- Published on
Elizabeth Holmes is back in the spotlight: why can’t we look away? – podcast
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
Elizabeth Holmes is back in the spotlight as "You Can See Everything," an A24 documentary about the disgraced health technology founder, has opened to record-breaking US audiences. The film revisits the rise and collapse of Theranos, the blood-testing company that made Holmes a Silicon Valley star before her fraud conviction. Its strong opening suggests public fascination with Holmes has not faded.
Holmes became a symbol of startup ambition when Theranos promised rapid blood tests from tiny samples. The company collapsed after revelations that its technology did not work as advertised, and Holmes was convicted of fraud. The case exposed the risks of hype-driven investment and founder worship in the tech industry.
In the Guardian's Science Weekly podcast, US technology editor Blake Montgomery tells Madeleine Finlay why Holmes remains compelling. He says the story feels impossible to invent, with a visionary founder, powerful backers and a dramatic downfall. The documentary's reception shows that audiences still want to understand how the deception lasted so long.
The record-breaking opening is notable for a documentary about a convicted fraudster. It also highlights how true-crime and tech-scandal narratives have moved into mainstream entertainment. Holmes's story combines business, celebrity and criminal justice in a way that keeps drawing attention.
The broader question is whether the Theranos scandal has permanently changed Silicon Valley. Montgomery reflects on whether investors, founders and regulators have learned lasting lessons from the case. The podcast examines why the Holmes saga remains a cultural reference point rather than a closed chapter.
For now, Holmes's renewed visibility underscores the enduring power of her story. The documentary and podcast both suggest that the Theranos affair still shapes conversations about accountability and innovation. Whether that attention produces real change remains an open question.
