In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Benjamin Bertram Goldman. He is a producer, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur featured in The NY Times, CNN, WIRED, MSNBC, HBO, TechCrunch, BBC, FUJI TV, and Metavision. He has been exploring the metaverse creatively and professionally for over 10 years, with a particular focus on the intersection of the metaverse and the emerging world of virtual production.

Benjamin studied virtual production at NYU and CG Spectrum, built and moderated several online communities, and today leads the creation of a virtual production studio at the sustainable investing firm Ethic, in addition to serving as a metaverse advisor to multiple companies.

During the interview, we talked about avatars, identity in the metaverse, and how people interact with avatars. We also talked about how to deal with impostor avatars, some of the ethical challenges of the metaverse, and the role of NFTs in creating a rich and vibrant metaverse economy. Enjoy!

If you are interested in learning more about the metaverse, you can order my book Step into the Metaverse here.

The Need for Unique Identifiers in the Metaverse with Benjamin Bertram Goldman

In this episode of The Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I interviewed the Co-Founder/Producer of Big Rock Creative (BRCvr), Athena Demos. BRCvr is an award-winning XR experience company creating groundbreaking experiences for global clients. Big Rock Creative won the Producer’s Guild Award for Innovation, the Aurea Award for creativity, the No Proscenium award for Best VR experience of 2020, and the Hermes' Platinum Award.



She founded the LA League of Arts, a 501c3 organization created to foster community by facilitating the creative process through public art, education and events. She spent 8+ years as the Production Manager of the two-time Academy Award Winning documentary film company Moriah Films. Don’t miss out on our conversation as we discuss how brands can contribute to the metaverse and how governments should embrace the metaverse to develop public virtual spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Building Communities in The Metaverse with Athena Demos

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I chatted with the Founder and CEO of VERSES Labs, Gabriel René. VERSES is a spatial web software development group. He is the author of the #1 International Bestseller "The Spatial Web - How Web 3.0 Connects Humans, Machines, and AI to Transform the World".

As a deep technology pioneer, Gabriel has architected enterprise and consumer software and services in partnership with multiple Fortune 100 companies. In our conversation, we discussed the importance of the spatial web and some of the challenges of the spatial web that we need to overcome if we want to create an open metaverse. Stay tuned for that and more.

: The Secret Tool to the Metaverse's Success with Gabriel René

In this episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with Tiffany Xingyu Wang, the Chief Marketing Officer at OpenWeb, a premium community engagement platform.

Tiffany also co-founded Oasis Consortium, a think tank to advance digital sustainability through ethical standards and technologies for Web3.0, which launched the first comprehensive User Safety Standards for Web3. She is the host of Brand Safety Exchange, a destination of thought leadership for Trust and Safety leaders. She has been published and featured for her work in digital trust and safety on TIME, Harvard Business Review, MIT Technology Review, Forbes, VentureBeat, Digiday, Protocol, etc. 

Tiffany shared her expertise regarding sustainability in the metaverse, the dangers of the metaverse and the need for ethical standards in the immersive internet. We also discussed the Oasis Consortium that she founded and its important role in creating an open metaverse. Stay tuned for more and enjoy!

Solutions to Drive Safety and Privacy in the Metaverse with Tiffany Xingyu Wang

In the last episode of the Step into the Metaverse Podcast, I had a chat with John Gaeta, a creator, inventor and an Academy Award-winning designer best known for his work on the Matrix Trilogy, where he pioneered form-bending innovations such as "Bullet Time", “Virtual Cinema” and "Volumetric Capture" to envision human, hero and god-like moments.

In 2015, John co-founded Lucasfilm’s Immersive Entertainment division: ILMxLAB. “ILMxLAB seeks to “Develop, Produce and Release premium, story-based Immersive Entertainment Experiences for Star Wars and other imaginative universes”.He served as its Executive Creative Director, overseeing content strategy and multi-platform portfolio development. John and I discussed how important AR and VR are, especially regarding hyper-realistic content. We discussed the role of user-generated content in the metaverse and the infrastructure challenges of creating a hyper-realistic metaverse. Please tune in for more of our value-packed conversation.

If you are interested in learning more about the metaverse, you can order my book Step into the Metaverse.

John Gaeta

Navigating technological change requires futures thinking, and science fiction can be a powerful tool, according to Karl Schroeder. The renowned author blends storytelling with foresight expertise, using narrative to explore emerging techs' societal impact. In the Synthetic Minds podcast, Schroeder delved into AI, mixed reality, blockchain economies, and governance challenges.

He argues that narratives reveal unexpected interactions by playing out ideas against each other. Organisations can translate findings into stories for clearer communication. Schroeder's "Stealing Worlds" depicts an AI/blockchain future reshaping reality. He suggests radically decentralised economic models and evolving human-AI governance structures. Ultimately, he posits governance as the "killer app" for the next generation amid rapid change.

Biography Karl Schroeder
Karl Schroeder is an award-winning author and a member of the Association of Professional Futurists. He writes to entertain and also as a way of analysing and anticipating the future for institutional clients as diverse as governments, consultancies and multinational corporations. He is an engaging public speaker who has given talks about the intersection of technology and culture across North America, Europe and Eurasia. His current project is a near-future adventure novel about Arctic sovereignty and climate change. Karl lives in Toronto, Canada, with his wife and daughter.

Links
Newsletter:  kschroeder.substack.com
Website: www.kschroeder.com
X: @Karl Schroeder

Downloading Tomorrow: How to Embrace Futures Thinking - Synthetic Minds Podcast EP01

In the dynamic landscape of the Synthetic Minds podcast, where science fiction converges with real-world technology and societal evolution, we delve into the intricate layers of futurism through the lens of celebrated narratives. Today, we are thrilled to host Richard K. Morgan, the visionary behind the seminal cyberpunk novel and Netflix hit, "Altered Carbon." This work not only revolutionized the genre but also pushed the boundaries of how we perceive identity and morality in a digitized future.

Set in a future where human consciousness can be digitised and transferred between bodies, Morgan's work challenges our perceptions of identity, morality, and society. His storytelling captivates and prompts deep reflection on the ethical implications of future technologies. Join us as Richard shares insights into his creative process and the futuristic visions that shape his novels.

Biography Richard Morgan:
Richard K. Morgan is the acclaimed author of Thin Air, The Dark Defiles, The Cold Commands, The Steel Remains, Thirteen, Woken Furies, Market Forces, Broken Angels, and Altered Carbon, a New York Times Notable Book that won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2003. 

The movie rights to Altered Carbon were optioned by Joel Silver and Warner Bros on publication, and the book remained in feature film development until 2015. It is now an 10 episode Netflix series produced by Skydance Media and Laeta Kalogridis, and has spawned a second series based upon its sequels, Broken Angels and Woken Furies.

Market Forces was also optioned to Warner Bros, before it was even published, and it won the John W. Campbell Award in 2005. Thirteen won the Arthur C .Clarke Award in 2007, The Steel Remains won the Gaylactic Spectrum award in 2010, and its sequel, The Cold Commands, was listed in both Kirkus Reviews and NPR’s best Science Fiction / Fantasy books of the Year. Richard’s latest novel, Thin Air, a return to hardboiled SF, was published in October 2018.

In addition to his novels, Richard is the author of two Black Widow graphic novels for Marvel - Homecoming and The Things They Say About Her - and was the lead writer for two First Person Shooter video games, Crysis 2 and the 2012 re-boot of the nineties classic Syndicate. He has served as a consultant in the video games industry since 2008, and is currently a Development Director at Gunzilla Games.

Richard is a fluent Spanish speaker and has lived and worked in Madrid, Istanbul, Ankara, London and Glasgow, as well as travelling extensively in the Americas, Africa and Australia. He now lives back in Norfolk in the UK with his Spanish wife Virginia and son Daniel, about five miles away from where he grew up; a bit odd, that, but he’s dealing with it.

The Human Element: Exploring the Digital Afterlife with Richard K. Morgan

The Synthetic Minds podcast moves from science fiction to science reality. It is a podcast that delves into the imaginative yet insightful visions of science fiction authors, revealing how their explorations of future technologies and societal shifts can inform and guide us in the present.

In the latest episode of Synthetic Minds, I had the pleasure of hosting Peter Watts, an esteemed science fiction author known for his deep dives into the biological and technological intricacies of future societies. Watts, a former marine biologist turned novelist, offers a rare blend of scientific knowledge and imaginative foresight, making him an ideal guest to discuss the complex interplay between emerging technologies and societal evolution. His work challenges conventional perspectives, urging us to consider the broader implications of our technological advancements.

About Peter Watts
Peter Watts is a distinguished Canadian science fiction author renowned for his hard science fiction works. With a PhD in Zoology and Resource Ecology and a background in marine-mammal biology, Watts blends scientific rigour with speculative fiction, offering profound insights into future possibilities. His Rifters trilogy and the acclaimed novel Blindsight challenge our perceptions of consciousness, identity, and technology.

Website: Rifters.com

Full episode details on: https://thedigitalspeaker.com/navigating-future-realms-science-meets-fiction/

Navigating Future Realms: Science Meets Fiction with Peter Watts - Synthetic Minds Podcast EP02

Can science fiction really guide us in shaping the future of our businesses, or is it just a realm of fantastical tales?

In the 4th episode of Synthetic Minds, I explore how science fiction can serve as a powerful tool for strategic foresight. My guest, Brenda Cooper, a celebrated author and technologist, shares her unique perspective on the intersection of technology and society. Brenda’s novels, like "Edge of Dark" and "Wilders," blend speculative storytelling with real-world technological insights, offering valuable lessons for today’s leaders.

Brenda highlights the rapid pace of technological change and its profound implications. Her work in integrating basic AI and robotics in construction exemplifies practical applications, while her narratives envision more advanced and autonomous futures. For instance, "Edge of Dark" delves into ethical dilemmas posed by advanced AIs, urging us to consider the long-term impacts and unintended consequences of our technological advancements.

A key takeaway from our conversation is the necessity of strategic adaptation and ethical foresight in business leadership. Brenda advocates for a proactive approach to technology integration, emphasizing the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and ethical responsibility. She also underscores the role of AI and other technologies in addressing global challenges like climate change, urging businesses to align their strategies with sustainability goals.

Brenda’s insights encourage us to harness the power of futures thinking, ensuring that our technological advancements are not only innovative but also ethical and sustainable. How can we better integrate these visionary perspectives into our strategic planning?

To view or listen to the whole episode continue to: www.thedigitalspeaker.com/telling-stories-envision-future/

About Brenda Cooper
Brenda Cooper writes science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional poem. She also works in technology and writes and talks about the future. She has won multiple regional writing awards and her stories have often appeared in Year’s Best anthologies. Brenda lives and works in the Pacific Northwest with her wife and multiple border collies, and can sometimes be found biking around Seattle.

Some of her books include:
• Project Earth (2 book series) - https://amzn.to/3wVCE8b
• Fremont’s Children (4 book series) - https://amzn.to/4eci7NE
• The Glittering (2 book series) - https://amzn.to/3wY3D2Z
• Ruby’s Song (2 book series) - https://amzn.to/4aFE84u

Telling Stories to Envision the Future with Brenda Cooper - Synthetic Minds Podcast EP04

In episode five of ⁠the Synthetic Minds podcast⁠, we merge the imaginative realms of science fiction with practical insights for today's business leaders. In this engaging discussion, I hosted Ruthanna Emrys, a celebrated author known for her unique reinterpretation of Lovecraftian lore with a modern twist.

Ruthanna shares how speculative fiction can serve as a powerful tool for exploring future technologies, ethical considerations, and strategic foresight. Dive into our conversation as we explore the intricate ways in which Ruthanna’s narratives challenge us to think about identity, societal structures, and the ethical impacts of technological advancements.

Tune in to discover how embracing the lessons from speculative fiction can enhance ⁠futures thinking ⁠and strategic planning in any organization.

About Ruthanna Emrys: Ruthanna Emrys is the author of ⁠A Half-Built Garden⁠, ⁠Winter Tide⁠, and ⁠Deep Roots⁠, as well as co-writer of Tor.com's Reading the Weird column with Anne M. Pillsworth. She also writes radically hopeful short stories about religion and aliens and psycholinguistics. 

She lives in a mysterious manor house on the outskirts of Washington, DC with her wife and their large, strange family. There she creates real versions of imaginary foods, gives unsolicited advice, and occasionally attempts to save the world.

Speculative Futures: Unveiling Tomorrow with Ruthanna Emrys

The Digital Speaker thinks about technology and the impact on business & society. He is the author of 3 management books, including his latest The Organization of Tomorrow. Dr Mark van Rijmenam is the founder of Datafloq.com and Mavin.org.

Navigating Future Realms: Science Meets Fiction with Peter Watts - Synthetic Minds Podcast EP02

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