Steven Bartlett, Alex Cooper make Spotify’s 2025 Global Top 10

Steven Bartlett and Alex Cooper have been named among the world’s top ten podcasters in Spotify’s 2025 global wrap-up, a milestone that underscores the growing power of creator-led media and the influence of independent voices on the global stage.

Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO ranked second globally, behind Joe Rogan’s flagship show, while Cooper’s Call Her Daddy also secured a place in the top 10, confirming both creators as dominant forces in digital audio.

Spotify also published its top 20 UK podcasts for the year, with multiple shows linked to Bartlett’s media venture, FlightStory, appearing on the list.

The Diary of a CEO, which has amassed millions of followers across platforms, focuses on business, education, health and personal development. The podcast is known for long-form interviews with entrepreneurs, psychologists, athletes and cultural figures. Bartlett’s interview style is often described as curious and probing, with conversations centred on life choices, personal challenges and the principles behind success.

Reacting to the news on LinkedIn, Bartlett reflected on the show’s origins. “The Diary Of A CEO started in my spare bedroom at 2am back in 2017,” he wrote, recalling how he edited the first episode in GarageBand using a sock as a pop-shield. “We got 40 downloads in the first week. I kept going because I loved it… it was therapy.”

He added that he learned of the Spotify ranking after receiving a message from his brother. Calling the moment “surreal”, Bartlett said: “We are JUST getting started.”

From within the wider FlightStory network, We Need To Know with Paul C. Brunson and Begin Again with Davina McCall also made Spotify’s Top 20 UK podcasts for 2025, strengthening FlightStory’s position as one of the UK’s most influential podcast ecosystems.

The recognition follows Bartlett’s announcement earlier this autumn that he plans to build what he described as a “Disney for creators” – an effort to expand his media infrastructure and consolidate creator-led IP under one umbrella.

Across the Atlantic, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy continues to shape global podcast culture. With millions of followers across her channels, Cooper built her brand around bold, unfiltered discussions on sex, dating and relationships.

In recent years, the podcast has expanded into deeper conversations with high-profile guests, including interviews on mental health, personal development and celebrity culture, while retaining its signature comedic tone.

The simultaneous rise of Bartlett and Cooper highlights the rapid mainstreaming of creator-led media. Podcasts have become powerful tools for influence, storytelling and business expansion, allowing digital-first creators to compete directly with legacy broadcasters.

From London to New York, independent podcasters are now operating at the top tier of the global media industry – reshaping not just what audiences listen to, but who gets to command attention.