A monthly podcast hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner looking at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
39
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality40
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement0
Podcast Overview
A monthly podcast hosted by Don Kianian and Ben Veaner looking at some of the details that go into making immersive, fun VR worlds, featuring unique worlds and voices from across the creator community.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/10/2025
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39
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality40
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement0
7
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2
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10
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excellent
Episode Length
53 minutes
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good
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3.0/5
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Every 29 days
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Recent Episodes
December 1, 2025
Building A VR Brand ft. Austin Lewis
<p>In this episode, Don and Ben sit down with Austin Lewis—one of Horizon Worlds’ most prolific and influential creators—to break down the latest Horizon Worlds updates, the future of creator tools, and the rapidly shifting landscape of avatar wearables, player concurrency, and mobile-first game design.</p><br><p>Austin shares behind-the-scenes stories from building his upcoming game Kart Clash, the polished PvP arena battler spinning out of his earlier work on A Pirate’s Life and the viral hit Spin the Bottle. The hosts dive deep into what makes a game “actually fun,” how Austin approaches prototyping, and why optimizing for mobile players is now essential for success on the platform.</p><br><p>The conversation also unpacks:</p><p>🕶️ Meta Ray-Ban Displays – Real-world tests, UI gestures, early limitations, and why wearable tech may replace screens sooner than expected.</p><p>🎮 New Horizon Worlds Competition – How creators integrated generative AI into gameplay, sound design, skyboxes, and backend logic.</p><p>⚙️ Player Concurrency & Horizon Studio’s 5x Capacity Boost – What bigger worlds and higher populations mean for open-world RPGs, social games, and future development pipelines.</p><p>🧢 Avatar Clothing Rarity System – A passionate debate: Is Meta’s new auto-rated clothing system a tool for empowering virtual brands… or a poorly-designed economic trap?</p><p>📊 New Demographics & Attribution Tools – How creator analytics are reshaping marketing, player acquisition, and monetization strategies.</p><p>🚀 The Future of Horizon Worlds – Custom matchmaking, avatar attributes, real brand-building inside VR, and whether fantasy games like A Pirate’s Life could finally live up to their original vision.</p><br><p>Packed with creator insights, industry predictions, and practical takeaways, this episode is must-listen for VR developers, Horizon Worlds builders, and anyone curious about the future of social VR, immersive worlds, and the creator economy.</p><br><p><strong><u>~~~Connect With Us!~~~</u></strong></p><br><p><strong>Don's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/</a> </p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/</a> </p><p>TikTok: <a href="mailto:https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk</a> </p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian</a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://dkianian.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dkianian.com/</a> </p><br><p><strong>Ben's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/</a> </p><p>Discord: <a href="https://bit.ly/HABITXR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HABITXR</a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://habitxr.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://habitxr.net/</a> </p><br><p><strong>Austin's Links</strong></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@meta.jesus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@meta.jesus</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meta.jesus_vr/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/meta.jesus_vr/ </a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
October 7, 2025
Takeaways from Meta Connect 2025
<p>In this special Meta Connect recap episode, Don and Ben reunite to unpack the biggest announcements, behind-the-scenes stories, and future-shaping trends from Meta’s flagship XR conference.The conversation kicks off with stories from the Creator Summit and networking dinners—where they reconnected with past guests, shared pizza with Ubi, and even had Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth (“Boz”) drop by for drinks. From there, they dive into the major Meta Connect reveals:</p><p>🚀 <strong>Horizon Studio & Horizon Engine</strong> – The next evolution of Horizon Worlds, promising 5x concurrency and pro-grade tools, but raising questions about accessibility for hobbyists and younger creators.</p><p>🕶️ <strong>Meta Ray-Ban Display & Wearables</strong> – Hands-on impressions of Meta’s latest smart glasses, including live demos, intuitive controls, and potential to replace everyday devices.</p><p>🤖 <strong>Contextual AI</strong> – A bold vision of always-on AI that sees and hears what you do, offering powerful assistance but also sparking debate over privacy, bias, and regulation.</p><p>🎮 <strong>New Games & Updates</strong> – From Thieves and Warlocks’ massive overhaul to the launch of Comic Royale and new experiments like Magnet Dream and Frogs, the duo highlights how studios are evolving alongside Meta’s platform.</p><br><p>This episode is part insider report, part future forecast—perfect for VR developers, XR storytellers, AI enthusiasts, and anyone curious about where immersive tech is headed next.</p><br><p><strong><u>~~~Connect With Us!~~~</u></strong></p><p><strong>Don's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://dkianian.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dkianian.com/</a></p><br><p><strong>Ben's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/</a></p><p>Discord: <a href="https://bit.ly/HABITXR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HABITXR</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://habitxr.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://habitxr.net/</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
September 1, 2025
Immersive Storytelling in XR ft. Nathan Anderson & Wadooah Wali
<p>Don and Ben sit down with Nathan Anderson and Wadooah Wali from New Canvas, a leading immersive media studio shaping the future of interactive storytelling and social VR gaming. The conversation explores how New Canvas approaches narrative worldbuilding and game development in XR, from initial creative concept to final platform deployment. They discuss the development process behind Pop and Drop, an accessible, cross-platform VR game, and share stories about collaborating with external creators, navigating platform quirks, and adapting pipelines to support both mobile and headset users.</p><br><p>🌍 Cross-platform XR storytelling: Web, mobile, and headset accessibility</p><p>🎮 Behind the scenes of Pop and Drop: Game mechanics, design decisions, and platform selection</p><p>🤝 Creative collaboration: Partnering with outside studios and creators to bring ideas to life</p><p>📱 Designing for accessibility: Building experiences that reach beyond core VR audiences</p><p>🔮 The future of immersive experiences: How New Canvas envisions the evolving VR/AR landscape</p><p>🛠️ Tools of the trade: Quill, Horizon Worlds, and choosing the right medium for the story</p><br><p>Whether you're a VR worldbuilder, immersive storyteller, or XR game developer, this episode offers deep insights into the art and craft of creating compelling, inclusive experiences in the spatial computing era.</p><br><p><strong><u>~~~Connect With Us!~~~</u></strong></p><p><strong>Don's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkianian/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/dkianian/</a></p><p>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@the.dfk</a></p><p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@dkianian</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://dkianian.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://dkianian.com/</a></p><br><p><strong>Ben's Links</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-veaner-7643a980/</a></p><p>Discord: <a href="https://bit.ly/HABITXR" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HABITXR</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://habitxr.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://habitxr.net/</a></p><br><p><strong>New Canvas Links</strong></p><p>Website: <a href="https://newcanvas.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://newcanvas.co/</a></p><p>Nathan's LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchrisanderson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanchrisanderson/</a></p><p>Wadooah's LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadooah/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadooah/</a></p><p>Pop & Drop: <a href="https://horizon.meta.com/world/700494979810910/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://horizon.meta.com/world/700494979810910/</a></p><p>New Canvas Linktree: <a href="https://linktr.ee/NewCanvas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/NewCanvas</a></p><p>NC Play Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nc_play2025/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/nc_play2025/</a></p><p>New Canvas Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/f5meKUSNDp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://discord.gg/f5meKUSNDp</a></p><p>New Canvas YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqtp2GUr5KO1ynWmdy_4RA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRqtp2GUr5KO1ynWmdy_4RA</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
9 total episodes available
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