logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
21m 49s

The rise and fall of DNA testing company...

The Guardian
About this episode
The genetic testing firm 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, another twist in the story of a company that promised a pioneering approach to precision health. Now users are scrambling to delete their personal data, with the future ownership of the firm uncertain. To understand the highs and lows of 23andMe’s journey, Madeleine Finlay hears from the Guardian US ... Show More
Up next
Jul 30
Revisited: Saunas and cold plunges, where does the evidence stand?
Saunas and cold plunge pools are popping up everywhere in the UK, bringing fiery heat and icy cold to a beach, city farm or park near you. Their users will be ready with all the reasons why it’s good for both the mind and the body. But what’s the evidence for the benefits of saun ... Show More
16m 13s
Jul 28
Revisited: The surprising science of dreams and nightmares
In this episode from January 2026, Ian Sample puts listeners’ questions about dreams and nightmares to Dr Michelle Carr, the director of the Dream Engineering Laboratory in Montreal’s Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, and the author of the book Into the Dream Lab. T ... Show More
22m 6s
Jul 23
Revisited: A Scottish tea mystery, episode three – a bag for life
Science correspondent Nicola Davis investigates the strange story of Tam O’Braan and his attempts to grow tea in Scotland. In episode three of this mini-series first broadcast in October 2025, all of O’Braan’s lies come to a head and it is revealed where he was sourcing the tea b ... Show More
20m 26s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
DNA and Bankruptcy Collide With 23andMe
The genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, after years of slowing sales, legal trouble, and a declining stock price. And now, the valuable trove of genetic data the company owns is for sale, sparking privacy concerns.  On today’s Big Take, Bloomberg biotec ... Show More
16m 30s
Jun 2025
When a home DNA testing company fails...
What happens to our data once it's been handed over to DNA testing companies? One such firm, 23andMe, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The company was set up to help people could track their ancestry - one of a number of similar sites using DNA data to create links and mat ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 2025
How 23andMe's bankruptcy led to a run on the gene bank
Reporter Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi's Aunt Vovi signed up for 23andMe back in 2017, hoping to learn more about the genetic makeup of her ancestors. Vovi was one of over 15 million 23andMe customers who sent their saliva off to be analyzed by the company. But last month, 23andMe filed f ... Show More
30m 58s
May 2025
The drama and trauma of 23andMe
With the at-home DNA testing company 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to all the data millions of Americans handed over? And how should you approach the family you've found through sites like these? If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a ... Show More
30m 45s
May 2025
The drama and trauma of 23andMe
With the at-home DNA testing company 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, what happens to all the data millions of Americans handed over? And how should you approach the family you've found through sites like these? If you have a question, give us a call on 1-800-618-8545. Or send us a ... Show More
30m 45s
Jun 2025
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Defying Gravity? | 2
Plagued by low sales of its genetic tests, 23andMe adopts a bold new plan: slash prices and enter the pharmaceutical industry. But with investors nervous, can CEO Anne Wojcicki keep the show going long enough to make her DNA dream pay off?Be the first to know about Wondery’s newe ... Show More
39m 17s
Jun 2025
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Guess Who’s Back | 3
Just when it looked like 23andMe was selling to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, founder Anne Wojcicki placed a bid through her new nonprofit in an attempt to win it back at the eleventh hour. Lila MacLellan, Senior Writer at Fortune, joins David to discuss Wojcicki’s leadership style, ... Show More
37m 55s
Apr 2024
Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)
<p>Five years ago, we published an episode about the boom in home DNA testing kits, focusing on the high-flying firm 23andMe and its C.E.O. Anne Wojcicki. Their flight has been extremely bumpy since then. This update includes an additional interview with the <i>Wall Street Journa ... Show More
1h 2m
Aug 2024
How 23andMe went from a $6 billion valuation to trading for pennies
Cofounder and CEO of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, wants to take the public company private. Founded in 2006, the DNA-testing startup was valued at $6 billion in 2021. Now, it’s trading for less than a dollar. So what happened? ‘Fast Company’ senior writer Ainsley Harris breaks down 23 ... Show More
54m 45s
Jun 2025
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Great Expectorations | 1
When Silicon Valley power-player Anne Wojcicki sees gold in genetics, she forms 23andMe. She wants to bring genetic testing to the masses. But behind the hype and celebrity endorsements, can she build a company that’s selling more than just an expensive novelty product? Be the fi ... Show More
36m 42s