Professor Game Podcast – Episode 409

Title: I Tried VR Fire Training (and Failed to Find the Phone) with Ludus
Host: Rob Alvarez
Date: September 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special, sponsored episode of the Professor Game Podcast, host Rob Alvarez takes a hands-on dive into health and safety training using Virtual Reality (VR), featuring Ludus, a company that specializes in VR-based workplace safety training modules. Rob brings listeners (and viewers) along as he tests five Ludus VR scenarios—most notably the VR fire safety training session, where he humorously struggles to find the emergency phone. Throughout, Rob shares candid reflections, best practices, surprises, and insights on the power and pitfalls of immersive learning for adults in the workplace.

Note: Rob strongly encourages consuming this episode in video form for the full experience, as he narrates and reacts to visually rich VR content.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Why VR for Safety Training?

(Timestamp: 01:00–02:15)

• Rob introduces Ludus as a leader in VR safety solutions and sets up the goal: to test and review their VR scenarios from the perspective of a first-timer.
• He quickly points out the difference between describing VR and actually experiencing it:

  “This is VR Arkansas training, so it’s going to be hard for you to really relate to… almost an hour full of visual stuff going on… without actually seeing.”
  — Rob Alvarez [01:22]

2. Transparency & Expectations: Sponsor Disclaimer & User Experience

(Timestamp: 02:16–03:00)

• Rob discloses the sponsorship, but reassures listeners:

  “It is sponsored, but I’m also saying exactly what I think almost every time.”
  — Rob Alvarez [01:40]

• He emphasizes the importance of watching rather than just listening, given the VR visuals are central:

  “If you’re running and you have your phone just listening, it’s not going to work out as well for you.”
  — Rob Alvarez [02:59]

3. The VR Fire Training Walkthrough & User Experience

(Timestamp: 03:01–03:57, Partial Episode)

• Rob teases his own real-time reactions to the VR scenarios, notably his fumble in the fire drill exercise, where he famously “failed to find the phone”—an intended highlight of the episode, blending humor with authentic feedback.
• He points to the learning potential in these failures:

  “I’ll be diving into my raw, pure thoughts, how, how and why it works and some of the best practices and what might not be clear for me in this…”
  — Rob Alvarez [01:20]

4. Call to Action: Watch the Visual Experience

• Rob makes an unconventional move: For audio listeners, he explicitly recommends switching to the video version to capture the full, intended effect of immersive VR training.

  “Please go ahead and do this on video so that it can be a better experience for you.”
  — Rob Alvarez [03:48]

• He offers a “secret Easter egg” within the audio, noting this isn’t the full episode and directing audience to the Professor Game YouTube channel for the complete, engaging walkthrough.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “This one I would strongly recommend, you know, taking a little bit of time… Even if you just put it in the kitchen and you’re watching it every now and then… you’ll have that available.”
  — Rob Alvarez [02:50]
• “I won’t be publishing the whole episode in audio format… to invite you to actually click and go to our YouTube channel…”
  — Rob Alvarez [03:25]

Structure & Flow

• Intro & Context: Highlights the episode’s focus and why VR is transformative in training.
• Sponsorship & Integrity: Rob’s approach balances transparency about sponsorship with honest, valuable critique.
• VR Simulation Experience: Promises direct personal reactions (in the video), especially the “failed to find the phone” moment—a symbol of learning by doing (and sometimes failing).
• Strong Video Preference: Reiterated throughout, with clear instructions for best consumption experience.

Conclusion

This episode serves as both a practical review and a meta-commentary on the challenges of conveying immersive VR training in an audio-only format. Rob Alvarez’s open, candid, and slightly humorous tone invites listeners to experience first-hand the ups and downs of VR-based safety training, while emphasizing gamification’s power to boost engagement and learning retention. The full experience—including Rob’s attempts at fire safety and wrestling with VR mechanics—is available on the Professor Game YouTube channel.

Links to Watch the Full Episode

• Professor Game YouTube Channel (Check episode description for direct links)