed the dispute on a feed episode dated May 17, 2020, revealing that Barstool had offered a base salary of $500,000 and claimed the company was losing $100,000 per missed episode.

The legal battle between Alex Cooper and Barstool

The contract dispute centered on renegotiation while the hosts still had more than a year left on their original deal. Britannica (encyclopedia) states that the pair “renegotiated, which led to Franklyn’s departure.” Portnoy’s public comments made the fight messy: he accused the hosts of holding the company hostage. The conflict ended with Franklyn leaving and Cooper staying on as the sole host.

“We’re not going to let them hold us hostage. They think they’re bigger than the company.”

— Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder, in a 2020 podcast

The podcast’s move to Spotify exclusive

In June 2021, Cooper signed an exclusive three-year deal with Spotify worth $60 million, as reported by Variety (entertainment news). The agreement made Call Her Daddy a Spotify exclusive starting the following month. Cooper later told People (celebrity news) that she had chosen Spotify over a similar Amazon offer. In August 2024, CNN (news network) broke the news that Cooper’s brand moved to SiriusXM in a deal valued at $125 million, including exclusive advertising and distribution rights plus access to additional content and events.

What is the Call Her Daddy controversy?

Beyond the Barstool drama, the podcast has faced its share of personal and ethical controversies.

The HPV rumor and Alex Cooper’s response

In a 2022 episode, Cooper addressed rumors that she had HPV. According to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia), she denied the claim, stating: “I have never had HPV. That is a lie that was spread to try to hurt my reputation.” The rumor had circulated on social media and was amplified by podcast drama channels.

“I have never had HPV. That is a lie that was spread to try to hurt my reputation.”

— Alex Cooper, in a 2022 episode of Call Her Daddy

Criticism of the podcast’s content

Call Her Daddy has been criticized for promoting toxic relationship advice. Early episodes were seen as glorifying hookup culture without nuance. Some critics accused the show of objectifying women and exploiting sex workers for content. The show’s defenders argue it was always meant to be a comedic, irreverent space, not a therapy session.

Why is Call Her Daddy so popular?

Despite the controversies, the show’s numbers are undeniable. TIME (news magazine) reported that in its early days the podcast grew from 12,000 downloads to 2 million within two months. Today, it boasts 3.8 million Instagram followers and regularly lands top-charting episodes.

The appeal of Alex Cooper’s personality

Cooper’s candid, relatable style is a major draw. She speaks to her audience as a friend — using slang, sharing personal stories, and reacting in real time. That authenticity, whether performed or genuine, builds trust. Listeners feel they know her.

The podcast’s shift to celebrity interviews

The post-2021 format gave the show a second wind. High-profile guests like Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, and Hailey Bieber brought in new listeners who might never have tuned in for sex advice. The interview style is informal and often personal, creating viral moments that spread on TikTok and Twitter.

Effective social media marketing also played a role. Cooper and her team clip episodes for Instagram and TikTok, turning long-form conversations into snackable content. The timing aligned with a rise in female-centric podcasts, giving Call Her Daddy a first-mover advantage in a growing niche.

Why do people not like Call Her Daddy podcast?

For every fan, there is a critic. The backlash is as loud as the praise.

Criticism of the podcast’s early content

Early episodes were unapologetically focused on hookup culture. Critics argued that the show’s “advice” promoted casual sex at the expense of emotional health. Some former listeners said the content felt degrading to women — framing sex as a power game rather than a mutual experience.

Allegations of misogyny and exploitation

More serious accusations include exploiting sex workers for content and reinforcing stereotypes. The show has also been accused of misogyny in its own framing — for example, using terms like “daddy” and “daddy gang” that some find regressive.

The split with Sofia Franklyn alienated a segment of the audience. Some fans felt Cooper had “sold out” by taking the Spotify deal and abandoning the show’s raw origins. Others sided with Franklyn, viewing her exit as a principled stand against Barstool’s demands.

The arc of Call Her Daddy is a story of reinvention under pressure. What began as a low-budget sex advice show between two friends became a multi-million-dollar brand — but only after a very public breakup, a legal battle, and a complete format overhaul. For Alex Cooper, the gamble paid off: she traded a co-host and a network for creative control and a nine-figure valuation. For listeners and critics alike, the question remains whether the show’s soul survived the transformation. The implication for any media entrepreneur is clear: own your audience, choose your partner wisely, and be ready to walk away when the math no longer works.