Steven Bartlett podcast: ‘This misinformation could be really damaging’
The Diary of a CEO podcast host has been investigated by the BBC for platforming conspiracy theories about diet curing cancer, among other health misinformation.
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In brief…
- Steven Bartlett’s podcast is about “freedom of expression”, his team says, but the unregulated podcast industry means there are no repercussions for sharing health misinformation.
- The News Agents say the men’s wellness industry may have been “captured” by the right wing, looking to profit from people seeking alternative treatments.
- The industry comes down to “financial heft”, and not the desire to help people, they add.
What’s the story?
Steven Bartlett has faced criticism for claims made in Diary of a CEO podcast which experts say has amplified harmful health misinformation, potentially putting cancer patients at risk.
Unchallenged claims made by guests on his podcast include the suggestion that cancer can be treated with a keto (low carb, high fat) diet.
Of the 15 health-focused episodes analysed by the BBC, it was found that each contained an average of 14 health claims which could be considered harmful.
Other claims included suggesting Covid was an engineered weapon and that serious conditions such as autism, polycystic ovarian syndrome and others could be reversed through diet.
“There is very little to no scientific evidence for any of these things, but as a result of being on the show, which is extremely popular, they have been put into the ears of millions and millions of people,” says Lewis Goodall.
Barlett hasn't commented on the criticism, but the producers of the podcast have said the episodes were "thoroughly researched" and offered guests "freedom of expression".
The businessman, and star of Dragon's Den, previously faced scrutiny when adverts he appeared in for Huel and Zoe were pulled by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority.
This was due to neither ad making it clear that Bartlett is an investor in Zoe, and a director in Huel.
Has the men’s wellness space been captured by the right-wing?
Emily Maitlis says the interest in wellness for young men stems from the growing awareness of men's mental health, which grew as a response to so much focus on women's health and mental health previously.
But, she adds, this can be taken to the extreme by some podcasters, who can take it to a place of "aggressive misogyny".
"I'm not saying that Steve Bartlett is, I'm not saying the guests on his show are, but I think it is part of a growing trend which we're all recognising now, which is the language of ‘have men forgotten how to be men?’” Emily says..
"Do they have to reclaim that masculine territory and remind people that rules are rules, and sexes are sexes, and we're not going to be bossed around."
Lewis says the online wellness space has been "captured by the far right" when it might previously have been associated with more left-wing, 'hippie'-leaning individuals.
“In new media, there is this focus on wellness,” adds Jon Sopel.
“And wellness doesn't mean just being well, it means finding alternatives to the conventional ways of treating things, and science seems to go out of the window.
Jon says this goes back to the panic over the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines, and conspiracy theories that it could cause autism in children, adding we are "paying for it now" as unvaccinated young people are once again getting sick with measles.
Do podcasts need more regulation?
Lewis believes this problem will emerge “again and again” as shows such as Bartlett’s continue to reach more people than traditional media does, sticking to both science and editorial guidelines.
"It seems the charge against Diary of a CEO is that it has been used too much just to spout things which are scientifically untrue," Jon adds.
Emily says it’s clear Bartlett isn’t endorsing these views, but in this new media world, just airing them is enough to be considered dangerous.
Lewis adds that if there was regulation on podcasters, they would have to stick to traditional journalist methods of impartiality such as right-to-reply or give appropriate challenges to conspiracy theorists.
“The exact reasons that you would regulate them are the same as you would for radio and TV, which is, you're trying to stop the spread of misinformation,” he says.
“You're trying to stop people making claims which could be damaging.”
Does it all come back to money?
Bartlett himself has estimated he will make £20 million this year from his podcast.
And Emily believes that's what it all comes down to – the "financial heft" of the most successful podcasts.
“You get people who are vulnerable, who are looking for direction, who aren't going to church, they're not finding God, they're not doing all that stuff anymore,” she says.
“They are actually trying to work out how to live their lives. And the self help industry is massive.
“Every time you come across a situation like this, is it about freedom of speech, or are you just trying to flog stuff?”