Steven Bartlett’s ‘Diary of a CEO’ Podcast Accused of Spreading Health Misinformation

A BBC investigation has revealed that Steven Bartlett, host of the top-ranked podcast “Diary of a CEO,” is disseminating harmful health misinformation. The “Dragons’ Den” personality permitted guests to make recent assertions, such as the claim that cancer can be managed with a ketogenic diet instead of established medical treatments, with minimal or no scrutiny. According to experts, the failure to dispute these discredited statements poses a risk by fostering skepticism towards traditional medical practices. An examination by BBC World Service of 15 episodes of the podcast focusing on health topics indicated that each episode featured, on average, 14 detrimental health claims that contradicted substantial scientific evidence. Flight Studio, the production company for the podcast, which is owned by Mr Bartlett, stated that guests were granted “freedom of expression” and were “thoroughly researched.” Launched in 2017, the podcast initially centered on entrepreneurship and business, gaining significant popularity as notable individuals like influencer Molly Mae and Airbnb founder Brian Chesky shared their insights for achievement. However, over the last 18 months, Mr Bartlett has shifted his focus predominantly to health, featuring guests presented as prominent experts in their respective domains, whose perspectives are rarely questioned. These interviews are additionally uploaded to Mr Bartlett’s YouTube channel, which boasts seven million subscribers. Following this content reorientation last year, the channel’s monthly viewership rose from nine million to 15 million. In April, Mr Bartlett informed The Times that he anticipated his podcast would generate £20m this year, primarily through advertising revenue. Our review encompassed 23 health-focused episodes broadcast between April and November of this year, with 15 of these, identified as containing potentially harmful claims, undergoing fact-checking by four medical experts. The experts consulted included cancer research professor David Grimes, public confidence in healthcare professor Heidi Larson, NHS diabetes adviser Dr Partha Kar, and surgeon Dr Liz O’Riordan. Harmful claims were defined as recommendations that, if adhered to, could result in adverse health consequences. During that eight-month period, while some guests presented as health experts provided accurate information, the majority disseminated deceptive claims. Dr David Grimes from Trinity College Dublin commented on this, stating, “Podcasters may claim they are sharing information, but they are actually sharing harmful misinformation.” He further elaborated, “That’s a very different and not empowering thing. It actually imperils all our health.” In the UK, podcasts are not subject to regulation by Ofcom, the media watchdog responsible for establishing standards on accuracy and impartiality. Consequently, Mr Bartlett is not in violation of any broadcasting regulations. A July episode featured Mr Bartlett’s conversation with Aseem Malhotra, a physician who gained notoriety during the pandemic for propagating misinformation concerning Covid vaccines. In this episode, Dr Malhotra asserted that the “Covid vaccine was a net negative for society,” a statement contradicted by World Health Organization analysis indicating the vaccine preserved numerous lives throughout the pandemic. Concluding the episode, Mr Bartlett, who lacks a health background, defended the broadcast of these discredited perspectives by stating his intention was to “present some of the other side” because “the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.” He further remarked: “Ideas from the suffragettes, Gandhi and Martin Luther King were also received equally horrifically… so we have to be humble that an idea that may be important may trigger us, but it can’t be censored.” Responding to our inquiry, Dr Malhotra informed the BBC that he “completely accept[s] that there are still some people who disagree with [his views]” and maintained that this “does not mean that they have been debunked.” Numerous podcast episodes featured guests asserting knowledge of straightforward remedies for health problems, which they contended mainstream organizations were concealing from the public. These guests frequently used the podcast to promote their own products. In October, cancer researcher Dr Thomas Seyfried was a guest on the podcast. He advocates for the ketogenic diet, characterized by low carbohydrates and high fat, as a cancer treatment. However, Dr Grimes informed us that medical professionals advise patients against dietary restrictions during cancer treatment. He stated, “You could potentially and very realistically get very, very, sick and have a much worse health outcome than if you followed recommended advice from your oncologists.” During the podcast, Dr Seyfried additionally proposed that radiotherapy and chemotherapy extended patients’ lifespans by merely one to two months, likening contemporary cancer therapies to “medieval cures.” Mr Bartlett offered no response to this assertion. Statistics from Cancer Research UK indicate that cancer survival rates in the UK have doubled over the last 50 years. In the US, the cancer mortality rate has decreased by 33% since 1990, attributed to advancements in modern treatments. Dr Thomas Seyfried affirmed to us that he “stands by the statements that he made in the interview.” Prof Heidi Larson, an authority on public confidence in healthcare, noted that the remedies proposed by these guests resonate with listeners because they appear concrete and lack the adverse effects associated with pharmaceutical medications. She commented, “But they [the guests] are way overstretching. It sends people away from evidence-based medicine. They stop doing things that might have some side effects, even though it could save their life.” Cécile Simmons of the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a think tank focused on disinformation research, suggests that this form of content can contribute to audience expansion. She explained, “Health-related clickbait content with scary titles does really well online with the algorithm amplifying that.” Mr Bartlett has previously engaged with questionable health assertions. In January, during an episode of BBC Two’s “Dragons’ Den”—a program where budding entrepreneurs present business concepts to five multimillionaire investors, including Mr Bartlett—he invested in “Ear Seeds.” These acupuncture beads, positioned in the ear, were falsely marketed as a cure for the chronic fatigue condition myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). Following complaints, the BBC subsequently appended a disclaimer to the episode and on iPlayer, clarifying that “Ear Seeds” are not meant as a cure and that medical advice should be sought for ME. A BBC spokesperson chose not to comment. Furthermore, he holds investments in Huel, a company specializing in meal replacements, and Zoe, which offers a personalized nutrition program incorporating blood sugar monitors. Ms Simmons remarked, “He has financial stakes in health and wellness companies. And once you have financial interests, you have then the further interest in focusing on health and nutrition.” The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently prohibited two Facebook advertisements featuring Mr Bartlett for endorsing Huel and Zoe products without revealing his investor status. The founders of both these companies have previously appeared as guests on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast. A representative for Flight Studio, Mr Bartlett’s production company, stated: “The Diary of a CEO [DOAC] is an open-minded, long-form conversation… with individuals identified for their distinguished and eminent career and/or consequential life experience.” They asserted that they feature a variety of voices, “not just those Steven and the DOAC team necessarily agree with.” They also noted that the BBC investigation had examined a “limited proportion of guests” from the almost 400 episodes broadcast thus far. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. 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