For all the often-breathless talk in the tech sector these days about the metaverse, no one quite agrees on how to precisely define it. But there seems to be a growing consensus that whatever it is exactly – virtual and augmented reality on steroids, the convergence of our physical and digital identities -- it is poised to become a major factor in both our personal and professional lives. In this episode of McKinsey on Start-ups, we begin to explore the metaverse with a guest episode from At the Edge, the new podcast from McKinsey’s Tech Council, which recently launched with a three-part series on the topic. In this inaugural pod, tech futurist, author and corporate advisor Cathy Hackl shares her informed perspective on what the metaverse is, how it’s currently manifesting, and what it might evolve into in the future.