15 must-watch episodes featuring world-class female guests on confidence, careers, relationships, health, and building a life on your own terms.
While The Diary of a CEO has always attracted a broad audience, some of its most powerful episodes feature women sharing raw, unfiltered wisdom about navigating careers, relationships, health, and self-worth in a world that often sends mixed messages.
Steven Bartlett has interviewed female entrepreneurs, psychologists, scientists, authors, and public figures — and many of these conversations have become the most-watched episodes on the channel. This isn't a "women's section" of the podcast. These are some of the best episodes, period — and they happen to address topics that women frequently search for.
We've organized the top 15 episodes into categories so you can jump straight to what matters most to you right now.
of The Diary of a CEO's audience is female — and growing. Many of the podcast's most viral clips feature female guests.
Mel Robbins' episodes on The Diary of a CEO are among the most-watched in the show's history — and for good reason. Her "Let Them Theory" has become a viral framework for setting boundaries and reclaiming your peace: Let them misunderstand you. Let them talk. Let them leave. And let yourself be free.
The 5-Second Rule is equally powerful: when hesitation strikes, count 5-4-3-2-1 and act. Robbins explains why women specifically struggle with "action paralysis" — socialized to seek permission, to be perfect, to wait for the right moment. The right moment, she argues, is always now.
"You're not a procrastinator. You have a habit of procrastinating. There's a difference. One is identity. The other is a behaviour you can change."
Bren— Brown's research on vulnerability, shame, and courage has changed how millions of people think about strength. On The Diary of a CEO, she went deeper than her TED talks, exploring the specific ways shame manifests differently for women ("be perfect, be thin, be nice, make it look effortless") versus men ("don't be weak").
Her core message: vulnerability is not weakness — it's the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and connection. You cannot selectively numb emotions. If you numb the hard feelings, you numb joy too.
Marisa Peer's episode is one of the most emotionally intense in DOAC history. Her central thesis: every problem — overeating, under-earning, toxic relationships, self-sabotage — traces back to one belief: "I am not enough." The solution is equally simple (though not easy): install the opposite belief.
Peer's techniques for building self-worth include writing "I Am Enough" on mirrors, phone screens, and notebooks — not as affirmation theater, but as a pattern interrupt for the inner critic. She shares case studies of clients who transformed their careers and relationships by addressing this single core belief.
"The biggest disease affecting humanity is the belief 'I'm not enough.' It's behind every addiction, every unhappy relationship, every career that stalls."
Molly-Mae's episodes on The Diary of a CEO are consistently among the most-watched. What makes them remarkable is her honesty about the reality behind the Instagram perfection — the trolling, the self-doubt, the pressure of building a brand while being constantly judged.
Her business insights are genuinely impressive: how she negotiated her role at PrettyLittleThing, how she built Filter from scratch, and why she believes the creator economy has permanently changed what career success looks like for young women.
Sara Davies built a multi-million pound business from her university dorm room, became the youngest Dragon in BBC history, and did it all while raising two young children. Her episode is a masterclass in what's possible when you stop asking for permission.
She's brutally honest about the guilt that comes with being an ambitious mother, the moments she nearly quit, and why she believes women need to stop apologizing for wanting more.
Dr. Tara Swart bridges the gap between neuroscience and personal development. On The Diary of a CEO, she explained the brain science behind visualization, intuition, and decision-making — giving scientific credibility to practices often dismissed as "woo."
Her insights on why women should trust their intuition more (it's literally your brain processing more data than your conscious mind can handle) and how to "rewire" limiting beliefs through neuroplasticity are game-changing for any woman navigating a career transition.
Matthew Hussey's Diary of a CEO episode is one of the most-shared among female listeners. His approach to dating flips the traditional script: instead of asking "how do I attract the right person?", ask "am I being the right person?"
Key insights include why "playing it cool" backfires, how to set standards without being rigid, and the three questions every woman should ask before committing to a relationship. His advice is practical, respectful, and refreshingly free of manipulation tactics.
"Your standards don't need to be lowered. Your confidence needs to be raised. When you know your worth, you stop chasing people who don't."
Esther Perel is arguably the world's foremost expert on modern relationships. Her Diary of a CEO episode explored why desire fades in long-term relationships (and how to reignite it), the difference between "stable love" and "passionate love," and why many women lose themselves in relationships.
Her framework for understanding your "relationship blueprint" — the patterns you learned in childhood that unconsciously guide your adult partnerships — is one of the most practical tools in any DOAC episode.
Dr. Julie Smith's book was one of the bestselling mental health books in history, and her Diary of a CEO appearance delivered the same combination of warmth and practical expertise. She addresses the "comparison trap" that social media amplifies, seasonal depression, and why so many women in their late 20s and 30s experience a sudden identity crisis.
Dr. Mindy Pelz's episode was a wake-up call for millions of women who've been following health advice designed for men. Her key message: women's bodies respond differently to fasting, exercise, and diet depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle — and ignoring this leads to hormonal disruption, fatigue, and weight gain.
She provides a practical framework for "cycle syncing" — aligning your diet, exercise, and work schedule with your hormonal phases for maximum energy and results.
Dr. Haver's episode broke taboos and broke records. Her frank discussion of perimenopause (which can begin in your late 30s), hormone replacement therapy, and why women's health has been systematically under-researched is essential viewing for every woman over 30 — and every man who loves one.
She explains why symptoms like brain fog, anxiety, weight gain, and insomnia in your 40s might not be "stress" — they might be hormonal shifts that are treatable, if you know what to ask for.
While not exclusively focused on women's health, Dr. Chatterjee's episodes address issues that disproportionately affect women: chronic stress, autoimmune conditions, gut health, and the pressure to "do it all." His gentle, non-judgmental approach to health makes this episode feel like a conversation with the GP you wish you had.
Dr. Gabor Maté's episode is one of the most profound conversations in Diary of a CEO history. His explanation of how childhood trauma shapes adult behaviour — from people-pleasing to perfectionism to chronic illness — has helped millions of women understand patterns they've carried for decades without knowing why.
"The question isn't 'why the addiction?' The question is 'why the pain?' When you understand the pain, the addiction makes perfect sense."
While Maté's work applies to everyone, his insights on how women specifically suppress their needs to maintain relationships (what he calls "authenticity vs. attachment") is particularly powerful.
Jay Shetty's Diary of a CEO episode is a masterclass in finding purpose and letting go of external validation. His framework for discovering what you're meant to do — based on the intersection of your passions, skills, and the world's needs — is practical and deeply reassuring for anyone feeling stuck.
Dr. Conti's episode goes deep into the unconscious patterns that drive our behaviour. His explanation of how trauma creates "defence structures" — the walls we build that once protected us but now limit us — is eye-opening. For women who've experienced difficult relationships, childhood instability, or any form of abuse, this episode provides a framework for understanding and healing.
After watching all 15 of these episodes, several themes emerge that apply to every woman, regardless of where she is in life:
With 15 episodes to watch, here's our suggested approach:
For complete summaries, key quotes, and actionable takeaways from every episode mentioned above, visit diaryofceo.online.
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Join the Newsletter →Absolutely. While Steven Bartlett's podcast covers a broad range of topics, many of its most popular episodes feature female guests discussing confidence, career, relationships, health, and personal growth. Over 40% of the podcast's audience is female, and episodes with guests like Mel Robbins, Bren— Brown, and Molly-Mae Hague are among the most-watched on the channel.
The most popular female guests include Mel Robbins, Bren— Brown, Molly-Mae Hague, Marisa Peer, Dr. Julie Smith, Dr. Tara Swart, Esther Perel, Dr. Mindy Pelz, and Sara Davies. Each brings unique expertise in psychology, business, health, or relationships.
The best episodes for building confidence are Mel Robbins (The 5-Second Rule and Let Them Theory), Marisa Peer ("I Am Enough"), Bren— Brown (Vulnerability as Courage), and Matthew Hussey (Dating Confidence). For full summaries, visit diaryofceo.online.
Yes — standout episodes include Dr. Mary Claire Haver on menopause and hormones, Dr. Mindy Pelz on fasting and cycle syncing, and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee on stress and gut health. These episodes specifically address how health advice differs for women and provide practical protocols.
Several of the most-watched episodes feature female guests, including Mel Robbins, Molly-Mae Hague, and Bren— Brown. For a complete ranking of the most popular episodes, visit diaryofceo.online.