Steven Bartlett’s The Diary Of A CEO has become the most-subscribed podcast on YouTube’s podcast charts.
The podcast has gained more than seven million YouTube subscribers in 2026, an increase of around 50 per cent.
The channel published 87 full-length video episodes between January 1 and October 31, 2026, in more than 20 languages.
It also recorded more than one billion YouTube views between January 1 and October 30, compared with around 399 million in the first 10 months of 2025, according to FlightStory’s YouTube Studio data.
The milestone comes nine years after Bartlett began
The milestone comes nine years after Bartlett began recording a personal audio diary in his Manchester bedroom, using a microphone and a sock as a makeshift pop shield.
How Steven Bartlett pulled off the interview of his life
The Diary Of A CEO launched in 2017 as a show about Bartlett’s experiences of building a business, with some of his earliest episodes attracting just 40 listeners.
The podcast began publishing full-length video episodes weekly on YouTube in 2020 and now covers everything from business, psychology and health to relationships, science, technology and global affairs.
Over the years, Bartlett has interviewed some
Over the years, Bartlett has interviewed some of the world’s most recognisable figures, including former US First Lady Michelle Obama and, most recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The interview with President Zelenskyy was released on October 22 and made available in more than 20 languages using AI voice technology.
The conversation has attracted more than seven million views in just 10 days.
International audiences have played a significant role in the podcast’s growth, with nearly a quarter of its YouTube views in 2026 coming from audio tracks in languages other than English.
Bartlett, who is also a star of Dragons’
Bartlett, who is also a star of Dragons’ Den, said: “When I started The Diary Of A CEO, I was sitting in my bedroom in Manchester, recording into a microphone. About 40 people listened to those first episodes.
“It’s quite difficult to comprehend where it’s got to today.
“I’m incredibly proud of the people who make this show and grateful to everyone who chooses to spend their time with us.
“The moments that stay with me most are when somebody tells me that something they heard on the podcast has made a difference to their life.
The show has changed so much over
“The show has changed so much over the years because my interests and curiosity have changed and it will continue to evolve as I move into different phases of my life.
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“I also joke to my friends that they need to prepare for the parenting episodes if I’m fortunate enough to become a dad!
“Our focus has always been on what we call the ‘one per cents’ – how we can make the next conversation better, ask better questions and give people something genuinely valuable.
That’s what we’re going to keep focusing
“That’s what we’re going to keep focusing on and we do feel like we’re just getting started.”
The Diary Of A CEO is produced by FlightStory, part of Steven.com, and is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.
FlightStory works with some of the world’s most influential creators to build media businesses with global reach.
Its portfolio includes The Diary Of A CEO, We Need To Talk Twith Paul C. Brunson and Begin Again with Davina McCall.
