The Diary of a CEOIsrael Adesanya: Becoming World Champion Was The Lowest Day Of My Life!
CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 5:30
Origins, The Walkout, And Gambling With Pressure
Steven Bartlett introduces Israel Adesanya and they dive straight into his iconic walkout against Robert Whittaker. Adesanya explains how the choreographed entrance was both self‑expression and a way to divert his mind from overthinking the fight, even though it dramatically raised the stakes on a massive stage.
- •Steven and Israel connect over shared Nigerian heritage and branding/marketing admiration.
- •Adesanya recounts rehearsing his UFC 243 dance entrance obsessively the night before.
- •The walkout let him focus on creativity instead of fight anxiety.
- •He defied Dana White’s earlier refusal and insisted, “This is my show, I’m doing this entrance.”
- •He knowingly added pressure—57,000 fans and millions watching—because he enjoys gambling with high stakes and proving doubters wrong.
- 5:30 – 18:40
Nigeria To New Zealand: Racism, Bullying, And Fitting In
Adesanya describes emigrating from Nigeria through Ghana to New Zealand and the shock of suddenly being ‘the Black kid’ and an outsider. Early academic confidence contrasted with racial abuse, bullying and social fear, pushing him toward invisibility and deep people‑pleasing tendencies.
- •His parents moved for better‑recognized tertiary education and a ‘better life’.
- •He repeated Form One multiple times due to age and country changes but was ahead academically.
- •He “never knew [being Black] was a problem” until he left Nigeria.
- •He was racially harassed by a boy who later got beaten up after pushing him past breaking point.
- •To stay safe he’d walk the long way to the tuckshop, hide in the library, and avoid main corridors.
- •He tried to fit in by copying Kiwi slang, relaxing his hair, and softening his Nigerianness.
- 18:40 – 31:30
People‑Pleaser To Self‑Possessed: Unlearning Childhood Survival Strategies
Reflecting on childhood, Adesanya identifies how trying to be accepted in a new country turned him into a chronic people pleaser. He explains how this coping mechanism leaks into adult life until you consciously examine your trauma and learn to prioritize your own values over others’ approval.
- •He recognizes that trying to ‘appease the boys’ for social currency made him a people pleaser.
- •Such patterns are often invisible; most adults run on ‘old childhood trauma’ without realizing it.
- •Therapy and self‑reflection helped him trace behaviors back to early experiences.
- •He now reserves caring about opinions for people he has emotional attachment to, everyone else: “fuck ’em.”
- •He stresses reverse‑engineering beliefs: asking “Where does that come from? Why do I think like that?”
- 31:30 – 42:30
Imposter Syndrome, McLarens, And Deserving Success
Despite global success, Adesanya admits to bouts of imposter syndrome, illustrated by guilt over buying a McLaren after becoming champion. Negative comments from within his own gym made him feel undeserving until he reframed the situation around what he’d undeniably earned.
- •After beating Whittaker, he bought a McLaren 720S as a reward.
- •He hid it behind the gym and only showed a few close teammates, emphasizing shared inspiration not flexing.
- •Rumors that ‘others deserved it more’ because they worked harder triggered a week‑long shame spiral.
- •He parked the car and didn’t drive it, internalizing others’ opinions as truth.
- •Eventually he realized ‘deserve’ is subjective but ‘earned’ is indisputable—no one could take away that he’d earned it.
- •He notes how tall poppy syndrome and jealousy often come from people close to you.
- 42:30 – 52:40
Debut Highs, Emotional Crashes, And Discovering Therapy
Adesanya recounts the aftermath of his UFC debut: huge success followed by unexpected sadness once the noise stopped. Recognizing this emotional crash as dangerous, he sought therapy and mental tools to manage the rollercoaster of fame and competition.
- •His UFC debut brought a six‑figure payday and huge hype, yet he felt deeply sad afterward.
- •He likens the experience to drinking coffee: a big stimulant high then a crash.
- •He recorded video diaries asking himself, “Why am I sad? I killed that shit.”
- •Therapy became non‑negotiable so he wouldn’t become “one of those bad statistics” in entertainment.
- •Charlamagne tha God’s *Shook Ones* gave him practical ‘gems’ about anxiety and mental health.
- •A key tool: mirror self‑talk where he humanizes himself and speaks as if advising a friend.
- 52:40 – 1:01:40
2013: Depression, Broken Jaw, And Rediscovering Purpose In Fighting
Looking back, Adesanya marks 2013 as his ‘Great Depression’—a period of injury, financial stress, and relationship breakdown. A broken jaw sidelined him from fighting and stripped away his sense of purpose until he finally returned to the ring and remembered who he was.
- •A broken jaw in 2012 kept him from fighting for 6–7 months, taking away his main purpose.
- •Simultaneously his girlfriend left, his business struggled, and work life was miserable.
- •He even fleetingly fantasized about robbing a shop just to eat, which gave him empathy for desperate criminals.
- •Supportive parents were his safety net; he could ask for small loans when absolutely necessary.
- •His comeback fight in mid‑2013 reignited his sense of identity: “I know who the fuck I am.”
- 1:01:40 – 1:11:40
Masculinity, Martial Arts, And Purpose For Young Men
Adesanya and Bartlett discuss male suicide, purposelessness, and the role gyms and martial arts can play in giving young men healthy outlets. Israel frames combat sports as a way to tame the inner ‘beast’ while civilizing the mind.
- •They note suicide as the leading killer of men under 45 and link it to lack of purpose.
- •Bartlett suggests more cheap local gyms as a national mental health intervention.
- •Adesanya wants to do life‑threatening, adrenaline‑spiking things a few times a year after retirement to ‘tame the beast’.
- •He cites the quote: “Make savage of the body and civilize the mind.”
- •He distinguishes healthy masculinity from ‘toxic masculinity’, arguing men need spaces to lift, roll, and struggle physically.
- •Training with teammates trying to choke him out activates something primal that keeps him grounded.
- 1:11:40 – 1:26:40
Fame, Attention, And Watching It From The Outside
The conversation turns to the surreal mechanics of fame: fake celebrity, clout‑chasing, paparazzi, and social media mobs. Adesanya describes fame as something happening outside of him that he observes, and warns that attention is now the main social currency.
- •He references a viral ‘fake famous’ Times Square experiment and recognizes the same dynamic around him.
- •During a Times Square shoot, strangers who didn’t know him still queued for photos once cameras appeared.
- •He distinguishes between ‘real teammates’ and people who just go to the same gym or circle.
- •He enjoys the perks of fame but dislikes the exposure and loss of privacy.
- •Fame is addictive; many ex‑athletes can’t let go and continue seeking headlines.
- •He sees social media as amplifying complainers and mobs rather than doers.
- 1:26:40 – 1:50:00
Cancel Culture, Authenticity, And Refusing The Saint Role
Adesanya explains how he navigates cancel culture by refusing to present a sanitized image. He recounts clashes with media over his language and branding, and rejects the expectation that athletes must be role models for other people’s children.
- •He criticizes Jon Jones’ trap of presenting as a perfect ‘pastor’s son’ role model while living inconsistently.
- •Israel’s mantra: “Raise your own damn kids” instead of outsourcing role‑modeling to celebrities.
- •He defends wearing a ‘Good Cunt’ T‑shirt by pointing out the hypocrisy of glorifying violence but policing words.
- •He refuses to play TV ‘language games’—being scolded for swear words while hosts act differently off‑camera.
- •He quotes Charlamagne: “Speak your truth so no one can use your truth against you.”
- •He insists he’s not a saint, just a human capable of both good and bad, which blunts cancellation attempts.
- 1:50:00 – 2:16:40
Privacy, Relationships, And The Cost Of Exposure
Adesanya draws a hard line around his romantic life and future children, citing how the public ‘builds you up to tear you down.’ He gives examples of intrusive fan behavior and why he keeps parts of his life completely off‑limits.
- •He will never publicly show his children’s faces and may not even give them his last name to reduce pressure.
- •His siblings dislike being introduced only as “Israel’s brother/sister”; he doesn’t want that for his kids.
- •Persistent rumors about his sexuality based on style choices amuse rather than bother him.
- •He finds it difficult to balance obsession with his craft and healthy romantic relationships, especially with fame‑driven agendas.
- •Qualities he values: kindness, true care, and someone who wants nothing from him materially.
- •He shares an example of a fan asking for a phone call while he was grieving his cat’s death—showing how people often ‘just take.’
- 2:16:40 – 2:30:00
Boundaries, Fans, And Saying No Without Guilt
Having once tried to match every fan’s energy, Adesanya now protects his emotional bandwidth. He outlines when he’ll engage, when he won’t, and why respecting his ‘no’ is non‑negotiable.
- •After the Whittaker fight, he publicly asked fans to approach him calmly at the airport because he was drained.
- •He realized he doesn’t have to match a stranger’s 10/10 excitement when he’s at a 2/10 internally.
- •He calls it a ‘hard pill’: he’s not as excited to meet fans as they are to meet him, and that’s okay.
- •If someone respects his no during a meal or date, he may offer a photo later as appreciation.
- •He learned from Mos Def politely refusing a picture mid‑conversation, recognizing the importance of context and etiquette.
- •He follows the rule: when you’re explaining yourself, you’re losing—so a simple “no” is enough.
- 2:30:00 – 2:37:20
Day Ones, Yes‑Men, And Staying Grounded
Adesanya credits his long‑term friends with keeping him grounded and checking his worst ideas. He’s wary of yes‑men and purposely surrounds himself with people who knew him long before fame.
- •He admits it’s ‘lonely at the top’ unless you bring the right people with you.
- •All his close friends in his group chat have been in his life for over a decade.
- •They share stories from the past that remind him where he comes from.
- •Trusted friends like Chance will firmly say “no” to bad ideas, which he values.
- •He sees unchecked agreement as dangerous for ego and decision‑making.
- 2:37:20 – 2:52:20
School, Future Kids, And Designing A Different Life
Adesanya outlines his unconventional vision for raising children: minimal traditional schooling, heavy emphasis on movement and socialization, and many real‑world adventures. He criticizes school as outdated worker‑training and describes how grades can warp self‑worth.
- •He wants to be a present father from ages 0–5/6, not a constantly absent working dad.
- •He calls school an outdated system designed to create workers, not thinkers.
- •Personal tutors would handle core academics for his kids from 9–1, followed by daily gymnastics and jiu‑jitsu.
- •Group activities will provide social skills without relying on school yards.
- •He recounts being publically shamed as ‘bottom three’ in Nigerian boarding school, and how grades often become identity.
- •He believes young people vastly over‑tie their self‑worth to exam results and career timelines.
- 2:52:20 – 3:09:20
Manifestation, Ego, And Legacy As Immortality
In the final stretch, Adesanya explains his belief in manifestation and why legacy matters so deeply to him. He wants the name ‘Adesanya’ to be eternally synonymous with greatness and for people to remember not just his wins, but how he made them feel.
- •He practiced gear‑shifting in a beat‑up Honda as if it were a supercar long before he owned one.
- •He sees imagination as the source of all creations; he’s repeatedly manifested personal and professional outcomes.
- •He openly acknowledges ego in wanting to be immortalized in history like King Tut or Michael Jordan.
- •He wants any bearer of the Adesanya name to feel proud of the association.
- •Legacy for him is largely emotional: he wants fans to remember the feeling of watching his fights.
- •He recognizes his privilege in being able to dream and self‑actualize where his immigrant parents focused on survival.
- 3:09:20
Happiness, Impermanence, And Final Reflections
Prompted by questions left by previous guests, Adesanya reflects on happiness, its fleeting nature, and why he no longer braces for the next bad thing. He closes by reaffirming his commitment to authenticity and protecting the parts of his life that aren’t for public consumption.
- •Asked if he’s happy, he says ‘right now, yes’ and emphasizes that all states—good and bad—are temporary.
- •He used to anxiously anticipate the next crisis after a string of good days; now he simply sits in happiness until challenges arise.
- •He’s getting better at defending happiness by saying no, especially when drunk and prone to over‑giving.
- •He reiterates that his love life and family are ‘not for sale’ and won’t be turned into content.
- •He and Steven touch on meaning vs survival—immigrant parents survived so their kids could self‑actualize.
- •They close on mutual respect, agreeing that authentic self‑expression naturally attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones.
