In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Dave Schaeffer—Founder and CEO of Cogent Communications—for Part Two of their conversation.

This time, Dave takes us deep inside the chaos of the early 2000s telecom collapse—when companies were vanishing overnight and billions in fiber lay stranded underground. He reveals how Cogent turned crisis into opportunity, buying distressed networks like PSI Net and LambdaNet for pennies on the dollar and stitching them into one of the most efficient global backbones ever built.

Dave and Dan unpack how Cogent’s “focus or fail” strategy defied industry dogma—selling only internet, targeting only high-density buildings, and rejecting the temptation to chase shiny new products. Dave breaks down the math of return on invested capital, the brutal discipline behind saying no to most deals, and why keeping a pure network architecture was key to long-term dominance.

It’s a front-row seat to the stories of the post-crash telecom—and a rare look at the mindset of one of the most relentless dealmakers in digital infrastructure.

Learn more about Cogent Communications: https://cogentco.com/en/

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/book⁠To 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/bookTo 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 Horace Zona—longtime investment banker and now Managing Director at DigitalBridge—for a wide-ranging conversation on dealmaking, discipline, and the evolution of digital infrastructure.

Horace recounts his front-row seat to some of the industry’s most pivotal transactions, from AboveNet and RCN to Zayo’s rise, and the hard-earned lessons behind them. He shares why price discovery is both art and science, how curiosity shaped his career, and what really went down in boardrooms and dinners that nearly derailed deals.

They dig into the financial chess match of buying fiber in the wake of the telecom crash, the strategic tensions with rival bidders, and how relationships with investors like Charlesbank and Providence shaped outcomes. Horace also opens up about career milestones and explains why today’s AI, quantum, and robotics revolutions remind him of the late ’90s infrastructure boom.

Learn more about DigitalBridge: https://www.digitalbridge.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/bookTo 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 Judge Andy Hartman—a Boulder District Court judge appointed in 2013, former Big Law partner, and devoted civic leader.Andy reflects on his journey: from chairing the Colorado litigation practice at Cooley LLP and serving as general counsel for Keen, to being appointed to the bench by Governor Hickenlooper in 2013. He’s handled felony criminal cases, civil disputes, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, mental health, and treatment court cases.  Dan and Andy explore how he shaped legal education by serving as the first Director of Experiential Learning at CU Law, teaching there for 12 years and serving on the Leeds Business School’s Deming Center Venture Fund board.  Andy shares how Boulder has evolved and how civic engagement, trust in the justice system, and community institutions like Sundance underscore the evolving role of the bench in a polarized era.Learn more about Colorado’s 20th Judicial District: https://www.coloradojudicial.govOrder Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/bookTo 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 continues his conversation with Molly Bloom—bestselling author, entrepreneur, and the inspiration behind the Oscar-nominated film Molly’s Game.

If Part 1 explored Molly’s rise, Part 2 takes us deep into the chaos of her fall—and the remarkable resilience that followed. Molly recounts how her move to New York turned her games into a Wall Street phenomenon, with $250,000 buy-ins, billionaires, and the lure of unimaginable stakes. With success came darker forces: organized crime, violent threats, federal raids, and the collapse of everything she had built.

Molly reveals the pivotal choices she had to make—between protecting her players or saving herself, and between spiraling further or rebuilding her life from scratch. She opens up about discovering meditation, repairing her family relationships, and finding strength in integrity, even when prosecutors pressured her to betray others.

Dan and Molly also talk about how her story made its way to Hollywood, what it was like to work with Aaron Sorkin and Jessica Chastain, and how the film Molly’s Game gave her a second chance. Today, she reflects on her life as a speaker, author, and mother—and the lessons about risk, resilience, and redemption that continue to guide her.

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