The Diary of a CEO – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Diary of a CEO

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

podcast2017

82%

WISE Score

High-stakes therapy for the world's most successful people—come for the business tips, stay for the existential crises.

The Diary of a CEO

podcast

Clean, 2017

82%

WISE Score

High-stakes therapy for the world's most successful people—come for the business tips, stay for the existential crises.

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Screenwise Verdict

The Diary of a CEO is essentially a masterclass in curiosity. It’s one of the few podcasts that manages to be both 'educational' and genuinely gripping, mostly because Steven Bartlett treats every guest like a puzzle to be solved.

For parents, this is great 'car audio' for when you're alone, but maybe keep the headphones on if the kids are around. It’s not that it's 'bad' for them—it’s just that the conversations get real, dark, and complicated very quickly. If you have a teenager who is obsessed with entrepreneurship or 'optimization,' this is a much better alternative to the brain-rot influencers they might find on TikTok.

Age Fit

Best for 16 and up. While an ambitious 14-year-old might find the business stuff interesting, the themes and language are definitely calibrated for an adult audience.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It prioritizes vulnerability and emotional honesty over typical corporate bravado. Bartlett pushes guests to talk about their failures and mental health, which models a healthy way to view success, though the intensity can feel heavy.

Imaginative

While it's a talk-head format, it fuels the 'builder' mindset. It encourages listeners to rethink societal norms and imagine different ways to structure their lives and careers.

Safe

This is strictly adult-targeted. Expect frequent profanity and deep dives into mature topics like trauma, sexual health, addiction, and dark personal histories. Not something you want playing on the speakers while the 8-year-old is in the backseat.

Enriching

It is an absolute goldmine of information. Whether it's a neuroscientist explaining sleep or a founder explaining how they built a billion-dollar brand, the takeaway value per minute is incredibly high.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Humanizes 'titans of industry' by showing they're just as messy and anxious as the rest of us.
Features world-class experts on health and psychology who actually back their claims with data.
Bartlett is a master interviewer who knows how to keep a 2-hour conversation from getting boring.
Perfect for older teens who are starting to think about their own 'why' and future career paths.

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What to Watch For

The language is raw; F-bombs are standard operating procedure here.
Some guests lean into 'hustle culture' which can be a bit toxic if not taken with a grain of salt.
Topics like childhood trauma or mental health crises are discussed in graphic, unshielded detail.

Conversation Starters

"Do you think that CEO was actually happy, or just successful? Is there a difference?"
"Which 'law' of business do you think applies most to your life right now?"
"If you had to interview someone for two hours, who would it be and what's the first question you'd ask?"
"Does hearing about their failures make you feel better or worse about your own goals?"

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