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Groove Jones is officially 10 years old, and in this milestone episode, host Doug Hogan sits down with the original co-founders—Dale Carman, Gary Banks, and Dan Ferguson—to look back at a decade of creativity, chaos, and unforgettable experiences. From the first sparks of inspiration that brought them together to the groundbreaking VR projects that helped define immersive storytelling, the trio shares how friendship, trust, and a shared love for the “wow” moment built one of the most innovative studios in the industry.

Expect stories of wild problem-solving, late-night breakthroughs, favorite projects that blended tech and magic (Smell-O-Vision, anyone?), and a candid look at what it really takes to sustain a creative company for 10 years. Whether you’re in tech, design, or love a good origin story, this episode offers both heart and behind-the-scenes grit.

What They Cover

• How Dale, Gary, and Dan first crossed paths and realized their complementary strengths
• The story behind naming Groove Jones and what “Groove Jones” really means
• Early breakthrough projects like the American Horror Story VR experience and multisensory campaigns
• Why solving client problems is always at the heart of adopting new tech
• Reflections on the culture of Groove Jones: no egos, no “that’s not my job,” just all-in teamwork

Key Highlights

• The hilarious (and hair-raising) origin stories of Groove’s earliest VR experiments
• Why Gary’s culinary background made him the perfect producer and even food stylist on set
• Dan’s “Elf Bowling” viral game days and what they taught him about keeping things simple and fun
• Dale’s philosophy of always chasing the “wow” factor and being fully present in each project
• Real stories of projects breaking down and the Apollo 13-style fixes that turned disaster into magic

Why It’s Worth Watching

If you’ve ever wondered how a small idea can grow into a decade-long journey, fueled by trust, hustle, and creativity, this episode is both a celebration and a masterclass. It’s not just about immersive tech—it’s about building something meaningful with people you’d want in the trenches with you.

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Step into the sonic world of Groove Jones with episode two of Groove Talk, where sound takes center stage. Host Doug Hogan sits down with co-founder Dale Carman and his son, Andrew Carman, the studio’s in-house composer and supervising sound designer. From touring musician to crafting immersive audio for AR and VR experiences, Andrew shares how he turned his lifelong love of music into a career creating unforgettable soundscapes. The conversation dives deep into the art of sound design, the “P channel” of passion that makes creative work resonate, and why the human touch will always matter, even in the age of AI.

Expect stories about pirate skeleton monkeys, leather crafting, restoring vintage gear, and yes, running a synth through an orange to nail the perfect track. It is a celebration of curiosity, craft, and the fearless leap into the unknown that fuels every Groove Jones project.

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Step inside the minds of the creative technologists behind Groove Jones in the premiere episode of their podcast series. In this candid conversation, Dale Carman, Doug Hogan, and Chris Crowell pull back the curtain behind the work at one of the most innovative studios in immersive tech. From the early days of VR and AR experimentation to today’s cutting-edge AI and interactive campaigns, the trio shares stories from the front lines, offering an inside look at the lessons, challenges, and future-shaping ideas that drive their work. Whether you’re a marketer, technologist, or creative thinker, this episode sets the stage for a deeper journey into the future of experiential storytelling. 

Who’s On the Mic

• Dale Carman – Founder of Groove Jones, industry veteran sharing insights from creative technology.

• Doug Hogan – Creative Technologist guiding the studio’s evolution.

• Chris Crowell – Tech innovator with a focus on interactive experiences.

What They Cover

1. Introduction to Groove Jones

• Doug outlines the studio’s mission and how they carved a niche in VR/AR and interactive campaigns.

2. Inside Stories & Case Studies

• The team swaps stories about standout client work, technical challenges, and client responses.

3. Tech Talk: Trends Ahead

• They dive into upcoming innovations, AR, VR, AI-driven media, and debate how brands can leverage them.

4. Lessons & Advice

• Each host shares a key takeaway: being iterative in prototyping, embracing failure, and structuring project teams for creativity.

Key Highlights

• The importance of rapid prototyping to uncover unexpected user behaviors.• How cross-disciplinary teams (creatives + engineers) spark the best solutions.

• Why staying agile and experimenting, even with prototype failures, is non-negotiable in innovation work.

Why It’s Worth Watching

f you’re curious about:

• How modern creative studios structure their teams and processes

• What emerging tech (like AR, VR, AI) means for corporate storytelling

• Real-world lessons from people working at the forefront of immersive experiences

This episode offers both big-picture context and granular, actionable advice.