At the 2025 iHeart/Audible Podcast Awards held in Austin, Texas, The Diary Of A CEO, hosted by entrepreneur and broadcaster Steven Bartlett, was named Best International Podcast—a moment that marked both a personal milestone for its creator and a landmark achievement in the show’s evolution.
The award, voted for by the podcasting industry and a panel of international judges, recognises podcasts that have demonstrated exceptional quality, audience engagement, and global reach. For a show that began as a deeply personal project—recorded alone in a small room with a single microphone—this recognition on the world stage speaks to its extraordinary growth and impact.
In a post shared shortly after the ceremony, Bartlett described the moment as unexpected and emotional, expressing gratitude to the show’s listeners, team, and the broader podcasting community. “The Diary Of A CEO has completely changed my life,” he wrote. “It has helped me find my people all over the world, and feel less weird for caring about the often deep, sometimes emotional, weird and wide variety of things that I care about.”
Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO – A Global Success Built on Simplicity, Honesty, and Depth
Since its launch, The Diary Of A CEO has become one of the most listened-to podcasts in the world, frequently topping global podcast charts and featuring high-profile guests ranging from business leaders and artists to psychologists, scientists, and public figures. Known for its in-depth, often vulnerable conversations, the show has carved out a distinctive space in the podcasting landscape, offering an alternative to traditional interviews by focusing on human emotion, self-reflection, and long-form storytelling.
While the show’s audience has grown exponentially, the format has remained intentionally minimalist. There is no scripted introduction, no heavy editing, and no background music. Instead, the emphasis is placed entirely on conversation—often raw, sometimes difficult, but always thoughtful.
The award also reflects the work of The Studio @ FLIGHTSTORY, the in-house media production company founded by Bartlett and based in the UK. The studio, which now produces multiple original shows, is central to Bartlett’s broader ambition of building one of the world’s most important modern media companies—one that prioritises purpose, storytelling, and depth in an increasingly attention-driven industry.
To date, FLIGHTSTORY has launched four shows, with many more in development. The Diary Of A CEO remains the flagship title in its growing portfolio, and its recognition at the iHeartPodcast Awards signals a continued rise in both influence and scale.
In a media landscape that often rewards speed, virality, and brevity, The Diary Of A CEO offers something different. Its success lies not just in who it features, but in how it listens. And in a world increasingly driven by surface-level content, this latest recognition is a reminder that there is still a global appetite for meaningful, emotionally intelligent conversation.
The team behind the podcast has hinted that this is only the beginning. With hundreds of new episodes and shows in the pipeline, and a vision to reimagine what modern media can look like, The Diary Of A CEO is not only celebrating this award—it’s using it as a signal to keep building.
iHeartRadio Celebrates Global Podcasting Excellence
The iHeartPodcast Awards are presented annually by iHeartMedia, one of the world’s leading audio platforms, and Audible, the Amazon-owned audio entertainment service. As podcasting continues to evolve into one of the fastest-growing forms of media, the awards serve to recognise the creators, producers, and storytellers shaping the future of the industry. With more than five million podcasts available globally and over 500 million people listening regularly, the medium has entered a golden era—where voices like The Diary Of A CEO are not only being heard, but increasingly celebrated on the global stage.
Source: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/270-the-diary-of-a-ceo-with-st-59414390/