Colorado Innovators

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Nick Forster — Founder & Host of eTown — for an intimate look at how music, community, and purpose have intertwined throughout Colorado’s creative evolution.

Nick recounts hitchhiking to Colorado as a teenager in the 1970s, stumbling into Boulder’s live music scene, and helping define it through his work at the Denver Folklore Center and the formation of the bluegrass band Hot Rize. From late-night gigs at the Colorado Coal Company to international tours and a Bluegrass Hall of Fame induction, Nick’s journey traces the heart of Boulder’s musical DNA.

He shares how a tour through Europe ultimately inspired the creation of eTown, a nationally syndicated show built on connection, sustainability, and civic spirit. Nick and Dan discuss how eTown Hall became a solar-powered community hub, how the arts can revitalize local economies, and why Boulder must reinvest in its creative infrastructure.

They also dig into the emerging Boulder Roots Music Festival, the impact of Sundance’s arrival, and how bringing artists, entrepreneurs, and audiences together can spark a new cultural renaissance on the Front Range.

Learn more about eTown: https://www.etown.org/

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 Bryan Dayton—award-winning bartender and restaurateur—for a conversation about cocktails, culture, and building Boulder’s dining scene.

Bryan traces his start behind the bar at Juanita’s, how he sharpened his craft under Bobby Stuckey at Frasca, and the whirlwind that came with being named GQ’s Most Inspired Bartender. He shares stories from national cocktail competitions, including the drink that put him on the map, and how those experiences laid the groundwork for launching his own restaurants.

They dive into the creation of Oak, Acorn’s role in shaping Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, and the vision behind Corrida, a Spanish-inspired rooftop chophouse with one of the best views in Boulder. Bryan also discusses the philosophy behind his cocktail programs and the opening of new concepts like C Bar and C Burger.

Dan and Bryan explore how food and culture intersect in Boulder—from the mentorship ecosystem that grew out of Frasca, to the city’s evolving identity, and what the arrival of Sundance could mean for the local community.

Learn more about Half-Eaten Cookie Hospitality: https://www.halfeatencookie.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 Seth Levine—co-founder and Partner of Foundry and one of the architects behind Colorado’s modern venture landscape—for a special live recording.

Seth shares his path from the telecom trenches of the 1990s into venture capital, and how mentors and early investors shaped his view of what community-driven entrepreneurship could look like. He recounts the shaky years after the dot-com bust, when many firms disappeared, and how a new wave of collaboration led to the birth of Foundry and Techstars.

Seth also draws parallels between past downturns and today’s market reset, offering candid thoughts on valuations, timing, and the cycles that keep reshaping venture.

Looking ahead, Dan and Seth explore where the next breakthroughs will come from: defense tech, advanced energy, quantum, and Colorado’s unique role in space. They examine the delicate balance between homegrown capital and outside investment, and how regulation could either fuel or hinder the state’s momentum in AI.

Learn more about Foundry: https://foundry.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 sits down with Chris Pearson—CEO of Agile Space Industries, for a wide-ranging conversation on propulsion, defense tech, and Colorado’s rise as a space hub.

Chris explains how falling launch costs and the explosion of mega-constellations are transforming the space economy, why propulsion and mobility in orbit are critical to both national security and commercial growth, and how Agile is meeting the moment with thrusters built through advanced additive manufacturing.

They dive into Agile’s roots in Durango as a propulsion test company, its expansion into full engine design and production, and the upcoming Tulsa facility that will help ease one of the industry’s biggest choke points.

Learn more about Agile Space Industries: https://agilespaceindustries.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 sits down with Michael Zeisser, founder of FMZ Ventures and one of the most globally seasoned investors in tech and media.

Michael reflects on a career shaped by transformation—beginning in a small village in France, earning a scholarship to Kellogg, and rising through the ranks at McKinsey to become a partner. He then joined Liberty Media, where he worked alongside John Malone on digital strategy and acquisitions, before leading U.S. investments at Alibaba Group during one of its most expansive global phases. Today, he runs FMZ Ventures, a $300 million growth equity firm focused on companies that enable, stage, or distribute experiences.

The conversation explores the four types of experiences FMZ targets—kinetic, psychotherapeutic, functional, and virtual—and how these align with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Dan and Michael also discuss how AI, AR, and changing work-life dynamics are reshaping the way people pursue connection, meaning, and purpose.

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 sits down with Aaron Ginn—founder of Hydra Host is reimagining how the world’s compute infrastructure gets built.

Aaron shares why he believes GPUs are becoming the new oil, and how sovereign AI infrastructure is transforming what it means to own and control data. He reflects on his journey from San Francisco to Colorado, where a better quality of life and a more pragmatic culture inspired him to rethink where innovation happens.

Their conversation explores the forces driving decentralization—from power constraints and geopolitics to the rise of distributed, resilient data centers in unexpected places like El Salvador and even active volcanoes.

Aaron also draws from historical lessons, including previous industrial revolutions, to frame this moment in tech—and explains why freedom and responsibility must go hand in hand for entrepreneurs bold enough to shape it.

To learn more about Hydra Host: https://hydrahost.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 sits down with Jane Strode Miller—veteran food industry executive, CEO of Rudi’s Mountain Bakery, mentor, and bestselling author of Sleep Your Way to the Top and Other Myths About Business Success.

Jane shares her journey from humble beginnings in Peoria, Illinois, where her mother raised four children alone while working three jobs. She opens up about her early ambition to become a lawyer—simply because it seemed like the most stable path—only to pivot into business and rise through the ranks at Frito-Lay, Hostess, Heinz, and Rudi’s Organic Bakery.

Dan and Jane explore how she broke into leadership roles in male-dominated environments, why confidence is often the decisive edge in a corporate career, and the lessons she learned about decisiveness, resilience, and course-correcting in real time. Jane explains her transition from marketing mainstream snack brands to championing natural and organic foods—and why she believes Boulder became the epicenter of the natural products movement.

Whether you’re building a business, leading a team, or reimagining your career midstream, this episode offers a candid look at reinvention and the mindset it takes to thrive in an industry—and a world—where the only constant is change.

Learn more about Rudi’s Mountain Bakery: https://rudisbakery.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 sits down with Bryan Leach, the founder and CEO of Ibotta—a Denver-based marketing platform that helps brands engage millions of consumers.

Bryan shares how watching his father build a public company sparked his own entrepreneurial journey. After relocating to the U.S., Bryan eventually founded Ibotta and led the company through the challenges of scaling a high-growth business—all the way to ringing the bell on the New York Stock Exchange in April 2024, a rare achievement in today’s tough IPO climate.

From his unique vantage point, Bryan discusses what it takes to build a resilient company culture, recruit and retain top talent, and stay true to a long-term vision amid the short-term pressures of public markets. He also reflects on the evolving promise of the American dream, the power of education and networks in shaping opportunity, and why fostering community is essential for lasting impact.

This episode offers candid insights on scaling with purpose, leading through volatility, and the grit it takes to take a company public when the odds are stacked against you.

Learn more about Ibotta: https://home.ibotta.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