Justin Baillargeon nominated for Outstanding Technology Series in consecutive years
A podcast created by an Assistant Professor at the University of Niagara Falls Canada has once again earned a nomination in the Canadian Podcast Awards. Featuring over 60 episodes and drawing listeners from over 40 countries, Dr. VR explores the rapidly evolving world of virtual reality and immersive media.
Justin Baillargeon said his role as a professor in the of the Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communications program strongly influences both the structure and tone of the podcast. Surrounded by students who are curious about digital media and emerging technologies, he said he’s inspired to bring that same sense of discovery to his audience. Baillargeon approaches each episode as an educational experience, using storytelling techniques to keep listeners engaged while breaking down complex or abstract concepts.
“This nomination means that what I do matters, which makes me very happy,” Baillargeon said. “It also means that the interest in this medium and immersive technology is alive and vibrant. It is so exciting to know that I am part of an amazing industry and art form.”
The podcast also reflects the academic’s hope that people come away with a deeper understanding of how technology shapes society and communication. He describes VR as being in its “Méliès period,” a formative stage filled with experimentation, boundary-pushing, and rapid evolution. Documenting this moment, he said, is both exciting and humbling. As a proud Francophone, he is also committed to ensuring the series remains bilingual and amplifies voices from diverse and underrepresented communities within the VR landscape.
The creation of Dr. VR is a result of Baillargeon's dissertation research for his doctorate in cinema and media studies, which involved him conducting a series of interviews with virtual reality developers. While these conversations were originally intended to support his academic work, he said the depth and value of the insights quickly became clear. Wanting to share this knowledge more broadly, he released the first interview as a podcast episode and the series took off from there. The Canadian Podcast Awards began in 2018 and are hosted annually to recognize podcasting achievements of independent creators and established media. Award categories include a variety of topics, ranging from politics and culture to technology and arts. The complete list of award nominees can be accessed on the Canadian Podcast Awards website.
