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Into the Metaverse

Into the Metaverse

By Yonatan Raz-Fridman

Our mission is to become the leading destination to learn about the Metaverse - what it is, why it’s important, how it will impact our lives, and what opportunities it unlocks. We are pursuing this mission by producing and publishing reliable, insightful and entertaining podcast shows. Join metaverse entrepreneur and thought leader Yonatan Raz-Fridman "Yon" (founder and CEO of Supersocial) as he and his guests help make sense of the Metaverse!

Intro music provided by Jeremy Marsan jeremymarsan.com/
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Currently playing episode

EP.51: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #1

Into the MetaverseMay 24, 2023

00:00
33:25
EP.91: Marketing on Roblox & Reaching Gen Z Audiences With Krystal Hauserman
Mar 07, 202441:49
EP.90: Bringing the Metaverse to the Enterprise with EY’s Edwina Fitzmaurice
Feb 28, 202436:14
EP.89: Yon & Matthew Break Down Roblox’s 2023 Results and the Epic x Disney Deal

EP.89: Yon & Matthew Break Down Roblox’s 2023 Results and the Epic x Disney Deal

Roblox just reported a very strong set of results for 2023 and Yon and Matthew are back to break it down. We also had to dive into Epic and Disney’s new partnership.

For those that missed it, Disney is investing $1.5 billion for an undisclosed equity stake in Epic. They will partner to build immersive experiences around Disney’s iconic IPs like Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar.

Chapters:

Key Highlights from Roblox’s Earnings (01:22)

Aging Up of the Roblox Platform (06:18)

Roblox Cash Flow & Financial Numbers (07:10)

Upcoming Initiatives for Roblox (08:38)

AI Deployment on the Roblox Platform (11:05)

Roblox Wrap Up (13:45)

Epic x Disney First Reactions (14:20)

Disney’s Gaming Strategy (20:37)

Epic’s 3rd Party Partner Strategy (22:05)

-- -- -- -- --

Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Feb 13, 202425:52
EP.88: Yon & Matthew Talk All Things Metaverse

EP.88: Yon & Matthew Talk All Things Metaverse

Welcome back to Into the Metaverse. In this week’s episode, Yon and Matthew dive into four of the most important and interesting news stories related to the metaverse.

The topics we discuss today include the smash hit new video game Palworld, the latest salvo in the Apple vs. Epic saga, the launch apps for the Apple Vision Pro and Netflix’s gaming strategy.

Check out friend of the pod Joost Van Dreunen’s take on the Palworld controversy.

Read the interview Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters did with Stratechery.

Chapters:

  • Introduction (00:00)
  • Palworld Dominance & Controversy (01:13)
  • Apple Announces Third Party Payments in EU (07:25)
  • Apple Vision Pro Launch Apps Announced (15:30)
  • Netflix’s Gaming Strategy (20:15)

Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jan 30, 202430:32
EP.87: Digital Twins and the Push to Modernize the Luxury Home Goods Market with Steven Gay - CEO, Mode Maison

EP.87: Digital Twins and the Push to Modernize the Luxury Home Goods Market with Steven Gay - CEO, Mode Maison

To kick off our slate of fantastic guests for 2024, Matthew was delighted to chat with Steven Gay, the CEO of Mode Maison. Mode Maison is the first and only multi-brand retail platform for luxury home goods and the first and only multi-brand retail platform built entirely with digital twins.

Steven and Matthew had an excellent conversation about the importance of digital twins in the luxury goods market, what differentiates Mode Maison’s technology from peers and why their company decided to focus first on the luxury home goods market for digital twins applications. Steven also discussed the company’s work with the DigitalCore Consortium and why we need organizations like DigitalCore to help spearhead the digitization of industries like luxury retail.

And to wrap it all up, Steven left us with a fun prediction for the metaverse in 2024, which you’ll have to listen through to catch at the end of the conversation.

Follow Steven: LinkedIn 

Follow Mode Maison: Website | Instagram

Chapters:

Introduction (00:00)

Steven’s Background (01:05)

What is the Metaverse (02:25)

Defining DigitalCore (04:55)

Efficiencies that Come From Digitization (07:05)

Using Digital Twins to Solve Retails Biggest Tech Problem (09:25)

Need for Sense Data from the Real World (15:50)

Standards Based Technologies and the DigitalCore Consortium (24:35)

One Big Prediction for 2024 (30:55)

-- -- -- -- --

Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter

Jan 25, 202432:57
EP.86: Yon and Matthew Talk All Things Metaverse
Jan 17, 202426:47
EP.85: Into the Metaverse 2023 Recap and 2024 Preview with Matthew Kanterman - formerly Bloomberg Intelligence, Roundhill Investments and Ball Metaverse Partners

EP.85: Into the Metaverse 2023 Recap and 2024 Preview with Matthew Kanterman - formerly Bloomberg Intelligence, Roundhill Investments and Ball Metaverse Partners

To close out the year, Yon welcomes back to the show former co-host Matthew Kanterman to recap everything that happened in the metaverse in 2023 and to look ahead at what intrigues and excites them the most about 2024 and beyond! 

Long-time listeners will quickly recognize Matthew as he was here at the inception of the Into the Metaverse podcast back in 2021 as co-host for the first iteration of the show. Matthew is a former Bloomberg analyst who has spent the last few years in high level research roles for metaverse related companies, where he has continued to expand his knowledge and thoughts around the metaverse, AI, and all emerging technologies. Stick around to the end of today’s show to hear some exciting news about Matthew’s future work plans!

During their conversation Yon and Matthew first build a consensus on what the metaverse has come to mean in 2023, then discuss the year that was and the year ahead for both Epic Games and Roblox, before finishing up with topics of AI, the market size of the metaverse, and what they are most excited for in the coming year.

Chapters:

  • Introduction (00:25)
  • Defining the Metaverse and Its Core Building Blocks (02:15)
  • Why Unification and Interoperability Matter (09:45)
  • UEFN, LEGO on Fortnite, and How Epic Games Handled 2023 (12:55)
  • UEFN Thoughts and Predictions for 2024 (21:50)
  • Adding an Advertising Layer to the Roblox Economies (30:55)
  • Real World Commerce Integration on Roblox in 2024 and Beyond (39:40)
  • How AI Pushed the Metaverse Forward in 2023 (47:52)
  • The Market Size Opportunity of a Real Time 3D Internet (53:45)
  • What Matthew and Yon are Most Excited for in 2024 (56:57)
  • Announcement About Matthew’s New Role (01:07:45)

Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Dec 19, 202301:10:18
EP.84: The Future of Music in the Metaverse with Alvaro Velilla - SVP New Business, Universal Music Group

EP.84: The Future of Music in the Metaverse with Alvaro Velilla - SVP New Business, Universal Music Group

This week Yon welcomes Alvaro Velilla into the metaverse to discuss the future of music in the metaverse as well as an exciting new partnership between Supersocial and Universal Music Group in bringing the game, Beat Galaxy, to life!

Alvaro’s career spans over twenty years of experience driving business transformation at the intersection of Entertainment, Technology, and Creative Industries. This includes his founding of Pulselocker, the first music streaming service built to be integrated with music performance applications, as well as a stint at Soundcloud leading their business development team, before reaching his current role as Senior Vice President of New Business at Universal Music Group where he is in charge of devising and implementing UMG’s New Business strategy with a particular focus on new business models, immersive experiences, gaming, and Web3.

We're all incredibly curious to know how UMG, who is one of the largest and most influential companies in the music world, thinks about virtual worlds, gaming, and what the next iteration of the internet means for record labels, artists, and fans

During their conversation Yon and Alvaro dive into those above questions, Alvaro’s journey and lessons he’s learned, what Roblox needs to get right to integrate best with the music industry, the exciting new partnership between their two companies, and much more.

To learn more about the launch of Beat Galaxy, visit here.

To play Beat Galaxy on Roblox, visit here.

Learn more about Universal Music Group by visiting their website.

Follow Alvaro: LinkedIn

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Dec 14, 202331:12
EP.83: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #14
Dec 12, 202315:35
EP.82: Creation, Expression and Connection in an Avatar based 3D Internet with Morgan Tucker - Head of Creator, Rec Room

EP.82: Creation, Expression and Connection in an Avatar based 3D Internet with Morgan Tucker - Head of Creator, Rec Room

This week Yon welcomes Morgan Tucker into the metaverse to talk about the role of 3D avatars to build online connections and how Rec Room is going about doing this.

Morgan is the Head of Creator at Rec Room, where he works to empower creators to make incredible interactive experiences, develop community, and achieve long-term success. Prior to Rec Room, Morgan led Product for Music, Brands and Education at Roblox, developing groundbreaking projects like Spatial Voice Chat, immersive virtual concerts, the Gucci Garden virtual exhibition, and more. An inventor by trade, musician and creator at heart, Morgan has had a fascinating and impactful career that gives him a well rounded vantage point on the future of the metaverse. 

During their conversation, Yon and Morgan discuss Morgan’s career journey through many notable metaverse platforms, how brands can be authentic with their activations, what metaverse platforms can learn from the dominant social media platforms, growth and key challenges for Rec Room, and much more!

Follow Morgan: LinkedIn 

Follow Rec Room: YouTube | TikTok | Discord | Twitter

Chapters:

  • Episode and Guest Introduction (00:00)
  • What is the Metaverse (03:00)
  • Morgan’s Career Journey (05:10)
  • The Moment Morgan Knew Adoption at Scale Was Coming (09:30)
  • Authentic Brand Activations in the Metaverse (12:30)
  • What Metaverse Platforms Can Learn From Social Media Platforms (18:50)
  • What Morgan Saw in Rec Room that Made Him Join (21:50)
  • Key Challenge for Rec Room Balancing 3D and 2D Engagement (26:53)
  • Building and Nurturing the Creator Community on Rec Room (29:55)
  • Role 3D Avatars Play in Reimagining Connection Online (34:40)
  • How Brands and Marketers Should Approach These Platforms (40:55)

Morgan’s Most Exciting Thing in Next Twelve Months (44:55)

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Dec 06, 202347:49
EP.81: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #13
Dec 04, 202319:26
EP.80: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #12
Nov 28, 202318:01
EP.79: How Brands Can Leverage Metaverse Platforms with Raffaella Camera - Former Head of Brands, Epic Games’ Unreal Engine

EP.79: How Brands Can Leverage Metaverse Platforms with Raffaella Camera - Former Head of Brands, Epic Games’ Unreal Engine

This week Yon welcomes Raffaella Camera into the metaverse to discuss how the power of platforms like UEFN and Roblox can be leveraged by brands to improve and grow their businesses.

Raffaella was most recently the Head of Brands at Epic Games’ Unreal Engine where she was responsible for the overall industry setup and strategic growth of the Epic ecosystem - from tools to Fortnite - for the Lifestyle Brands industry. Prior to Epic, Raffaella spent time as a Partner at Accenture, where she co-created the global Accenture XR practice and served as Global Head of Innovation & Strategy. Between these roles and others she has held in her career, she has built a deep knowledge of how brands can interact with and derive value from metaverse platforms, making her a fantastic guest to dive into today’s topics with. 

During their conversation, Yon and Raffaella discuss the power of Unreal Engine for verticals outside of gaming, the UEFN & LVMH partnership that Raffaella helped secure and what it means for the industry, how Fortnite could transition from a game to a platform, and much more. 

Chapters:

  • Episode and Guest Introduction (00:00)
  • How Does Raffaella Define the Metaverse (02:48)
  • Raffaella’s Journey that Led Her to Epic Games (07:50)
  • Why Epic Games and Their Platform was so Attractive (13:05)
  • Proving the Unreal Engine’s Power to Other Verticals (17:10)
  • LVMH Partnership and What it Means for the Industry (19:25)
  • Non-Gaming Solutions Offered by the Metaverse (24:55)
  • Fortnite Creative’s Role in the Future of the Game Industry (31:55)
  • Dealing with Perception that Fortnite is a Game, Not a Platform (36:45)
  • Role of Platforms like Roblox and Fortnite Creative for Brands in Short Term (40:45)
  • Most Excited About in Next Twelve Months (47:25)

Follow Raffaella: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Nov 21, 202349:16
EP.78: Brands, Creators, IP & the Next Generation of Gaming with Chris Heatherly - CEO, Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

EP.78: Brands, Creators, IP & the Next Generation of Gaming with Chris Heatherly - CEO, Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

This week Yon welcomes Chris Heatherly into the metaverse to chat about all things brands, creators, and IP in the next generation of gaming.

Chris is a veteran executive in the games industry and has been an innovator and leader at the intersection of entertainment and technology for over 20 years. He ran the games business for both Disney and NBCUniversal as a general manager. His experience working with brands and IP such as Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Jurassic World, and more make him an ideal guest to break down the modern state of brands and IP in gaming and the metaverse.

During their conversation, Yon and Chris discuss the backlash towards Web3 and NFTs in recent years, why switching costs matter so much in the modern economics of gaming, IP management in a digital first world, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Introduction (00:25)
  • Defining the Metaverse (01:10)
  • Connection and Interoperability (04:50)
  • Deciphering the Backlash Towards Web3 and NFTs (09:37)
  • Switching Costs and the Modern Economics of Gaming (22:09)
  • Growth Challenges for Platforms like Roblox and UEFN (31:32)
  • Brand and IP Management in a Digital World (40:17)
  • Generative AI’s Impact on the Metaverse (51:52)
  • What the Next Year Has in Store (58:35)

Check out Chris’ studio’s newest game launch, The Mystery Society, by visiting here.

Follow Chris: Twitter | LinkedIn

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Nov 14, 202301:00:55
EP.77: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #11
Nov 13, 202317:36
EP.76: The Evolving Landscape for Youth in the Metaverse with Dylan Collins - Founder, SuperAwesome
Nov 07, 202341:15
EP.75: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #10
Nov 06, 202319:53
EP.74: Making Better Business Model Choices for the Next Iteration of AI and the Metaverse with Tim O’Reilly - CEO, O’Reilly Media

EP.74: Making Better Business Model Choices for the Next Iteration of AI and the Metaverse with Tim O’Reilly - CEO, O’Reilly Media

Known by many as the man who popularized the term Web 2.0 in the aftermath of the dotcom crash, Tim O’Reilly is back on the podcast this week to discuss the best case business models behind the next iteration of generative AI and the metaverse.

Aside from being notorious for coining the term Web 2.0, Tim is the CEO and Chairman of O’Reilly Media and a partner at early stage venture firm O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures. His book, WTF: What’s the Future and Why It’s Up to Us, explores what technology advances teach us about the future economy and government as its “platform.” Tim is also a Visiting Professor of Practice at University College London’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, where he is researching a new approach to regulating big technology platforms by limiting their ability to extract economic rents.

During their conversation Yon and Tim discuss the possibility of users aging up with avatar enabled platforms, what the next generation of generative AI will look like, how to apply the knowledge of economic rents to new technology platforms, government regulation for AI, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Introduction (00:25)
  • Will the Avatar Enabled Internet Age Up with Current Users (04:15)
  • Powerful New Interfaces to Knowledge (12:50)
  • The Next Iteration of Generative AI and AI Bots (18:45)
  • Business Model Choices Hampering Innovation (30:35)
  • Approaching Government Regulation for Technologies like AI (42:05)
  • Bridging the Gap Between Noise and Real Investment Opportunity (45:30)
  • Most Excited For in the Next Twelve Months (50:40)

To find all of Tim’s writings, visit here.

Specifically mentioned during the conversation:

You Can’t Regulate What You Don’t Understand

Stakeholder Capitalism Deserves Clearer Metrics

Listen to Tim’s first appearance on Into the Metaverse here.

To purchase the book Recoding America, by Jennifer Pahlka, visit here.

Follow Tim: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Oct 31, 202354:16
EP.73: UEFN and the Challenge of Turning a Game Into a Platform with David Taylor - Game Industry Analyst

EP.73: UEFN and the Challenge of Turning a Game Into a Platform with David Taylor - Game Industry Analyst

Oct 27, 202335:22
EP.72: How AI Will Influence the Metaverse with Louis Rosenberg - CEO, Unanimous AI (Part 2)
Oct 25, 202328:47
EP.71: Yon & Lisa Talk All Things Metaverse #9
Oct 24, 202313:46
EP.70: How AI Will Influence the Metaverse with Louis Rosenberg - CEO, Unanimous AI (Part 1)
Oct 18, 202331:19
EP.69: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #8
Oct 17, 202315:16
EP.68: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #7
Oct 10, 202315:11
EP.67: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #6
Sep 29, 202317:59
EP.66: Into the Metaverse with Dan Sturman - CTO, Roblox

EP.66: Into the Metaverse with Dan Sturman - CTO, Roblox

This week Yon welcomes Dan Sturman into the metaverse. Dan is a world class technologist, having spent time leading software and engineering teams and departments at IBM, Google, and Cloudera, before taking on his current role as CTO of Roblox nearly four years ago. 

Coming off of all of the news and announcements made at last weekend’s Roblox Developers Conference 2023 (RDC23) it’s an incredible time to get to chat with Dan about all things Roblox and metaverse.

During their conversation Yon and Dan discuss the importance of Roblox remaining a turnkey platform, how to enable efficiency in the creator marketplace, the new Roblox Connect feature and what that experience will be like, evolving a platform to match a maturing audience, getting to one billion daily active users, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Defining the Metaverse (01:15)

  • What Attracted Dan to the Challenge of Building Roblox (04:32)

  • Differentiating Roblox as a Turnkey Platform (08:15)

  • Creation and the Building of Business On Top of Roblox (13:12)

  • Enabling Efficiency in the Creator Marketplace (19:10)

  • The Importance of Communication and Roblox Connect (22:28)

  • Expansion onto MetaQuest and Playstation (30:10)

  • Evolving the Games and Experiences for a Maturing Audience (33:28)

  • What Needs to be True for Roblox to Get to a Billion DAU (37:35)

  • Supporting Different Needs for Different Creator Types to Monetize (42:08)

  • Blockchain and the Future of Interoperability (45:54)

  • What is Dan Most Excited About for Next Twelve Months (48:22)

To learn more about the Roblox platform, visit their website.

Follow Roblox: YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Follow Dan: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Sep 14, 202349:25
EP.65: Into the Metaverse with Sam Peurifoy - Partner & Head of Interactive, Hivemind
Aug 29, 202325:45
EP.64: Into the Metaverse with Tian Lim - VP Product, Roblox

EP.64: Into the Metaverse with Tian Lim - VP Product, Roblox

This week Yon welcomes Tian Lim into the metaverse. Tian currently serves as the VP of Product at Roblox, with a specific focus on creators. Prior to Roblox, Tian’s career path featured high level roles at companies like Google, Hulu, Sony, Microsoft, and more, giving him a deep knowledge of where the world of gaming and virtual communities has been, where it stands today, and where it may be headed in the future.

During their conversation Yon and Tian discuss the democratization of creation tools, why creators will drive the future of Roblox, how to remain an egalitarian platform at scale, opportunities for brands within the Roblox ecosystem, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Defining the Metaverse (01:10)

  • The Potential in Roblox that Attracted Tian to Work There (02:50)

  • Democratizing the Tools of Creation (07:30)

  • Evolution of Creator Enablement (11:55)

  • Power of Creation and the Ability to Earn on Roblox (15:20)

  • Remaining an Egalitarian Platform at Scale (20:50)

  • Visibility and Transparency Into Roblox’s Tech Roadmap (23:26)

  • Opportunities for Brands and Their Place in the Roblox Ecosystem (25:47)

  • Role of AI, Interoperability, and Blockchain (31:25)

  • Ecosystem vs Platform and Building for the Future (37:53)

To learn more about the Roblox platform, visit their website.

Follow Roblox: YouTube | Instagram | Twitter

Follow Tian: LinkedIn

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Aug 22, 202344:23
EP.63: Into the Metaverse with John Linden - CEO, Mythical Games

EP.63: Into the Metaverse with John Linden - CEO, Mythical Games

This week Yon welcomes John Linden into the metaverse. Currently the CEO of Mythical Games, John has formerly been President at Seismic Games overseeing such games as Marvel’s Strike Force, and Studio Head at Activision overseeing multiple iterations of the Call of Duty franchise. With this extensive background in the gaming world, John is one of the best people to speak with about what has and has not worked in this industry and where things may be headed.

During their conversation Yon and John discuss the role of blockchain in enabling a true user owned internet, how to bring interoperability into gaming and the metaverse, empowering players to create their own content, the financial aspects of the industry past and present, the futures of Mythical Games’ different gaming properties, and much more.

Chapters:

  • How Does John Define the Metaverse (01:15)

  • Role of Blockchain Enabling a True User Owned Internet (04:25)

  • How Interoperability Can Work (06:45)

  • Building the Next Generation of Gaming (12:50)

  • Empowering the Player to Create Content (19:25)

  • Monetization and Building a Digital Supply Chain (22:45)

  • Mythos Foundation and Building a Marketplace Currency (29:50)

  • The Financialization of Web3 (35:40)

  • What’s Next for Blankos, NFL Rivals, and Nitro Nation (42:45)

  • Potential Order of Magnitude Progress in the Next Year (47:54)

To view all Mythical Games has to offer, visit their website.

Learn more about the Mythos Foundation and token by visiting their website.

Follow John: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Aug 15, 202351:12
EP.62: Into the Metaverse with Aiden Slavin - Metaverse Governance Lead, World Economic Forum

EP.62: Into the Metaverse with Aiden Slavin - Metaverse Governance Lead, World Economic Forum

In this episode Yon welcomes Aiden Slavin into the metaverse. Aiden leads the Metaverse Governance team at the World Economic Forum, where he and all of the metaverse related teams at WEF have been hard at work researching and writing a five part series of reports on building a responsible metaverse that have just begun to be released.   

During their conversation Yon and Aiden delve into data privacy in the metaverse, the need for metaverse literacy, how different generations will adopt and interact with the metaverse, the role AI will play in the expansion of the metaverse, and much more.

Chapters:

  • What is the Metaverse to Aiden (01:10)
  • Data Privacy in the Metaverse (03:05)
  • Privacy and Safety by Design (07:25)
  • The Need for Metaverse Literacy (08:50)
  • Adoption and Use by Different Generations of Users (13:08)
  • Role AI Will Play in Expansion and Popularization of the Metaverse (16:50)
  • Relationship Between Thought Leaders, Regulators, Business Leaders (21:30)
  • Translating “Don’t Be Evil” Into Software Development Principle (23:25)
  • One Thing Aiden is Most Excited for in Next 12 Months (25:40)

To learn more about the World Economic Forum’s Defining and Building the Metaverse Initiative, visit here.

To read the Social Implications of the Metaverse report from the Value Creation track, visit here.

To read the Metaverse Privacy and Safety report from the Governance track, visit here.

Follow Aiden: LinkedIn 

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jul 26, 202328:06
EP.61: Into the Metaverse with Connie Kuang - Metaverse & Generative AI Value Creation Lead, World Economic Forum

EP.61: Into the Metaverse with Connie Kuang - Metaverse & Generative AI Value Creation Lead, World Economic Forum

In this episode Yon welcomes Connie Kuang into the metaverse. Connie leads the Metaverse & Generative AI Value Creation team at the World Economic Forum, where she and her team have been hard at work researching and writing a five part series of reports on building a responsible metaverse that have just begun to be released.   

During their conversation Yon and Connie discuss what value creation in the metaverse looks like, key challenges in bridging technological gaps, why access to new technologies is paramount, aspects of the World Economic Forum’s upcoming metaverse reports, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Introducing Connie (00:20)
  • What is the Metaverse (01:15)
  • Value Creation in the Metaverse (04:00)
  • Key Challenges in Bridging the Technological Gap (06:30)
  • Moderating Involvement in the Evolution of the Metaverse (11:40)
  • Need for Access and Its Relation to Adoption (17:15)
  • Five Dimensions Outlined in Upcoming WEF Metaverse Report (21:20)
  • One Key Insight from the Report that has Connie Excited (24:40)
  • Being an Extension of the Human Experience Not a Replacement (28:15)

To learn more about the World Economic Forum’s Defining and Building the Metaverse Initiative, visit here.

To read the Social Implications of the Metaverse report from the Value Creation track, visit here.

To read the Metaverse Privacy and Safety report from the Governance track, visit here.

Follow Connie: LinkedIn 

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jul 25, 202332:11
EP.60: Into the Metaverse with Darran Garnham - Founder & CEO, Toikido

EP.60: Into the Metaverse with Darran Garnham - Founder & CEO, Toikido

The last few weeks have been incredibly exciting as Yon and the Supersocial team saw the launch of Piñata Smashlings, their collaboration effort with toy company Toikido to build a new brand that combines a gaming experience and community with the physical world of toys, trading cards, and more. 

With this launch happening, it felt like the perfect time for Yon to welcome Darran Garnham, Founder and CEO of Toikido, into the metaverse.

During their conversation Yon and Darran first discuss the overall power of the metaverse in helping you find your people, how industries that serve kids need to adapt to new technologies, and the fundamentals that make Roblox so unique and relevant, before diving into what Piñata Smashlings and the Piñataverse are, how it came about, the depth of story they hope to provide, and much more about this exciting new world. 

Chapters:

  • The Power of the Metaverse to Help You Find Your People (01:10)
  • Bringing Toys and Characters to the Intersection of Digital and Physical (04:40)
  • How Industries that Serve Kids Need to Adapt (08:00)
  • Fundamentals that Make Roblox so Relevant and Unique (12:55)
  • The Piñata Smashlings Universe and the Depth of Story It Provides (21:30)
  • The Launch of Piñata Smashlings and Attempting to Build Generational Relevance (29:15)

Learn more about Piñata Smashlings by visiting here.

Learn more about Toikido by visiting their website.

Follow Toikido: LinkedIn | Instagram 

Follow Darran: LinkedIn

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jul 18, 202333:38
EP.59: Into the Metaverse with Itamar Benedy - CoFounder and CEO, Anzu

EP.59: Into the Metaverse with Itamar Benedy - CoFounder and CEO, Anzu

This week Yon welcomes Itamar Benedy into the metaverse. Itamar is the co-founder and CEO of Anzu, the world’s most advanced intrinsic in-game ad solution for mobile, PC, console, and the metaverse. 

Anzu’s goal is to put players first and help advertisers reach audiences in a non-disruptive and highly engaging way. As Itamar states, “the metaverse is the digital twin of the physical world,” and he and his company are on the forefront of bringing an ad and marketing experience to the metaverse that matches its physical world counterparts.

During their conversation, Yon and Itamar discuss how to build a positive ad experience within the metaverse, the opportunities the new scale of gaming brings, how advertising can operate and scale differently in an open platform vs a closed platform, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Defining the Metaverse and How New Technologies Will Shape It (01:32)

  • Building a Positive Ad Experience Within the Metaverse (04:05)

  • New Scale Post-Pandemic Brings New Opportunities in Gaming (10:15)

  • What Marketers and Brands Think About the Metaverse and Gaming (14:45)

  • The Line Between an Ad and a Branded Video Game (19:15)

  • How Advertising Can Scale in Open vs Closed Platform Virtual Environments (23:00)

  • Why the Next Twelve Months May Be the Tipping Point (28:20)

Learn more about Anzu by visiting their website.

Follow Anzu: LinkedIn | YouTube | Discord | Twitter 

Follow Itamar: LinkedIn | Twitter 

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jul 12, 202331:04
EP.58: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #5
Jul 07, 202318:02
EP.57: Into the Metaverse with Jonathan Pan - Head of Product, Store No. 8

EP.57: Into the Metaverse with Jonathan Pan - Head of Product, Store No. 8

This week Yon welcomes Jonathan Pan into the metaverse. Jonathan is the Head of Product at Store No. 8, the incubation arm of Walmart. Between his current role and his prior stops at companies such as Riot Games, Amazon, and Meta, Jonathan has built a long track record of working in and on emerging technologies where he can let his passion for building content and teams thrive.

During their conversation Yon and Jonathan discuss how emerging technologies will both contribute to and complement the metaverse, break down key insights from Jonathan’s article on the practical metaverse, lay out the advantages Roblox’s dedicated developer community affords them, and much more.

Chapters:

  • Introducing Jonathan Pan (00:25)

  • How Jon Defines the Metaverse (01:25)

  • How Do Emerging Technologies (AI, Blockchain, Etc) Contribute to and Complement the Metaverse (04:30)

  • Key Insights from Jonathan’s Article on the Practical Metaverse (08:30)

  • First Time Realizing the Potential of Roblox and Minecraft as Platforms (12:30)

  • What Will Still Be True About Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft Three to Five Years From Now (17:45)

  • The Advantage of Roblox’s Dedicated Developer Community (22:40)

  • One Thing Jonathan is Most Excited For in Next Five Years (29:30)

Learn more about Jonathan and Store No. 8 by visiting their website.

To read Jonathan’s article The Practical Metaverse visit here.

Follow Jonathan: LinkedIn | Medium

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jul 05, 202332:45
EP.56: Into the Metaverse with Matthew Kanterman - Director of Research, Roundhill Investments

EP.56: Into the Metaverse with Matthew Kanterman - Director of Research, Roundhill Investments

This week Yon welcomes back to the show former co-host Matthew Kanterman to catch up on everything that is going on within the metaverse today and what has transpired over the past couple of years since they originally launched the podcast. 

Long-time listeners will quickly recognize Matthew as he was here at the inception of the Into the Metaverse Podcast back in 2021 as co-host for the first iteration of the show. Matthew currently serves as the Director of Research for Roundhill Investments where he has continued to expand his knowledge and thoughts around the metaverse, AI, and all emerging technologies.

During their conversation Yon and Matthew compare and contrast Apple and Meta’s approaches to the metaverse, discuss how blockchain technology can be more relevant to common consumers, highlight key events in the industry between when they first started the podcast to now, dissect the role Nvidia and generative AI will play in the metaverse, and much more. 

Chapters:

  • Re-Introducing Matthew and Roundhill Investments (00:25)

  • Defining the Metaverse Today and In the Future (01:25)

  • Differing Approaches in Device, Terminology, and Developer Relations Between Apple and Meta (05:45)

  • How Blockchain Can Be Relevant to Common Consumers (17:00)

  • Key Events and Indicators That Show Where Metaverse is Headed (22:40)

  • Nvidia and the Role of Generative AI (27:05)

  • One Key Takeaway from the Episode (34:00)

Learn more about Matthew and Roundhill Investments by visiting their website.

Follow Matthew: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jun 22, 202336:23
EP.55: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #4
Jun 21, 202317:50
EP.54: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #3
Jun 14, 202317:38
EP.53: Into the Metaverse with Cathie Wood - Founder & CEO, ARK Invest

EP.53: Into the Metaverse with Cathie Wood - Founder & CEO, ARK Invest

I had the absolute pleasure of being joined today by Cathie Wood, the founder, CEO, and CIO of ARK Invest.

Cathie built a decades-long track record of success in the investment world by using thematic strategies focused on innovation before rising to national prominence when she founded her own firm in 2014, ARK Invest, where she and her team focus solely on investing in disruptive innovation while adding new dimensions to research. Through an open research approach, Cathie believes ARK can identify large-scale investment opportunities resulting from technological innovations. 

During our conversation Cathie and I cover in detail the convergence of new technologies and the power and opportunity that convergence provides, how and why kids are the “R&D department” of humanity, digital leisure, the blurring of our physical and digital worlds, where the virtual economy is poised to go, and much more.


Chapters:

Introducing Cathie Wood (00:00)

Apple Launches Mixed Reality Headset (02:50)

What is the Metaverse and What Could it Become (07:20)

What it Means When These Technologies Converge (10:34)

New Educational Paths / Kids are the New R&D Department (18:14)

Technology Creates Brand Synergies Across Generations (25:20)

Digital Leisure and  Blurring the Lines of Physical and Digital (33:39)

Size and Evolution of the Virtual Economy (42:31)


Learn more about ARK Invest by visiting their website.

To read ARK’s 2023 Big Ideas report visit here.

Follow ARK: Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

Follow Cathie: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook 


Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

Jun 07, 202353:05
EP.52: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #2
May 31, 202324:52
EP.51: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #1

EP.51: Yon & Priya Talk All Things Metaverse #1

It’s a very exciting day for Into the Metaverse as Yon is joined by Priya David Clemens to launch a brand new segment of the show called This Week in the Metaverse.

Priya is the host of the Emmy-award winning news discussion program, KQED Newsroom, and a longtime network news anchor and reporter who has most recently begun to focus her journalistic eye on emerging technology.

Every week she will be joining Yon to discuss the most important and interesting news stories related to the Metaverse, with the goal as always of helping you better understand what the Metaverse is, how it will impact your life, and what opportunities it may unlock.

In this inaugural episode of This Week in the Metaverse, Yon & Priya cover the imminent release of Apple’s new VR goggles, whether we should be calling the Metaverse by a different name, confront the narrative that the Metaverse is dead, and much more. 


Chapters:

Introducing New Weekly Show with Priya (00:00)

Apple’s New VR Goggles Set for Release (05:00)

Is Apple Bringing Any New Experiences to the Space (10:40)

Why VR and the Metaverse are Different Things (15:40)

Should We Be Calling the Metaverse Something Else (19:45)

Confronting the Narrative that the Metaverse is Dead (23:11)

Technology Developments in China (26:25)

Final Thoughts for the Week (31:05)

 

Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.


Learn more about Priya David Clemens by visiting her website.

Follow Priya: LinkedIn | TikTok | | Twitter

May 24, 202333:25
EP.50: Into the Metaverse with Justin Hochberg - CEO, Virtual Brand Group

EP.50: Into the Metaverse with Justin Hochberg - CEO, Virtual Brand Group

Joining me today as we celebrate our 50th episode of Into the Metaverse is Justin Hochberg, founder and CEO of Virtual Brand Group.

Justin is a metaverse brand builder focused on IP and fashion. He has had a multi-national career as a senior executive in technology and entertainment companies, with a proven track record in creating and leveraging content, IP, brands, and industry insights into new revenue streams through emerging technologies and partnerships.

We cover in detail what are the right objectives that brands should pursue when entering next generation social platforms, connecting virtual identity to real life identity, the value of building a persistent presence, the future of decentralized platforms, the need for consumer friendliness to gain mass adoption, and much more. 


Learn more about Virtual Brand Group by visiting their website.

Follow Justin on LinkedIn.


Topics Covered:

Introducing Justin (00:00)

Defining the metaverse (01:45)

Role of 3D avatars in virtual worlds (03:30)

Connecting virtual identity to real life identity (06:05)

Brand objectives within next gen platforms (10:43)

Best path to a persistent presence for a brand (17:20)

Value of and potential adoption of decentralized platforms (22:55)

The need for consumer friendliness and platform interoperability (36:57)

The metaverse is the future (39:15)


Learn more about Into the Metaverse and Yon by visiting the website.

Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter

Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.

May 18, 202340:58
EP.49: Into The Metaverse with Timoni West - VP & GM, Digital Twins at Unity

EP.49: Into The Metaverse with Timoni West - VP & GM, Digital Twins at Unity

Joining me on this episode is Timoni West, VP & GM of Digital Twins at Unity, in what is likely one of the most fascinating conversations I had on the podcast.

Timoni is responsible for Unity’s cloud apps and services in industrial, automotive, commercial, and business markets, delivering value for customers moving into real time, simulation, reconstruction, and rendering. She runs a P&L with a team of 230+ people. Prior to this role, she was vice president of emerging tools and augmented and virtual reality, among other roles.

Timoni and I had a wide ranging conversation about virtual worlds, digital twins, ambient computing, artificial intelligence, predictive manufacturing, the future of industry, and why we’re only at the very beginning of a computing era that is smarter and more capable than we imagine.

On the metaverse:

"what we're really seeing here is that we're able to ingest massive amounts of data, often real time data, and then be able to record it, visualize it, or use it to power another device. And I think this has all kind of gotten swept up into what we're calling the metaverse today, but the old school, 1970s term was contextual computing where computers are able to take in contextual information from the world around them and able to do something cool.

On digital twins:

“with the Tyndall Air Force base, the large part of what they used our technology to do was to figure out how to make sure it did not get, Knocked down by a hurricane again because it was knocked down by a hurricane once. And hurricanes are also dangerous. So being able to not only take in the real-time information on the building site as they were building it out, but also be able to use historical data to figure out how to build the right thing in the future is I think a pretty great example of a digital twin.

https://www.intometamedia.com/

May 02, 202346:18
EP.48: Into The Metaverse with Michael Kennedy - Microsoft. On metaverse, modern work and immersive workplaces.

EP.48: Into The Metaverse with Michael Kennedy - Microsoft. On metaverse, modern work and immersive workplaces.

Joining me today is Michael Kennedy, an advisor and public speaker on rapidly evolving metaverse and modern / hybrid work technologies and best practices. His focus is transforming the workplace to deliver increased productivity and business outcomes while improving organizational culture to attract and retain the best employees.

"the way I define the metaverse is really around the enterprise metaverse - an evolving set of enabling capabilities. To create more immersive employee, customer, and industry experiences to foster engagement, inclusivity, collaboration, and digital integration helping people and organizations achieve more."

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Apr 20, 202343:52
EP.47: Into The Metaverse with Frédéric Chesnais - founder & CEO, Crypto Blockchain Industries (ex CEO, Atari)

EP.47: Into The Metaverse with Frédéric Chesnais - founder & CEO, Crypto Blockchain Industries (ex CEO, Atari)

Joining me today is Frédéric Chesnais - founder & CEO, Crypto Blockchain Industries, and the former CEO of Atari. Crypto Blockchain Industries is a company listed on Euronext and focusing on investments in blockchain and technology.

Fred has decades of experience in executive production, budgeting, financing and management of intellectual property rights. From 2001 to 2007, and then again from 2013 to 2021, he was part of the management team of the Atari Group, the iconic technology and entertainment company. In 2007, he left Atari to create his own executive production company, I2G, which he sold in 2012.

“Most of the last 20 years of my professional life has been spent with video games. So first and foremost, for me and for this company that I've created, the Metaverse is a video game. It's an open world. Some may say, you know what, you can have a metaverse in 2D, but as far as we are concerned and given my background, I do focus on the consumer experience, and for me, it's definitely a 3D open world, and then you add on top of that, we add the blockchain layer for transactions.”

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Apr 12, 202339:56
EP.46: Into The Metaverse with Gilad Talmon - CEO, YOOM. Bringing real humans into the digital world with cutting-edge volumetric technology

EP.46: Into The Metaverse with Gilad Talmon - CEO, YOOM. Bringing real humans into the digital world with cutting-edge volumetric technology

Joining me today is Gilad Talmon, CEO of YOOM - a leading volumetric video technology company making the next wave of content creation accessible to creators and brands, providing them a direct path into the virtual worlds and beyond through a proprietary technology.

With over 16 years of senior management experience across various technology sectors in both the startup and corporate space, Gilad previously served as the Programs & Business Development Director at Elbit Systems Aerospace Ltd. in Israel, where he was intimately involved with AR.

We cover in detail the role of advanced technologies like the one YOOM is building on enabling an ever-expanded and accessible content creation to populate virtual worlds by both professional developers and individual creators. We also discuss why digital avatars are already playing an instrumental role in the way young people socialize and express themselves and why this trend will only accelerate as virtual and gaming continue to emerge as a next-generation mass media.

"when I refer to the metaverse, it's a range between augmented reality, superimposed on the real world through mixed reality and flat screen immersive environments, gaming environments on the flat screen, and then all the way to virtual reality… The human beings and human interactions will play a very big role, but it's only attainable if you can create these at scale, and creating them at scale means that they need to be compatible with all of these engines that can update them automatically. So artificial intelligence of text demotion and conversational AI. Their motion looks good and you can create them relatively easy. That's where we wanna be. We want to be an enabler to create these digital humans for you to use however you want, whether it's leaving messages or virtual helpers in the street, or virtual tourism, or in game or in training for enterprise.”

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Mar 10, 202342:24
EP.45: Into The Metaverse with Matias Rodriguez - SVP of Technology - Games & Metaverse Studios at Globant

EP.45: Into The Metaverse with Matias Rodriguez - SVP of Technology - Games & Metaverse Studios at Globant

Joining me today is Matias Rodriguez, SVP of Technology - Games & Metaverse Studios at Globant - a global IT software development company operating.

As SVP of Technology at Globant’s Metaverse and Gaming Studios, Matías leads a worldwide multidisciplinary team of more than 1,500 people to build products for clients. For the Metaverse Studio, he is leading the journey of helping companies create and operate new virtual spaces where they can extend their brand presence.

We cover in detail the practice that Matias leads at Globant and the work they do with clients on metaverse-related initiatives, the opportunities and challenges for engaging with consumers and customers through next generation digital experiences, both in the consumer and industrial sectors, and especially why there’s so much potential for industrial and healthcare companies as a new category of platforms emerge.

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Feb 23, 202333:13
EP.44: Into The Metaverse with Sandy Carter - Senior Vice President at Unstoppable Domains

EP.44: Into The Metaverse with Sandy Carter - Senior Vice President at Unstoppable Domains

Sandy Carter is Senior Vice President and Channel Chief at Unstoppable Domains. The company, which recently raised $65M Series A led by Pantera Capital at a $1B valuation, creates NFT domains that give people control of their data. Each Unstoppable domain is a cryptocurrency address which serves as the user’s login to the decentralized web, and in a sense can act as a user’s universal username. Sandy and her team are responsible for driving new partnerships and integrations.

Previously Sandy was Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Channel Chief at Amazon Web Services, and prior to that was the General Manager of Ecosystems and Startups at IBM.

We cover in detail digital identity and its importance according to Sandy, how Unstoppable Domains educates and informs people on how they can establish a next generation online identity, Sandy’s journey from IBM to Amazon Web Services to Unstoppable Domains and why it is so important that we have en ever growing diversity in the teams that are building the future of the Internet.

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Feb 07, 202333:32
EP.43: Into The Metaverse with Maxim Perumal - founder and CEO of Unai

EP.43: Into The Metaverse with Maxim Perumal - founder and CEO of Unai

Maxim Perumal is the founder of Unai, a stealth startup company that makes a VR headset and Virtual World dedicated to making human interactions look, feel, and sound like they do in real life. Unai is funded by NFX, Stride, Y Combinator and David Helgason (founder of Unity Engine), among others. Previously Maxim built Relativty, a popular open-source VR headset when he was 15 years old. He open-sourced it after Meta (then Facebook) invited him to meet with Oculus' Chief Architect.

We cover in detail the story of building an open-source VR headset which led Maxim to drop out of high school and begin his journey to build next generation VR platform with Unai, which while is still in stealth mode, spark interest from leading investors who are backing Maxim in his quest to build a truly user-focused VR headset and experience. We also discuss the key pillars that are crucial to providing an enjoyable user experience and what the wider competitive landscape looks like, including Maxim’s point of view on Meta and Apple’s efforts in the space.

“An Instantaneous sense of presence” is how Maxim described the essence of how the metaverse will make people feel.

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Feb 02, 202356:46
EP.42: Into The Metaverse with Moritz Baier-Lentz - Partner at Lightspeed

EP.42: Into The Metaverse with Moritz Baier-Lentz - Partner at Lightspeed

Moritz is a Partner and the Head of Gaming at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a venture capital firm with over $18 billion in capital under management and more than 500 investments across the U.S., Europe, and Asia—including Epic Games, Stability AI, and Snap. Previously, Moritz was a partner and management team member at BITKRAFT Ventures where he led investments into Inworld AI, Theorycraft Games, Raid Base, Lightforge Games, and Horizon Blockchain Games among others.

We cover in detail Moritz and Lightspeed’s approach to investing in gaming, how Moritz think about the metaverse and adjacent technologies and trends, what’s his wider hypothesis on the category, and what are some of the key areas he’s focusing on. Really enjoyed hearing Moritz’s thoughtful perspectives, bringing his experience in gaming and an understanding on how emerging technology is unlocking new ways of building next-generation games and experiences.

https://www.intometamedia.com/

Jan 26, 202350:28