More than twenty years after the Moneyball phenomenon proved that numbers could win games, sports are entering a new data revolution.
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Jennifer Strong unpacks how the latest generation of sports tech is powering performance. Martin O’Reilly, CEO and co-founder of Output Sports, shares how his company’s matchbox-sized sensors give coaches like the University of Colorado’s Steve Englehart real-time strength and performance metrics. Engineer Conor Walsh explains how his Harvard lab develops prototypes that adapt to each user, from runners to patients regaining mobility. And Nick Sprague reveals how Orreco uses biomarkers and motion capture to deliver individualized insights to NBA and Premier League players. But can too much tracking undermine the human side of the game? Journalist Zach Schonbrun raises critical questions about the double-edged sword of personalization.
Episode produced by Situation Room Studios.
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Bringing Brands to Life With Augmented Reality
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the next era of spatial storytelling— how virtual and augmented reality are shaping the way businesses and consumers interact with technology. Michael Guerin, founder and CEO of Imvizar, explains how his company uses location-based immersive experiences to connect people with meaningful stories, creating hundreds of employee and visitor digital experiences for clients such as global accounting firm Grant Thornton, Salesforce, Google, and others. Then, Ben Lang, executive editor and co-founder of the virtual reality news site, Road to VR, takes us inside the rapid and exciting changes in the industry. And finally, Dr. Randall Hill, executive director of the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California, shares how augmented and virtual reality applications can build understanding and deeper human connections. Plus, Rafa Pagés, co-founder and CEO of Volograms, walks us through how volumetric video capture is shaping the sports industry and bringing the cutting-edge technology closer to everyday users.
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How Corporate Sustainability Can Keep Your Top Talent
What does real corporate climate action look like — and who’s driving it?
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the evolving world of sustainable business, where tech startups, multinational corporations, and farms alike are under pressure to reduce emissions across the globe. She speaks with Paul Murphy, CEO of ClimeAction, an Ireland-based company offering “climate action as a service” to help factories and supply chains decarbonize, and Josh Prigge, a leading ESG consultant and founder of Sustridge. Forbes contributor Joan Michelson shares how the EU has made strides past the US to meet its climate commitments. And we meet Yasmin Abdu, founder of CarbonTrac, a supermarket tech company backed by the United Nations and Samsung. Their insights reveal how business leaders are rethinking risk, regulation, and responsibility in the face of climate change
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Is the Future of Storytelling Extended Reality?
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly explores the immersive world of extended reality - or XR - and how it's reshaping storytelling, art, and technology. Featuring voices from across the XR industry, the episode introduces us to Mark Vena, a leading tech analyst at Smart Tech Research; Paddy Dunning, a visionary behind The Giant, a ten-story LED statue that transforms intro cultural icons; Camille Donegan, founder of Eirmersive, an organization helping Irish artists use XR; and Don McGuire, Qualcomm's CMO, who breaks down how AI and wearable XR devises are entering everyday life. We also hear from Janet Beck of Glasseye and Jad Zouein of OuterNet London, whose immersive installations are turning advertising and art into living, breathing experiences. From empathy-building VR to real-time audience engagement, this episode reveals why XR may be the future of connection - and why great storytelling still lies at its core.
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Live from SXSW: How Will AI Work With Human Intelligence?
In this episode of The Next Innovation, host Samantha Murphy Kelly takes the stage at Ireland House, the designated meeting point of Enterprise Ireland innovators and leaders during the annual SXSW tech conference in Austin, Texas. As part of a live panel discussion, Samantha sat down with William Fitzgerald, co-founder of Bárd Global, Dr. Susan Leavy, ethicist and professor at University College Dublin, and Dr. Matt Lease, computer scientist and professor at the University of Texas. They explore the ethical considerations of AI-generated content, whether regulation can hurt or foster innovation, and what young companies should be privy to when considering AI tools. They also discuss how AI is transforming certain industries and what consumers should expect in the near future.
The world is experiencing unprecedented growth in technologies ranging from artificial intelligence and robotics to health advancements and automation. The Next Innovation podcast explores what is emerging on the cutting edge of business. Hosted by longtime tech correspondent Samantha Murphy Kelly and powered by Enterprise Ireland, the show delves into the most potentially disruptive developments across sectors. Each episode features insights that appeal to business leaders and innovators who want to look beyond today’s trends to tomorrow’s transformations.
Ireland