The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum discusses the decline of democracy in the United States and globally, explaining five core tactics autocratic leaders use to dismantle democratic systems. She draws parallels between historical authoritarian regimes and current political developments under the Trump administration, while warning against historical inevitability and urging civic engagement.

This episode features a discussion between health experts on optimal exercise protocols for women, with particular focus on hormonal health, the dangers of chronic moderate-intensity exercise, and the importance of high-intensity interval training. The conversation covers how evolutionary biology shapes women's metabolic responses, the risks of overtraining and underfueling, and how exercise strategies should adapt through perimenopause and menopause.

Professor Dieng, a geopolitical analyst, discusses his predictions about an ongoing US-Iran war, the trajectory toward World War III, and the collapse of the American empire. He outlines the grand strategies of major powers (US, Russia, China, Israel, Iran) and explains how competing visions for global order are driving the world toward large-scale conflict. The conversation also touches on surveillance states, Plato's allegory of the cave, and the cyclical nature of empires.

Scott Galloway joins Steven Bartlett to discuss AI's overhyped job destruction narrative, the declining brand of both the US abroad and AI companies, and the moral detachment of tech CEOs from societal consequences. The conversation spans AI investment bubbles, the Iran military conflict, wealth inequality, and personal reflections on resilience, purpose, and fatherhood.

Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses simulation theory, the philosophy of free will and meaning, AI's impact on creativity, life extension, and argues that humanity will not go to Mars without a geopolitical motivator — just as the moon landing was driven by competition with the Soviet Union rather than scientific curiosity.

Ben Felix, a finance expert and CIO at PWL Capital, shares academic-research-based financial advice covering investing, home ownership, psychology, and common money mistakes. He argues that index fund investing is optimal for most people, that buying a home is often financially inferior to renting, and that psychology is the primary obstacle to good long-term financial decision-making. The conversation spans topics from goal-setting frameworks to AI's economic impact and the dangers of thematic ETFs.

Dr. Reena Malik, a urologist and sex researcher, discusses the four pillars of sexual health—fuel, strength, environment, and confidence—and how modern lifestyle factors like phone addiction, stress, and poor sleep are contributing to declining sexual activity. She covers topics ranging from erectile dysfunction as a cardiovascular warning sign to testosterone decline, penis enlargement myths, and the importance of communication between partners.

Dr. Tara Swart, a neuroscientist, shares her personal journey through grief after losing her husband Robin to leukemia in 2021, describing experiences she interprets as communication with the deceased. She draws on near-death experience research, terminal lucidity cases, and neuroscience to argue that the mind can operate independently of the body. She claims 100% certainty that consciousness survives death and that she communicates with Robin daily.

Stanford neuroscientist Dr. David Eagleman discusses brain plasticity, the purpose of dreaming, and how humans can actively reshape their brains through challenge and novelty. He explains that dreams exist to defend the visual cortex from being taken over by other senses during darkness, and argues that deliberately seeking difficult tasks is the key to cognitive health and resilience. The conversation also covers AI's relationship to human intelligence, creativity, and the future of human connection.

Dr. Alex Tatum, a men's health and urology specialist, discusses peptides — what they are, how they work, and why they were banned in 2023 despite showing promising results. He explains the regulatory landscape, highlights specific peptides and their effects, and argues that pharmaceutical industry lobbying likely played a role in restricting access to these compounds.

A cardiologist explains how chronic high insulin levels from frequent carbohydrate consumption drive visceral fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and eventually diabetes and heart disease. He argues that fasting — not mere calorie restriction — is the most effective intervention because it uniquely lowers insulin, triggers fat burning, and activates regenerative processes like autophagy and stem cell mobilization.

Political scientist Ian Bremmer discusses his top risks report for 2026, identifying three critical global challenges: the US becoming the biggest driver of geopolitical instability, China's strategic positioning through control of critical technologies and minerals, and the emerging threats and opportunities of artificial intelligence that could reshape global security and economics.

Professor Robert Pape argues that America's 40-day bombing campaign against Iran has backfired, strengthening rather than weakening Iran, which now controls the Strait of Hormuz and is positioned to become a fourth center of world power alongside the US, China, and Russia. He warns the US faces an escalation trap with only two bad options: a costly ground war or accepting Iran's rise as a nuclear-armed regional power.

A discussion about how beliefs shape reality and can be changed through repetitive positive thinking. The speaker argues that the subconscious mind only feels rather than thinks, and demonstrates this through exercises involving visualization and physical movement.

Ivanka Trump discusses her upbringing in a famous family, her business career, four years working in the White House, and her current focus on family and new ventures including Planet Harvest. She reflects on learning resilience through challenges, finding her own path despite public scrutiny, and choosing not to return to politics to prioritize her children.

Professor Stephen warns of catastrophic consequences from the Iran-US conflict, predicting global famine within 2-3 months due to disrupted fertilizer and oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. He also forecasts an AI-driven economic crash within 24 months and advocates for universal basic income and more cooperative economic systems.

Dr. Nathan Bryan explains how common habits like using antiseptic mouthwash, fluoride toothpaste, and antacids disrupt the oral microbiome and destroy nitric oxide production. He argues that mouthwash specifically eliminates the cardiovascular benefits of exercise by killing the bacteria responsible for nitric oxide synthesis. He recommends eliminating sugar, fluoride, and mouthwash while adopting nasal breathing, tongue scraping, sunlight exposure, and humming to restore nitric oxide levels.

Pierre Poilievre, leader of Canada's official opposition, discusses global geopolitics, Canada's economic challenges, and his personal background in a wide-ranging interview. He argues that Canada's vast natural resources should be leveraged against US tariffs, criticizes government-driven inflation and over-regulation as the root causes of affordability crises, and outlines a free-market vision for restoring Canadian prosperity.