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Why No One Can Look Away From Elizabeth Holmes

Oct 16, 2026 · 1h 7m

Summary

Host Max Reed and journalists John Carreyrou, Caitlin Roper, and Aaron Griffith discuss the new Elizabeth Holmes documentary featuring Nathan Fielder. They analyze her enduring cultural obsession, the gender dynamics of her rise, and her manipulative romantic relationships. The panel debates whether the film offers genuine insight or further self-rehabilitation, while drawing parallels between Holmes' fraud and broader Silicon Valley "fake it till you make it" culture.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Dell Technologies AI Factory Intro: The new Elizabeth Holmes documentary Introducing the three journalists covering Holmes Caitlin Roper: First interview and early red flags John Carreyrou: Investigating the fraud and trial Reactions to the trailer and Fielder's approach Analyzing Holmes' demeanor and manipulation in film Gender, costume, and the 'mother' narrative Empathy vs. accountability: The film's emotional pull Break and transition to cultural obsession Sponsors: Dell, Ramp, and IREN Why Holmes remains a cultural obsession The role of gender and the 'first woman founder' Relationships with Bawani and Evans: A pattern Theranos vs. Silicon Valley: Fake it till you make it Personal reactions to watching the film Sponsors: Dell, Ramp, and Ripple Tech News: OpenAI spy and espionage in AI labs Tech News: Character AI bankruptcy and acquihires Tech News: Apple's new home screen device Tech News: AI researchers smoking to signal belief Outro and credits
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