Podcast Host Steven Bartlett's Company Seeks Membership Program Head

FlightStory, the company behind "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, is hiring a head of memberships to create a paid program offering content, experiences, and benefits. The job posting states the program should promote retention, engagement, and lifetime value and become a core revenue stream that could extend to other creators in the company's portfolio.

Steven Bartlett hosts the top business podcast on Spotify in the U.S. and has 17 million YouTube subscribers. FlightStory currently operates five additional shows.

Live events signal demand for direct access Oli Thomas, director of commercial growth at FlightStory, said attendance at podcast screenings, founder dinners, and other in-person events shows listeners want to connect beyond audio episodes. Thomas cited "DOAC" screenings that drew hundreds of attendees, dinners with founders, and Own the Room events tied to another FlightStory show.

" "Each of these has underscored our belief in building communities and, in doing so, building direct, owned relationships with fans," Thomas said.

Broader creator shift toward owned revenue Other creators have launched or expanded paid memberships to reduce reliance on advertising and platform algorithms. A 2025 survey of more than 3,000 creators found self-owned businesses, subscriptions, and affiliate links grew as a share of income between 2023 and 2025.

Some creators use existing platforms such as Patreon while others build custom apps. White-label providers report increased interest from influencers seeking more stable revenue. FlightStory's planned membership would include access to back-catalog content, exclusive material, and community features, according to one industry executive familiar with similar programs.