Owning the Digital Sky: Neil Mandt on AR, Real Estate, and the Future of Digital Rights | Ep 1122

In this episode of The Digital Executive , host Brian Thomas welcomes Neil Mandt—five-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director, and trailblazing entrepreneur redefining how we think about property in the digital age. With over 3,000 TV episodes and multiple films for Disney, A24, and other major studios, Neil has seamlessly bridged Hollywood storytelling with cutting-edge innovation in AI, AR, VR, and immersive media. Neil shares the pivotal “aha” moment that inspired his concept of Digital Rights Management (DRM) for Real Estate —a framework giving property owners the ability to protect, license, and monetize their digital airspace . Drawing parallels between film production permissions and augmented reality overlays, he explains why physical property rights must extend into virtual realms as AR and VR become part of everyday life. The conversation dives deep into the neuroscience of 3D experiences, the power of immersive storytelling, and the emerging economy built around digital property rights. Neil also outlines the four key players—property owners, advertisers, insurers, and government—needed to create a safe, transparent ecosystem for this new digital frontier. Mandt’s vision is clear: as the real and virtual worlds converge, it’s time to give creators, companies, and property owners the tools to responsibly own and manage their slice of the digital sky. If you liked what you heard today, please leave us a review - Apple or Spotify . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .