![\"Web](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2259175819-e1780414753110.jpg\")
\n\t\tSteven Bartlett\u2019s podcast is no stranger to backlash (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tSteven Bartlett\u2019s podcast is no stranger to backlash (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Steven Bartlett<\/a> has been mocked by his own celebrity peers for promoting the \u2018optimisation\u2019 trend, after telling podcast<\/a> viewers that having two glasses of wine \u2018ruined his life for three days.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n The Dragon\u2019s Den star, 33, is no stranger to whipping up controversy on his Diary of a CEO podcast<\/a>, with past episodes such as those which explored declining birth rates and nutrition raising eyebrows.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s Bartlett\u2019s own anecdote about indulging in two glasses of wine that has caused the latest stir and even had celebrities weighing in.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I had a couple of glasses of wine, didn\u2019t get drunk, it ruined three days of my life because of the domino effect that it caused,\u2019 Steven explained in a recent episode. <\/p>\n \u2018It meant that I got worse sleep that night, I ate more poorly the next day because my dopamine system or the cortisol system or whatever was all messed up. Then I podcasted worse and I didn\u2019t go to the gym the day after and I could track all of this on my Whoop, hashtag ad, hashtag sponsor, investor\u2026 whatever.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n It has sparked a debate about the \u2018optimisation movement\u2019 which promotes the use of data, science and technology to improve productivity and health. Or, as some would argue, encouraging a joyless lifestyle.\u00a0<\/p>\n BBC<\/a> Radio 1 presenter Greg James, who has been vocal about Bartlett\u2019s podcast in the past, called on his Instagram<\/a> followers to \u2018join [his] anti-optimisation\/Bartlett cult TODAY!\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n James, 40, acknowledged that while there are clear positives to cutting out alcohol, he doesn\u2019t agree with monitoring everything so minutely that it deprives people of casual enjoyment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018So I\u2019ve sort of been railing against this for years. Not the alcohol thing, fair enough if you want to give up alcohol, it can ruin lives, got that \u2013 that\u2019s not what my issue is,\u2019 the radio<\/a> presenter said in an Instagram video. \u2018My issue is this endless optimisation and measuring of everything to the point where it starts to make you feel a bit miserable if you don\u2019t quite hit your own targets.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n James then held up his own book, titled All The Best For The Future, and announced he would be selling it for 99p for one day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Essentially this is the anti-Bartlett,\u2019 he declared.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018You can have ambitions and goals and get good at a skill and do well in your life professionally and also have a great time. Not everything has to be like work; you can be on and then you can be off. And this is a reminder to go and have a nice time! Go and see your friends, do a nice trip, call your mum. Do something just for you,\u2019 he added, signing off stating that that \u2018optimisation is killing fun.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Many of James\u2019 celebrity followers supported his view in the comments, with singer Paloma Faith<\/a> replying: \u2018You mean you don\u2019t have to be a nit picking, hyper critical psychopath to succeed ?\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Presenter Fearne Cotton quipped: \u2018I genuinely sometimes podcast better on a hang over,\u2019 while DJ Yasmin Evans wrote: \u2018Optimising a life that you\u2019re not living. Bonkers.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Echoing the sentiments of many others in the comments, rapper Example stated that he prefers to \u2018live in the moment and get on with it.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n TV star Julia Bradbury<\/a> spoke from her experience of dealing with health issues and weighed in: \u2018Agreed. As someone who\u2019s written books about this, at the end of the day it\u2019s about progress not perfection, and fun. I had cancer<\/a>. Grateful for every day. I track on days I want to achieve some goals and go on instincts the rest of the time. Interesting thought, that the wine had such an impact on him \u2013 and alcohol is something I\u2019ve given up. Reduces my risk of recurrence, and I\u2019ve danced on a few tables in my time.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Last year, Bartlett opened up about his decision to quit drinking alcohol and said that noticing the difference in his heart rate after he went sober was an eye-opening experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018Anyone who knows me well knows that I\u2019m obsessed with the data and the data never lies,\u2019 he wrote in a LinkedIn post<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018When I stopped drinking, I saw through the data that my increased performance came directly from cutting out alcohol.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n The NHS states that there is no completely safe level of drinking alcohol, but that consuming no more than 14 units a week helps to minimise health risks. <\/p>\n Metro has reached out to Steven Bartlett\u2019s reps for comment.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2156891239.jpg\")
\n\t\tBartlett uses the optimisation movement to enhance his healthy lifestyle and productivity (Picture: WireImage)<\/p>\n
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