Let’s take a journey through the minds of visionaries, innovators, and game-changers with my handpicked selection of the most compelling episodes from “The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett” podcast. This groundbreaking series, hosted by the charismatic young entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, has quickly become a go-to resource for anyone seeking inspiration, practical wisdom, and raw insights into the world of business and personal development.
From intimate conversations with global titans of industry to heartfelt discussions with cultural icons, these episodes represent the cream of the crop, offering listeners a front-row seat to some of the most enlightening and transformative dialogues in podcasting. Let’s take a look at the best episodes of DOAC.
Starling Bank: Building a $1.5 Billion Business Against The Odds: Anne Boden
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Anne’s journey with Starling is a remarkable tale of resilience in fintech. After a devastating setback left her as the sole employee, she rebuilt from scratch, securing major funding within a year. Her success stems from a genuine commitment to customer welfare and industry reform, proving that ethical business can thrive against the odds.
Tony Hawk: The Man With the $1.4 Billion Name! Burnout, Obsession & Regrets
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
When you think of skateboarding, one name comes to mind: Tony Hawk. He’s the face of a billion-dollar video game franchise and has been called the Michael Jordan of skateboarding. At his peak, he dominated competitions so completely that others were just battling for second place. Before skateboarding became an Olympic sport and Tony a legend, he was an outsider in a sport for outsiders. His passion for skateboarding and drive to prove doubters wrong helped bring the sport into the mainstream. In this conversation, Tony reflects on his dedication to skateboarding, the ups and downs of his journey, and the life lessons it has taught him.
Bear Grylls: Man VS Failure, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Bear Grylls, a British adventurer and TV host, has been a global survival show icon for two decades, known for Man vs. Wild, You vs. Wild, and Running Wild. He’s also the author of over 20 books, including Mud, Sweat and Tears. Today, he joins us to talk about his latest book, Never Give Up. Bear has always seen himself as ‘resilient,’ surviving extreme challenges—from Everest to deserts—by believing he’s built for survival. But now, he reflects on the personal cost of that mindset when things don’t go as planned. His new book, written entirely by him over five years, offers new insights he’s never shared before. It was a pleasure to read and chat with him.
Richard Branson: How A Dyslexic Drop-out Built A Billion Dollar Empire
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Once told he’d either succeed or end up in prison, Sir Richard Branson now boasts a $3 billion empire and dreams beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Despite his massive success with Virgin, Branson started as a dyslexic school dropout who never saw himself as smart or business-minded. He defied convention and transformed from a novice into a visionary entrepreneur. In this insightful conversation, Richard shares the hard-earned lessons and wisdom gained from his extraordinary life. For fans of The Diary Of A CEO, this is a must-listen, offering truly life-changing insights.
Louis Theroux: “The Thing That Makes Me Great At Work, Makes Me Bad At Life!”
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
From his recent TikTok fame to his BAFTA-winning documentaries, Louis Theroux has captivated audiences with his unique style. Best known for his series “Weird Weekends” and “When Louis Met…”, he has tackled controversial topics with curiosity and openness. In this conversation, Louis reflects on how his childhood shaped his career, turning anxiety and social awkwardness into a tool for exploring human behavior. He also shares how his work has evolved, from his American breakthrough to his celebrity interviews, and how he balances it all with family life, bringing his signature honesty to the discussion.
Simon Sinek: The Number One Reason Why You’re Not Succeeding
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Simon Sinek, renowned author and speaker, is one of today’s most influential business thinkers. His bestselling books, including *Start With Why*, *Leaders Eat Last*, and *The Infinite Game*, have sold millions. In what he calls his “favorite interview,” Simon dives deep into how to lead a business with true ambition. He also challenges the idea that online vulnerability fosters genuine connection. As one of our most inspiring guests, Simon’s insights will leave you with a clearer understanding of the issues that matter most and how they impact you.
Emergency Episode: Ex-Google Officer Finally Speaks Out On The Dangers of AI! – Mo Gawdat
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Mo started his career as a systems engineer at IBM Egypt, then moved to NCR Abu Dhabi covering the non-finance sector. After seven and a half years at Microsoft, he joined Google in 2007 to lead its business in emerging markets. In 2013, he transitioned to Google X, eventually becoming its chief business officer. Mo left in 2018 to focus on the #onebillionhappy movement, aiming to make a billion people happier. He’s the author of *Solve for Happy*, *Scary Smart*, and *That Little Voice in Your Head*, and hosts the podcast *Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat*.
Dr Mike: The Hidden Side Effect of Vaping! The Dark Side of Being a Doctor! We Need To Stop Medical Misinformation!
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Known as the ‘Sexiest Doctor Alive,’ Dr. Mike’s real passion lies in combating medical misinformation. A family medicine doctor and YouTube’s top physician with over 25 million followers, he also hosts *The Checkup with Doctor Mike* podcast. In this conversation, Dr. Mike and Steven cover the flaws in popular online health trends, harmful diets, the truth about calorie counting, and the key factor that helped Dr. Mike overcome depression.
The Weight Loss Scientist: You’ve Been LIED To About Calories, Dieting & Losing Weight: Giles Yeo
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Have you tried countless diets only to regain the weight once you stop? What if weight loss isn’t about discipline, but your brain is actually wired to keep you fat? Cambridge professor Giles Yeo has spent his career studying how the brain controls body weight. He explores how our genes drive food cravings and why people have different relationships with food. In this conversation, Dr. Yeo reveals why calorie counting is flawed, why most diets are unsustainable, and how you can lose weight without sacrificing your love for food.
Strava Founder: How I Motivated 100 Million People To Stay Active: Michael Horvath
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Michael Horvath is the co-founder of Strava, a fitness-tracking app used by millions worldwide. This is his second successful business, following a thriving online venture in the 1990s. However, Michael’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. After leaving his first business, he spent years as a family man before boredom led him to start Strava. His role as a caregiver resurfaced unexpectedly when he took five years off to care for his wife until her passing, and then his children. Returning as CEO in 2020, Michael rebuilt Strava from the ground up, something he’s had to do many times before.
Doctor Gabor Mate: I Regret My Interview With Prince Harry! The Shocking Link Between Kindness & Illness
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Being nice can harm your health, while anger can be beneficial, says Dr. Gabor Mate as he explores the hidden layers of our personalities. In this episode, Steven sits down again with the world-renowned trauma and addiction expert. Dr. Mate, a physician with expertise in addiction, stress, and childhood development, spent 12 years working with patients facing addiction and mental illness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. With over 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, his books include *When the Body Says No*, *In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts*, and *The Myth of Normal*.
Yuval Noah Harari: The Urgent Warning They Hope You Ignore, “More War Is Coming”, Yuval’s Chilling Future Predictions!
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Yuval Noah Harari, a best-selling author and professor of history, has shown millions how humans have evolved, but what does our future look like? Known for his books *Sapiens*, *Homo Deus*, and *21 Lessons for the 21st Century*, Harari’s works have sold over 45 million copies in 65 languages. In this interview, he and Steven discuss how AI will transform the world, the power of language and stories, the myth of finding a “soulmate,” and the ongoing fight for human attention.
Arianna Huffington: I Was Lying In A Little Pool Of Blood! The Huffington Post, A $1 Billion ‘Flop’!
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Three world-class companies and 30 years of constant growth—Arianna Huffington stands alone. As the founder of The Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Thrive AI Health, Arianna has also authored 15 books, including *Thrive* and *The Sleep Revolution*.
In this conversation, Arianna and Steven talk about her experience with burnout, her decision to sell The Huffington Post, the importance of redefining success, and the risks posed by social media and smartphones.
Adam Grant: The Surprising New Research On Procrastination, Perfectionism & Happiness!
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Work doesn’t have to be miserable, selfishness isn’t key to success, and originality can be learned—these are just a few myths Adam Grant debunks, offering a fresh perspective. Adam Grant, a Professor of Management and Psychology at Wharton, is one of the world’s top management thinkers and a *New York Times* bestselling author of five books, including *Think Again*, *Give and Take*, and *Originals*. In this conversation, Adam and Steven discuss why star players can harm teams, how to foster originality, why character matters more than genius, and common myths about entrepreneurship and risk.
Casey Neistat (The Untold Story): “I waw a homeless dad at 15 had $200k debt!”… The Crazy Story Of How I Became the World’s No.1 Video Creator!
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
Carving your own path is one thing, but having over 3 billion people follow that path is something else—especially when you start as a 17-year-old father in a trailer park. Casey Neistat, an American YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and co-founder of the app Beme (sold to CNN in 2016), is one of YouTube’s biggest stars, with over 12 million subscribers and 3 billion views.
Rainn Wilson: “I was so unhappy during The Office!” (Dwight Schrute)
Listen on: Pod.link | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast
From a childhood in the jungle to Dunder Mifflin and stardom, meet the Rainn Wilson you don’t know. In this episode, Steven chats with actor, comedian, podcaster, and author Rainn Wilson. Best known for playing Dwight Schrute on *The Office*, Rainn was nominated for three Emmy Awards during the show’s run from 2005 to 2013. In 2008, he co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company promoting open discussions on the human experience.