Louis Tomlinson Breaks Silence on Liam Payne's Death in Emotional Diary of a CEO Interview
October 12, 2025·2 min
The episode opens by noting Steven Bartlett's influential status as an entrepreneur and media personality. It focuses on a key moment from October 8th, when his Diary of a CEO podcast released a nearly two-hour interview with Louis Tomlinson. Tomlinson, a former One Direction member, opened up about the tragic death of bandmate Liam Payne, describing it as unjust and frustrating. The conversation covered the band's breakup and touched on whether a reunion might happen, with Tomlinson saying he can't imagine it being right after Payne's death. The episode was shown in select theaters in the US and UK, demonstrating Bartlett's platform's reach. On the business side, Bartlett appeared on Dragon's Den on October 2nd, investing £90,000 for 5% in Mother Root, an alcohol-free aperitif. Mother Root's sales exploded by over 2,000% the day after the episode aired, and the product launched in Sainsbury's that same week. This follows Bartlett's pattern of Dragon's Den wins, including Perfect Ted, which became the highest-valued Dragon's Den deal to date at a £140 million valuation. Bartlett also launched Flightcast in October, a new platform for video podcasters co-founded with Roxcodes, a former engineer who worked with MrBeast. The timing is strategic, as Spotify Wrapped ranked Diary of a CEO as the fifth most popular podcast globally in 2024. Forbes reported the show passed 1 billion total streams, with £50 million monthly listeners. Bartlett declined an offer, though the details are not specified in the transcript. The episode blends personal storytelling from the interview with business achievements, showcasing Bartlett's dual impact in media and entrepreneurship. It underscores how his investments drive immediate commercial success, as seen with Mother Root. The discussion of Tomlinson's grief adds emotional depth, contrasting with the data-driven business updates. Bartlett's expansion into tech with Flightcast highlights his adaptability and growth beyond traditional media. Overall, the episode paints a picture of Bartlett as a multifaceted figure shaping culture and commerce through strategic ventures and compelling content.
