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Voices of VR

Kent Bye
Virtual Reality
Augmented Reality
Artificial Intelligence
Immersive Storytelling
Vrchat
Augmented World Expo
Spatial Computing
Apple Vision Pro
IDFA Doclab
Raindance Immersive
Meta
Webxr
Mixed Reality
Snap Spectacles
Meta Connect 2025
Location-Based Entertainment
Immersive Art
Immersive Theater
Interactive Storytelling
Community Building

Designing for Virtual Reality. Oral history podcast featuring the pioneering artists, storytellers, and technologists driving the resurgence of virtual & augmented reality. Learn about the patterns of immersive storytelling, experiential design, ethical frameworks, & the ultimate potential of XR.

PublishesDailyEpisodes200Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignTechnologyArts

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Artwork for Voices of VR

Latest Episodes

I participated in another Socratic Debate about the Future of "AI" and XR at Augmented World Expo 2026 with Leslie Shannon, Alvin Graylin, and Louis Rosenberg (you can listen to last year's debate in episode #1611). Shannon and Graylin argued for "AI... more

I interviewed Caitlin Krause about the experience of XR, Process Philosophy musings, & the ethics of AI on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, California. This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of VR Patre... more

I interviewed Trond Nilsen about reluctantly using AI Hyperscalers & the aspiration for open source alternatives on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at Augmented World Expo in Long Beach, California. This is a listener-supported podcast through the Voices of ... more

I interviewed XR Pioneer Tom Furness about Luminara, Institute Institute of Light that he announced at on June 17th, 2026 during his 1:35p session at Augmented World Expo. He describes the vision on their website as "Luminara is a non-profit research... more

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Recent Guests

Leslie Shannon
Panelist offering optimism about AI tools
European XR/tech perspective (implied)
Episode: #1749: Socratic Debate on the Future of “AI” & XR (Round 2) from AWE 2026
Alvin Graylin
XR industry veteran and AI commentator
HTC (mentioned in context)
Episode: #1749: Socratic Debate on the Future of “AI” & XR (Round 2) from AWE 2026
Caitlin Krause
designer, author, educator, and artist focused on digital wellbeing and experiential practices in XR
MindWise
Episode: #1748: Caitlin Krause on the Experience of XR, Process Philosophy Musings, & the Ethics of AI
Trond Nilsen
XR software engineer and educator
University of Washington
Episode: #1747: XR Software Engineer Trond Nilsen on Reluctantly Using AI Hyperscalers & the Aspiration for Open Source Alternatives
Tom Furness
Founder of Virtual World Society; pioneer in VR/AR
Luminara Institute of Light (Institute announced)
Episode: #1746: Tom Furness Announces The Luminara, Institute of Light to Cultivate Human Flourishing with XR
Sean Mann
CEO and co-founder of RP1; board member at the Metaverse Standards Forum
RP1
Episode: #1744: Open Metaverse Browser Initiative for Web-Based Spatial Services Announced by RP1 and Metaverse Standards Forum
Ben Erwin
President of the Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences; creator of the Polys
Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences
Episode: #1743: Ben Erwin on Immersive Public Media, Open Standards, & The Academy of Immersive Arts and Sciences
Amanda Watson
VR software engineer with Oculus experience and robotics tele-operation
Former Oculus/Facebook Meta; robotics industry
Episode: #1742: Amanda Watson on GPL Compatibility in VR, Oculus Link & Air Link, & VR as the Perfect 3DUI for Robotic Teleoperation
Dario Laverde
Former HTC Vive developer relations engineer and director of developer relations
Stay Warm Studio (via project)
Episode: #1741: Interoperable OpenXR with a Single APK to 3 Different HMDs for a P2P Multi-Player Game by Stay Warm Studios

Hosts

Kent Bye
Host of Voices of VR; focuses on the broad landscape of VR/AR, ethics, and culture in immersive tech.
Ken Pai
Host and framing expert; conducts deep dives into immersive tech with a focus on ethics, culture, and industry trends.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 315 ratings
  • #1707 - terrific

    Another great podcast, Kent - moving and inspiring!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Benedictinemonk
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • [A]ug

    We thereafter we say begain came pa/wi, togett here we found ed~u cation.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    [A]ug
    United States8 months ago
  • Oliver Kadel

    A leading podcast on immersive technology, art and storytelling!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oliver Kadel
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Useful&meaningful!

    Superb podcast for everyone passioned about XR!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RealImmersion
    Finland2 years ago
  • Essential podcast for immersive world

    I’ve been following Kent’s work for almost 10 years now, and it’s incredible how much essential knowledge about the immersive industry collected in this podcast. It documented every turn, most of important creative projects, games, platform developments. Kent has also developed his own theory of presence and essential dive into ethics in XR. Kent is the voice of the immersive industry, and I hope everyone who’s interested in this space follows Kent’s work and listens to his podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alina_less
    Russia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Deep, thoughtful interviews with strong ethical grounding.
Some critics note occasional heavy focus on policy/ethics over light entertainment.
Audience feedback highlights practical insights and inspiring storytelling.
Consistently provides access to leading researchers and practitioners.
High-quality, rigorous exploration of XR and its societal impacts.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#206
Japan/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#1724: Snap Specs Announcement & Kickoff of AWE 2026 Coverage
Q: Are you targeting enterprise, consumer, or both with Specs, and who is the primary audience for this device?
The team emphasizes a consumer focus for the new Specs while noting interest across enterprises; the rollout centers on consumer adoption, with enterprises and location-based experiences mentioned as potential segments, but the primary launch is consumer-oriented.
#1724: Snap Specs Announcement & Kickoff of AWE 2026 Coverage
Q: Maybe you could give a bit more context as to your background and your journey into the space.
Russell explains his 12-year arc at Snap from hardware engineer to product team, focusing on Specs, its standalone nature, and the goal of bringing compute into the physical world alongside the user.
#1731: Diversifying Beyond XR Indie Gaming & “Trip the Light” with Dark Arts Software
Q: What is next for Dark Arts and Trip the Light?
Dark Arts plans to bring Trip the Light to Pico and expand with new songs and dance styles, plus develop a flat-screen version with Vizzi, while preparing to exit early access and launch a full 1.0 version with a season pass structure; the company also aims to broaden its capabilities by highlighting MR capture tools and new rendering tech.
#1729: Celeste Lear on Sustainability Awareness in XR, DJing in Social VR, Virtual Production, & TigerVision Immersive Displays
Q: What are some concrete examples of XR projects with sustainability goals you've led or been involved with?
She highlighted collaborations with the UN for digital twin projects and SDG-focused installations, plus efforts to visualize local environmental data for public education, demonstrating XR's potential to amplify climate action and accessibility of data.
#1729: Celeste Lear on Sustainability Awareness in XR, DJing in Social VR, Virtual Production, & TigerVision Immersive Displays
Q: Can you describe how your early experiences as a DJ in social VR shaped your later work in XR and virtual production?
Her background in music and live performance cultivated a deep understanding of audience engagement and real-time storytelling, which later informed her approach to immersive event design and the way she choreographs interactions in virtual environments.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Voices of VR

What is Voices of VR about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights immersive tech, with deep dives into VR/AR storytelling, ethics, design patterns, and the societal implications of XR. Across episodes, the host and guests explore experiential design, accessibility, governance, and the evolving role of immersive media in culture, art, journalism, and public policy. Notable are rigorous interviews with researchers, artists, festival programmers, and industry leaders who bring historical context, practical challenges, and future directions for immersive experiences. A standout quality is the blend of theory and hands-on practice, often bridging creative expression with ethical and regulatory considerations. Potential listeners include creators, researchers, marketers, and decision-makers... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Voices of VR?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Voices of VR:

1. Uncanny Valley | WIRED
2. The 404 Media Podcast
3. Hard Fork
4. Tech Won't Save Us
5. Better Offline

How many episodes of Voices of VR are there?

Voices of VR launched 12 years ago and published 200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Voices of VR?

Recent guests on Voices of VR include:

1. Leslie Shannon
2. Alvin Graylin
3. Caitlin Krause
4. Trond Nilsen
5. Tom Furness
6. Sean Mann
7. Ben Erwin
8. Amanda Watson

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