3. A Star is Born

The '3. A Star is Born' episode of 'The Dropout' podcast chronicles the meteoric rise of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos, from a stealth startup to a public sensation. Despite the tragic suicide of scientist Ian Gibbons and internal warnings about the non-functioning technology, Elizabeth managed to secure a major deal with Walgreens. The episode details how Theranos, under the guise of revolutionary blood-testing technology, misled partners and the public by claiming their machines could conduct hundreds of tests with just a drop of blood. In reality, the company's devices could only perform a fraction of these tests and with questionable accuracy.

Elizabeth leveraged her compelling narrative and Steve Jobs-esque persona to gain media attention and a valuation of nearly $10 billion. She appeared on major platforms, from magazine covers to sharing the stage with Bill Clinton, enchanting the public and investors with her vision of accessible healthcare. Behind the scenes, Theranos collaborated with filmmaker Errol Morris on promotional videos and engaged a top advertising agency, Shiat Day, to craft a campaign based on the company's alleged capabilities. Meanwhile, Theranos's board, comprised of political and military heavyweights, added an air of credibility that attracted substantial investments from high-profile individuals and families.

As Theranos's public profile soared, former employees and a board member voiced skepticism about the company's technology. They couldn't reconcile the public success with the dysfunctional reality they had witnessed. The episode also touches on the company's attempt to impress Vice President Joe Biden with a staged lab tour, further illustrating the lengths to which Theranos went to maintain its facade.