Take the Trip for your Mental Health : Nanea Reeves, CEO @Tripp

HLTH Forward Podcast

In this episode, we explore the groundbreaking fusion of virtual reality and mental health with Nanea Reeves, the innovative CEO and founder of TRIPP. With nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness each year, and global depression rates rising by 28% since 2020, the need for novel therapeutic approaches has never been more urgent. Nanea's journey into this space isn't merely a business venture; it's a deeply personal mission rooted in her experiences and an unwavering commitment to improving lives.

We'll delve into how TRIPP leverages the immersive power of VR to revolutionize mindfulness and emotional well-being. Our discussion will address a fascinating paradox: while some view VR as a potential escapism, it's proving to be a powerful tool for confronting and managing mental health challenges. For instance, we'll explore how veterans, who often struggle with PTSD, find unexpected comfort in interacting with avatars rather than humans, free from the fear of judgment.

Our conversation will navigate the unique hurdles of developing mental health technology, VR's potential to democratize access to wellness practices, and the delicate balance of harnessing technology while mitigating concerns about digital overwhelm. Nanea's insights will offer listeners a glimpse into a future where cutting-edge technology and compassionate, human-centered design converge to transform mental health care.

About
Nanea Reeves founded TRIPP, an award-winning global XR Wellness company, following a tremendous personal loss that led her to rethink her life’s purpose. With a lifelong meditation practice that began in her teens, Nanea recognized its transformative powers, and she wanted to figure out a way to make meditation more accessible to people around the world. TRIPP was the solution, which married her meditation practice with her love of video games and her extensive software development experience. Through interactive, immersive experiences that combine gameplay mechanics, mindfulness structures, and psychedelic-inspired environments, users are guided into powerful, awe-inspiring, transformative states. Ultimately, TRIPP aims to empower people to take control of their mental and emotional well-being wherever they are.

Nanea brings over 15 years of experience in digital distribution, video game technologies, and mobile application development. Before co-founding TRIPP, Nanea was President and COO of textPlus, one of the top mobile communications applications. Nanea was also COO at Machinima, the largest gaming network on YouTube that was acquired by Warner Brothers, Chief Strategy Officer at Gakai (acquired by Sony) and she was the Senior Vice President and COO of Global Online at Electronic Arts who acquired JAMDAT, the mobile game start-up that Nanea ran technology at. Through her leadership at these previous companies, she’s facilitated $1.6 billion in exits.

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