“This was AMAZING! It was great to see Steven on the other side of an interview and learn so much more about him. I absolutely love how he talks about love and his relationship. So special!” - Spotify Listener
If you had told me six months ago that I’d be writing this email, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are.
Today on Hot Smart Rich, I’m sitting down with one of my greatest inspirations, Steven Bartlett from Diary of a CEO.
Back in December, we announced Steven and FlightStory’s investment and partnership in Hot Smart Rich. This episode is the real culmination of that moment. Fifteen years of showing up, building, doubting, pushing, and staying in the game even when the path wasn’t clear.
This conversation means more to me than I can put into words. It’s a reminder that the continually showing up works, that belief compounds, and that sometimes the people you admire most might be watching you and end up sitting across from you.
And honestly, this is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come, angels.
If independence is the goal we have all been chasing, why do so many ambitious people still feel stuck?
Today on Hot Smart Rich, Steven Bartlett joins me for a conversation about the ideas that quietly shape our careers and our relationships. Steven is the founder of Diary Of A CEO, the 2nd biggest podcast in the world, and someone who has spent years thinking about what actually drives progress, growth, and fulfillment.
We talk about what creators need to win in 2026, why quitting is not failure, and why the boldest moves in life often feel embarrassing at first. Following his recent engagement, Steven also opens up about commitment, dependence, and why doing everything alone may be the very thing holding people back from building the life they want.
We cover:
Why embarrassment is the “entry fee” for creators and high achievers • How tiny, embarrassingly small steps compound into big wins
The “paper walls” most people accept and why pushing them is key
A quitting framework for jobs, relationships, and projects
Why independence isn’t the flex, it’s dependence that drives results
His personal journey from founder to podcaster to fiancé
What stayed with me is how often we confuse independence with strength, when real growth usually comes from choosing the right people to build with.
Steven really made me think about what matters in life, and how choosing who we spend it with may be the most important decision we ever make.
♡ About The Guest ♡
Steven Bartlett - Entrepreneur, Speaker & Bestselling Author
Steven Bartlett is a British entrepreneur, speaker, bestselling author, and the visionary behind Social Chain, a disruptive social media and marketing company he co-founded in his early twenties that helped shape the voice of major global brands online. Known for his remarkable rise from a university dropout to a self-made millionaire, Steven has become a defining voice of modern entrepreneurship, especially among younger founders, by pairing sharp business instincts with radical transparency about mental health, purpose, and personal growth. He’s also the creator and host of The Diary of a CEO, one of the world’s most downloaded business podcasts, where he interviews trailblazers across industries about life behind the curtain of success. With a strong presence in tech and wellness investing, including as the youngest ever investor on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Steven has cemented his role as a cultural leader who’s reshaping what it means to build, scale, and lead in the digital age.