The Bear Roars

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with film producer Jason Berman, founder of A/Vantage Pictures, for an in-depth conversation on storytelling, persistence, and building a career across independent and studio filmmaking.

Jason traces his journey from growing up with dyslexia in Baltimore—where movies became a powerful way to learn and connect—to producing films at USC, breaking into the industry as an assistant, and ultimately premiering his first feature at Sundance. He reflects on the risks and realities of independent filmmaking, raising capital for early projects, and what it takes to shepherd a film from script to screen.

The conversation turns to Jason’s decision to launch A/Vantage Pictures, why Boulder has become a meaningful creative base for him, and how Sundance’s move to Colorado could shape the region’s future as a hub for film, technology, and entrepreneurship. Dan and Jason also discuss the evolving role of producers, the importance of authentic point of view, and how AI may improve efficiency in filmmaking without replacing human creativity.

Learn more about A/Vantage Pictures: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a-vantage-pictures/⁠

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

Listen to Dan’s Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com

To ring in the New Year, we’re re-releasing this conversation with Blake as a timely look back at the origins of Boom Supersonic and the vision behind faster-than-sound travel. Since this episode first aired, Blake and the Boom team have continued to make major strides—and Dan recently sat down with Blake again for a brand-new conversation.

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, who is designing a supersonic airliner. Blake founded Boom Supersonic in September 2014 with the goal of making high-speed travel mainstream and enabling a new world of human connection. Prior to founding Boom, Blake held leadership roles at Amazon and Groupon and co-founded mobile technology startup Kima Labs. At Groupon, Blake held multiple executive roles, culminating in responsibility for relevance, email, and search.

In this episode, learn about the history of commercial flight, Blake’s experiences with Groupon and AWS, his past work with Boom Supersonic and the vision for the company’s future. Find out when you can travel supersonic.

Click here to learn more about Boom Supersonic: https://boomsupersonic.com/.

To nominate a founder or to nominate yourself as a future guest speaker on our podcast, please send an email to contact@loudbearproductions.com.

With exciting news on the horizon for Caruso Ventures’ portfolio company Agile Space Industries, we’re re-releasing this episode featuring CEO Chris Pearson. In this conversation on The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Chris to explore the future of propulsion, the evolving defense tech landscape, and Colorado’s emergence as a leading hub for space innovation.

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 back down with Seth Levine—Founding Partner at Foundry Group—for part two of their conversation, diving deep into the experiences that shaped his path from telecom dealmaker to one of Colorado’s most influential venture capitalists.

Seth takes us back to his early days on Wall Street, grinding through 100-hour weeks at Morgan Stanley during the telecom boom. He recounts witnessing the rise and collapse of competitive carriers, navigating chaotic boardrooms, issuing high-yield debt in a market racing toward overcapacity, and learning the craft of business inside an industry on the brink.

Dan and Seth also revisit the origins of Foundry Group, the unlikely formation of the four-person partnership, and how Brad Feld’s mentorship and generosity influenced Seth’s approach to founders, community-building, and leadership. They unpack what it really takes to be a founder, why comfort with the unknown is a superpower, and how Seth is now thinking about the next chapter of his career.

Check out Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride’s new book: Capital Evolution: https://www.amazon.com/Capital-Evolution-New-American-Economy/dp/1637747780

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

Listen to Dan’s Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

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 Boulder artist Will Day, whose unlikely path from architecture to painting began in the middle of the 2008 financial collapse.

Will talks about losing his job, moving his family to Boulder, and slowly building an art practice from a basement with no roadmap and no guarantee it would work. He shares the early challenges—financial strain, uncertainty at home, and the pressure of trying to build a creative career while raising two young kids.

Dan and Will discuss how Boulder shaped his development as an artist, why Black Lab Studios became the right environment for his work, and what it means to create during times of disruption. Will breaks down his process of painting on raw canvas, working across multiple pieces at once, and allowing intuition rather than rigid planning to guide each piece.

The conversation also touches on Boulder’s evolving arts scene, the impact of events like the Sundance Film Festival and Boulder Roots Music Fest, and the role of community in helping local artists gain visibility.

Learn more about Will’s work: https://www.willdayart.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

Listen to Dan’s Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

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 David Prichard — CEO of Denver Ventures — for a conversation about conviction, community, and the evolution of Colorado’s venture capital ecosystem.

David shares how his unconventional path—from skipping college to leading sales teams before 25—set the stage for his work building one of Colorado’s most active investment platforms. He and Dan dig into how Denver Ventures grew out of the local Denver Angels network, why the best investors look beyond markets to the people behind them, and how “Founder DNA” traits like self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience determine who survives the toughest cycles.

The two explore why 2025 could mark a defining vintage year for venture capital, how Colorado is emerging as a national leader in hard tech, quantum, and AI, and what happens when founders and investors truly align around long-term conviction. David also opens up about his early life, the lessons learned from failure, and his belief that great companies start with great people—not perfect plans.

Learn more about Denver Ventures: https://denverventures.co/

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

Listen to Dan’s Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch

Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen

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 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