Theranos | The Walgreens Deal | 2
American Scandal
Audible
4.5 • 19.6K Ratings
🗓️ 21 September 2021
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Theranos prepares to go public with its blood-testing devices. But the company faces increased scrutiny, as problems with its technology—and its leadership—add up.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, Prime members, you can listen to American Scandal add-free on Amazon Music, download the app today. |
| 0:20.0 | It's February 2010 in Palo Alto, California. |
| 0:24.0 | Inside Theranos headquarters, a column of sunlight streams through the windows, landing on Chelsea Burkette, one of the company's employees. |
| 0:32.0 | Burkette shades her pale blue eyes as she rounds a corner. |
| 0:35.0 | And when she arrives at the office of the company's CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, Burkette pauses. |
| 0:41.0 | Today is not going to be easy. Burkette and Holmes have been friends for years, and just six months ago, Holmes hired Burkette to come work at Theranos. |
| 0:50.0 | At first, it seemed like a dream job. Burkette would set up studies with the company's blood testing devices. |
| 0:56.0 | She would get to travel the world, helping develop a new piece of medical technology that could save people's lives. |
| 1:02.0 | But these last few months, Burkette has grown deeply pessimistic. |
| 1:06.0 | Theranos' company culture has grown toxic under the leadership of Sonny Balwani, a senior executive. |
| 1:12.0 | Balwani is a harsh and cruel leader, and he also happens to be Elizabeth Holmes' boyfriend. |
| 1:18.0 | But bad leadership isn't the only problem. |
| 1:21.0 | There is also all the gossip that's circulating among employees, inflated revenue projections, mysterious firings, bribes to foreign governments. |
| 1:30.0 | All of that has been upsetting for Burkette, but then came the breaking point. |
| 1:34.0 | Holmes convinced a man having a health scare to let Theranos test his blood for cancer. |
| 1:39.0 | The implication was that he should use the results to make medical decisions with life or death consequences. |
| 1:45.0 | Burkette was shocked. Theranos' technology is still far from ready, but it was clear that Holmes and Theranos would continue to act recklessly. |
| 1:54.0 | So now, as Burkette hovers outside Holmes' office, she gathers her courage and gets ready to deliver some uncomfortable news. |
| 2:03.0 | Inside her office, Elizabeth Holmes hangs up the phone and waves Burkette to come inside. |
| 2:09.0 | Burkette enters where she finds Holmes sitting behind her desk with a smile. |
| 2:15.0 | Sorry, I was on the phone with the board. |
| 2:17.0 | Burkette nods, taking a seat across from Holmes. |
... |
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