The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

What if fear isn’t something you need to overcome?

Alex Honnold is the legendary professional rock climber behind Free Solo, best known for becoming the first person to free solo Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan without ropes or safety equipment.

In this moment, Alex explains why he still feels fear, and how decades of repeatedly confronting it have changed the way he responds to it. He reveals how to make seemingly impossible challenges feel manageable, and shares a provocative perspective on modern life and what it means to feel free.

Listen to the full episode here!

Spotify: https://g2ul0.app.link/ZkT5tn2Wz5b

Apple: https://g2ul0.app.link/abbjfEaXz5b

Watch the Episodes On YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos

Alex Honnold: https://www.alexhonnold.com/

Performance Scientist Dr Andy Galpin reveals the BIGGEST sleep mistakes ruining your health, how to build better energy every day, why your sleep tracker could be making things worse, and whether health optimisation can actually backfire!

Dr. Andy Galpin is a Professor of Kinesiology and Executive Director of the Human Performance Center at Parker University. He has spent over 2 decades working with Olympic gold medallists, world champions, professional athletes, military special forces, and also hosts the Perform with Dr Andy Galpin podcast. 

He explains: 
◼ Why millions unknowingly have a sleep disorder that's silently damaging their health
◼ The morning routine that resets your body clock for better sleep at night
◼ The truth about melatonin, and why most people are taking it the wrong way
◼ The simple sleep tests you can do at home before visiting a specialist
◼ Why waking up exhausted after 8 hours could be a warning sign

Independent Fact Check: https://stevenbartlett.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DOAC-Andy-Galpin-Independent-Research-Further-Reading.pdf

Chapters

00:00:00 Why do you do what you do
00:03:38 What goals bring people to you?
00:07:30 Health anxiety and over-optimising
00:08:33 Sleep disorders are a health crisis
00:10:29 Does sleep apnea disrupt sleep?
00:14:20 Why is sleep apnea so common?
00:15:17 Do I have a sleep issue?
00:18:28 Pros and cons of wearables
00:21:20 What causes a high resting heart rate?
00:21:48 Why is sleep getting worse?
00:22:58 Morning light and light pollution
00:25:16 How much does sound matter?
00:26:51 Best evidence-based sleep supplements
00:29:25 Do you recommend melatonin?
00:34:38 Is there a downside to coffee?
00:36:46 What mattress should I sleep on?
00:37:49 The real issue with screen time
00:47:08 Sleeping when you share a bed
00:48:48 Sleeping in new environments
00:49:34 Optimal temperature for sleep
00:55:34 Ads
00:57:32 Energy management for high performers
01:02:35 Steve's cholesterol results
01:07:06 Why healthy people can have an enlarged heart
01:10:20 Lowering cholesterol with lifestyle and medicine
01:13:55 Low vitamin D
01:16:42 Omega 3 and mercury levels
01:17:32 Exercise and the SAID principle
01:23:17 Use it or lose it with age
01:27:51 Ads
01:28:53 Is grip strength linked to mortality?
01:33:53 How to build muscle power
01:36:26 Does more exercise equal better?
01:40:59 What supplements do you take?
01:42:56 The best way to lose weight
01:50:25 Exercise and weight loss myths
01:52:32 The 54321 method for fat loss
01:54:08 Why am I not progressing?
01:55:50 Can AI create a workout plan?
02:00:06 What motivates people to change?
02:06:26 Are my goals bad?
02:08:43 What is worth doing if you might fail?

Quiz Links:
PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) — https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/E41eW4P

ASSQ (Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire) — https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/3yDF4PF

ESS (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) — https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/9RKtDoZ

STOP-BANG (Obstructive sleep apnea risk screener) — https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/7UxNsxH

ISI (Insomnia Severity Index, PDF) — https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/4mgzHRs

Follow Dr Andy:
Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/CQDR1q8
YouTube - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5Squ4wN
X - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/1Fw5A7k
Podcast - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/Fu8uPd7 
LinkedIn - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5ykmlog
Website - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/8T6M9KJ
Performance Coaching - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/8QLLu9w

The Diary Of A CEO:
◼ Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/
◼ Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BWjLTZK
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◼ The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://thediary.com/products/the-conversation-cards-2nd-edition
◼ Get email updates - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5IB1H6E
◼ Follow Steven - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AGU9QP4

Sponsors:
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Bestselling author Seth Godin reveals why perfectionism is keeping you stuck, the hidden psychology behind success, when to quit, when to keep going, and why AI will reward the most HUMAN people!

Seth Godin is one of the world’s most influential business thinkers and the author of more than 20 bestselling books. He is host of the podcast Akimbo, author of a daily blog read by 1 million people, and coordinator of The Carbon Almanac project, a tool that helps people understand the climate crisis. His upcoming book, The Knot, will be published in September. 

He explains:
◼️ Why being "good enough" is often better than being the best
◼️ Why quitting is sometimes the smartest path to long-term success
◼️ The hidden reason you're stuck between the life you want and the life you have
◼️ Why trying to please everyone guarantees you'll be ignored
◼️ Why consistency beats authenticity almost every time

Chapters

00:00:00 Intro
00:02:11 What You Need to Hear If You Feel Stuck
00:05:54 Where Do Most People Actually Want to Go?
00:12:26 How to Get Unstuck: The Rope Analogy
00:19:15 What Happens When You’re Pulled in Two Directions?
00:21:01 How to Know If Your Dream Is Real
00:21:49 The Question You Need to Ask Yourself
00:23:34 Why Naming Your Resistance Changes Everything
00:24:49 Why Some People Handle Resistance Better Than Others
00:30:18 Why Embarrassment Is the Cost of Starting
00:33:17 How to Stop Shame From Holding You Back
00:41:31 Is Money and Luxury a Worthy Goal?
00:45:19 Are Some Inner Voices More Worthy Than Others?
00:47:25 How the Sunk Cost Fallacy Keeps You Stuck
00:51:49 How to Choose Yourself When the System Won’t
00:57:08 How to Know If You’re Being Delusional
00:58:49 Why We Hate Hearing the Answer We Need
01:04:30 What Else Keeps Us Stuck?
01:08:58 How to Know When It’s Time to Give Up
01:13:11 What Michael Jordan Understood About Quitting
01:14:51 Why We Should Celebrate Quitting More
01:19:14 What If You Have Everything but You’re Miserable?
01:22:42 Is Helplessness Part of the Story You Tell Yourself?
01:24:28 Warren Buffett on What Makes Work Meaningful
01:26:59 What Mark Twain Understood About Work
01:28:01 Steve Jobs on the Work Worth Doing
01:28:56 Is Perfectionism Really Procrastination?
01:33:57 Can You Be Consistent Without Losing Authenticity?
01:35:24 What AI Means for the Future
01:40:19 What Are We Missing About Getting Unstuck?
01:44:13 How to Create Urgency and Stop Putting Things Off
01:46:31 What Keeps You Going When You Could Stop?
01:47:59 The Final Advice for Anyone Who Feels Stuck
01:50:37 Would You Want to Live Forever?

Follow Seth: 
Blog - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/HZ9q021 
X - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/8s8qM2H
Facebook - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/Ali5dha
Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/2pHaSZN
Community - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/CFL3JLf
LinkedIn - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/uLn5a7

You can pre-order Seth’s upcoming book, ‘The Knot’, here: https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/F3Rq726

My favourite Seth book:
https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/FogovP0

The Diary Of A CEO:
◼Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/
◼Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BWjLTZK
◼The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://thediary.com/products/one-percent-diary
◼The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://thediary.com/products/the-conversation-cards-2nd-edition
◼Get email updates - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5IB1H6E
◼Follow Steven - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AGU9QP4

Sponsors:
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How do I best protect my brain from cognitive decline?
Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist and the founder of Neuro Athletics, specialising in brain health, human performance, and longevity.
In this Moment, Louisa Nicola reveals how the right kind of exercise can help protect the ageing brain, why one often-overlooked measure of physical strength may be a powerful marker of cognitive health, and the training approach linked to remarkable changes in the middle-aged heart.
Listen to the full episode here!
Spotify: https://g2ul0.app.link/FCjUBa95n5b
Apple: https://g2ul0.app.link/jJOy01c6n5b
Watch the Episodes On YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos

The Diary Of A CEO:
◼Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/
◼Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/BWjLTZK
◼The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://thediary.com/products/one-percent-diary
◼The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://thediary.com/products/the-conversation-cards-2nd-edition
◼Get email updates - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/5IB1H6E
◼Follow Steven - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/AGU9QP4

Sponsors:
Cometeer - https://cometeer.com/DOAC use code DOAC for $20 off
Pipedrive - https://pipedrive.com/CEO