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/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 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/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 Drake Livingston to unpack the story behind Spread Networks—an ultra-low latency fiber route built to connect Chicago and New York faster than ever before. What started as a bold idea from a former trader turned into one of the most talked-about infrastructure builds in telecom and trading history.

Drake reflects on how Spread’s team—backed by Jim and David Barksdale—quietly constructed a perfectly straight fiber line, cutting through the noise (and terrain) of traditional networks. From navigating right-of-way challenges to stripping down optical gear for speed, they engineered every detail for one purpose: to give traders an edge measured in microseconds.

Drake and Dan also dive into the acquisition of Spread by Zayo, how that move unlocked new ways of thinking about pricing, route design, and customer relationships, and why telecom companies often overlook the power of focus. Their conversation touches on the culture that made Spread different, what it taught the broader Zayo team, and where they see infrastructure innovation heading next—including quantum networks and precision timekeeping.

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

For more information, check out Drake’s recommended podcast and reading lists:

• Drake's High Frequency Trading Reading List

• Drake's High Frequency Trading Podcast List

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 Bobby Stuckey, Master Sommelier and co-founder of Frasca Hospitality Group, to explore what it really means to lead with hospitality—and why that mindset has never mattered more.

Originally recorded before his latest accolade, we’re re-releasing this episode to celebrate a major milestone: Frasca Food and Wine was just named Outstanding Restaurant at the 2025 James Beard Awards. It’s one of the foundation’s top honors, and a fitting recognition for Bobby’s decades-long commitment to excellence.

In this conversation, Bobby shares the story behind building Frasca and its sister restaurants—including Pizzeria Alberico and Tavernetta—and how his time at iconic spots like The French Laundry and The Little Nell shaped his obsession with world-class service. From the influence of Friulian culture to the grit it takes to lead a hospitality team, Bobby pulls back the curtain on what makes Frasca not just special, but enduring.

Dan and Bobby also talk about Scarpetta Wine, the discipline of sommeliers, and what it takes to create experiences that feel effortless but are anything but. At its heart, this episode is about care, community, and why showing up the right way—every day—still matters.

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 Erickson and Adam Burrows—founders of Range Ventures and two of the most influential early-stage investors shaping Colorado’s tech future.

Chris and Adam reflect on how their years as operators—building companies like ApartmentList and scaling HomeAdvisor—shaped their approach to venture capital. Their conversation paints a picture of Colorado’s startup scene where a “give-first” culture, rich tech talent, and ambitious founder community create fertile ground for innovation.

From personal war stories to macro trends, Chris and Adam reflect on how grit, timing, and real empathy for founders drive their investing philosophy. They also offer a behind-the-scenes look at launching a fund during a time of seismic change—and why building community is core to their long-term bet on Colorado.

Whether you're a founder, operator, or investor curious about what’s next in venture, this episode offers a rare window into how a new generation of VCs is backing companies—and ecosystems—from the ground up.

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