Over the past few years, I’ve explored XR through the dual lens of academic research and podcast interviews, culminating in my dissertation Embodying the Image: Spect-actorship and Virtual Reality and over two dozen conversations with creators on Dr. VR. This talk bridges theory and practice, examining how agency, embodiment, and ethics shape immersive design today.
Drawing from both scholarship and real-world insights, I’ll reflect on emerging trends in XR, from user-centered design to interdisciplinary collaboration, and what they reveal about the future of storytelling and interaction. Above all, I’ll share what continues to excite me about XR’s potential to radically transform how we engage with media and with each other, and what XR has taught me after a PhD and 50 Podcast Episodes.