Impactful Realities with Jason Jerald

EPISODE 11 - SHARIF RAZZAQUE

In this episode, Sharif Razzaque traces the full arc of XR—from early research at UNC to real-world medical systems that are now used on patients every day. This is not theory. It’s the transition from lab innovation to life-changing outcomes.  What starts with redirected walking and shared research labs evolves into something much harder: building systems that actually work in hospitals, scale across users, and justify their existence through measurable impact. This conversation goes deep into what it takes to move from “interesting tech” to real-world value. Sharif breaks down: – Why most XR ideas fail—and how to identify the ones that actually matter – The 10-year path from research prototype to commercial medical product – How XR can reduce complex procedures from hours to minutes – Why the biggest opportunity is not experts—but scaling expertise to everyone else – The real reason some life-saving treatments remain underused – How to think about ROI when the baseline is “impossible before” – Why users should never care whether something is XR or not At its core, this episode is about precision: understanding the exact problem, the exact user, and the exact impact—and building only what serves that. For builders, operators, and decision-makers, this is a blueprint for turning immersive technology into something that actually matters. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EPISODE 10 - JEREMY KENISKY

In this episode, Jeremy Kenisky shares a grounded, operator-level view of XR—far beyond demos and hype. From shipping millions of AR devices to building VR training systems for oil & gas, defense, and education, this conversation traces what actually works when immersive tech meets real-world constraints. This is not a surface-level discussion. It’s a breakdown of how XR moves from novelty to infrastructure—where mistakes cost millions, and training can directly impact safety, performance, and workforce readiness. Jeremy unpacks: – Why experiential learning consistently outperforms traditional training—and where it actually matters – The shift from consumer AR/VR to enterprise-scale workforce systems – How XR is solving critical labor shortages in high-stakes industries like energy – The hidden bottlenecks in building training systems (SMEs, standardization, scalability) – Why “sandbox” environments sometimes outperform rigid step-by-step simulations – The real role AI will play in training—from assistants to autonomous instructors – What most XR builders still misunderstand about value creation The conversation also explores a deeper layer: the growing workforce crisis in essential industries—and why immersive training may be one of the few scalable solutions. This episode is for builders, operators, and decision-makers who care about outcomes—not prototypes. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

SPECIAL EPISODE - 9 - I/ITSEC 2025

Step onto the floor of the world’s largest simulation and training conference — I/ITSEC 2025 — through the eyes of Dr. Jason Jerald, a pioneer in virtual and mixed reality. In this exclusive on-the-ground walkthrough, Jason guides us through cutting-edge defense and public safety simulations, immersive training platforms, and mixed-reality breakthroughs that redefine how humans learn, respond, and operate under pressure. From multi-million dollar dome-based flight simulators to medical trauma environments inside virtual ambulances, this episode goes beyond the hype of headsets — showing real-world applications of XR that save lives, sharpen reflexes, and revolutionize training across defense, aerospace, healthcare, and law enforcement. You’ll see: •🔍 Dome & cave simulators with pixel-perfect fidelity •🧠 Full-body law enforcement training with AI interactions •🛫 Aircraft carrier catapult launch simulations •💣 Realistic VR for explosive ordnance & nuclear material training •👮 De-escalation and behavioral awareness systems with real-time feedback Most of all, you’ll see how immersive technology creates impact — not just innovation for its own sake, but transformation where it matters most. 🎥 Captured live at I/ITSEC 2025 in Orlando, Florida 🎙 Hosted by Jason Jerald, Impactful Realities ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EPISODE 8 - JEREMY DALTON

In this high-impact episode of Impactful Realities, XR pioneer Jeremy Dalton (author of Reality Check, former PwC XR lead, and founder of the upcoming XRHQ platform) joins Jason to reveal how immersive technologies are driving real-world results—not just buzzwords. 🔍 From training flight crews at American Airlines to remote firefighting in Germany, and even surprising daily VR use among seniors, Jeremy breaks down the hard numbers, case studies, and design principles behind the most effective XR implementations across industries. 🧠 Key themes explored: •How to build your own luck in emerging tech industries •What really killed the “metaverse” (and why it mattered) •The 5D model for XR implementation (Discover, Design, Develop, Deploy, Debrief) •How VR outperforms Zoom in fostering team closeness—and why it’s more exhausting •Why older adults are power users of VR—and what it teaches us about experience design •A sneak peek at XRHQ.com, a global AI-powered case study database launching in 2026 📚 Whether you’re in training, healthcare, construction, or just curious about how XR and AI are converging for real ROI—this episode is loaded with data-backed insights you won’t find anywhere else. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

EPISODE 7 - PHILLIP MANGOS

In this powerful episode of Impactful Realities, host Jason Jerald sits down with Dr. Phillip Mangos, CEO of Adaptive Immersion, to explore how immersive training in high-risk environments can literally save lives—and how to prove it with hard numbers. Phillip breaks down how Adaptive Immersion helps organizations—from military to manufacturing—build XR training that prepares employees for the rare, dangerous, and high-stakes moments that can’t be practiced with traditional training. From active shooter simulations to chemical spills and aviation incidents, Phillip shares how data-driven ROI models, behavioral DNA mapping, and smart scenario generation allow even rare incidents to be trained and measured meaningfully. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: • Why rare events like near-misses and black swan incidents can be measured—and how • How to use performance-based ROI models to justify XR investments to stakeholders • Why the first six months on a job are the most dangerous—and how to target training accordingly • How to turn raw XR data into clear charts that speak to executives, safety officers, and decision-makers • Why combining field expertise with scientifically-backed methods is essential to building XR that works Whether you’re an XR developer, safety leader, or enterprise innovator, this episode will help you move past the hype and start building training programs that deliver real-world outcomes—and prove it. 📫 Connect with Phillip Mangos & Adaptive Immersion: Links available in the show notes linked in the featured section 📥 Email contact available in the show notes. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.