In this episode of The Bear Roars Dan sits down with quantum technologist and entrepreneur Pranav Gokhale—co-founder of Super.tech and a key leader at Infleqtion, one of the most ambitious and advanced quantum computing companies in the world. Pranav shares how an early internship at NIST introduced him to the world of quantum physics, sparking a lifelong passion that led to a PhD, a startup, and eventually an acquisition by Infleqtion. From his unique vantage point inside the industry, Pranav explains how quantum technology is already transforming national defense, finance, biotech, and communications—and how we’re much closer to useful quantum computing than most people think. Dan and Pranav dive into the software and hardware breakthroughs accelerating the field, explore how quantum sensing and timekeeping are enabling new commercial and military applications today, and discuss the global race for quantum supremacy. Along the way, they unpack the parallels between the evolution of quantum tech and the early days of the internet. Whether you're a quantum enthusiast, a curious founder, or just trying to understand what all the hype is about, this episode is an eye-opening look at the most important frontier technology of our time—and the people making it real. Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
The Bear Roars
The Bear Roars is hosted by three-time decacorn entrepreneur and venture investor Dan Caruso. Colorado Innovators, the Bandwidth revolution (associated with Dan’s book), and DeepTech are areas of focus. The purpose is to celebrate innovators, inspire listeners, and spark conversations within the innovation community.
Latest Episodes:
In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Molly Bloom—former world-class skier turned underground poker queen, bestselling author, and the inspiration behind the Oscar-nominated film Molly’s Game. Molly opens up about growing up in a high-achieving Colorado family, navigating life in the shadow of Olympic athletes and Harvard surgeons, and the personal drive that pushed her through a major spinal surgery and onto the U.S. ski team. When an injury ended her athletic dreams, Molly found herself in Los Angeles, running what would become the most exclusive high-stakes poker games in the world—hosting celebrities, billionaires, and titans of finance. Dan and Molly dive into how she built the game from scratch, scaled it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and maintained her integrity while surrounded by power, money, and pressure. She shares stories of ambition, collapse, reinvention, and what it really means to live by your values—even when everything falls apart. Whether you know her from the headlines or her Hollywood story, this episode is a fascinating deep dive into her unique story—and the next chapter she’s writing now. Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Katie Stanton—founder of Moxxie Ventures and former executive at Yahoo, Google, and Twitter—for a deeply insightful and personal conversation about career, conviction, and catalyzing innovation. Katie traces her path from early product roles at Yahoo Finance and Google to her pivot into public service with the Obama administration. She shares vivid stories of helping scale Twitter globally, co-founding #Angels to tackle gender disparity in tech, and eventually founding her own venture firm, Moxxie Ventures. Dan and Katie also explore how AI, healthcare, and climate innovation are reshaping the startup landscape—and why founders who “live in the future” are the ones to watch. This episode is packed with founder insights, reflections on meaningful leadership, and Katie’s signature blend of warmth and wisdom. Learn more about Moxxie Ventures here: https://www.moxxie.vc/ Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Jim Packer—President of Worldwide Television and Digital Distribution at Lionsgate—for a sweeping conversation on the past, present, and future of content. Jim’s career spans from his scrappy start delivering hand-addressed resumes to Disney studios, to leading global content strategy at some of the most storied names in Hollywood—including MGM and Lionsgate. Along the way, he’s helped shape how we experience film and television across traditional media, streaming platforms, and now AI-enhanced environments. The two dive into the seismic impact of AI on media production and content curation—from sound editing to predictive performance modeling for thousands of titles. Jim also shares how old TV classics are being remastered and reborn thanks to cutting-edge upscaling technology, and how platforms like YouTube are reshaping long-form storytelling and fandom. This episode is filled with real industry wisdom, lessons from media’s most iconic leaders, and an insider’s take on how the entertainment business is being reinvented in real time. Learn more about Lionsgate here: https://www.lionsgate.com/ Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Colby Synesael—former top-ranked telecom analyst turned investment banker—to trace the evolution of digital infrastructure and its collision course with AI. Colby shares how a chance job at a collapsing telecom company launched a decades-long career covering the industry's most pivotal transformations. From the post-dot-com rebuild to the emergence of communications infrastructure as a standalone sector, his vantage point has offered rare insight into the companies, strategies, and capital shifts that defined the space. Their conversation explores the powerful impact of AI on data centers, fiber networks, and power infrastructure—revealing why energy availability, transmission, and next-gen technologies like small modular reactors are becoming central to the future of connectivity. They also examine the growing investor appetite for infrastructure-like assets and what the shift from AI training to inferencing means for metro fiber and edge deployments. Colby and Dan look back on the critical moments that shaped the sector, while also unpacking the trends and technologies that will define its next chapter. From early industry conferences to the rise of private capital, this episode offers an insider’s view into how digital infrastructure became one of the most consequential—and investable—industries of our time. This episode is packed with real history, sharp perspective, and a clear-eyed look at what comes next. Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Dave Schaeffer, founder and CEO of Cogent Communications, to unpack one of the most fascinating and unorthodox careers in telecom. Before launching Cogent, Schaeffer ran the second-largest taxicab company in Washington, D.C., built a real estate empire, and traded in spectrum—after entering college at age 12 and nearly completing a PhD as a teenager. Schaeffer shares the wild backstory behind his entrepreneurial path, including the strategic bets that helped him turn $1 million investments into multimillion-dollar exits long before he ever touched fiber. Their conversation dives deep into the origins of Cogent and the six core principles that have guided its long-term success—from targeting a single product (internet access) to outmaneuvering larger players with laser focus and ruthless cost efficiency. Dan and Dave also talk about the dot-com crash, how Cogent scaled through downturns by acquiring distressed assets, and what it took to build one of the largest and most profitable IP networks in the world. This episode is packed with sharp insight, telecom history, and lessons on what it really takes to think differently—and win. Order Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/book To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com
