“Uncontrolled Substances” Mini-Series Podcast: Financial Health Over Mental Health

There are some socio-economic problems that are as thorny as an award-winning rose bush. Homelessness comes to mind, as does mental healthcare. They are both seemingly intractable problems that thwart the most noble and committed to improve.

But how about when the problem solver is more interested in revenue growth and profits than actual progress?

That’s the through line to “Uncontrolled Substances: The Cerebral Story” — examining the story of how a buzzy Silicon Valley start-up, Cerebral, tried to fix the mental healthcare industry and how it spun out of control.

We know from recent experience what happens when someone or some entity claims to have a novel solution that is “groundbreaking.” Think Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, where she claimed to have developed a blood test that used surprisingly small volumes of blood, such as a fingerprick. Holmes will begin serving an 11-year sentence jail sentence next spring and her partner, Ramesh Balwani, was just sentenced to 13 years in prison.

The Journal, a podcast from the Wall Street Journal and Gimlet, has just premiered the special miniseries. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson. The Journal is a co-production from Gimlet Media and The Wall Street Journal.