In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, hosts Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable talk with Michelle Rebaleati, Multimedia Technologist and Career Navigator with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).

Michelle shares how GOED turned the tourism slowdown of 2020 into a statewide innovation success story with the launch of Project SANDI, a VR-driven workforce initiative that helps residents move from unemployment or underemployment to sustainable careers. What started as a recovery grant has evolved into a network of 1,000 VR devices across 80+ locations, giving Nevadans immersive access to in-demand careers in healthcare, skilled trades, IT, and advanced manufacturing.

From high school students in tiny desert towns to unhoused adults in workforce centers, GOED’s program uses VR to let people “test drive” real careers by putting them in the shoes of an employee in life-like scenarios. Michelle discusses what it takes to deploy VR across one of the largest and most rural states in the U.S. as only a team of three, and how ArborXR makes it possible to manage and update every device remotely.

She also shares measurable impact: participants have achieved a 100% pass rate on the National Career Readiness Certificate exam, proving VR isn’t just inspiring, it’s driving real change for Nevadans.

Timestamps:

• The economic crisis that sparked Nevada’s statewide VR workforce initiative (00:41)
• Project SANDI and the push to explore STEM and skilled-trade careers in VR (01:40)
• Reimagining “career day” with immersive field trips and simulations (03:56)
• Expanding VR career exploration from colleges to libraries across rural Nevada (05:21)
• Addressing low labor market literacy with the Individual Career Map (06:44)
• How Michelle’s three-person team deployed 1,000 headsets across a vast rural state (09:58)
• Making statewide VR possible with ArborXR’s remote device management (19:08)
• Achieving a 100% pass rate on the ACT WorkKeys career readiness exam (27:53)

About Michelle Rebaleati:

Michelle Rebaleati is a Multimedia Technologist and Career Navigator with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). She leads statewide initiatives using VR for workforce development, managing over 1,000 devices across 80+ locations to help Nevadans explore, train for, and launch new careers in high-demand industries.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn
• Watch Michelle’s TED Talk

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Thi Luu, Vice President and General Manager of VR Training at Axon, to explore how immersive technology is transforming public safety training.

Axon, known globally for the TASER energy weapon and body-worn cameras, has made VR a cornerstone of its mission to reduce gun-related deaths between police and the public by 50% over the next decade. Thi shares how Axon scaled from early pilots to one of the largest VR deployments in the world, helping officers train more often, more effectively, and more safely.

From building muscle memory for high-stakes scenarios to using AI for verbal de-escalation, Thi offers a rare inside look at how Axon designs scalable, high-impact immersive training for thousands of agencies. She also explains how ArborXR helps Axon manage and scale headsets, enabling deployments across precincts, training academies, and field operations.

Whether you’re leading training for a police department or an enterprise team, this episode offers a masterclass in building scalable, data-informed XR programs that drive measurable impact.

Key Moments:

• Axon’s mission to reduce gun-related deaths through VR training (02:48)
• VR as an essential part of public safety programs (05:20)
• Evolution of Axon’s VR training with two-pronged curriculum (07:15)
• Overcoming resistance and building buy-in across generations (15:24)
• Real-world scenarios: How VR training prepared an officer to deescalate (20:57)
• Lessons learned from scaling Axon VR training nationwide (24:34)
• Measuring success beyond just metrics with ArborXR (27:50)
• The future of immersive skills training: AI-powered learning (35:14)

About the Guest:

Thi Luu is the Vice President and General Manager of VR Training at Axon, where she leads product, design, and engineering teams developing immersive training solutions for public safety. With over 20 years in technology, Thi has driven Axon’s VR expansion from pilot to global scale, training thousands of officers worldwide. Her team’s work has earned national recognition for innovation in de-escalation and less-lethal training.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

Connect with Thi on LinkedIn

Connect with Brad on LinkedIn

Connect with Will on LinkedIn

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, hosts Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with XREAL’s Ralph Jodice, General Manager of North America, and Amir Khorram, Global Head of Enterprise, to unpack how AR is maturing from novelty to enterprise necessity.

Ralph and Amir share how XREAL has become the global leader in AR glasses with over 600,000 units shipped, leveraging a split-compute architecture that keeps devices light and enables longer sessions. They discuss how AR is transforming everyday work, from remote assistance in the field to productivity gains for “desk jockeys” who need multi-screen setups anywhere they go.

The conversation dives into the current AR hardware landscape, XREAL’s partnerships with Google and Qualcomm, and their upcoming Project Aura, built on Android XR. The team unpacks why AR adoption is taking off, how comfort and affordability are unlocking one-to-one device ratios for enterprise, and what the next generation of spatial displays means for the future of work.

Whether you’re exploring AR for remote support, immersive training, or productivity, this episode offers a grounded look at what’s possible today—and a peek at what’s just around the corner.

Key Moments:

• XREAL’s journey to 600,000 AR glasses and the shift to enterprise (3:28)

• How lightweight wearables enable new spaces for enterprise XR (7:10)

• Everyday use cases and remote assistance (10:10)

• Ralph’s real-world take on productivity in AR (11:40)

• Adoption of XR within enterprise companies (13:50)

• State of the AR market and room for growth (15:50)

• Split-computing vs all-in-one devices (18:06)

• What sets XREAL’s tech apart from other AR glasses (20:00)

• The limitations and challenges of AR (23:35)

• A look at the future of XREAL: Project Aura (24:55)

• What’s missing in the field of AR (31:30)

Quotes:

“We’ve shipped over 600,000 AR glasses—more than anyone else in the space. That’s proof people want lightweight, plug-and-play devices that just work.” – Ralph Jodice, XREAL

“What we’re really trying to do is enable people to wear these glasses for longer than 15, 30, or 45 minutes. If that means having a tether, that’s totally fine. There’s nothing lost, and a lot gained.” – Amir Khorram, XREAL

About the Guests:

Ralph Jodice

Ralph Jodice is the General Manager of North America at XREAL, leading market expansion and partnerships. With a background in PR, Ralph spent over a decade at Xbox developing deep expertise in gaming and consumer tech. Now he drives XREAL’s mission to make AR glasses practical, lightweight, and scalable for enterprise and everyday use.

Amir Khorram

Amir Khorram is the Global Head of Enterprise at XREAL, guiding strategy and adoption of AR across industries. With 10 years in XR—including leadership roles at HTC Vive and PICO—he focuses on accelerating enterprise AR deployment through practical, scalable solutions that bridge consumer innovation and professional use.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

Ralph Jodice on LinkedIn

Amir Khorram on LinkedIn

Brad Scoggin on LinkedIn

Will Stackable on LinkedIn

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Sophie Thompson, CEO and co-founder of VirtualSpeech, and Gema Molero, Project Manager of XR at IE University, to explore how VR is reshaping higher education.

What started as Sophie’s personal struggle with social anxiety has grown into VirtualSpeech—a global VR platform for soft skills training. Partnering with IE University, they’ve scaled immersive public speaking and leadership training across campuses, impacting thousands of students. Gema shares how IE made VR compulsory for over 1,000 master’s students, scaled to 700+ devices, and proved measurable gains in student confidence and skills.

The conversation covers the origins of VirtualSpeech, faculty adoption hurdles, the power of AI feedback, and how ArborXR helps IE University manage devices across multiple campuses. Whether you’re running a pilot or scaling XR globally, this episode is full of lessons on building programs that stick.

Key Moments

01:02 – From Social Anxiety to VR Pioneer

05:03 – Why IE University Made VR Compulsory

11:07 – Faculty Adoption & Early Challenges

15:30 – What Students Actually Do in VR

20:39 – The Power of Immersion & Emotional Response

20:39 – AI Coaching for Personalized Learning

21:46 – Scaling to 700 Devices Across Campuses

27:31 – Proving ROI: Confidence Up 24% in Two Sessions

27:31 – Advice for Universities Considering VR

Quotes

“In less than 20 minutes, students using VirtualSpeech increased their public speaking confidence by 24%.” – Brad Scoggin, citing IE University data

“At first, we had 300 headsets. Now we’re managing over 700 devices across multiple campuses—and ArborXR makes that possible.” – Gema Molero

About the Guests

Sophie Thompson is the CEO and co-founder of VirtualSpeech, the first VR app built to help people overcome fear of public speaking, now used globally for soft skills training.

Gema Molero is the Project Manager of XR at IE University in Spain, where she leads the integration of VR into curriculum and manages the university’s 700+ headset deployment.

Links and Resources

Gema Molero on Linkedin

Sophie Thompson on LinkedIn

VirtualSpeech Website

IE University Website

Brad Scoggin on LinkedIn

Will Stackable on LinkedIn

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Dave Raasakka of Somero Enterprises and Greg Meyers & Devin Weidinger from ForgeFX to explore how VR is transforming training for the concrete construction industry.

What began as a solution to scaling training for niche heavy equipment has evolved into a full-fledged VR program that’s enhancing safety, saving costs, and boosting trainee confidence. The conversation dives deep into how Somero equips operators to handle machines that weigh up to 20,000 pounds—without ever touching real concrete. From loading a screed machine onto a trailer to precision pouring with laser-guided equipment, trainees now fail safely in virtual environments before they ever touch the real thing.

Together, the teams unpack the technical side of building a high-fidelity VR experience, how multi-user sessions enable real-time feedback, and why starting small is key to launching a successful XR training program.

Key Moments:

• The Hiring Bottleneck That Sparked Somero’s VR Program (02:26)
• How Somero Integrated VR into a Real-World Training Pipeline (05:00)
• Simulating High-Stakes Tasks Safely: The Trailer Loading Use Case (08:31)
• How ForgeFX Identifies High-Impact Use Cases (10:30)
• Why VR? Why not video or text? (15:24)
• Creating Physical and Spatial Memory (18:16)
• Building High-Fidelity, Accurate Digital Twins (20:16)
• Using ArborXR to Manage, Deploy, and Iterate at Scale (23:59)
• Advice for Launching Your XR Training Program (34:45)

“VR gives us what I call ‘safety without penalty.’ You can make a mistake and learn from it without damage or danger—and that’s a huge win in our world.”

– Dave Raasakka, Somero Enterprises

"I’ve got a one-word answer to “Why VR?”—failure. Failure is phenomenal in training. You can't excel at something unless you try and fail and figure out how to overcome it. In the real world, you can’t let someone drive a trailer off the edge to learn spatial awareness. But in VR, you can fail safely, learn from it, and improve.”

– Greg Meyers, ForgeFX

About the Guests:

Dave Raasakka

Dave is the Senior Vice President of Global Customer Support at Somero Enterprises, where he oversees XR training strategy. With 25+ years in mechanical engineering and support, Dave has led the adoption of VR to help train operators on complex screed equipment across the U.S.

Greg Meyers

Greg is the CEO of ForgeFX Simulations. With a background in immersive learning and enterprise simulations, he leads ForgeFX’s strategy to help manufacturers reduce risk and cost by creating simulation-based training.

Devin Weidinger

Devin is the Technical Director at ForgeFX. He brings a decade of VR experience, including projects like Job Simulator and Rick and Morty VR. At ForgeFX, he ensures training simulations are realistic, intuitive, and immersive.

Links & Resources:

Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-weidinger-3a451467/

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-meyers-4402a514/

Connect with Devin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-weidinger/

Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/

Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/

Somero Enterprises website: https://www.somero.com/

ForgeFX website: https://www.forgefx.com/

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Dr. Christina Potter from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to unpack how VR is revolutionizing pediatric care and staff training.

Christina shares how what began as a one-year pilot to reduce pre-surgery anxiety has scaled into a hospital-wide program supporting 8,000 patients in a year. From immersive patient distraction tools to cutting-edge staff training on behavioral emergencies, the hospital is seeing measurable reductions in pain, stress, and clinical incidents.

The episode explores how Christina built a scalable, data-driven VR program from scratch, the importance of co-creating content with hospital staff, and how ArborXR helps them manage headsets across 12 units. Whether it’s reducing parental anxiety or helping neurodiverse patients learn to drive, this is a compelling look at VR for good in healthcare.

Key Moments:

• Problem Solving with VR at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (00:41)
• Early Challenges Launching a VR Program (04:01)
• Current Use Cases Across 12 Units (07:20)
• Day-to-Day VR at the Hospital (11:51)
• Improving Pediatric Patient Experiences (14:44)
• Why VR Works for Pain and Anxiety (17:37)
• Staff Training with VR for Psychiatric Emergencies (24:29)
• Co-Creating Content with Hospital Teams (29:22)
• The Future of XR in Pediatric Healthcare (34:43)

“We supported 8,000 patients with VR last year alone, and ArborXR helps us manage it all. Being able to push content, track usage, and show real-time data makes all the difference when pitching for funding and proving impact.” – Dr. Christina Potter

“We’ve seen up to a 60% drop in patient anxiety and pain perception—and a 70% reduction in parental anxiety—just by introducing VR into the pre-op experience.” – Dr. Christina Potter

About Dr. Christina Potter:

Dr. Christina Potter is the Director of Digital Innovation at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. With a background in research and a passion for emerging technology, Christina has led the hospital’s expansion into virtual reality, developing use cases for patients, staff, and caregivers. Under her leadership, Nicklaus has seen over 8,000 VR uses annually, with outcomes including a 60% reduction in preoperative anxiety and groundbreaking staff training programs.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Dr. Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinapotterphd/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/
• Nicklaus Children's Hospital website: https://www.nicklauschildrens.org/home

In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, Brad Scoggin and Will Stackable sit down with Tomissa Smittendorf from Kellanova and Scott Stachiw from Roundtable Learning to explore how VR revolutionized retail sales training at Kellanova.

Tomissa shares how they replaced an expensive, in-person grocery store training center with an immersive VR experience that enhances onboarding, boosts display execution by 90%, and improves knowledge retention.

Scott breaks down the design strategy behind creating a virtual store where new hires learn to upsell, identify safety issues, and build real-world confidence.

The episode dives into how VR created scalable, data-driven training, and why strong partnerships are key to successful XR adoption. From overcoming deployment challenges to envisioning future applications across supply chain and retail partners, this is a masterclass in turning XR experimentation into a strategic advantage.

Timestamps:

• Problem Solving with VR at Kellanova (01:19)
• Roundtable’s collaboration with Kellanova (05:02)
• What makes a successful VR deployment (06:48)
• Kellanova’s use-cases today (07:46)
• How did Kellanova decide to embrace VR training? (12:30)
• How does Roundtable Learning take on a project like this? (16:43)
• Scoping a VR project for Roundtable and Kellanova (22:43)
• How has ArborXR positively affected deployment? (26:35)
• What’s next for VR at Kellanova and beyond? (31:28)

About Tomissa Smittendorf:

Tomissa has over 30 years of CPG experience and is a visionary leader at Kellanova, driving growth through strategic learning initiatives. As Sr. Director, Commercial Capabilities, she led the launch of VR training at Kellanova, transforming onboarding and upskilling. Her work builds high-impact teams and a culture of continuous learning that solves real business challenges.

About Scott Stachiw:

Scott Stachiw is VP of XR Development and Design at Roundtable Learning, where he leads immersive learning strategy and content creation. With deep expertise in instructional design and XR technologies, Scott played a key role in launching Kellanova’s VR training—designing scalable, experiential solutions that drive measurable business impact.

About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• How Kellanova uses VR for Sales Training: https://youtu.be/8J88QdsqoL8?si=jfZExI_HJNnh2_lY
• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stachiw/
• Connect with Tomissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomissasmittendorf/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/

Boston Children's Hospital is pioneering the use of XR technology to enhance medical training and improve patient care. In this episode of the XR Industry Leaders Podcast, we meet with Angelina Gu, an XR Simulation Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Immersive Design Systems.

Angelina shares how XR is transforming medical training by providing realistic, scenario-based learning experiences for clinical staff. She discusses how VR helps trainees practice high-risk procedures, familiarize themselves with hospital environments, and improve communication skills in high-stress situations.

The conversation highlights the importance of easing new users into VR, the challenges of managing device updates, and the role of data in optimizing training.

Angelina also shares insights on the future of XR in healthcare, predicting deeper integration with traditional simulations and increased accessibility. We explore how XR enhances—not replaces—existing training methods, making medical education more immersive and effective.

Timestamps:

• Angelina’s Role at Immersive Design Systems (00:35)
• What Challenges Inspired the Introduction of XR? (01:17)
• Skills Taught in Students’ XR Experiences (03:22)
• Content Development (08:59)
• Challenges of XR Implementation (11:46)
• Angelina’s Experience of Device Management (15:30)
• Medical Training in VR and Public Perception (20:11)
• VR in Health Care over the Next Decade (23:26)

About Angelina Gu: Angelina is an XR Simulation Specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital's Immersive Design Systems. Collaborating with clinical educators at BCH, Angelina develops and facilitates immersive training experiences harnessing the power of immersive media (VR, AR, MR, 360 media, etc). Angelina is passionate about how immersive media transform medical simulation practice, making medical training more accessible and engaging.

About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Boston Children’s Hospital Immersive Design Systems
• Connect with Angelina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelinaguboston/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/

Mars Wrigley, one of the world’s largest food manufacturers, faced significant challenges in their gum production operations: increasing output, improving efficiency, and reducing employee training time. The solution? Virtual Reality.

In this episode, we explore how Mars Wrigley revolutionized its training program using VR, cutting training time in half and boosting output by 45%. Faced with the challenge of onboarding 200 operators in just six months, Mars Wrigley partnered with Futurus and ArborXR to create an immersive learning experience.

The VR solution standardized training, improved retention, and delivered measurable results, including a $19 million business impact and 200,000 additional cases of gum in seven months.

Join us as we discuss how this innovative approach is shaping the future of workforce development and scaling across global operations.

Timestamps:

• Mars Wrigley’s start in VR Technology (00:47)
• Mars Wrigley’s Reduction in Training and What It Looks Like (04:30)
• Employee’s Response to VR Training (09:52)
• Why VR over Other Training Options (13:50)
• The Secret of Mars Wrigley’s $20 Million in Savings (21:42)
• The Economics of Implementing VR Training (24:48)
• The Benefit of Experienced ISVs (29:12)
• The Challenges of XR Deployment and Arbor’s Assistance (32:14)
• Advice for Future XR Deployers (37:45)

About Josh McCrary: As the Training Coordinator at Mars Wrigley, Josh oversees VR training initiatives across multiple facilities, managing modules that streamline onboarding and upskilling for employees. With hands-on experience training operators both traditionally and with VR, Josh focuses on optimizing processes to boost efficiency and reduce downtime. His leadership has been instrumental in scaling Mars Wrigley VR training programs nationwide.

About Lauren Rucker: Lauren Rucker is the Training Lead for Mars Wrigley’s stick packaging operations, designing and implementing modules that have successfully onboarded over 200 employees. With a background in education and instructional design, Lauren aligns training strategies with corporate goals, ensuring effective skill development.

About ArborXR: ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-rucker/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/

In this episode, Alex Rühl from PwC shares insights into her role as Head of Emerging Tech and the company’s innovative use of VR internally and externally for clients.

From VR training for leadership and healthcare to groundbreaking projects like "In My Shoes," designed to foster empathy and awareness about race, Alex highlights how VR is transforming industries.

Alex also discusses PwC’s pivotal VR study showcasing faster learning and cost-effectiveness at scale, as well as VR’s impact on remote work, data visualization, and pre-sales.

Tune in to explore how VR is redefining learning, collaboration, and engagement, while driving measurable outcomes for PwC and their clients.

Timestamps:

• What is PwC? (00:44)
• Alex’s initial work at PwC (02:06)
• How has PwC’s research influenced VR? (05:32)
• How has PwC implemented VR in their workflow on Alex’s Team? (10:36)
• What’s exciting Alex about VR? (15:00)
• How benefits does Alex see implementing VR at PwC? (22:06)
• The impact of “In My Shoes” as a training resource in VR (26:14)
• Managing a fleet of AR & VR devices with ArborXR (35:04)
• Conclusion (37:08)

About the Guest:

Alex Rühl is an award-winning VR creator and Head of Emerging Tech at PwC. Renowned for projects like "Keyed Alike" and "Playing God"—which premiered at Cannes Film Festival—she’s a Global XR All-Star and TEDx speaker, driving innovation by helping organizations leverage emerging technologies for the future of work and entertainment.

About ArborXR:

ArborXR helps organizations confidently manage VR & AR devices at scale, remotely install content, and control what users can see and do in the headset. Our mission is to help people live more meaningful lives through the power of XR. Learn more at https://arborxr.com.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmakesvr/
• Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-scoggin/
• Connect with Will on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willstackable/