It's easy to dismiss her, but you should know about the cult of Alex Cooper.

Whether you know who she is or not, there's no way you haven't heard the name Alex Cooper, or her history-making podcast Call Her Daddy.

The podcast empress has just released her first documentary, Call Her Alex, which has already stirred headlines.

For example, in the two-part special, she alleged that during her time as a student-athlete at Boston University, she was sexually harassed by her former women's soccer coach, Nancy Feldman.

In her first documentary, Cooper is as unfiltered as ever, a trait that has attracted a legion of cult-like fans from around the world.

The podcast network founder and businesswoman is considered by many as 'Gen Z's Barbara Walters', beloved for her candid and laid-back interview style that makes it feels like the interviewee is having a casual catch-up with their bestie.

Watch Alex Cooper interview Cole Sprouse. Post continues after video.

Despite her inarguable success, she's still often dismissed as "just another influencer" by many. But despite what some of her detractors might say, there's no denying that Alex Cooper has cultivated one hell of a powerful community.

From a small-town Pennsylvania athlete to the creator of a multi-million-dollar podcast empire and becoming the highest-paid female podcaster in the world — this is the story of Alex Cooper.

Alex Cooper's early years and the start of Call Her Daddy.

Born on August 21, 1994, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Alex Cooper grew up in a sports-loving family — her father was a television sports producer and her mother a psychologist.

She attended The Pennington School and then Boston University, where she played soccer and majored in film and television.

After graduating, Cooper moved to New York City, initially working in advertising sales while dreaming of a career in content production.

The pivotal moment came in 2018 when Cooper and her then-roommate, Sofia Franklyn, launched the Call Her Daddy podcast.

The show's candid, unfiltered conversations about sex, dating, and relationships, or what Cooper referred to as "female locker-room talk", quickly resonated with young women tired of male-dominated shows and conventional advice columns.

Within a month, Barstool Sports acquired the podcast, propelling it from 12,000 to two million downloads in just two months.

Call Her Daddy originally had two hosts. Image: Instagram/@sofiafranklyn.

The show's raw, irreverent approach, coupled with Cooper's knack for vulnerability and humour, made it a cultural phenomenon.

But the partnership — and friendship — between Cooper and Franklyn, co-creators and original co-hosts of Call Her Daddy, unravelled dramatically in 2020.

The turning point came when the podcast's explosive popularity led both women to seek a better deal from Barstool Sports' Dave Portnoy. He agreed that if they stayed with Barstool for one more year, they would gain full ownership of the Call Her Daddy IP.

Cooper wanted to accept the offer, believing it was the best way to secure their creative future. Franklyn was not convinced and left the show.

Call Her Daddy becomes one of the biggest podcasts in the world.

Cooper rebranded the show as a solo venture, expanding its focus to include mental health, self-empowerment, and wide-spanning interviews with high-profile guests.

Some of the most talked-about episodes include interviews with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, Miley Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, Paris Hilton, Gwyneth Paltrow and Zayn Malik.

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A post shared by Alex Cooper (@alexandracooper)

In 2021, Cooper signed an exclusive three-year deal with Spotify worth $60 million USD, making her the highest-earning female podcaster and second only to Joe Rogan globally. The show has since amassed over 4.4 million Spotify followers and regularly features in the platform's top charts.

The growth of the podcast was galvanised by Cooper's growing social media presence. On Instagram, she boasts around 3.4 million followers. Her content blends lifestyle shots with behind-the-scenes moments from Call Her Daddy, brand collaborations, and personal updates.

This includes her relationship with film producer Matt Kaplan. The couple's love story began in July 2020, when they met via a Zoom call during the pandemic, and they started dating later that year.

On April 6, 2024, the couple got married in a beachside ceremony along the Riviera Maya in Mexico.

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Along with Instagram, Cooper also maintains a significant following on TikTok and, to a lesser extent, X (formerly Twitter), further amplifying her influence across her Gen Z and millennial audience.

By 2024, Cooper moved the show to SiriusXM with a $125 million USD multi-year deal.

"I started making content when I was five years old. I wasn't hoping for a paycheck. I just wanted my friends to feel something from the videos I was showing them," she told The Hollywood Reporter in a 2024 profile.

"I think it's incredible that the money has come, but I chose Sirius because there is a lot of opportunity to go to different places and grow Call Her Daddy into something bigger."

Alex Cooper expands by launching the Unwell Network and her own documentary.

Never one to rest on her laurels, Cooper launched The Unwell Network in 2023 — a podcast network designed to amplify diverse voices and cater to Gen Z and millennial audiences.

The network quickly signed major talents like Harry Jowsey, Alix Earle (who has since departed) and Madeline Argy, with shows such as Boyfriend Material, Hot Mess and Pretty Lonesome debuting at the top of the podcast charts.

The Unwell Network now serves as an umbrella for a growing roster of creators, positioning Cooper as not just a podcast host but a media mogul in her own right.

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In 2025, her docuseries Call Her Alex debuted on Hulu (Disney+ for Australians), offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process and the challenges she's faced along the way.

Alex Cooper's meteoric rise and rise is one that's hard to comprehend.

She transformed Call Her Daddy from a cheeky side hustle into a global movement while breaking taboos around sex, relationships, and mental health.

In doing so, Cooper has paved the way for a new generation of women in media, who can now aspire to hold positions historically filled by ageing men.

"I'll see young girls now start a podcast where I'm like, 'Oh my God, that sounds exactly like original Call Her Daddy.' It's very cool to see things I've thought of transcend past me," she told The Hollywood Reporter.

"There's no point in comparing myself to Joe Rogan or Howard Stern. I don't want to be them."

Feature image: Getty.