Steven Bartlett has been accused of amplifying health misinformation on his top-rated podcast, "Diary of a CEO."
A new BBC investigative report published Friday claimed that the English entrepreneur-investor had allowed guests who promoted "harmful health claims" on his show without challenging their unconventional, sometimes unproven assertions.
"Diary of a CEO," one of Spotify's most popular podcasts globally in 2024, initially focused on entrepreneurship and business when it launched in 2017. However, in the past 18 months, it has shifted to covering more health content, with guests presented as experts in different fields of health, wellness, and medicine.
According to BBC's analysis, of Bartlett's 23 health-related podcast episodes between April and November, 15 contained alleged potentially harmful claims.
In one episode in October, the "Dragon's Den" investor interviewed Dr. Thomas Seyfried who has championed the use of a ketogenic diet to treat cancer. However, doctors have warned against restricting the diet of cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Some studies have not ruled out the possibility that a keto diet may worsen cancer conditions by promoting tumor growth.
"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," cancer research professor David Grimes told BBC.
The investigative report also noted that guests often offered tangible solutions to health problems, claiming no side effects, but are allegedly overstretched.
"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," Heidi Larson, an expert in public confidence in healthcare, told BBC.
Flight Studio, Bartlett's production company, defended the 32-year-old against the accusations, saying guests are given the "freedom of expression" on the podcast.
"'The Diary of a CEO' is an open-minded, long-form conversation…with individuals identified for their distinguished and eminent career and/or consequential life experience," a statement from the company read.
It added that the popular podcast hears voices from all sides of a topic, "not just those Steven and the DOAC team necessarily agree with."
Bartlett has yet to respond to the claims made against him.
Steven Bartlett is best known as one of the investors on BBC One's "Dragons' Den." He is also the founder of the Web3 startup, Thirdweb, and the Flight Group.
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