Internet of Senses Podcast

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Professor Charles Spence of Oxford University. In this interview, they discuss how the senses work together to enhance our experiences and the different research labs he runs. Professor Charles Spence is a world-famous experimental psychologist with aspecialization in neuroscience-inspired multisensory design. He has workedwith many of the world’s largest companies across the globe since establishingthe Crossmodal Research Laboratory (CRL) at the Department of ExperimentalPsychology, Oxford University in 1997. Prof. Spence has published over 1,250academic articles and edited or authored, 16 books including, in 2014, the Proseprize-winning “The perfect meal”, and the international bestseller“Gastrophysics: The new science of eating” (2017; Penguin Viking) – winner ofthe 2019 Le Grand Prix de la Culture Gastronomique from AcadémieInternationale de la Gastronomie. “Sensehacking” was published in 2021, and“Digital Dining”, with Prof. Carlos Velasco, in 2025.Much of Prof. Spence’s work focuses on the design of enhanced multisensoryfood and drink experiences, through collaborations with chefs, baristas,mixologists, chocolatiers, perfumiers, and the food and beverage, and flavourand fragrance industries. Prof. Spence has worked extensively in the world ofmultisensory experiential wine and coffee and has also worked extensively onthe question of how technology will transform our dining/drinking experiencesin the future.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Sam Wisniewski and Sarah Socia from OVR Technology. In this interview, they discuss the intersection of smell & gaming and how OVR's product is applicable across multiple genres of immersive gaming experiences. Sam Wisniewski is a Co-Founder and President at OVR Technology, where he works to bring scent into digital media and immersive experiences. His career spans investment banking, hospitality operations, and fragrance formulation, giving him a multidisciplinary perspective on business, sensory experience, and emerging technology.Before OVR, Wisniewski founded a boutique flavor and fragrance company developing products for food, beverage, and personal care brands. Today he leads operations, strategy, and commercialization efforts as OVR prepares to launch consumer scent technology that enables developers and creators to add smell to digital content.Sarah Socia is Director of Fragrance Innovation and R&D at OVR Technology, where she develops scent cartridges and olfactory delivery systems for immersive digital experiences. With a background spanning chemosensory research, fragrance development, and life sciences consulting, she brings a scientific perspective to how scent can be thoughtfully designed and applied within digital content, translating the science of smell into innovative scent technologies.Link to the kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/omara/the-omara-scent-display-for-gaming/commentsLink to Website: https://www.ovrtechnology.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ovromara/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ovromaraTwitter: https://x.com/OVROmara

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Jeremy Dalton, Founder of XRHQ.com. In this interview, they discuss Jeremy's background, how it lead to him creating his own company, and the evolution of XR technology. Jeremy Dalton leads XRHQ.com, a free intelligence platform for XR professionals, tracking real applications of immersive technologies as they go live across every industry worldwide.Previously, he established PwC's global immersive technologies practice, leading over 150 projects across 50 countries. He has co-authored research published at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), and his insights have been cited by the World Economic Forum, Citigroup, and The Economist.Jeremy is an international speaker and author of Reality Check: How VR and AR Can Supercharge Your Business, translated into Chinese, German, and Korean. He currently advises venture capital firm FOV Ventures on AI, robotics, and spatial computing investments.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Carl Philpott, Professor of Rhinology and Olfactology. In this interview, they discuss smell research and funding in the UK and how it is applicable to studies done in the US.  Professor Philpott leads the research group based at UEA with a team of academic trainees and collaborators as well as links to national and international colleagues and units. He leads the MACRO Programme Grant and is President of the British Otorhinolaryngology & Allied Sciences Research Society. A full biography is available on the UEA website. Research details can also be found on his ResearchGate profile, and he also has a UEA Experts profile page, and a profile page on Top Doctors. 

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Brian Goeltzenleuchter, interdisciplinary artist. In this interview, they discuss how Brian utilizes scent to influence the experience of art and his future innovations. Brian Goeltzenleuchter is an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of olfactory art, social engagement, and image making. Goeltzenleuchter is widely recognized as a leading figure in the field of olfactory art. His art and writing treat air as an artistic medium and breathing as a vehicle for aesthetic and critical contemplation. His socially engaged projects investigate themes of identity, ecology, and the boundaries between humans, institutions, and the natural world. His practice has been recognized for its contributions to the emerging fields of olfactory art and socially engaged art, and it has been discussed within art criticism, philosophy, disability studies, and environmental studies. He is the Darlene Shiley Honors Faculty Fellow in the Weber Honors College, and Research Fellow at the Institute for Public and Urban Affairs, San Diego State University.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Leslie Kay, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Chicago and member and former director of the University’s Institute for Mind and Biology. In this interview, they discuss Leslie's research in olfaction primarily with rats and how it has evolved over her career.Leslie Kay is a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Chicago and a member and former director of the University’s Institute for Mind and Biology. Her research addresses the roles that personal history, present context, breath, and chemistry play in shaping dynamic responses in brains and behavior centered around the sense of smell. Her laboratory focuses on brain dynamics through neural oscillations that engage olfaction, taste, memory and respiratory systems. New work from her laboratory also examines sex differences in olfactory physiology and behavior. While she primarily uses rats as a model system, she is now collaborating with colleagues to address neural questions in human olfaction and cognitive health. Dr. Kay has served on numerous advisory boards for the NIH, NSF and AChemS. She comes to the sense of smell with a background in Philosophy and Mathematics from St. John’s College (Santa Fe, NM) and a PhD in Biophysics from UC Berkeley. She is a fierce advocate for liberal education and reading real books. At the University of Chicago, she also serves as Deputy Dean for Research in the Social Sciences. She is working on a popular book on smell under contract with Basic Books and Penguin UK (expected publication late 2027).

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Marianna Obrist, Professor of Multisensory Interfaces at University College London. In this interview, they discuss the intersection of the five senses and how this impacts Marianna's ventures.Marianna Obrist is Professor of Multisensory Interfaces at University College London (UCL), where she pioneers research on touch, taste, and smell in human-computer interaction (HCI), with applications in virtual reality, healthcare, and wellbeing. Some of her recent projects include the EPSRC/NIHR Smell Care initiative on digital smell training, the EU FET Touchless.AI project on social interaction through contactless touch, and the UKRI Textile Circularity Centre on immersive textile experiences. Marianna is also co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Hynt Labs Limited, a spin-out developing digital scent technologies for personalised sleep solutions. She has authored over 100 publications in leading journals and conferences and co-wrote Multisensory Experiences: Where the Senses Meet Technology (Oxford University Press).

Join Hearing Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews Miles Spencer. In this interview, they discuss Miles' long history of entrepreneurship and his current venture integrating AI with historical sound archives. Miles Spencer is a curious Pittsburgh native who has asked a lot of questions—and followed them a long way from home. For more than 30 years, he has mentored tech founders, discovering along the way that guiding ambitious entrepreneurs isn’t all that different from raising his own kids, whom he has been parenting for 11 years.His career spans the creation of more than 1,100 jobs through founding, financing, building, and exiting three digital media companies. Before that, he served as a Venture Principal at Capital Express (register.com), hosted MoneyHunt on PBS before the era of Shark Tank, and once led over 1,500 people across 14 miles of open sea by kayak. He also trekked 1,100 miles through the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria—an expedition chronicled in A Line in the Sand, which went on to become an Amazon bestseller in the Middle East.Following a pandemic-era reset, Miles is now actively investing and directly managing teams across digital media, entertainment, and consumer products. Outside of work, he can often be found painting watercolors with his daughter or playing rugby with his son.And, as his friends often note, his distinctive brand of English sometimes requires translation—but it’s all part of the adventure.

Join Sight and  Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Dr. Andy Hines, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the University of Houston’s Graduate Program. In this interview, they discuss the past, present, and future of innovation and how it connects to higher education. Dr. Andy Hines is Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the University of Houston’s Graduate Program in Foresight and is also speaking, workshopping, and consulting through his firm Hinesight. His 30+ years of professional futurist experience includes a decade’s experience working inside first the Kellogg Company and later Dow Chemical, and consulting work with Coates & Jarratt,Inc. and Social Technologies/Innovaro. His most recent book (just released) is Imagining After Capitalism. Other books are The Knowledge Base of Futures Studies 2020, Thinking about the Future (2nd edition), Teaching about the Future, ConsumerShift: How Changing Values Are Reshaping the Consumer Landscape, 2025: Science and Technology Reshapes US and Global Society. His dissertation was “The Role of an Organizational Futurist in Integrating Foresight into Organizations.” He was Founding Chair of the Association of Professional Futurists.

Join Sight and  Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Sohail Inayatullah, UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies. In this interview, they discuss how to predict the future, Sohail's classes in future studies, and how they connect to Samantha's teachings at NYU. Sohail Inayatullah, a political scientist and futurist, is the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity. Malaysia. He is also Professor at Tamkang University, Tamsui and Associate, Melbourne Business School, the University of Melbourne. Previously, he was adjunct professor at the Centre for Policing, Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence at Macquarie University, Sydney. He is listed in the top two percent of the world's scientists as measured by the highest impact of citations.  

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Nezka Pfeifer, Museum Curator at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum. In this interview, they discuss Nezka's research in olfaction to support her exhibits, her work in curation and the community she has found in the Smell field.  Nezka Pfeifer is an interdisciplinary museum curator who develops botanically-themed exhibitions at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, a world-renowned research and horticultural organization. She focuses on projects where botany, culture, and art are intertwined through exhibition narratives and multicultural experiences.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Liam R. Findlay, Themed Attraction and Historical Scenting Consultant at AromaPrime. In this interview, they discuss Liam's research in smell, his work with amusement park scent curation and the impact of historical scent preservation.  Liam R. Findlay is a Themed Attraction and Historical Scenting Consultant for AromaPrime, where he also manages the company and its factory. His role involves guiding theme parks, museums and other attractions through the processes of using immersive scents. These scents might be specially created, perhaps based on careful research, or selected from AromaPrime's collection, with the purposes of telling stories, evoking emotions, influencing behaviour or educating. In his spare time, Liam researches the uses of scents at visitor attractions throughout history, he makes YouTube videos on the topic, and he has contributed to the academic Odeuropa project. Liam's current focus is a handbook for attractions hoping to use scent.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Nils Lommerin. In this interview, they discuss how Nils got involved in the food industry and his current endeavors as an entrepreneur in the business. Nils Lommerin was president and CEO of Del Monte Foods. During his tenure growth in EBITDA increased more than $46 million in three years.Nils has also worked at Texas Pacific Group, Oxford Health Plans, PepsiCo, Post Cereals, and in consulting roles at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Texas Pacific Group and KKR.Nils earned a Master of Science degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Stroudsburg University. 

Join Touch Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Craig Shultz and Joe Mullenbach. In this interview, they discuss haptics research and the future of touch technologies. Craig is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois College of Engineering and co-founder of Fluid Reality. He specializes in interactive embedded systems and haptic actuation. His work has won 6 best paper awards and nominations at premiere ACM and IEEE venues and has been featured in venues such as NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, TechCrunch, and Engadget.Before UIUC and Fluid Reality, Craig finished his post-doc at the Future Interfaces Group at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute, and was the VP of Research and Development at Tanvas, where he developed novel electroadhesive touchscreens based on his work in surface haptics at Northwestern University's Center for Robotics and Biosystems.Joe Mullenbach has spent his career focused on the physical interface between human and machine. A researcher and technologist in the field of haptics, Joe is co-founder and CEO of Fluid Reality, a technology startup producing the first practical high resolution tactile displays to let humans feel what robots feel in teleoperation. Fluid Reality technology imprints small bubbles into the skin, providing instant understanding of contact location, edges, orientation, and pressure. This work has been honored with numerous awards including as a Fast Company Innovation by Design Honoree 2024.  Joe was an early employee at haptic touchscreen startup Tanvas, and holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Spyros Drosopoulos. In this interview, they discuss Spyros' experience as a perfumer, how he has cultivated his brand, and how his processes have adapted overtime. Born in the Netherlands, raised in Greece and educated in Germany, Spyros Drosopoulos has an unusual background for a perfumer. Aside from being a self-taught perfumer, he also happens to be a former academic with a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience. After several years of intensively studying and experimenting with hundreds of perfume materials, Spyros released his first creations onto the market and founded BARUTI. Aside from that, Spyros works on other fascinating fragrance projects like The Red List Project — an initiative dedicated to conserving endangered plant species through recreating their scent. He creates for other brands, has worked on AI and perfume, provided scent(s) for various art expositions and projects, performs live with scent and also regularly teaches perfume courses at the Institute for Art and Olfaction in Los Angeles.

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Brandon Powers. In this interview, they discuss Brandon's background in performance and how he has been able to connect this with his love of innovation.   Brandon Powers is a creative director + choreographer who creates experiences across physical and virtual space. Blending his background in contemporary dance, theatre, and immersive technology, his work focuses on capturing liveness in the digital, building interdisciplinary communities, and shifting culture towards a more embodied future. His projects span technologies and forms incorporating AI, extended reality, and live performance including Queerskins: ARK (Venice International Film Festival, Cannes XR), Frankenstein AI (Sundance Film Festival), Duet (New York Live Arts), and Kinetic Diffusion (FilmGate Interactive, New Images). This past year, he created Echoes in Motion, a mixed reality dance experience celebrating the Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York City. Brandon is the founder of constellation, an immersive strategy and production studio building digital communities and multi-platform experiences for theatrical brands. Brandon is on staff at Musical Theatre Factory, where he leads MTFxR, the USA’s leading program supporting the development of XR musical experiences. He is a Lincoln Center Collider Fellow, Onassis ONX Studio member, NEW INC alum, and has spoken on the intersection of arts and technology across the world at TCG National Conference, Verizon’s 5G Lab, DanceXR Singapore and more.Brandon Powers website: www.brandon-powers.comMTFxR Garage: https://www.mtf.nyc/garage25

Join Sight and  Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Dana Ware, Chief Creative Officer at ARound. In this interview, they discuss Dana's background in AR & VR and how she has been able to connect her work to the entertainment industry.  Dana Ware is a creative innovator and leader in immersive technologies, blending her expertise in augmented and virtual reality with a passion for diversity and inclusion. As Chair of Women in Games+ IGDA SIG, Dana champions opportunities for underrepresented groups in gaming and tech. She is currently the Chief Creative Officer of ARound and an Advisor for The VOID. Spearheading cutting-edge projects that merge storytelling and technology, including partnerships with leagues, theme parks, and major global brands. An advisor for GDC’s Future Realities Summit and The Webby Awards, Dana also developed Utah's first Immersive Technology class at the University of Utah. A UCLA graduate and member of the Producers Guild of America and TV Academy, she continues to influence the entertainment and technology industries with visionary leadership.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Emanuela Maggioni, CEO and CTO of OW Smell Made Digital. In this interview, they discuss Emanuela's background in smell research and how she has been able to adapt her research across multiple fields.  Emanuela has over 16 years of experience in research and consultancy related to smell, including working with Unilever, Benetton and IFF. With over 45 scientific publications and a PhD in Psychology of Smell Perception and Emotions, she is also a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow and Honorary Research Fellow at the UCL Department of Computer Science. Her work and research have led to two invitations to exhibit novel smell technology at the World Economic Forum.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Marina Toeters, Co-Founder of the Fashion Tech Farm and Owner of by-wire.net. In this interview, they will discuss the accessibility of fashion and how her research has created new types of garments. Marina Toeters is a Red Dot winning Fashion Tech Designer. She operates on the cutting edge of technology and fashion design. Through her business by-wire.net she stimulates collaboration between the fashion industry and technical innovators for a relevant fashion system and supportive garments for everyday use. She advises on product development via prototyping and a research through design approach. She designs and develops concepts to inspire the world how fashion could be.As a teacher, coach and researcher, she works for the fashion department (HKU) and the industrial design department (TU/e). In 2019 Marina edited the book Unfolding Fashion Tech: Pioneers of Bright Futures and recently opened the Fashion Tech Farm, a studio, incubator and small-scale production facility for innovative fashion, based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.Check out more of her work below:www.by-wire.net www.fashiontechfarm.comwww.bilihome.org

Join Tyler Heaton as he interviews Tom Fritz, Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. In this interview, they discuss the influence of sound in research techniques and how music of other cultures influences Tom's work. Prof Tom Fritz is leader of the work group "Music Evoked Brain Plasticity" at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and visiting professor for Empirical Music Research at the Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music (IPEM) at the University of Gent. He has published a wealth of research interest about the psychology and brain physiology of music processing, and sports neuroscience. He is an internationally known specialist in musical immersion with novel types of musical interfaces, and founder of the Max Planck research spinoff JYMM. 

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Ivan Isakov, Co-founder and CTO of Valkyrie Industries. In this interview, they will discuss Ivan's background in haptics work and the groundbreaking studies of Valkyrie Industries.Dr Ivan Isakov is a creative technologist, mentor and speaker. In his company, Ivan develops advanced human-computer interaction systems based on muscle haptics and motion tracking, creates immersive applications and pushes forward the state-of-the-art of virtual reality. Ivan works with doctors, academics, artists, engineers and designers to make immersive technology valuable.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Ali Israr, haptics scientist, engineer and architect. In this interview, they will discuss how haptics research has shaped Ali's career and how he has implemented this research into his newest venture. Ali Israr is an Engineer and a Researcher, expanding the utility of haptic IO technologies in both academics and industrial applications. With more than 20 years of experience, He has engineered core infrastructures, software tools and hardware technologies to build interactive immersive experiences for entertainment, assistive, educational, social, therapeutic, virtual and everyday settings. Ali also led the Haptics and Interactive Sensing team in Pico Lab, a R&D division of Bytedance focusing on AR and MR applications and products. Ali has also led a haptics research group in Meta 's (formerly, Facebook Inc., USA) Reality Labs and as an Imagineer in Disney Research, USA.  Ali received his PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, USA.

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Tupac Martir, Founder of Satore Studio.In this interview, they discuss how Tupac got his start in visual design and the groundbreaking work being done at Satore Studio. Tupac Martir is an awarded, multi-disciplinary, digital artist with a portfolio that ranges from lightning design to performative reality using ad-hoc, fast-forward technological solutions in music, theatre, fashion, opera and exhibitions.After decades exploring technology, science and art, Tupac's recent works have delved into LLM, VR and VP to expand and blend boundaries in entertainment, media, theatre and art with pioneer pieces such as “UNIQUE.” In lighting design, Tupac has recently been awarded with the Profile Awards in Outstanding Achievement in Innovation for his work in “Find your Eyes,” from the British choreo-photolist Benji Reid.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Keith Kelsen, CEO of Inhalió, Inc.  In this interview, they discuss Keith’s journey into scent technology and how Inhalió is driving the Digital Scent Transformation into Automotive and the Connected Home. Keith Kelsen, CEO Inhalio, Inc. is a digital media expert on content - Visual, Audio and Scent. Mr. Kelsen is a speaker, author, innovator, and c-level executive. He holds numerous patents and is considered a technology leader. His blog Keith Kelsen’s Scent Narrative https://inhalio.com/topics/blog/ (https://inhalio.com/topics/blog/) is a thought provoking, informative world view on scent and the possibilities.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Ashok Masilamani, Chief Technology Officer & Founder of Noze. In this interview, they discuss the groundbreaking technology Ashok is working on at Noze.   Ashok spearheads the technology and engineering teams at Noze, and leads the company’s efforts to revolutionize healthcare through the digital sense of smell. Since founding the company in 2014, Ashok has been instrumental in developing and securing patents for several groundbreaking inventions, including the world’s first aroma monitoring application and the first digital olfaction-powered product—an AI-driven Air Intelligence Device. With 12 years of experience as a deep-tech startup CTO and over 20 patent filings under his belt, Ashok continues to drive innovation and excellence in the field. Prior to this, Ashok worked as a deep tech CTO at Applied Nanotools where he orchestrated the development and shipment of cutting-edge products like X-ray lenses and Silicon Photonics chips. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Alberta where he authored 25 publications after receiving his Master of Engineering from the National University of Singapore. His undergraduate work was completed at the Madras Institute of Technology in India.

Join Sight and VR Expert Samantha Wolfe as she interviews Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland, Emmy Award-Winning & Peabody Nominated Director. In this interview, they discuss Michaela’s work in immersive storytelling using technology. Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland is a Peabody-nominated and Emmy award-winning director who specializes in creating impactful stories using immersive and interactive technology. She is one of the first directors to create and premiere a short film utilizing Open AI’s SORA platform, which screened at Tribeca Festival 2024. As a nominee for the Producers Guild of America’s Innovation Award, she is also a consultant, speaker, and thought leader, who has been recognized as one of the 100 Original Voices of XR and listed as one of Blooloop’s 50 Immersive Influencers.

Join Tyler Heaton as he interviews Julia Campbell, Clinical Associate Professor at UT- Austin.  In this interview, they discuss Julia’s research path the Central Sensory Processes Lab, including her extensive study of Tinnitus. Julia Campbell obtained a clinical doctorate in Audiology (AuD) and triple research doctorate in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Behavioral Neuroscience (PhD) from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Currently she is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where she serves as the Audiology Program Director and PI of the Central Sensory Processes Laboratory. Julia also serves as the chair of the scientific advisory board for the Misophonia Research Foundation. Julia’s research interests are focused on the identification of an objective measure of tinnitus using EEG, and she has published on this and related topics in the American Journal of Audiology, Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, and the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, among others.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Izabela Derda, Assistant Professor of Media and Creative Industries at Erasmus University Rotterdam. In this interview, they will discuss Izabela’s research in haptic technology and storytelling. Izabela Derda, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Media & Creative Industries at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her research interests focus on how emerging technologies affect co-creative practices and experience design in the creative industries. She is also a multi-award-winning media producer, member of advisory boardy of SXSW Pitch competition and advertising expert who has served on juries of major advertising festivals worldwide.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Katie Boateng, President and Founding Board Member of the Smell and Taste Association of North America. In this interview, they discuss Katie’s personal experience with anosmia, the Smell and Taste Association of North America, and Katie’s Smell Podcast. Katie Boateng is an acquired anosmic and has personal experience living with complete smell loss since 2009 (14 years). Katie founded the Smell Podcast, which she launched in August 2018 to share patient stories, scientific research, and news about the world of smell. Katie has hosted and recorded over 100 interviews with a diverse range of patients and leading researchers and clinicians in the chemosensory sciences. She is a co-founder, Board Member, and President of the Smell and Taste Association of North America, a PCORI Ambassador, and a member of the Patient Advocacy Committee of the Global Consortium of Chemosensory Researchers (GCCR). She also serves as a Fifth Sense Ambassador.

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha G. Wolfe as she interviews Casey Sapp, VP of Strategy & Emerging Technology at VideoRay. In this segment, they discuss Casey’s journey into ocean technology entrepreneurship and underwater video technology.Casey is the VP of Strategy and Emerging Technologies at VideoRay where he oversees new product development, technology partnerships, and M&A. Before joining VideoRay he founded Blue Ring Imaging which focused on Mixed Reality and perception solutions for unmanned systems, and was acquired by VideoRay in 2023. Before that he started VRTUL, pioneering bespoke 360/multi-view camera systems partnering with major brands like BBC, National Geographic, SeaWorld, and OceanX.’

Join Sight and Emerging Tech Expert Samantha G. Wolfe as she interviews Judith Okonwo, Founder of Imisi 3D and AR/VR Africa. In this interview, they will discuss Judith’s own journey in emerging technology, the inception and growth of Imisi 3D, and virtual reality access and infrastructure within the African continent. Judith Okonkwo is an award winning Technology Evangelist, Business Psychologist and Organisation Development Consultant with experience working in Africa, Asia and Europe. She sits on the Boards of the European Organisation Design Forum and XR Women, advises Startups, not-for-profits and SMEs on emerging technologies and is a guest lecturer at several HEIs. She is also the creator of the Oriki Coaching Model™ and a co-founder of We Will Lead Africa. Judith is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. In 2016 Judith set up Imisi 3D a creation lab in Lagos focused on building the African ecosystem for extended reality technologies (AR/VR/MR), and connecting XR communities across the continent. The lab provides both in-person and virtual learning opportunities and access to XR resources for creators and enthusiasts, while supporting multi-sectoral engagement and adoption across the continent. In 2017 she convened AR/VR Africa, a vehicle for community focused activities, which holds large XR capacity development events on the continent the most recent had participants from 42 African countries. Judith is especially passionate about the adaptation of immersive technologies to create solutions on the continent, particularly low/mid cost virtual reality, for education, healthcare and storytelling.

Join Touch and Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Kwame Ferreira, Founder of Bond Touch and Synthetic Users. In this interview, they discuss Kwame’s business Bond Touch and the conception, products, and impact. Kwame is an entrepreneur and artist who uses startups and business as the canvas to explore a precision manufactured world where relationships (between humans and with nature) are the main theme, mediated by technology and corporate interests.

Join Sound and Hearing Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews Vocalytics founder and CEO Van West. In this interview, they discuss how Vocalytics is revolutionizing sound analysis in industries including hospitals and health. Van West is an accomplished strategic business development, product, and technology executive with 15 years’ experience leading teams in startup to Fortune 500 scale. Currently, Van is the founder and CEO of Techstars-backed Vocalytics. Helping enterprise facilities, Vocalytics is an AI software that listens for sounds, understands critical moments, and sends real-time alerts when you need them most. He’s incredibly passionate in leveraging AI to augment the health, safety, and experience of our world today.

Join Sound Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews leading accessible media and technology expert Larry Goldberg. In this interview, they discuss Larry’s role in the production and prevalence of closed captioning, how the senses can play a role in sharing media will all audiences, and future innovations in accessibility tech. Larry Goldberg is a leading accessible media and technology expert and consultant. With more than 35 years of experience as an innovative leader, entrepreneur, inventor, advisor and mentor, he has advanced access to a wide range of media and technology for people with disabilities, driving inclusive policies, processes and organizational infrastructures for large and small, for-profit and non-profit, public and private sector institutions. Larry began his consulting career after eight years at Yahoo, as Senior Director and eventually, Head of Accessibility. As Head of Accessibility, he directed a dedicated team of accessibility professionals and coordinated with thousands of designers, developers, engineers, product managers and executives to ensure that Yahoo’s many products, services and media offerings were as accessible as possible to people with disabilities.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Saskia Wilson-Brown,  the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Art and Olfaction. In this interview, they will discuss many subjects including olfactory studies, the history of the perfume industry, and the Institute for Art and Olfaction. Saskia Wilson-Brown founded the pioneering non-profit Institute for Art and Olfaction in 2012 in order to foster access and experimentation in perfumery. She went on to launch numerous programs designed to promote independent practices with scent and open-source principles in perfumery, including the Art and Olfaction Awards, Open Source Scent Culture, and the Experimental Scent Summit. In 2019 she served as a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art (London), and in 2020 she was a Ballen Scholar at New Mexico Highlands University. In 2023 she launched the pandemic-delayed Scent Week, a week-long festival of smell for Los Angeles. In addition to running the IAO, her current projects include producing Perfume on the Radio for Lookout FM, pursuing a PhD at University College Dublin’s SmartLab, and writing a book.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Greg Gerling, Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia In this interview, they discuss Greg’s research in massage and soft touch, different types of affective touch, and the future of touch technology. Gregory J. Gerling serves as Professor of Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Virginia, with courtesy appointments in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering. His research interests include haptics, computational neuroscience, biomechanics, and human-computer interaction. He is currently the Chair of the IEEE Technical Committee on Haptics and an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Haptics. He was previously the Co-Chair of the IEEE Haptics Symposium, Associate Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE World Haptics Conference. He earned the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Iowa, USA.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Pamela Dalton of the Monell Chemical Senses Center.  In this interview, they will discuss loss of smell, smell’s role in heritage and culture, malodors and non-lethal weapons, and the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Pamela Dalton is a Principal Investigator/Member at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, basic research institute devoted to the study of smell, taste and chemical irritation. Dr. Dalton received her PhD from New York University and her Masters degree in Public Health from Drexel University. Her research program explores the human response to odors, incorporating both sensory and cognitive experimental approaches. Her work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, with additional funding from the DOD, private foundations and industry collaborations. The research she conducts utilizes precision olfactometry, laboratory chamber studies and field studies to investigate a variety of topics in chemosensation, including how our emotions and behavior are shaped by the olfactory world around us.Dr. Dalton was the team leader for the Olfaction domain of the NIH Toolbox and a member of the Sensory Functioning Team (Taste and Olfaction) in the National Children’s Study Scientific Committee for Health Measurement. More recently, she led a team to develop SCENTinel, a rapid smell test for COVID-19 surveillance. She is a consultant to many groups in the chemical, food, household products, and fragrance industries, as well as government and community organizations involved in odor issues.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews President of the Digital Olfaction Society, Jesús Lozano. In this interview, they will discuss E-Noses, digital olfaction, and the Digital Olfaction Society. Jesús Lozano received the B. Sc. degree in Electronic Engineer in 2001 and Ph. D. degree in 2005 from Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. He has worked in instrumentation systems at Electronics Department of the University Complutense of Madrid, in chemical sensors and electronic noses at the Laboratorio de Sensores, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, in control, modelling and simulation at Naval Engineering School of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Presently he works as full professor at the Industrial Engineering School of Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz. From 2019 He is President of the Digital Olfaction Society. His research interests include machine learning and pattern recognition techniques, instrumentation and measurement systems, chemical sensors and electronic noses.

Join Sound Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews Idan Meir, Co-Founder and CEO of RightHear, an advanced accessibility solution that allows people who are blind or visually impaired to acquire better orientation in public spaces. In this interview, they will discuss the inspiration behind the company, why it’s useful for many individuals and companies, and other senses that play a role. Idan Meir is an entrepreneur based in Rockville, Maryland, with a passion for making the world more accessible. As the co-founder of RightHear, a Techstars portfolio company, Meir has helped develop an advanced accessibility solution that empowers people with visual impairments to navigate public spaces independently.  Originally from Israel, and having been moulded by the 'can do' attitude of the Start-Up Nation, Idan is driven by the motto "Aim for the moon. If you miss, you might hit a star," and he continues to drive RightHear forward in its mission to make the world more accessible, 'one building at a time'.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Linda Ricci, an emerging technology strategy consultant, speaker, author,  artist, and evangelist. In this interview, they discuss Linda’s background in VR/XR, the benefits and challenges of integrating haptics within VR/XR, and the future of art in sensory technology. Linda Ricci is a seasoned Senior Strategist with a dedicated focus on the impact of emerging technologies and XR (VR/AR/MR/Metaverse). With a strong background in tech, strategy, and innovation she advises global leaders on entering, marketing, and commercializing transformative tech. Prior to her 2022 role at Meta, where she led partnerships for the $150 Immersive Learning Fund, Linda consulted for major international brands including TDK Electronics, Alantra, Altria, Bacardi, Canon Professional, Technicolor and Faith Popcorn. She has also directed digital strategy for top Madison Avenue ad agencies, merging consumer insights and next-gen technology into experiences that generates results. An evangelist for the XR ecosystem, Linda serves on the board of the Virtual World Society and is a global speaker on the impact of AI, XR and Web 3.0. Beyond strategic work, she's a skilled interdisciplinary artist (including virtual reality) and holds an MBA from Rotterdam School of Management. A dual EU-US citizen, she's lived extensively in both The Netherlands and The UK.

Join our host and Sight Enthusiast Joel Garrison as he interviews Elizabeth Strickler, who operates at the forefront of media entrepreneurship and innovation as the Director of Media Innovation at Georgia State University's Creative Media Industries Institute. In this interview, they talk about Elizabeth’s background in digital art, the value and protection of art, and the evolution of digital art and NFT’s.Elizabeth shares her expertise in media innovation to a diverse range of students, from undergraduates to graduates, and collaborates with leading industry labels and iconic cultural figures to pioneer strategies in web3, blockchain, and virtual experiences. Her 2021 TEDx talk is recognized as a foundational resource in the NFT, metaverse, and AI realms, making her a frequently sought-after speaker in this rapidly evolving space. Beyond this, Elizabeth bridges the academic gap between the Business School and the College of Arts and Sciences, securing grants for research on creativity, innovation and XR's role in higher education. She is driven by a vision: to ignite entrepreneurial spirits, craft immersive worlds, and build our cultural economy. Elizabeth operates on the premise that learning is universal, enjoyable, and limitless. Reflecting her broad-ranging passions, her academic pursuits encompass a BA in Philosophy, a BS in Computer Science, and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking and Art.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews Professor of Interaction Design at Malmö University, Sweden, Simon Niedenthal. In this interview, they will discuss olfactory play in games and media, Simon’s own background and research in the world of smell, and many other aspects to olfactory research and design.  Dr. Niedenthal uses game studies frameworks and user-centred methodologies to study olfaction, the sense of smell, in interactive contexts, with the aim of contributing to new applications of the educational, rehabilitative and playful uses of scent. Dr. Niedenthal’s educational background is eclectic: he holds a B.F.A. in photography, an M.A. in medieval English literature, and a Ph.D. in interaction design. In 2008 he defended his Ph.D. thesis 'Complicated Shadows: the Aesthetic Significance of Simulated Illumination in Digital Games’ in the area of game lighting and its effect upon the emotions and behavior of the player. Since 2010 he has employed his multidisciplinary background to explore the history and potentials of smell-enabled gaming and the playful uses of scent. 

Join Sound Expert Tyler Heaton as he interviews producer, director, Founder, and CEO Gen Cleary of Sound Connective. In the interview, they’ll discuss Gen’s immersion into the industry, the science behind sound and hearing, and what they see in the future of sound. With more than 25 years in the entertainment industry as a lead creative mind, producer and director, Gen Cleary has been known as a pioneer who helped shape the Nightlife industry to become a 1.3B$ success story on the US West Coast and was named in the top 16 most influential women in Las Vegas by Vegas Magazine. Working closely with brands and super star artists such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Kaskade, Paul Oakenfold and so many more, she was part of the Dance Music movement that took the world by storm, by being one of the top creative mind to shape and direct through live performances, wild and original acts and costuming, sensorial design and staging…for top Mega Clubs and tours worldwide.

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Gijs Huisman, Assistant Professor of embodied interaction at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Delft. His main interest is in how our sense of touch plays a role in technology-mediated social interactions, in particular in shaping social presence, intimacy, and empathy. Gijs' research is grounded in theories of embodied cognition that he applies to the research and design of digital/physical systems. Before joining the IDE faculty, Gijs completed a PhD on Social Touch Technology at the University of Twente, a postdoc at the 4TU Centre for Humans and technology focussing on multi-sensory VR, co-founded a startup where he worked on the design of haptic products for social interactions, and coordinated work on digital/physical systems grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences' Digital Society School. 

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich during the second part of our 2 part series as she interviews neuroscientist and world leading expert on the psychological science of smell, Rachel Herz. They discuss the differences between taste and smell, how smell affects our wellbeing, smell and cognitive function, and more.  Rachel Herz, PhD has been actively conducting research on the senses, emotion, perception, motivated behavior and cognition since 1990. Dr. Herz is a TED speaker, has published 100 original research articles to date, and has received numerous awards and grants. She is on the faculty at Brown University, a professional consultant to various aromachemical industries, and is frequently called upon as an expert witness in legal cases involving the sense of smell. Dr. Herz is also actively involved in outreach, advocacy, and education on the senses of smell and flavor, and is a founding advisory board member of Fifth Sense, and Smell and Taste Association of North America, Innovation Advisor to The World Taste and Smell Association, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for AChemS, and the Chief Scientific Advisor for OVR Technology. 

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich during the first part of our 2 part series as she interviews neuroscientist and world leading expert on the psychological science of smell, Rachel Herz. They discuss the differences between taste and smell, how smell affects our wellbeing, smell and cognitive function, and more.  Rachel Herz, PhD has been actively conducting research on the senses, emotion, perception, motivated behavior and cognition since 1990. Dr. Herz is a TED speaker, has published 100 original research articles to date, and has received numerous awards and grants. She is on the faculty at Brown University, a professional consultant to various aromachemical industries, and is frequently called upon as an expert witness in legal cases involving the sense of smell. Dr. Herz is also actively involved in outreach, advocacy, and education on the senses of smell and flavor, and is a founding advisory board member of Fifth Sense, and Smell and Taste Association of North America, Innovation Advisor to The World Taste and Smell Association, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee for AChemS, and the Chief Scientific Advisor for OVR Technology. 

Join Sight Enthusiast Joel Garrison as he interviews XR director, educator, and performer Jonathan David Martin. In this interview, they discuss Jonathan’s myriad of impressive projects and performances, what it means to work in immersive technology, what works and what doesn’t work in augmented reality, and much more. Jonathan is a creative producer, educator, and performer working at the intersection of immersive technology and live performance. Over a 20 year career spanning Broadway, immersive installation, documentaries, and live performance in virtual reality, his projects have often pursued complex contemporary social issues like online extremism, immigration, and climate change. At the University of Maryland, he is a faculty member in the Immersive Media Design (IMD) program. There, he is leading research into the narrative possibilities of augmented and virtual reality and training students from across campus for future careers that will utilize spatial technologies.  

Join Haptics Expert Yulia Sion as she interviews Michael Banissy Psychological Science Professor and author. They discuss several subjects including Michael’s recently published book and the power of touch in many facets. Michael Banissy is a Professor of Psychological Science and Head of the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol (UK). He has produced over 100 scientific articles and is the author of the internationally acclaimed book ‘When We Touch’ (UK Edition) / ‘Touch Matters’ (US Edition). An expert in social interactions and relationships, Michael studies affection, communication, empathy, sleep, and touch. Michael has received awards from the British Psychological Society and the European Society of Cognitive Psychology for outstanding contributions to psychological research. 

Join Sight Enthusiast Joel Garrison as he interviews Humberto Coronado, the Director for the MS in Supply Chain Management at the Robert H Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. They discuss how Humberto has recently innovated his students’ learning experience through implementing virtual reality in the classroom. Humberto has over 15 years of industry experience in logistics and supply chain management and also teaches Business and Supply Chain Management graduate level courses. He is passionate about blogging about supply chain strategic issues and teaching and coaching young professionals for career success in supply chain management. His topics of interest include Supply Chain Strategy, Supply Chain Finance, Supply Chain Process Improvement (Lean Six Sigma), Demand Planning and Forecasting, The Role of Supply Chain Strategy in Building Competitive Advantage and Process Improvement Techniques among others.

Join Smell Expert Sofia Ehrich as she interviews academic, author, and gallery owner, Andreas Keller.  They discuss psychophysics, olfactory art, what it’s like to own an olfactory art gallery, and much more. Andreas Keller is a New York-based academic with PhDs in neuroscience and philosophy who is interested in olfactory perception. He has over a decade of experience in olfactory psychophysics and the clinical aspects of olfaction. The results of his psychophysical studies have shed light on human olfactory capacities, on the relation between the structure and smell of odor molecules, and on the perceptual consequences of variability in odorant receptor genes. He is the author of The Philosophy of Olfactory Perception and the owner of Olfactory Art Keller, an art gallery dedicated to olfactory art.