I was a broke, university dropout, at 18 I built an industry leading social media marketing company, and at 27 I resigned as CEO. At 28 I co-founded Flight Story – a marketing and communications company, and thirdweb - a software platform, making it easy to build web3 applications. I then launched private equity fund, Flight Fund, to accelerate the next generation of European unicorns. During this time I decided to launch 'The Diary Of A CEO' podcast with the simple mission of providing an unfiltered journey into the remarkable stories and untold dimensions of the world’s most influential people, experts and thinkers.

If you enjoy the show, please hit the follow button! That's a small way you can help us carry on doing this, thank you for listening.

My New Book: https://g2ul0.app.link/DOAC
IG: https://www.instagram.com/steven
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenbartlett-123

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

What if the price of every laugh was your own happiness? Jimmy Fallon reveals the shocking toll of his comedy empire. 



Jimmy Fallon is host of ‘The Tonight Show’, Emmy-winning comedian and television personality, and former host of ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL). He is also the author of children’s and comedy books such as, 'Papa Doesn't Do Anything!’ and is set to launch a new innovative marketing show called ‘On Brand with Jimmy Fallon’ this Fall. 



Jimmy discusses:


  
How he didn’t expect the entertainment industry to be so brutal.



  
Why his sense of humour became his secret weapon.



  
How he navigated receiving hate after achieving massive success in comedy.



  
How his strict Catholic upbringing shaped his relentless need to please others.



  
How his mother’s support gave him the confidence to chase his dreams.



00:00 Intro  

02:24 What Made Jimmy the Way He Is Nowadays  

03:37 The Earliest Memory of Jimmy Wanting to Please Others  

04:52 Jimmy's Parents  

07:33 Jimmy's Mother  

13:02 Who Was Jimmy Trying to Impress More: His Mother or His Father?  

14:28 Jimmy's Relationship With Money  

17:05 Jimmy's Anecdote With Jerry Seinfeld  

21:11 Was Jimmy a Confident Young Man?  

22:11 Principles for Achieving Your Childhood Dream  

25:51 How Did Jimmy's Parents React to His Career Plans?  

28:10 Did Jimmy Ever Doubt Himself While Trying to Break Into Show Business?  

33:51 Where Does Jimmy's Passion for SNL Come From?  

37:58 Jimmy's Mental Health During the Auditioning Phase  

40:41 What Would Jimmy Say to His Younger Self?  

45:09 What Life Would Have Been Like If Jimmy Hadn’t Got on SNL  

47:32 Jimmy's First SNL Audition  

52:00 Getting on SNL Before Turning 25 – A Non-Negotiable Goal  

53:32 Ads  

57:36 Finally Getting SNL  

01:02:01 Was There an Anticlimax When Jimmy Got on SNL?  

01:02:50 Struggles With Public Criticism  

01:05:55 How Did Jimmy Cope With Fame?  

01:09:48 How Meeting Influential People Changed Jimmy’s Perspective  

01:12:20 How to Never Get Bored of Hosting a Show  

01:14:12 How Does Jimmy Keep Himself Challenged?  

01:14:52 Dada and "Mama" Books  

01:16:23 How Jimmy's Mother's Death Changed Him  

01:19:01 What Jimmy Misses About His Mother  

01:20:39 Jimmy's Grief After His Mother's Death  

01:21:35 Would Jimmy Have Followed His Passion Without His Mother?  

01:22:33 When Did Jimmy Start Being Concerned With Longevity?  

01:26:50 Is There Another Chapter Beyond TV for Jimmy?  

01:29:04 How Is Jimmy Misunderstood?  

01:29:31 Jimmy's Pursuits Outside of TV  

01:32:31 What Would Jimmy's Gravestone Say?  

01:34:02 How Becoming a Father Shifted Jimmy’s Meaning of Life  

01:34:44 Life Advice Jimmy Would Give to His Daughters  

01:36:39 Question From the Previous Guest  




Follow Jimmy:

Instagram - https://bit.ly/3HiDAs1 

X - https://bit.ly/3Su5zrd 

TikTok - https://bit.ly/3Hk24Bu 



You can purchase Jimmy’s book, Papa Doesn't Do Anything!, here: https://amzn.to/3HgeQkc 



The 1% Diary is back - limited time only:

https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt 

The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition):

https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb 

Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt 

Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb 



Sponsors: 

Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett  Perfect Ted - https://www.perfectted.com  with code DIARY40 for 40% off 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jimmy Fallon: I Didn't Expect It To Be This Brutal! Nothing Worked. I Was Starving & Had A Suicide Pact With Myself!

Dr. Mike Israetel breaks down the science of muscle growth and how to maximize your gains. Whether you’re new or experienced, learn key hypertrophy principles, effective training frequency, and why you don’t need endless gym hours to see results. Plus, discover how muscle memory helps you bounce back after breaks.



Listen to the full episode here -



Spotify - https://g2ul0.app.link/yjVHL6vrLTb



Apple - https://g2ul0.app.link/qaWpqCyrLTb



Watch the Episodes On YouTube -

https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most Replayed Moment: The Science Of Building Muscle Faster With Smarter Training - Dr. Mike Israetel

What if the secret to fixing back pain, avoiding dementia, and living longer is…your feet? Dr. Courtney Conley breaks down why your shoes are failing you.



Dr Courtney Conley is a physician specialising in foot and gait mechanics. She is the founder of ‘Gait Happens’ and ‘Total Health Solutions’, where she aims to educate people about the importance of the human foot to overall health.



She explains: 


  
How foot pain leads to emotional distress, depression, and inactivity



  
How 500 extra steps a day can cut heart attack risk by 7%



  
Why 4,000 steps a day can slash dementia risk by 50%



  
How Courtney’s overcame addiction and used movement to save her life



  
Why children’s shoes are sabotaging their future health




00:00 Intro  

02:22 Why Care About Feet  

06:07 The Most Common Foot Injuries  

07:49 What People Get Wrong About Foot Pain  

11:48 The Link Between Walking, Longevity, and Depression  

19:20 What Shoes Should I Wear to Help My Foot Strength?  

25:55 Our Feet vs. Tribe Feet  

28:09 Insoles Help Initially but Not Long Term  

30:58 1 in 3 People Will Develop Foot Pain  

31:36 Pain in the Heel (Plantar Fasciitis)  

34:04 Bigger Problems from Foot Issues  

35:34 Problems with Wearing Heels  

37:54 Characteristics of Good Shoes  

39:54 Super-Cushioned Running Shoes: Good or Bad?  

43:59 The Shocking Link Between Movement and Dementia  

45:16 The Rise of Run Clubs  

47:49 The Foot Gym  

48:26 Bunion Diagnoses  

57:12 Ads  

59:16 Importance of Strong Feet at the Gym  

1:06:17 What Is a Running Gait?  

1:10:02 Are We Supposed to Be Barefoot?  

1:17:42 Ads  

1:19:42 Should We Wear Socks?  

1:21:47 Viewer Comments  

1:23:46 What Happens After Ankle Injuries Heal  

1:26:58 What You'll Most Likely Regret in 10 Years  



👀 DOAC Circle: https://bit.ly/circle-youtube  



Follow Dr Courtney:

Instagram - ⁠https://bit.ly/43mfyoU⁠ 

Gait Happens - ⁠https://bit.ly/43EXDZq⁠ 



The 1% Diary is back - limited time only:

⁠https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt⁠ 



The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition):

⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb⁠ 



Get email updates: ⁠https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt⁠ 



Follow Steven: ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb⁠ 



Research document: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DOAC-Courtney-Conley-Independent-Research-further-reading.pdf



Sponsors:

Vivobarefoot - https://vivobarefoot.com/DOAC with code DIARY20 for 20% offStan Store - Visit https://link.stan.store/joinstanchallenge to join the challenge!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Toes Can Predict If You'll Die Early And Heres's How To Fix Your Plantar Fasciitis! - Dr. Courtney Conley (Foot Specialist)

From cold emails to global dominance - the Airbnb story began with rejection. In this unmissable episode of CEO Diaries, Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky reveals the brutal truth about rejection, resilience, building world-changing companies, and the one thing more important than product or profit: culture.



Visit - ⁠www.linkedin.com/DOAC⁠



Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify -https://g2ul0.app.link/WgBxbVavJTb

Apple - ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/89nODBivJTb



Watch the Episodes On YouTube -

⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CEO Diaries: Airbnb’s Founder Brian Chesky on Brutal Rejection, Great Leadership, and The Biggest Mistake Founders Make!

What if AI isn’t just a tool - but the greatest threat to human connection we’ve ever faced?



Simon Sinek is a world-renowned entrepreneur, optimism expert, and founder of The Optimism Company, a platform which teaches human skills to leaders and organisations. He is also the bestselling author of books such as, ‘Start With Why’ and ‘Leaders Eat Last’. 



He explains: 


  
Why modern politics is killing your sense of purpose.



  
Why we’ve forgotten how to be a good friend.  



  
How AI will create a generation of helpless humans. 



  
The number one secret skill AI can’t learn. 



  
How human skills like empathy are vanishing. 






00:00 Intro  

02:35 Biggest Forces of Change in Society  

06:05 Is AI Cause for Concern?  

12:55 Authenticity in the Age of AI  

18:38 Skills Needed in the Evolving World of AI  

20:08 Is Universal Basic Income a Solution to AI-Driven Job Loss?  

20:58 UBI’s Impact on Meaning and Purpose  

24:34 The Uncertain Future of AI  

25:48 The Race for AI Dominance  

28:25 AI’s Long-Term Impact on People’s Lives  

32:32 Preparing Young People for the Future of AI  

35:27 Importance of Gratitude in a World of Unlimited Possibilities  

45:35 Importance of Relationships  

48:03 Importance of Failure  

49:07 Learning Through Experience and Resourcefulness  

53:52 Why Struggle Is a Good Thing  

55:45 People Buy the Story, Not the Product  

59:37 Scale Breaks Things  

1:02:37 Ads  

1:03:41 Self-Love as a Key to Successful Relationships  

1:05:31 Why Wrong Is Easier  

1:09:15 Friction Creates Freedom  

1:11:18 Building Community in the Age of AI  

1:13:45 What Holds a Community Together?  

1:16:57 Staying True to Your Values  

1:20:46 Does Lack of Meaning and Purpose Lead to Loneliness?  

1:22:21 Loneliness by Gender  

1:23:06 Mental Health and Likelihood of Loneliness  

1:25:15 How to Find Companionship When Lonely  

1:30:37 Curiosity as a Key to Building Connection  

1:32:28 Importance of Staying in Touch With Your Emotions  

1:36:19 Drop in Automation-Related Job Postings  

1:38:06 AI as an Opportunity to Discover New Hobbies and Skills  

1:42:24 What Simon Is Struggling With Right Now  

1:46:27 Choosing the Right Person to Fight With  

1:48:33 Self-Reliance as a Career Foundation  

1:53:26 Why Simon Wrote a Book About Friendship  

1:56:20 How to Know if Someone Is a Friend  

1:57:40 Following Up With People You Connect With  

2:01:17 Mentoring Someone Behind You  

2:03:08 The Challenge Coins  

2:13:16 What Simon Misses About Being in a Relationship  



Follow Simon: 

Instagram - https://bit.ly/3z0riRb 

Twitter - https://bit.ly/45jgWrz 



Spotify: You can purchase the 15th Anniversary Edition of Simon’s book, here: https://bit.ly/3SOMdx3  



The 1% Diary is back - limited time only:

https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt 

The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition):

https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb 



👀 28.05.2025. Be the first to know:

https://bit.ly/circle-youtube 



Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt 

Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb 



Sponsors:

Linkedin Ads - https://www.linkedin.com/DIARY  

Ekster - http://partner.ekster.com/DOAC with code STEVEN

Perfect Ted - https://www.perfectted.com with code DIARY40 for 40% off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon Sinek: You're Being Lied To About AI's Real Purpose And We're Teaching Our Kids To Not Be Human!

Dr. Ramani Durvasula explains the toxic and insidious nature of narcissistic abuse and gaslighting. In this powerful conversation, learn the psychological tactics narcissists use, from denying your reality to invalidating your experiences, and how to reclaim your sense of self in the face of manipulation.



Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify - https://g2ul0.app.link/iSxOEXrTzTb

Apple - https://g2ul0.app.link/JjQg2rvTzTb



Watch the Episodes On YouTube

⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos⁠



Dr Ramani Durvasula - https://doctor-ramani.com/#
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most Replayed Moment: How to Know If You're Being Gaslit by a Narcissist And What to Do About It: Dr Ramani Durvasula

Are you unknowingly damaging your brain and raising your cancer risk with just one drink? Discover the alarming truth about alcohol from Dr. Sarah Wakeman, what every adult needs to know now.



Dr. Sarah Wakeman is a senior medical director for substance use disorder at Massachusetts General Brigham Hospital, the number one research hospital in the world. She is also the Medical Director of the Mass General Hospital Addiction Consult Team and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. 



She explains: 


  
How alcohol is hijacking your dopamine system.



  
Why no amount of alcohol is good for your brain.



  
The shocking truth about moderate drinking.



  
How doctors are failing addiction patients on a daily basis.



  
Why 1 in 3 people will struggle with alcohol.






00:00 Intro  

02:23 Sarah's Mission  

02:52 Sarah's Education and Experience  

03:40 Issues With Addiction Treatment in the Modern World  

04:31 What Is Addiction?  

05:48 What Things Are Capable of Being Addictive?  

06:47 Physiological Dependence vs. Addiction  

07:25 Scale of the Problem: Why Should People Care?  

08:59 Is Society Getting Better or More Addicted?  

09:32 Substance-Related Deaths During the Pandemic  

10:22 What Drives People to Use Substances?  

12:24 Substances' Effects on the Brain  

14:29 Does Trauma at a Young Age Increase Addiction Risk?  

16:36 The Opposite of Addiction Is Connection  

18:11 Why Addiction Matters to Sarah  

19:02 Living With a Family Member Struggling With Addiction  

20:43 Who Is Sarah Trying to Save?  

22:57 Change Happens When the Pain of Staying the Same Is Greater Than the Pain of Change  

25:53 Misconceptions About Alcohol  

28:15 Is There a Healthy Level of Alcohol Consumption?  

28:50 Is One Drink a Day Safe for Health?  

30:38 Link Between Moderate Drinking and Cancer  

33:23 Types of Cancer Linked to Alcohol Consumption  

34:51 Cancer Risk Among Heavy Drinkers  

35:31 Heavy Drinking and Comorbidities as Cancer Risk Factors  

36:20 How Alcohol Drives Cancer Mechanisms  

38:00 Alcohol and Weight Gain  

38:54 The Role of the Liver  

42:07 Liver's Ability to Regenerate  

46:37 How Alcohol Causes Brain Deterioration  

47:23 Other Organs Affected by Alcohol  

48:00 Alcohol's Impact on the Heart  

49:08 Body Fat Percentage and Alcohol Tolerance  

50:05 Does High Alcohol Tolerance Prevent Organ Damage?  

50:46 What Is a Hangover?  

52:14 Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol  

53:47 Is Rehab Effective for Addiction?  

56:50 Psychedelic Therapy for Addiction  

57:36 GLP-1 Medications for Addiction Treatment  

59:03 Ads  

59:59  Celebrity Addictions  

1:02:24 Stigma Around Addiction  

1:04:41 Addiction Cases That Broke Sarah's Heart  

1:12:43 Is Empathy Positive Reinforcement for Addicted Individuals?  

1:15:34 Setting Boundaries With an Addicted Person  

1:18:57 Motivational Interviewing to Support Recovery  

1:22:19 Finding Motivation for Positive Change  

1:26:03 Habits to Support Addiction Recovery  

1:29:12 Ads  

1:30:18 Can the Brain Recover From Addiction?  

1:34:55 Unexpected Sources of Addictive Behavior  

1:35:35 How Sarah Copes With Difficult Addiction Cases  

1:37:10 Importance of Language Around Addiction  

1:41:40 How Labels Limit People's Potential  

1:46:05 Sarah's Upcoming Book  



You can find out more about Dr. Sarah’s profile, here: https://bit.ly/4mxu191 



Ready to think like a CEO? Gain access to the 100 CEOs newsletter here: ⁠bit.ly/100-ceos-megaphone⁠



The 1% Diary is back - limited time only:

https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt 

The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition):

https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb 

Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt 

Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb 



Research document: 

https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DOAC-Dr-Sarah-Wakeman-Independent-Research-further-reading.pdf



Sponsors:

Ekster - https://partner.ekster.com/DIARYOFACEO with code DOACLinkedin Ads - https://www.linkedin.com/DIARY
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addiction Doctor: Alcohol Rewires Your Brain! Alcohol Is The Reason You Feel Awful! This Many Glasses Of Wine Increases Cancer Risk By 40%!

Over the next six weeks, we’re bringing you the most unmissable moments from The Diary of a CEO, a masterclass in work, business, and entrepreneurship. These are the lessons that built some of the most iconic companies in the world, shared by the visionary CEOs behind them. 



We begin with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn. In this powerful conversation, Reid breaks down the surprising trait that separates good entrepreneurs from the greats and why ignoring it could be your biggest mistake. He shares the story of whats like working with Elon Musk, what most people get wrong about ambition, and the brutal trade-offs that come with building at scale. You’ll learn how different leadership styles create different outcomes and what it really takes to build companies that last.



Visit - www.linkedin.com/DOAC



Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify - https://g2ul0.app.link/kXUCbNYywTb

Apple - https://g2ul0.app.link/AkpmkV6ywTb



Watch the Episodes On YouTube -

https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CEO Diaries: LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman: The Truth About Elon, Zuck, & Building Great Companies!

Is your daily diet secretly fuelling chronic disease? Dr. William Li reveals the shocking truth about what you're really eating.



Dr. William Li is a world-renowned medical scientist specialising in chronic disease and blood vessel growth. He is Founder & President of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and his groundbreaking research has led to 44 medical treatments that target over 70 diseases. He is also the bestselling author of ‘Eat To Beat Your Diet’.



He explains: 


  
The number one common food that feeds cancer cells



  
The surprising link between salt and accelerated aging



  
How poor sleep is connected to belly fat



  
The hidden health risks of microplastics in your diet



  
How sugar quietly fuels chronic diseases




00:00 Intro  

02:28 What Will People Out of This Conversation?  

03:14 What Key Diseases Correlate to Diet?  

04:35 Where Is Our Society at with Health and Food?  

08:06 How Cancer Works in Our Body  

14:50 How to Lower Your Risk of Cancer  

16:09 Foods That Fuel Cancer  

17:56 Debunking “Superfoods”  

18:39 Risks of Electrolytes  

19:46 Lowering the Body's Defenses: Risk of Consuming Added Sugars  

21:26 Alcohol  

22:08 Risks of Drinking Alcohol  

22:43 How Does Stress Impact Immunity?  

24:50 The Relationship Between Stress, Sleep, and Sickness  

26:30 Why Lack of Sleep Contributes to Stress: The Glymphatic System  

28:00 Deep Sleep Clears Your Mind and Burns Fat!  

30:01 Why Are Cancer Cases in Young People Increasing?  

32:54 Microplastics in Our Bodies  

37:15 How Can I Lower My Exposure to Microplastics?  

37:53 Benefits of Green Tea—but the Danger of Teabags!  

40:17 Which Tea Has the Best Health Benefits?  

41:32 Is Matcha Good for Me?  

42:32 The Link Between Cured Meats and Cancer  

46:10 My Personal Story with Cancer  

58:50 Groundbreaking New Studies with AI  

1:02:38 Successful Cancer Treatment Linked to Specific Gut Bacteria  

1:09:01 What’s the Best Food Diet?  

1:13:04 Why Is Japan Considered One of the Healthiest Countries?  

1:16:29 The Different Body Fat Types and How They Affect You  

1:29:41 Visceral Fat: Dangerous for Cancer

1:38:32 The Link Between Fat and Coffee

1:41:43 Is Fasting Good for Fat Loss?

1:46:28 Brain Diseases

1:52:45 Food Is Medicine

1:54:20 Should We Use Food Supplements?

1:57:15 The Superfoods Helping Our Body



👀 28.05.2025. Be the first to know:

https://bit.ly/circle-mp



Follow Dr William: 

Instagram - https://bit.ly/4krzrR2

Website - https://bit.ly/3SaLlmb 

Youtube - https://bit.ly/4doaaox 



You can purchase Dr William’s book, ‘Eat To Beat Your Diet’, here: https://amzn.to/44HiE7Z 



Research Document: https://bit.ly/3SaYwUg



The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition):

https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb 



Get email updates: https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt 

Follow Steven: https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb 



Sponsors:

Notion - https://notion.com/doac
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Chronic Disease Expert: We Can Now Reverse Stage 4 Cancer! This Common Food Is Feeding Your Cancer Cells!

As AI rapidly advances, Mo Gawdat shares a candid and thoughtful exploration of what the future holds for humanity. From AI’s growing intelligence and its impact on creativity to the looming disruption of jobs and society, this top moment challenges us to rethink our role in a world where machines might outsmart us. Mo also reflects on the irreplaceable value of human connection and the need to prepare for a future shaped by technology. Whether you’re excited or worried about AI, this conversation offers a crucial perspective on how we adapt, survive, and find meaning in the age of artificial intelligence.



Register yourself by visiting: ⁠Gartner.com/Symposium⁠



Listen to the full episode here -



Spotify - ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/ocYmHrkuoTb⁠

Apple - ⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/EBSoMmQuoTb⁠



Watch the Episodes On YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos⁠



Mo Gawdat - https://www.mogawdat.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices