Latest Interviews
Showing 16–30 of 57 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Diary Of A CEO1h 44m
James Smith: Become Confident In 100 Minutes | E174
James Smith presents confidence as an evidence-based skill rooted in optimistic prediction and the willingness to endure criticism, explicitly rejecting "fake it till you make it" in favor of shifting internal narratives toward audacity. Drawing on personal anecdotes of career pivots and the psychological concept of the "utility of deprivation," he advocates for building resilience through deliberate discomfort, long-term discipline in repetitive tasks, and the selection of supportive social environments. Smith concludes that true progress requires viewing life as an infinite game of continuous mastery rather than finite goal achievement, emphasizing that deep-seated emotional needs and the courage to face failure are the primary drivers of sustainable change.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 20m
Pret & Itsu Founder: How I Built TWO Billion Dollar Brands At The Same Time!: Julian Metcalfe | E173
Julian Metcalfe, Stephen Bartlett
Pret-a-Manger co-founder Julian Metcalfe sold his majority stake in 2018 to regain full creative control over his new venture, Itzu, a Japanese restaurant chain currently operating 76 stores with a focus on affordable, nutritious food. Having transformed his early experiences at Pret—where he pioneered staff-vote hiring and a "give-away" culture driven by radical transparency—Metcalfe now applies these human-centric principles to foster long-term growth and avoid the pitfalls of private equity interference. His approach emphasizes evidence-based progress and the acceptance of failure as essential to building trusted organizations, a philosophy he integrates into his business while reconciling with his past and nurturing his growing family.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 40m
Gary Neville: From Football Legend To Building A Business Empire | E170
Gary Neville, Stephen Bartlett
Gary Neville attributes his physical collapse and Manchester United's systemic decline to a culture of overwork and a lack of leadership following the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill. Addressing these issues, he advocates for ownership changes to fund critical infrastructure and outlines a new business philosophy focused on regional reinvestment and flexible, trust-based management in Greater Manchester. Looking toward the future, Neville plans to reduce his media presence to prioritize a legacy project synthesizing his sports and commercial experiences while supporting his commitment to the Labour Party and social inclusion through the UA92 university venture.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 52m
Meta’s VP on Leadership, Resilience, and Overcoming Challenges While Battling Cancer!
Nicola Mendelsohn, Stephen Bartlett
Nicola Mendelsohn leveraged a challenging early career and a high-profile battle with incurable follicular lymphoma to shape her leadership philosophy before joining Meta in 2013 as VP for EMEA. In her role, she championed the company's pivot to the metaverse while advocating for transparency regarding health crises and the normalization of flexible work arrangements for women and parents. Her tenure is defined by a data-driven approach to business decisions, a commitment to dismantling gender barriers through mentorship, and a personal mission to find a cure for the disease that once left her in remission.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 42m
Five Guys CEO: How we built a burger empire WITHOUT ANY Marketing: John Eckbert | E168
John Eckbert, Stephen Bartlett
Five Guys Europe, a joint venture between the Morel family and John Eckford, leverages a zero-advertising strategy and a strict focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients to become the UK's fastest-growing food and beverage brand. The company sustains rapid expansion through rigorous operational controls, including weekly mystery shopper audits and an incentive-based compensation model that rewards crews for maintaining exacting food standards. Following a period of personal crisis that reshaped Eckford's leadership style, the business now integrates radical vulnerability and mental health support into its culture to preserve its core values while navigating a competitive market.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 38m
The Marketing Secrets Apple & Tesla Always Use: Rory Sutherland | E165
Rory Sutherland, Stephen Bartlett
This event explores how perceived psychological value, rather than rational technical improvements, drives consumer behavior and business outcomes through strategies like reframing, effort induction, and strategic friction. Key discussions highlight the evolution of status signaling, the environmental benefits of mental reframing over physical optimization, and the critical role of narrative in personal branding and public sector innovation. Ultimately, the analysis demonstrates that manipulating user expectations and trust signals can yield higher efficiency and market impact than traditional manufacturing or cost-cutting approaches.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 11m
Soho House Founder: How I Built The World’s Most Exclusive Club: Nick Jones | E163
Soho House CEO Nick Jones recounts his journey from a dyslexic entrepreneur who failed at his first restaurant to the founder of a global private members' club that recently went public. Leveraging innovative funding strategies and member-driven expansion into markets like New York and Mexico, Jones built a business where recurring membership fees comprise one-third of revenue while actively supporting underprivileged creatives through a new mentoring scheme. Despite early struggles with work-life balance, the company now attracts a younger demographic and prioritizes personal happiness and organic community growth over traditional aspirational branding.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 40m
Malcolm Gladwell: Working From Home Is Destroying Us! | E162
Malcolm Gladwell, Stephen Bartlett
Malcolm Gladwell reflects on his multicultural upbringing and parenting strategies that fostered independence, while urging young professionals to prioritize geographic mobility in innovation hubs over immediate career choices. He challenges conventional definitions of success and happiness by arguing that high-agency individuals often derive fulfillment from contribution rather than balance, noting that successful innovators frequently succeed by mastering timing rather than being first-movers. Gladwell further critiques the long-term viability of remote work as a replacement for office community, emphasizing that psychological needs for belonging and constructive conflict require physical proximity and structured daily discipline.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 47m
Victimhood & Self-sabotage Is Destroying The World In 2026: Africa Brooke | E160
Africa Brooke, Stephen Bartlett
Zimbabwean-born founder of Cherry Revolution Afrika Brooke explores the destructive cycle of adopting victimhood as an identity, detailing how her history of alcohol abuse and compulsive lying served as defenses against racial insecurities and familial trauma. She challenges the modern self-help and political narratives that promote binary thinking, arguing instead that true progress requires accepting personal agency while holding multiple truths about one's flaws and past. To combat societal polarization, Brooke is planning a global festival dedicated to hosting uncomfortable conversations and is currently working to overcome her own fear of success as she redefines intimacy and happiness through vulnerability.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 18m
Chris Eubank Jr. Opens Up About His Grief, Living In His Father's Shadow & His Future | E159
Chris Eubank Jr., Stephen Bartlett
Chris Eubank Jr. reflects on his career trajectory, attributing his resilience and competitive drive to an innate personality shaped by a strict father and pivotal training experiences like a knockout in Cuba that cemented his refusal to quit. The 34-fight veteran discusses the physical and cognitive toll of the sport, his strategic cultivation of a polarizing public persona, and the profound impact of his brother Sebastian's death on his emotional boundaries and life philosophy. With a retirement goal set between ages 37 and 39, Eubank aims to secure world titles while maintaining emotional control and prioritizing personal happiness over the negativity of online trolling.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 14m
Bear Grylls: Man VS Failure, Anxiety & Imposter Syndrome | E155
Bear Grylls redefines resilience and confidence in his new book *Never Give Up* by framing both as developed through repeated failure and honest vulnerability rather than innate talent. Drawing on personal traumas ranging from severe military injuries to the loss of his father, he argues that true strength requires balancing high-performance ambition with a commitment to family and mental well-being. Grylls uses these experiences to advocate for a cultural shift where "doing your best" replaces the pressure to win, emphasizing that a life built on connections and authentic struggle is ultimately more sustainable than a pursuit of superficial fame.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 14m
Example: The Dark Side Of Money & Fame | E152
Example, Steven, Stephen Bartlett, Elliot
Elliot, a musician with a background in working-class London and Asperger's syndrome, has transitioned from a decade of substance abuse and industry marginalization to a prioritization of family and mental well-being following a relationship reset in 2011. He is now preparing for his eighth album, which blends Drum and Bass, UK Garage, and Drill styles, while strategically shifting his career focus from chart-dependent radio play to global live touring and streaming loyalty. Despite facing frustration from gatekeepers who label him "retired" due to his absence from major airplay, Elliot aims for a final chart validation while building a sustainable legacy through health-focused living and his dedicated fanbase.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 25m
What No One Tells You About Success And Mental Health! - Building A $240M Dollar Empire!
Jane Wurwand, Stephen Bartlett
In 1986, Jane Sowerby and her husband Raymond Werwand founded Dermalogica, a skin-care brand that challenged industry norms by combining pharmaceutical-grade formulations with a distinct "piss off 80%, please 20%" positioning strategy. Leveraging their shared visa loophole to establish operations in both South Africa and the US, the couple built the International Dermal Institute to bridge global licensing gaps before successfully exiting the business through a 2015 acquisition by Unilever. Sowerby's leadership philosophy, rooted in overcoming childhood trauma and prioritizing decisiveness over perfection, emphasized direct staff accessibility and operational hygiene while she eventually reframed her personal narrative from shame to pride through therapeutic intervention.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 20m
The Marketing Genius Behind Nike: Greg Hoffman | E150
Greg Hoffman, Stephen Bartlett
Former Nike Chief Marketing Officer Greg, an adopted half-Black child who recently reunited with his birth family, leverages his journey of identity and nearly three decades of corporate innovation to redefine brand leadership. Drawing on his personal history of overcoming racial adversity and his professional experience fostering "radical creative collaboration" at Nike, he argues that organizations must prioritize human emotion over data optimization to build authentic cultural impact. His framework unites the disciplines of art and sport through principles of empathy, curiosity, and courage, urging brands to reject trend-chasing in favor of resolving genuine societal needs through courageous storytelling.
- The Diary Of A CEO1h 26m
Strava Founder: How I Motivated 100 Million People To Stay Active: Michael Horvath | E148
Michael Horvath, Stephen Bartlett
Strava CEO Michael Horvath steers the platform, which now boasts 99 million registered athletes, by grounding its 100-year strategy in values that prioritize balance and community over rapid exits. Following a personal crisis and a 2019 financial turnaround marked by strategic layoffs and a pivot to subscriptions, Horvath has expanded the company's workforce globally while navigating post-pandemic hybrid work models. Ultimately, the narrative emphasizes how Horvath's formative experiences with displacement and grief shaped a leadership philosophy that separates corporate identity from personal well-being to ensure sustainable organizational health.