The Bear Roars

Colorado Innovators: Robin Thurston, CEO and Founder at Outside Interactive Inc.

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Robin Thurston—CEO of Outside and one of the most creative builders in the outdoor and media space—for a wide-ranging conversation about festivals, the future of AI, and why getting people outside has never mattered more.Robin breaks down Outside Days, the flagship consumer festival he built from scratch in downtown Denver that sold 18,000 tickets in year one, grew to 35,000 in year two, and is on track to top 50,000 this year. He explains the formula: music, film, experiential activations, a Shark Tank-style startup pitch competition, a B2B industry summit, and a travel conference—all converging in one place, over one long weekend. It's South by Southwest for the outdoors, and it's becoming one of the biggest festivals in downtown Denver.Dan and Robin dig into the full scope of what Outside has become; 30+ brands including Outside magazine, Warren Miller Films, Backpacker, Velo, and Pinkbike, unified around a single mission: reduce the friction between inspiration and activation, and get more people outside more often. With over a million paying subscribers across its mapping and media platforms, Outside is quietly one of the most ambitious media and technology companies in the country.The conversation takes a sharp turn into AI—and this is where it gets fascinating. Robin shares how he's using AI to convert decades of evergreen content into audio and new languages, how multi-agent frameworks are replacing what used to require rooms full of collaborators, and why he believes AI won't go on the hike for you—but it will make sure you show up prepared, equipped, and ready to have the time of your life. He and Dan also get candid about the people who haven't yet unlocked AI's potential, the ones who have, and what separates them.Learn more about Outside: outsideonline.comOrder Dan’s Book – Bandwidth: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom: dan-caruso.com/bookListen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dan...Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): / @jaceallen To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com\

Zeb King, Managing Director at Endeavor Colorado

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Zeb King—Managing Director of Endeavor Colorado and one of the most quietly influential figures in Colorado's tech ecosystem—for a conversation about the impact of founders across the state and around the world. Zeb explains what Endeavor Global is: a 27-year-old nonprofit built on the belief that world-class entrepreneurship can flourish anywhere, not just Silicon Valley or New York. He walks through the peer-to-peer model that powers it, the multiplier effect first proven in Chile and Argentina, and why Colorado's portfolio of quantum, space, biotech, and digital infrastructure companies has everyone paying close attention. Dan and Zeb dig into the companies that make Colorado's tech scene so compelling right now and why Colorado may be on track to become an official Endeavor Global Hub for deep tech, joining London, Singapore, Dubai, and New York. And yes—they talk cycling. Because in Boulder, cycling isn't just a hobby. It's how the most important business relationships get built. Learn more about Endeavor Colorado: endeavor.org [https://endeavor.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 Listen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch [https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretch] Check out music by Jason Mendelson (Jace Allen): https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen [https://www.youtube.com/@jaceallen] To nominate a founder or yourself as a future guest speaker, email: contact@loudbearproductions.com [contact@loudbearproductions.com]

Seth Levine, Co-Founder and Partner at Foundry Part 3

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan Caruso sits down with Seth Levine—Co-Founder and Partner at Foundry and longtime Colorado venture leader—for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on the future of Colorado’s business and tech ecosystem.Following the release of Dan's Open Letter on Colorado’s economic trajectory, Dan and Seth dig into the growing concern that the state may be losing its edge as a destination for capital, innovation, and company building. They reflect on Colorado’s history as a thriving tech hub, recent wins that showcase its potential, and the warning signs that investors and entrepreneurs are starting to look elsewhere. They unpack the impact of policy decisions like the state’s AI regulation efforts, the broader regulatory environment, and how perception alone can influence where capital flows. Dan and Seth dive into the role of political leadership, emphasizing the need for more balanced rhetoric, stronger pro-business signaling, and a renewed focus on long-term economic growth. At its core, this episode is a call to action: a push for thoughtful dialogue, decisive leadership, and a shared commitment to ensuring Colorado remains a place where businesses can start, scale, and succeed.Read the open letter: https://ensuringcolorado.com/#letterLearn 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/bookListen to Dan's Song Stretch: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dancaruso/stretchCheck 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\

Re-release Colorado Innovators: Brad Feld, Partner at Foundry Group

n this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Brad Feld—venture capitalist, author, and longtime Colorado ecosystem builder—for a candid conversation about innovation, acceleration, and the future that’s already here.They dive into the implications for leaders, educators, and policymakers, exploring why access and experiential learning will determine who thrives in the years ahead. Dan introduces his idea of the “super professional,” and Brad expands on how critical thinking and curiosity—not fear—will separate those who lead from those who get left behind.The conversation moves from macro to deeply personal as Brad shares how he’s applying these ideas in his own life and work. He reflects on the Give First philosophy that shaped Techstars and Foundry Group, the power of mentorship, and why giving without expectation remains his guiding principle in an age defined by exponential change.Learn more about Foundry: https://foundry.vc/Buy Brad's Book "Give First: The Power of Mentorship": https://a.co/d/jhC1JBKOrder 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

Colorado Innovators: Eric Cornell, Nobel Prize–Winning Physicist and Professor at CU Boulder

In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Eric Cornell—Nobel Prize–winning physicist, Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Fellow at NIST—for a conversation on quantum mechanics, discovery, and the limits of human understanding. Eric reflects on the breakthrough that earned him the Nobel Prize: the first creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate, made possible through pioneering work in laser cooling atoms. He explains how these discoveries opened the door to modern quantum technologies and why experimental physics continues to play a critical role in validating some of the most counterintuitive ideas in science. They explore the evolution of quantum theory, from early debates around light and atoms to concepts like entanglement, superposition, and the transition from the quantum world to the classical one. Eric also shares insights into current research, including efforts to measure the electron with extreme precision and what that could reveal about the fundamental asymmetry of the universe.  The conversation expands into some of the biggest open questions in physics today: dark matter vs. dark energy, the limits of string theory, and whether we’re due for another major scientific breakthrough. Along the way, they tackle everything from multiverse theories and UFO speculation to the philosophical edges of science—where physics begins to overlap with deeper questions about reality itself. Learn more about Eric Cornell and his work: https://jila.colorado.edu/fellow/cornell 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