Joe Wicks: Fitness coach known as The Body Coach, creator of the viral lockdown PE with Joe workouts, bestselling cookbook author
What this episode covers
Joe Wicks returns to Diary of a CEO for a deeply emotional conversation with Steven Bartlett. He recounts how PE with Joe reached roughly 80 million views during lockdown, a near-instant realization of his dream to get kids exercising, and the surprising flatness and lost purpose he felt afterward (gold medal syndrome). The bulk of the episode digs into his childhood: a drug-addicted father, a violent and unstable council-flat upbringing, and the mother who taught him love and value. Joe discusses breaking generational trauma cycles, the antidote to addiction being connection, his views on marriage and money, and the harms of social media. Both men also explore psychedelics, therapy, and finding a long-term 'moonshot' purpose.
The guest's own work
Wean in 15
Joe Wicks
“you know, when I was bringing out my cookbook, my weaning 15 book. So, I got a book deal and I was genuinely enjoying that journey”— Joe Wicks
Also referenced (named, not recommended)
Happy Sexy Millionaire
Steven Bartlett
“this week I had my deadline for my book, Happy Sexy Millionaire, which you can now pre-order. And it's been an absolute labor of love”— Steven Bartlett
Lost Connections
Johann Hari
“I think Johanna Hari's a real sort of I think I've got his book on the shelf behind me about loss connection”— Steven Bartlett
Calm Parents, Happy Kids
“I read a book called calm calm parents happy kids. And it's that thing you can either fight flight or pause and have a breath”— Joe Wicks
The Social Dilemma
Netflix
“I watched the social dilemma on Netflix and I was like I cannot believe how addictive we are. How these devices are so well designed”— Joe Wicks
Invisalign
Invisalign
“I got Invisalign because one a girlfriend said to me once, you know, your teeth are a bit wonky”— Joe Wicks
Lamborghini Aventador
Lamborghini
“if you get a Lamborghini Aventador the best sports car, what's next? And then I was like I'm going to just keep going”— Steven Bartlett
Big reveals from this episode
- PE with Joe hit roughly 954,000 concurrent live streams on day two, which Joe calls a world record.
- Despite the global success, Joe felt flat and lost afterward, experiencing gold medal syndrome.
- Joe reveals his father was a drug addict from a young age and his childhood was chaotic, with holes punched in doors from fighting.
- His mother was abandoned as a toddler and grew up in an orphanage, later becoming a social worker.
- Steven admits he has a negative, pessimistic view of romantic relationships, partly from witnessing his parents' screaming matches.
- Tim Ferriss reportedly recovered repressed memories of childhood abuse through a psychedelic experience, per Steven.
- Joe admits that two years ago he never used to say sorry and is still not good at it.
- Steven reveals he spent 11 of 12 months last year living in hotel rooms building social chain.
Worth remembering
- PE with Joe accumulated about 80 million views across the 18 weeks of lockdown.
- Joe received an estimated two to three thousand letters and cards from fans during that period.
- Joe studied childhood psychology for two years, fueling his interest in Freudian ideas.
- The quote 'the antidote to addiction is connection' comes from Johann Hari's book Lost Connections.
- Compass Pathways, a psilocybin company, had gone public and was worth around 2 billion dollars.
- Joe's father took part in Imperial College London's psilocybin depression trial.
- Steven says comparison is hardwired into the brain for survival and can never be fully stopped.
- The creators of social media features in The Social Dilemma reportedly keep their own kids off social media.
- Gary Vaynerchuk says the worst day of his life will be the day he buys the New York Jets, his forever moonshot.
- Steven describes the 'false peak' concept mountaineers face, applying it to Joe's career trajectory.