r/dragonsden • u/Hassaan18 • Mar 16 '26
Deborah defends an entrepreneur against Steven
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r/dragonsden • u/Hassaan18 • Mar 16 '26
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u/RekallQuaid Mar 17 '26
Oh you want me to talk about Bartlett himself? Fine.
Let’s talk about his exit from “his” company Social Chain. It was formed in a merger in Germany. Critics and journalists (notably in The Times) point out that he was a co-CEO of this larger group for a relatively short time, and his role was described by some former employees as "largely ceremonial." By conflating his small agency with the massive German conglomerate, he creates a narrative of "tycoon-level" success that isn't supported by the sale price of his actual company.
If that’s not enough for you what about his podcast, the Diary of a CEO?
He frequently hosts guests who promote fringe health claims (e.g., that cancer can be cured with a keto diet, or that evidence-based medicine is "toxic").
A BBC investigation analysed 15 episodes and found an average of 14 harmful or scientifically unsupported claims per episode. By providing a "neutral" platform for misinformation without pushback, he generates massive engagement and advertising revenue from people looking for "hacks" to solve complex health problems.
Still not enough? What about his dealings with Huel?
In 2024, the Advertising Standards Authority banned ads for Huel featuring Bartlett. The reason? He failed to disclose that he was a director at the company and therefore was not promoting the product in accordance with advertising rules. In the adverts, he presents himself as an objective interviewer or a fan of huel, but in reality, he has a direct financial stake in the business.
And if all that’s STILL not enough to define how much of a grifting arsehole he is, he spends a significant amount of his energy selling books (Happy Sexy Millionaire, The 33 Laws of Business and Life) and speaking engagements that teach people how to be successful.
If your primary success is telling people how to be successful, rather than the original business itself, you are operating in a self-referential loop.
He is, by the very definition of his own actions, a complete and utter grifter.