Everything you need to know about the podcast that millions of people call their weekly education.
Diary of a CEO (often abbreviated as DOAC) is a long-form interview podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, a British-Nigerian entrepreneur, author, and investor. Launched in 2017, it has grown from a niche business podcast into one of the most listened-to podcasts in the world, with over 450 episodes and millions of downloads every week.
The podcast features in-depth conversations — typically lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours — with a diverse range of guests including entrepreneurs, neuroscientists, psychologists, athletes, authors, and cultural figures. Unlike many interview-style podcasts that skim the surface, Diary of a CEO is known for going deep into the personal stories, failures, and mental models of its guests.
The name "Diary of a CEO" reflects the show's original premise: Steven Bartlett documenting his journey as a young CEO, sharing the lessons he was learning in real time. As the show evolved, it expanded far beyond business into health, relationships, psychology, and personal development — while retaining its honest, diary-like intimacy.
"I started this podcast because I wanted to have the conversations I wished I'd heard when I was 18, broke, and trying to figure out my life." — Steven Bartlett
Steven Bartlett is one of the most recognised entrepreneurs of his generation. Born in Botswana to a Nigerian mother and British father, he grew up in Plymouth, England, and dropped out of university at 18 to build his first company.
What makes Bartlett unique as a podcast host is that he's not a journalist or media personality — he's an active entrepreneur and investor who brings genuine operational experience to his conversations. When he interviews a founder about scaling challenges, he's lived those challenges himself. This authenticity is a major reason the podcast resonates with its audience.
The podcast consistently ranks in the top 10 globally on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. On YouTube, individual episodes regularly exceed 5 million views, with the most popular episodes reaching 20-30 million views. The show has been the #1 podcast in the UK multiple times and frequently charts in the top 5 in the United States, Australia, and across Europe.
Each Diary of a CEO episode follows a distinctive format that sets it apart from other interview podcasts:
This format creates an atmosphere more like a private conversation than a traditional interview, which is why listeners often describe feeling like they're eavesdropping on an incredibly honest conversation between friends.
While Diary of a CEO started as a business and entrepreneurship podcast, it has expanded into a wide range of topics. Here are the main categories:
| Category | Topics Covered | Notable Guests |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Entrepreneurship | Startups, scaling, marketing, fundraising, leadership | Alex Hormozi, Sara Blakely, Gary Vaynerchuk |
| Health & Fitness | Nutrition, sleep, exercise, gut health, longevity | Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Matthew Walker, Dr. Tim Spector |
| Psychology & Mindset | Habits, motivation, confidence, mental health, therapy | Dr. Julie Smith, Jay Shetty, Mo Gawdat |
| Relationships & Dating | Attachment styles, communication, love, breakups | Matthew Hussey, Esther Perel, Dr. Ramani |
| Money & Wealth | Investing, financial freedom, wealth mindset, economics | Morgan Housel, Robert Kiyosaki, Codie Sanchez |
| Science & Technology | Neuroscience, AI, biology, space, the future | Chris Hadfield, Hannah Fry, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee |
| Culture & Society | Social media, politics, identity, purpose, spirituality | Russell Brand, Bear Grylls, Louis Theroux |
This breadth is part of what makes the podcast appealing to such a wide audience — you might tune in for a business episode and discover a life-changing conversation about gut health or attachment theory.
Diary of a CEO has featured an extraordinary range of guests. Some of the most notable include:
For a complete list with episode summaries, visit the full episode archive on diaryofceo.online.
Several factors have contributed to the podcast's explosive growth:
In an era of carefully curated content, DOAC stands out for its raw honesty. Guests cry, admit failures, and share stories they've never told publicly. Steven Bartlett himself is open about his struggles with mental health, imposter syndrome, and the loneliness of entrepreneurship. This vulnerability creates genuine connection with the audience.
Many podcasts leave you feeling motivated but empty-handed. Diary of a CEO consistently delivers specific frameworks, habits, and strategies that listeners can apply immediately. Whether it's a neuroscientist explaining optimal sleep protocols or an entrepreneur breaking down their pricing strategy, there's always something concrete to take away.
By covering everything from business to health to relationships, DOAC attracts listeners who might never seek out a traditional business podcast. A 25-year-old woman searching for relationship advice might discover an episode about entrepreneurship — and vice versa. This cross-pollination of topics keeps the audience growing.
While most podcasts treat YouTube as an afterthought, Bartlett invested heavily in video from the beginning. High-quality clips from episodes routinely go viral on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, acting as a constant funnel for new listeners. Some clips have been viewed over 100 million times across platforms.
As a Dragons' Den investor, bestselling author, and active social media personality, Bartlett brings his own audience to every episode. His credibility as a successful entrepreneur — not just a podcast host — adds weight to the conversations and attracts high-calibre guests.
Too busy to listen to every episode? We break down the key takeaways from Diary of a CEO into a 5-minute weekly email — free and actionable.
Diary of a CEO is available on every major podcast platform:
New episodes are typically released weekly, with occasional bonus episodes and conversations. The YouTube channel also publishes shorter clips and highlight reels throughout the week.
With 450+ episodes, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Here are our recommendations based on your interests:
Start with our curated list of the 10 best Diary of a CEO episodes for entrepreneurs. Top picks include Alex Hormozi on building $100M businesses, Sara Blakely on failure and resilience, and Daniel Priestley's entrepreneur roadmap.
Check out our guide to the best health episodes. Dr. Andrew Huberman on neuroscience, Dr. Matthew Walker on sleep, and Dr. Tim Spector on gut health are all excellent starting points.
Browse the best money and business episodes. Morgan Housel on the psychology of money and Codie Sanchez on building wealth through boring businesses are particularly popular.
See our best mindset episodes. Simon Sinek on leadership, Jay Shetty on purpose, and Chris Williamson on discipline are great places to begin.
Or browse the complete episode archive to find topics and guests that interest you most.
Each Diary of a CEO episode is about 1.5 hours long. With 450+ episodes, that's nearly 700 hours of content — impossible for most people to listen to in full. That's why diaryofceo.online exists.
We provide detailed summaries of every Diary of a CEO episode, including:
Whether you want to preview an episode before listening, review one you've already heard, or simply extract the key lessons without the 90-minute time commitment, our episode summaries have you covered.
DOAC stands for Diary of a CEO — it's the commonly used abbreviation among fans and on social media.
Yes, all episodes of Diary of a CEO are completely free to watch on YouTube or listen to on any podcast platform. There is no paid subscription required.
New episodes are typically released weekly, usually on Mondays or Thursdays. The schedule can vary, and bonus episodes or special releases may appear at other times.
At the end of every episode, Steven Bartlett opens a book and reads a question that the previous guest wrote for the current guest. The current guest then answers it and writes their own question for the next guest. This tradition has been running since the early days of the podcast and creates a unique thread connecting all episodes.
Yes. Steven Bartlett has written two books: Happy Sexy Millionaire (2021), which challenges conventional ideas about success and happiness, and The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business and Life (2023), which distils the key principles he's learned from his entrepreneurial journey and hundreds of podcast conversations. Both became bestsellers.
Three things set it apart: the depth of conversation (90+ minutes allows guests to go beyond rehearsed answers), the emotional vulnerability (both host and guests share deeply personal stories), and the range of topics (business, health, psychology, relationships, and more — all in one show). The video-first format on YouTube also adds a visual dimension most podcasts lack.
Yes! Diaryofceo.online provides detailed summaries of all 450+ episodes, with key quotes, insights, and actionable takeaways. It's the best way to get the wisdom from Diary of a CEO in a fraction of the time.
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