In this episode of The Bear Roars, Dan sits down with Michael Zeisser, founder of FMZ Ventures and one of the most globally seasoned investors in tech and media.

Michael reflects on a career shaped by transformation—beginning in a small village in France, earning a scholarship to Kellogg, and rising through the ranks at McKinsey to become a partner. He then joined Liberty Media, where he worked alongside John Malone on digital strategy and acquisitions, before leading U.S. investments at Alibaba Group during one of its most expansive global phases. Today, he runs FMZ Ventures, a $300 million growth equity firm focused on companies that enable, stage, or distribute experiences.

The conversation explores the four types of experiences FMZ targets—kinetic, psychotherapeutic, functional, and virtual—and how these align with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Dan and Michael also discuss how AI, AR, and changing work-life dynamics are reshaping the way people pursue connection, meaning, and purpose.

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 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