Reflecting on a Year of Innovation in the Metaverse – Part 2
As we wrap up 2024, we’re closing out an incredible year for Into the Metaverse with the second installment of our "Best Of" series. This year has been filled with groundbreaking conversations, a major milestone of 100 episodes, and a community of listeners who’ve made it all possible. To everyone who has tuned in, shared an episode, or helped spread the word—thank you for being part of this journey!
In this final episode of the year, we’re bringing you highlights from another four exceptional guests whose insights have truly shaped our understanding of the metaverse. These clips capture the essence of what Into the Metaverse is all about—pushing boundaries, exploring transformative ideas, and imagining what’s possible in this evolving space.
From conversations about interoperability and AI to the challenges and opportunities of virtual worlds, this episode revisits the moments that sparked the most engagement and left a lasting impact. Whether you’re reflecting on the year with us or tuning in for the first time, we hope these insights inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here’s to an exciting 2025 filled with more innovation, curiosity, and progress in the metaverse. Let’s keep building the future together!
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Segment Details:
From E91 with Krystal Hauserman
How Interoperability Unlocks Marketing in the Metaverse
Full episode with Krystal: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Krystal: LinkedIn | Website
From E96 with Charlie Fink
How Generations of Tech and People Have Interacted and Influenced Each Other
Full episode with Charlie: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Charlie: X | LinkedIn
From E97 with Marcus Holmstrom
Entertainment IP Coming Into and Out Of Roblox
Full episode with Marcus: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Marcus: LinkedIn
From E103 with Stephanie Hirschmiller
Digital to Physical Feedback Loops
Full episode with Stephanie: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Stephanie: LinkedIn | Instagram
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Krystal Hauserman
06:06 Charlie Fink
18:59 Marcus Holmstrom
27:05 Stephanie Hirschmiller
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34:50
Best Of 2024 (Part 1)
What a year it has been for Into the Metaverse!
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate what has been an incredible year of conversations, milestones, and, most importantly, growth in understanding the ever-evolving metaverse. This year, we crossed the 100-episode milestone—a huge achievement that wouldn’t have been possible without your support. To everyone who’s tuned in, shared our content, or simply joined the conversation, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
We’ve had the privilege of hosting some of the most innovative minds in the metaverse space. To reflect on this extraordinary year, we’re bringing you not one but two special "Best Of" episodes featuring clips from the conversations that sparked the most engagement, generated the most insight, and helped us all better understand where the metaverse is headed.
In this first of two episodes, you’ll hear from four amazing guests whose perspectives and expertise have helped shape our understanding of this transformative moment in tech and culture. Each clip highlights ideas and predictions that are driving the metaverse forward, and we hope they inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.
Segment Details:
From E84 with Alvaro Velilla, SVP New Business at Universal Music Group
Building a Sustainable Relationship Between Roblox & Music
Full episode with Alvaro: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Alvaro: LinkedIn
From E95 with Matthew Ball, award-winning author and metaverse expert
Four Major Ways AI Impacts Future of the Metaverse
Full episode with Matthew: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Buy Matthew’s award-winning book, The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet
Follow Matthew: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter
From E98 with Cathy Hackl, tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker
Our Current Technological Convergence Point
Full episode with Cathy: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Cathy: LinkedIn | Instagram
From E101 with Liam Broza, Chief Innovation Officer for Infinite Reality (iR)
Why the Web and Browser Is the Place to Build the Metaverse
Full episode with Liam: YouTube | Spotify | Apple
Follow Liam: LinkedIn | X
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Alvaro Velilla
08:36 Matthew Ball
18:16 Cathy Hackl
25:02 Liam Broza
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31:42
EP.105: Unleashing 3D Data: Transforming Industries with Physical DNA feat. Paul Powers
Unlock the potential of 3D data and discover why it’s the next frontier of innovation with Paul Powers, Founder & CEO of Physna. In this thought-provoking episode of Into the Metaverse, Paul explains how his pioneering work in "Physical DNA" is transforming industries by bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds. From optimizing supply chains to revolutionizing engineering processes, Paul highlights how 3D data holds the key to accelerating AI development, enhancing design, and creating a more seamless and efficient metaverse. Whether you’re curious about the intricacies of 3D AI or seeking practical applications for emerging technologies, this conversation sheds light on how Physna is leading the charge.
Chapters:
Paul’s Education (00:00)
What Living Abroad Taught (10:39)
Physna and Three Key Use Cases (12:55)
Current Users and Impact (21:22)
Technology At Play (24:34)
From First Pitch to Now (31:43)
Excited Next 12 Months (34:08)
Paul Powers is the Founder & CEO of Physna, the industry leader in geometric search, 3D AI, and owner of Thangs. Paul was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2019, and is regularly featured in national and international media highlighting his perspective on the next generation of software, AI and the growing role of 3D.
Check out all things Physna
Follow Paul: LinkedIn | X
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Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.
Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.
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37:52
EP.104: Redefining Creation: Spatial’s Vision for an Accessible 3D Internet with Jacob Loewenstein
Welcome to Into the Metaverse. In this week’s episode, Yon sits down with Jacob Loewenstein, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Spatial, to explore how Spatial is reshaping the 3D internet and user-generated content landscape.
Jacob takes us through his journey from early investments in AR/VR to leading Spatial’s evolution from an enterprise-focused tool to a user-driven platform for immersive 3D creation. Highlighting Spatial’s mission to bridge generational divides in the virtual world, Jacob discusses how Spatial enables creators and companies alike to design interactive spaces accessible across all devices—from VR headsets to web browsers.
Join the conversation as they delve into the unique challenges of building a cross-platform metaverse, the importance of democratizing virtual creation, and why a 3D internet accessible to all may be the key to future digital engagement.
Jacob Loewenstein is SVP, Business Development & Strategy at Spatial, an online gaming platform that brings the Roblox model to millions of Unity devs. He leads strategic partnerships, marketing, and developer relations. Jacob was previously Spatial’s investor at Samsung NEXT NY, where he led AR/VR investment and business development. He received his MBA from MIT, where he co-founded the VR/AR hackathon at the MIT Media Lab.
Follow Jacob: LinkedIn | X
Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter
Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.
Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.
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39:48
EP.103: The Future of Identity and Expression in the Metaverse with Stephanie Hirschmiller
Welcome to Into the Metaverse. In this week’s episode, Yon sits down with Stephanie Hirschmiller, a consultant, creative strategist, and content specialist in luxury and tech, to explore how the worlds of beauty, fashion, and virtual identity are converging in the metaverse.
Stephanie shares insights from her work with major brands and platforms, diving into why beauty and fashion brands are moving into virtual spaces like Roblox and Fortnite and how digital identities are reshaping self-expression for younger generations. They discuss the rise of 3D avatars, hyper-personalization in the virtual realm, and what it means for traditional beauty and fashion industries as more people invest in their digital appearances.
Tune in as Yon and Stephanie examine the future of identity, self-expression, and brand engagement in an increasingly digital world.
Chapters:
(00:00) Stephanie’s Background
(04:53) When Will Virtual Be Bigger Than Physical
(09:57) Digital to Physical Feedback Loop
(16:41) Innovation in How Brands Interact Virtually
(22:38) Brands Doing It Best So Far
(27:03) Interoperability
(31:15) Blurring the Lines
Stephanie is a brand consultant and editor working at the intersection of luxury beauty, fashion and innovation. She is also co-founder of The Future Face which hosts experiential workshopping events matchmaking beauty industry decision makers with tech providers.
Read all of Stephanie’s writing.
Follow Stephanie: LinkedIn | Instagram
Follow Yon: LinkedIn | Twitter
Learn more about Into the Metaverse by visiting the website.
Learn more about Supersocial by visiting the website.
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 https://jeremymarsan.com/
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