The Challenge: Scaling Production for Global Podcast Domination
The Diary of a CEO isn't just another podcast. It's a global phenomenon. Hosted by entrepreneur and Dragons' Den investor Steven Bartlett, this show has achieved what few podcasts ever do:
- #2 podcast in the world
- #1 podcast in the UK (Apple Podcasts, 2024)
- Over 1 billion total views and listens across all platforms
- The fastest-growing podcast in the world, adding 300,000-500,000 new subscribers monthly
- 50 million downloads/views per month
- 3 million downloads per episode average
But behind this massive success lies a critical challenge: how do you maintain premium quality while producing content at this scale, twice weekly, with the consistency that millions of listeners expect?
The Solution: Longwave's Premium Podcast Production
For the past 18 months, Longwave has been behind The Diary of a CEO's video production, handling the majority of the main podcast editing. While Steven's internal team manages intros and final touches, Longwave is responsible for transforming the raw interviews into the polished, engaging content that keeps audiences coming back.
The timing of our partnership coincides directly with The Diary of a CEO's explosive growth. Since Longwave began handling the majority of their video production, the podcast has achieved its fastest growth period ever - reaching #2 globally while maintaining the consistent, premium quality that millions of listeners expect twice weekly.
Our Role in The Diary of a CEO Success Story
Multi-Camera Video Editing Excellence
- Professional cutting and structuring of long-form interviews (often 2+ hours)
- Seamless transitions between multiple camera angles
- Strategic pacing that maintains viewer engagement throughout extended conversations
- Expert handling of complex guest interviews with world-renowned figures
Audio Optimisation & Enhancement
- Professional audio cleanup for varied recording environments
- Noise reduction and clarity enhancement
- Consistent audio levels across all episodes
- Sound design that enhances the viewing experience without distracting from content
Visual Polish & Brand Consistency
- Visual enhancements that keep viewers engaged
- Consistent branding across all video elements
- Professional graphics integration
The Results: Measurable Impact on Global Scale
Our partnership with The Diary of a CEO directly aligns with their period of unprecedented growth. Since Longwave began handling 95% of their video production 18 months ago, the podcast has achieved its fastest expansion ever, reaching #2 globally while maintaining the premium quality that sets it apart from competitors.
Since partnering with Longwave, The Diary of a CEO has achieved:
Audience Growth:
- Became the first UK podcast to reach 1 billion total views/listens
- Consistently ranks in top podcast charts globally
- Episodes regularly exceed 3 million downloads each
- YouTube channel has grown beyond 10 million subscribers
Production Efficiency:
- Streamlined workflow allowing twice-weekly episode releases
- Reduced turnaround times despite increasing episode complexity
- Consistent quality across hundreds of episodes
- Freed up internal team to focus on strategy
Industry Recognition:
- Apple Podcasts named it UK's #1 podcast of 2024
- Spotify Wrapped ranked it among top 5 podcasts globally
- Most downloaded and shared episodes in 2024
- Flight Story (parent company) became UK's largest independent podcast network
Why The Diary of a CEO Chose Longwave
Speed Without Compromise: The podcast industry moves fast, but The Diary of a CEO moves faster. With twice-weekly episodes featuring high-profile guests, there's zero room for delays. Longwave's streamlined processes ensure episodes are edited, polished, and delivered on schedule every single time.
Premium Quality at Scale: When your guests include Simon Cowell, Mo Gawdat, and other world-renowned figures, the production quality must match the caliber of conversation. Our team treats every episode like a premium documentary, ensuring the technical execution never distracts from the powerful content.
Reliability They Can Count On: Steven Bartlett has built a media empire, and reliability is non-negotiable. Long Wave Digital has become an extension of his team—a trusted partner who understands the brand, maintains consistency, and delivers results without constant oversight.
Strategic Understanding: We don't just edit podcasts; we understand the business of podcasting. Our team knows how to optimise content for different platforms, create engaging social media assets, and maintain the pacing that keeps millions of viewers watching until the end.
The Longwave Difference
Why Premium Podcasts Choose Us
Industry-Leading Expertise: Our team has worked with some of the world's biggest podcasts, understanding the unique challenges that come with large-scale production. We know how to handle celebrity interviews, manage complex scheduling, and deliver consistent results under pressure.
End-to-End Solution: From initial raw footage to final published content, we handle every aspect of post-production. This comprehensive approach ensures consistency and allows podcast teams to focus on what they do best: creating great content and building their audience.
Scalable Systems: Our processes are built to handle growth. As The Diary of a CEO has expanded from millions to tens of millions of monthly downloads, our systems have scaled seamlessly to meet increasing demands.
Brand Understanding: We don't just edit videos; we become brand custodians. Our team understands The Diary of a CEO's unique voice, pacing, and visual style, ensuring every episode feels authentic to the brand.
Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
The numbers don't lie. Since beginning our partnership with The Diary of a CEO:
- 500+ episodes edited and delivered
- Zero missed deadlines in 18 months of partnership
- Billions of views across edited content
- Consistent top-chart performance maintained during our partnership period
- Direct correlation between our production partnership and their fastest growth period ever
But The Diary of a CEO is just one example of Longwave's premium podcast production capabilities. We've built our reputation by working with shows that demand the highest standards and can't afford mistakes.
What This Means for Your Podcast
If your podcast is ready to scale to the next level, whether you're aiming for your first million downloads or your first billion views, the production partner you choose will make the difference between good and exceptional.
You need a team that can:
- Handle increased episode frequency without quality compromise
- Maintain consistency across hundreds of episodes
- Understand the business of podcasting, not just the technical aspects
- Scale systems as your audience grows
- Deliver on time, every time, without exception
The Partnership That Powers Success
Steven Bartlett didn't build The Diary of a CEO into the world's #2 podcast by accident. Every decision was strategic, including the choice to partner with Longwave for video production.
The results speak for themselves: The podcast achieved its fastest growth period ever during our 18-month partnership, reaching #2 globally while maintaining the premium production quality that sets industry standards.
When podcasters ask, "Who edits The Diary of a CEO?" the answer is Longwave. We're the team that ensures millions of listeners receive the premium experience they expect, episode after episode.
The same expertise, systems, and dedication that power The Diary of a CEO's success are available for your podcast. Whether you're producing weekly interviews or daily content, Longwave delivers the premium production quality that today's audiences demand.
Longwave is the premium video production partner behind some of the world's largest podcasts. When consistent quality and reliable delivery are non-negotiable, industry leaders choose Longwave.
Contact Longwave today to discuss how we can scale your podcast production.
