Dan Caruso

Podcast

Podcast

Colorado Innovators: Gregg Spiridellis, co-founder of JibJab Studios, founder and CEO of Moments

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Gregg Spiridellis, a digital media pioneer who went from Wall Street to reshaping online entertainment. Gregg co-founded JibJab, the viral content studio behind This Land and Elf Yourself, which dominated the early internet era with political satire and personalized videos. After two decades of innovation in digital storytelling, he and his brother launched StoryBots, a modern-day Sesame Street that became a Netflix hit and featured celebrity guests like Snoop Dogg, Jay Leno, and Scarlett Johansson.

Podcast

Bandwidth: Bandwidth: Bill LaPerch, Former CEO of AboveNet

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Bill LaPerch, former CEO of AboveNet and a telecom veteran who played a key role in shaping the industry’s digital infrastructure. Bill’s career spans the rise of competitive fiber networks, the telecom boom, the WorldCom collapse, and the rebirth of the industry post-dot-com bust.

Podcast

Bandwidth: Kevin O’Hara, Co-founder and CEO of Congruex

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Kevin O’Hara, Co-founder and CEO of Congruex, a leading telecommunications company dedicated to advancing digital connectivity. Kevin shares his fascinating career journey, starting with his time in Alaska working for Kiewit, a pivotal role that set the stage for his future in the telecommunications industry. The conversation takes a personal turn as Kevin recalls his transition to MFS, where he hired Dan—a significant move that showcased his willingness to take a chance on unconventional talent.

Podcast

Bandwidth: Gillis Cashman, Managing Partner of M/C Partners

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan reconnects with Gillis Cashman, Managing Partner at M/C Partners and a longtime collaborator on industry-defining ventures like ICG and Zayo. Gillis reflects on their shared journey of transforming distressed telecom assets into thriving businesses, offering an insider’s perspective on the high-stakes world of private equity and telecom innovation.

Podcast

Bandwidth: Carrie Charles, CEO of Broadstaff

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan welcomes Carrie Charles, the dynamic CEO of Broadstaff, a company specializing in workforce solutions for the digital infrastructure industry. Together, they co-host a lively discussion, exploring their entrepreneurial journeys and the pivotal moments that shaped their careers.

Podcast

Bandwidth: Bill Barney, CEO and Founder of Asian Century Equity

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Bill Barney to explore the evolution of digital infrastructure in Asia, the significance of the PTC conference, and personal anecdotes from their careers in the telecom industry. Bill shares insights from his time at AT&T and MCI, highlighting the importance of strategic partnerships and the role of conferences in shaping industry dynamics.

Podcast

Quantum Revolution: Jun Ye, NIST/JILA Fellow & Adjoint Professor of Physics

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan dives into the quantum world with Jun Ye, Fellow at NIST, JILA, and Adjoint Professor of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Jun is a visionary in precision timekeeping, known for his pioneering work with optical atomic clocks. These innovations earned him global recognition, including the Yuri Milner Breakthrough Prize and the Niels Bohr Medal.

Podcast

Bandwidth: John Warta, Former CEO and Founder of Electric Lightwave, GST Telecom

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with telecom legend John Warta to explore his extraordinary career and the transformative role he played in shaping the fiber optic networks that revolutionized the industry. From his early days as a Vietnam veteran to working with Ross Perot at EDS, John’s journey into telecommunications was anything but conventional.

Podcast

Colorado Innovators: Natty Zola, Partner at Matchstick Ventures

Dan sits down with Natty Zola, Partner at Matchstick Ventures. Matchstick Ventures invests in early-stage technology companies in rapidly growing yet under-served startup ecosystems “between the coasts.” Before joining Matchstick, Natty co-founded Everlater, a travel startup backed by Techstars which eventually merged with Mapquest. Later he served as Managing Director of Techstars Boulder, guiding 63 companies through the accelerator, including transformative startups like Veho, Soona, and Tilt.