In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with John Siegel—Partner at Columbia Capital and telecom dealmaker—for a candid conversation about collapse, conviction, and the fiber-fueled comeback of digital infrastructure.

John reflects on how Columbia navigated the “nuclear winter” following the dot-com and telecom crashes, why investing in ICG felt like career suicide at the time, and how that bold bet led to Columbia’s most successful infrastructure play.

They unpack how trust between investors and operators unlocked unprecedented value, the strategic chess match behind acquiring AboveNet, and the broader implications of Zayo’s massive rollout. John also shares stories from European deals like EU Networks and GTS Central Europe, and weighs in on how the AI-driven infrastructure boom feels eerily familiar to the fiber land rush of 20 years ago.

Learn more about Columbia Capital: https://www.colcap.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 Steve Redfearn—Chief of Police for the City of Boulder—for a candid conversation about trauma, transition, and the evolving role of law enforcement in a post-2020 world.Steve shares what it was like responding to the Aurora theater shooting as a young officer, how that experience—and the years that followed—shifted his views on officer wellness and the culture of policing, and why coming to Boulder offered a different way forward. They dive into how the Boulder Police Foundation helped rebuild morale, and the impact of newer tools like drones, AI, and license plate readers. Steve also talks openly about the complexities of homeless policy, the pressure of oversight boards, and the ongoing challenges surrounding unsolved cases like JonBenét Ramsey.This episode offers an inside look at a police chief navigating political headwinds, cultural shifts, and a city in transition—while staying committed to building trust, transparency, and a department that meets the moment.Learn more about the Boulder Police Foundation: https://boulderpolicefoundation.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/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 Ben Bloom—founder and CEO of Atom Computing—to unpack the future of quantum technology and the unlikely rise of Boulder as a global quantum epicenter.

Ben shares how he went from academia to founding one of the most advanced quantum startups in the world, why Atom is betting on neutral atoms, and how their partnership with Microsoft and record-setting sale to Denmark are shaping the next wave of tech leadership. They discuss the real-world potential of quantum computing—from inventing new materials and unlocking more efficient energy to redefining national security and economic strategy.

Ben also breaks down how quantum and AI could work symbiotically, what a “utility-scale” quantum computer actually looks like, and why the race to access this scarce technology could mirror the early days of cloud and GPUs.

Learn more about Atom Computing: https://www.atom-computing.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