Challenges for Alex Cooper’s Podcast Empire

Alex Cooper, the host of the widely recognized podcast please call her dad, is reportedly navigating tough times amid ongoing internal rifts within her company.

A detailed report from Bloomberg indicated that Cooper’s business has faced significant issues recently. These include high employee turnover, numerous consecutive show appearances, and tensions between staff and her husband, Matt Kaplan, who is also the co-CEO. Sources familiar with the company’s management shared these insights.

Cooper and Kaplan are known for producing a variety of films and TV shows, including projects for Netflix, notably the To All the Boys franchise. Together, they established Trending, an umbrella company that encompasses their expanding business endeavors. Initially, this included Cooper’s Unwell Network, which offers a range of lifestyle podcasts, as well as Kaplan’s ACE Entertainment. Their aim was to reach out to Gen Z women, communicating directly with this audience and creating content tailored to their interests.

As the business grew to encompass live events, TV series, creative agencies, and physical products, Cooper and Kaplan began hiring a significant number of employees. Many were young individuals who admired Cooper and were excited to contribute to her company’s vibrant environment.

Both Cooper and Kaplan promoted a workplace ethos of “work hard, play hard,” while also emphasizing a “positive and safe” environment. However, some employees, speaking anonymously to Bloomberg, revealed that Cooper does not engage much in daily operations, leaving most responsibilities to her husband. Reports suggest that Kaplan has a reputation for raising his voice at staff, with some claiming his behavior had become so troubling that he once threatened to quit.

In one instance during the project Winter Games, Kaplan allegedly threatened to blacklist an employee from Hollywood, leading to a longtime staff member becoming visibly upset. This incident prompted some employees to file formal complaints, urging Kaplan to modify his conduct. Issues surrounding this were hinted at in a 2025 Hulu documentary titled call her alex.

Bloomberg further noted that the Unwell Network has seen several senior executives exit over the past year. Notable departures include the head of brand marketing, the head of network (the second to leave in three years), and the chief growth officer. Currently, Unwell employs around 100 people, but at least 20 individuals have signaled on LinkedIn that they plan to resign in 2025 and 2026.