Dr. VR

Hosted by Justin Baillargeon, Ph.D

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May 2026

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About the show

Justin Baillargeon (Dr. VR) is a VR, film and media Professor and Scholar based in Toronto, Canada. In his bilingual podcast (English and French), he discusses all things related to VR, such as its industry and its academic field.

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60 recent

May 13, 2026Episode 5159 min

Ep. 51 - Inside the 2026 Canadian Game Awards

I’m joined by Carl-Edwin Michel, founder and executive producer of the Canadian Game Awards, for a timely conversation about the evolution of the CGA and the importance of celebrating Canadian talent in the video game industry. Together, we discuss how the awards have grown, why this year’s edition feels especially significant, and what it means to build visibility for Canadian creators on a larger stage. We also dive into the adjudication process behind the awards, the challenge of defining what makes a game truly Canadian, the balance between blockbuster productions and smaller independent projects, and the current state of the industry in a period marked by both uncertainty and creativity. Carl-Edwin also shares his thoughts on the return of the Best VR/AR Game category, the growing momentum around XR and location-based experiences, and his long-term vision for the Canadian Game Awards both nationally and internationally.

May 6, 2026Episode 5057 min

Ép. 50 - Cannes Immersive 2026 : La XR entre dans une nouvelle ère

À l’approche de la troisième édition de la Compétition Immersive du Festival de Cannes, je retrouve Elie Levasseur, responsable de cette initiative ambitieuse, pour une conversation approfondie sur l’évolution rapide de la Compétition Immersive et de l’industrie XR dans son ensemble.Ensemble, nous discutons des grandes nouveautés de cette édition, de la transformation du format de présentation des œuvres, de l’émergence croissante des expériences immersives collectives, ainsi que des défis économiques qui continuent de redéfinir le marché de la XR. Nous abordons également la montée du location-based entertainment, les limites actuelles du hardware domestique, l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans la création immersive, ainsi que le rôle de Cannes dans la structuration d’un écosystème encore en pleine mutation.Plus qu’un simple survol de la programmation, cet épisode propose une réflexion de fond sur l’état actuel de la création immersive et sur les directions que pourrait prendre le médium au cours des prochaines années.

April 8, 2026Episode 4951 min

Ep. 49 - XR FIT: Reinventing and franchising VR arcades

In this episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Geoff Eisfeld, founder of XR FIT in Whitby, Ontario, to explore his journey from immersive space design and gaming into the world of location-based VR. We talk about the vision behind XR Fit, why he believes VR arcades need to evolve, and how his partnership with LA Fitness is helping him rethink what immersive entertainment, fitness, and community can look like in a public space. Together, we also discuss the future of franchising VR venues, the challenges facing the VR arcade market, and why Geoff sees accessibility, affordability, and repeat engagement as key to the next phase of immersive growth.

March 13, 2026Episode 4810 min

Ep. 48 - L'essor des expériences immersives location-based

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR, je m’entretiens avec Éric Brouillet, président de Vibrant Studios, une division de l’entreprise montréalaise Vibrant Marketing spécialisée dans la création d’expériences immersives grand public.Nous discutons de l’arrivée dans la grande région de Toronto de Space Explorers: The Infinite, une expérience immersive en réalité virtuelle qui permet aux visiteurs d’explorer la Station spatiale internationale et de découvrir la vie des astronautes en orbite.Éric explique comment Vibrant Studios développe et produit des expériences immersives qui combinent technologie, narration et divertissement, tout en cherchant à rejoindre un public large, des familles aux amateurs de nouvelles technologies. Nous abordons également la croissance rapide des expériences immersives location-based, qui permettent aux visiteurs de vivre des univers impossibles à reproduire à la maison.Enfin, nous discutons du potentiel de ce type d’expériences pour le marché ontarien et de la vision de Vibrant Studios pour l’avenir du divertissement immersif.

March 10, 2026Episode 4725 min

Ep. 47 - Félix & Paul: Plonger dans l'espace en réalité virtuelle

Dans cet épisode de Dr. VR, je m’entretiens avec Félix Lajeunesse, cofondateur du studio montréalais Félix & Paul, l’un des pionniers mondiaux du cinéma en réalité virtuelle immersive. Depuis plus d’une décennie, leur studio repousse les frontières de la narration immersive en plaçant le spectateur au cœur de l’expérience.Nous discutons de "Space Explorers: The Infinite", une expérience immersive de type location-based en réalité virtuelle qui permet au public d’explorer la Station spatiale internationale et de découvrir la vie des astronautes en orbite. Basée sur la série primée aux Emmy Awards Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, cette installation itinérante qui combine cinéma immersif, interactivité et exploration libre dans un environnement virtuel à grande échelle.Au cours de la conversation, Félix revient sur les défis de tourner dans l’espace en collaboration avec la NASA, sur l’évolution de la réalité virtuelle depuis les premières œuvres du studio, et sur la manière dont les expériences immersives location-based ouvrent la porte à un public beaucoup plus large que celui des casques VR à domicile.Nous abordons également la notion de présence en réalité virtuelle, le rôle du spectateur dans les nouvelles formes de narration immersive, ainsi que l’avenir du médium, entre interactivité, intelligence artificielle et nouvelles expériences collectives.

February 12, 2026Episode 4647 min

Ep. 46 - Preserving Holocaust Testimony Through VR and Volumetric Capture

In this episode of Dr. VR, I sit down with Dr. Oliver Schreer, who is an Associate Professor at the Technical University of Berlin and Head of the Immersive Media & Communication Group at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, to explore how cutting-edge volumetric capture technology is being used to preserve Holocaust testimony in VR.Dr. Schreer and his team developed two powerful VR experiences featuring Holocaust survivors: Eva Umlauf and Ernst Grube. Rather than relying on CGI avatars, they used high-fidelity volumetric capture to preserve the survivors exactly as they are—life-sized, realistic, and present. The result is not just immersive media, but a carefully designed encounter with living history and testimony.We discuss: How 32-camera volumetric capture systems reconstruct humans in 3D The technical challenges behind real-time mesh reconstruction and texturingA subtle but powerful innovation that enables eye contact in VRThe ethical boundaries of modifying testimonial data How people respond emotionally and cognitively to immersive testimonyWhether VR should become part of educational curriculaThe future of real-time 3D video communication beyond Zoom and Teams

January 20, 2026Episode 451 hr 2 min

Ep. 45 - Owning AI: Literacy, Power, and Who Gets Left Behind

In this episode of Dr. VR, I take a deliberate turn toward a topic that has surfaced repeatedly on the show but has never been fully unpacked: artificial intelligence.My guest, Claudette Hutchinson, is a Certified AI Lead Implementer and the founder of OwningMy, a platform designed to help people better understand, manage, and take ownership of their AI and digital interactions. Together, we explore what AI literacy really means beyond coding, why bias and representation matter in AI systems, and how these technologies can either widen existing gaps—or help close them.We discuss AI in education, accessibility, and creative fields, including how AI can support learners who have been historically excluded, the risks of automated decision-making, and why personal responsibility and critical thinking remain essential. We also circle back to immersive technologies and XR, looking at how AI and immersive tools intersect to democratize creativity and participation.This episode is about moving from fear to agency—and about who gets to shape the technologies defining our future.

December 11, 2025Episode 4452 min

Ep. 44 - Why "The Thrill of the Fight 2" Hits Different

"The Thrill of the Fight" is unquestionably one of the most iconic and authentic VR experiences ever created. Now, with "The Thrill of the Fight 2," the franchise is entering a bold new chapter.In this episode, I dive deep into the making of TOTF2 with Creative Director Edward Vasquez, exploring how the video game company Halfbrick is evolving the raw, room-scale intensity of the original, fully developed by the one-man-army Ian Fitz, while introducing multiplayer, a full career mode, smarter AI, and a stronger sense of presence and narrative.Edward shares his personal story of falling in love with boxing, the moment VR “clicked” for him, the challenges of designing real-time multiplayer combat, and why the version of TOTF2 available today represents only 10–15% of their full vision. We also break down embodiment, agency, player freedom, and what it means to design a VR experience that truly makes you feel inside the fight.Whether you're a longtime fan of TOTF, a VR developer, or someone curious about the future of immersive sports, this conversation delivers exclusive insights, big reveals, and an inspiring look at where VR boxing is headed.

November 27, 2025Episode 431 hr 6 min

Ep. 43 - Shaping the METAVRSE: XR technology & the evolving place of women in immersive futures

I sit down with someone whose influence can be felt across technology, education, entrepreneurship, and global community building. Julie Smithson is the CEO and co-founder of METAVRSE, XR Women and Unlimited Awesome. She is a driving force in shaping how we create, collaborate, and thrive in the spatial web.In this wide-ranging conversation, Julie shares the incredible trajectory that brought her to becoming one of today’s most respected voices in immersive tech. We explore how her human-centric background in hospitality, combined with more than a decade of XR experience, informs the way she leads and designs for people rather than machines. She opens up about the mission behind Unlimited Awesome, a new educational ecosystem focused on perseverance, social impact, environmental responsibility, and preparing young people for a future where entrepreneurship and emerging technologies converge. We also discusse about why AI-first creation tools will redefine how students and creators build immersive worlds. We dive into the importance of governance and AI literacy, the shift toward agents over assistants, and why collaboration may become the most transformative “killer app” in the next wave of immersive adoption. And of course, we celebrate XR Women on its 5th anniversary: a vibrant global community now spanning more than 60 countries, empowering women and girls to lead, innovate, and shape the next era of spatial computing. Julie reflects on the current state of women’s representation in XR, where progress is happening, and where the industry urgently needs to evolve.

November 4, 202510 min

The Stereopsia Sessions - Roger ter Heide

In this Stereopsia Session, I sat down with Roger ter Heide, CEO and Founder of ImproVive, to discuss the intersection of AI, VR, and interactive narrative design. His museum installation "Anders?!" from the Museum de Heksenwaag, immerses visitors in the emotional tension of historical witch-trial interrogations—powered by conversational AI and responsive avatars. Roger shares how this technology sparks reflection on modern discrimination and how AI-driven motion and emotion are reshaping VR storytelling.