The Dropout (podcast)

The Dropout
Season 2 cover art — The Dropout: Elizabeth Holmes on Trial
Presentation
Hosted byRebecca Jarvis
Genre
  • Investigative journalism
  • true crime
Written by
  • Taylor Dunn
  • Rebecca Jarvis
  • Victoria Thompson
LanguageEnglish
Lengthvariable (39-81 minutes)
Country of originUnited States
Production
Production
  • Taylor Dunn
  • Rebecca Jarvis
  • Victoria Thompson
Theme music composed byEvan Viola
Audio formatPodcast (via streaming or downloadable MP3)
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes30
Publication
Original releaseJanuary 15, 2019 (2019-01-15) –
November 18, 2022 (2022-11-18)
ProviderABC News
Related
AdaptationsThe Dropout (TV miniseries)
Websiteabcaudio.com/podcasts/the-dropout/

The Dropout is an American true crime podcast hosted by Rebecca Jarvis that follows the story of Elizabeth Holmes, her defunct medical company Theranos, and the related federal criminal fraud trial, United States v. Elizabeth A. Holmes, et al. It was produced by ABC News, Taylor Dunn, Victoria Thompson, and Rebecca Jarvis. After the initial six episodes of the podcast aired in 2019, a two-hour 20/20 episode premiered in March 2019, following the popularity of the podcast. A second season of the podcast, titled, The Dropout: Elizabeth Holmes on Trial, debuted in 2022 and followed along with the criminal fraud federal trial of Holmes.

The podcast series received favorable reviews, and won a Front Page Award, an iHeartRadio Podcast Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and two Webby Awards for Best Podcast. The 20/20 episode based on the podcast was nominated for a news Emmy Award in the Outstanding Feature Story in a Newsmagazine category.

The Dropout was adapted into a limited series of the same name — starring Oscar-nominee Amanda Seyfried as Holmes. Jarvis, Dunn, and Thompson served as executive producers along with showrunner Elizabeth Meriwether. The TV series based on the podcast received a positive reception and garnered multiple honors including a Critics' Choice Television Award and Producers Guild of America Award for Best Limited Series. Seyfried won a Golden Globe Award and Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Holmes based on the podcast.