46. Building Empathy at Scale: How XR is Rewilding Human Connection with ⁠Ulrico Grech-Cumbo⁠

What if technology could make you feel like a whale or walk with elephants in the Serengeti?

Ulrico Grech-Cumbo, founder of Habitat XR, is using virtual reality to create "empathy at scale" - connecting millions to nature through immersive experiences that make your body believe you're actually in the wild.

We explore how XR might replace traditional zoos, why virtual nature creates real physiological responses, and whether digital experiences can solve our disconnection from the natural world. From filming lions in 360° to building the "zoos of the future," this conversation challenges everything you think you know about conservation and human connection.

Is this the future of environmental education, or are we just building more sophisticated barriers between humans and real nature?

The answer might determine the next 50 years of life on Earth.

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More about Habitat XR: https://www.habitatxr.com/

More about Ulrico's foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/habitat-nature-parks-foundation/

Episode with transcripts: https://www.mizter-rad.com/episodes/46-building-empathy-at-scale-xr-human-connection-with-ulrico-grech-cumbo

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