The LoCo Experience

Curt Bear
  • 4.8 (13)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The LoCo Experience is a long-form conversational podcast that dives deep into the journeys of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers in Northern Colorado. Hosted by Curt Bear, Founder of LoCo Think Tank, the show brings real, raw, and unfiltered conversations—where guests share their successes, struggles, and lessons learned along the way. LoCo Think Tank is Colorado’s premier business peer advisory organization, founded in Fort Collins to help business owners gain perspective, accountability, and encouragement to grow both personally and professionally. LoCo chapters bring together business owners at all stages of the journey into professionally facilitated peer advisory chapters, led by experienced business veterans. These groups provide a trusted space to share challenges, seek advice, learn togethter, and support each other’s success. The LoCo Experience Podcast extends this mission beyond the chapter meetings— bringing the wisdom, insights, and stories of local business leaders to a wider audience. Our triad mission with this podcast is simple:  Inspire through real stories of resilience and success.  Educate by sharing valuable business insights.  Entertain with engaging, unfiltered conversations. If you love “How I Built This” and the free-flowing style of Joe Rogan - but with a Northern Colorado focus - you’ll enjoy The LoCo Experience!  Our closing segment, "The LoCo Experience," asks guests to share their craziest stories — and we get some doozies! It’s a passion project with purpose, and we invite you to listen, follow, and share, and maybe consider sponsoring. Know someone with a great story?  Nominate your favorite business leader for an episode!

  1. The LoCo PULSE | Week of April 6th, 2026

    1D AGO

    The LoCo PULSE | Week of April 6th, 2026

    This week, we're kicking off April with a reminder that corporate April Fool's jokes are officially behind us. We start with Miles Beyond Running Community's NOCO Urban Ultra on April 12, but the real star is the Well Your Mental Running Festival on May 30 and 31. This 146 acre private property event features distances from a 7K run walk all the way up to 100 miles, plus a 36 hour total mileage contest. With camping, glamping, sauna, cold plunge, massage, and mountain views of Longs Peak, it's Northern Colorado's answer to an ultra endurance festival. BG Automotive is opening their sixth location in the former Aces Motorcycle shop on South College, a testament to local business growth. Less exciting news: express lane tolls are returning to I-25 starting April 7, with prices up to $12 to Berthoud, plus five new speed cameras in the Mead to Berthoud work zone that track your average speed between points. Community gatherings include CSU hosting the 11th annual ACT Human Rights Film Festival April 9 through 12 at the Lory Student Center, with virtual encore options for Colorado residents April 13 through 19. The Rocky Mountain RepRap Festival brings 36,000 square feet of 3D printing technology to the Ranch Events Complex April 18 and 19, free for novices and experts alike. Music highlights feature local artist Rodi Aldrin's new single Dance RN, discovered through TikTok comments, and A Brother's Fountain playing a free show at Max Line Brewing April 16 in trio format. Community support spotlights Powered By Partners' Party for Partners Gala April 10 at Lincoln Center and Dementia Together's Joy on the Journey fundraiser April 9 at Embassy Suites, supporting families navigating dementia with confidence and community. Mark your calendars for LoCo Think Tank's third annual Cultivating Culture event April 29 at Ginger and Baker, featuring leadership labs and facilitated networking for teams of all sizes. Food picks celebrate Love Shack Mocktails in Loveland, Northern Colorado's first sober bar offering coffee and mocktails from 9 AM to midnight, and the legendary subs at Chiba Hut, a LoCo Think Tank member favorite. Stay connected, NOCO.

    14 min
  2. EXPERIENCE 264 | Married & Magnetic with James and Angela Mitchell, Founders of Love Intentionally

    2D AGO

    EXPERIENCE 264 | Married & Magnetic with James and Angela Mitchell, Founders of Love Intentionally

    My conversation today was with James and Angela Mitchell, the Co-Founders and Relationship Coaches at Love Intentionally.  Angela was a career counselor, working in schools, with depression and substance challenges, and eventually found her way to relationships.  Meanwhile, James was the consummate entrepreneur - working in real estate but always trying new ventures - with widely ranging success.   After years of taking intentional time throughout their marriage - every week, every month, and once-a-year retreats, James and Angela built skills and resources and systems to help entrepreneurs forge strong relationships - whether it’s a couple working together in business - or one stable career alongside the ups and downs of an entrepreneur.   Love Intentionally was formed in 2018, and experienced a revolution in recent years, as the couple spent a year in Peru - and wrote a book together - Married & Magnetic - the Entrepreneur's Guide to a Thriving Marriage and a Booming Business.  This episode is full of great stories, relationship best practices, and a lot of fun, so please join me in enjoying my conversation with James and Angela Mitchell.

    2h 6m
  3. The LoCo PULSE | Week of March 30th, 2026

    MAR 30

    The LoCo PULSE | Week of March 30th, 2026

    This week, spring weather is keeping us on our toes as we share what's happening across Northern Colorado. We start with Miles Beyond Running Community's upcoming Urban Ultra on April 29, a 50-mile individual or relay race from Bellevue to Greeley, with prices increasing April 29 for the Wild West relay from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs. Plus, their weekly Thursday community runs continue at Run Windsor and Epiculier Aalworks. We're excited about the LoCo Drink Tank, a new swag item filled with local goods from Run Windsor, Purpose Driven Wealth, Copacos honey, Breeze Thru car wash passes, and more, perfect for nonprofit silent auction baskets. In Greeley, all city-owned museums became free admission starting January 1st, with some exceptions for paid events like Greeley Stampede at Centennial Village. Community gatherings include Ginger and Baker's first murder mystery dinner, The Baker's Half Dozen, on May 19 (get your tickets now and plan your outfit), and the Mishawaka Amphitheater winning Westword's 2026 Best Outdoor Venue award. Celebrate with their 20th annual Pickin' on the Poudre on May 16 featuring the original lineup. The Chilson Senior Center in Loveland hosts a pancake breakfast and plant sale April 11, funding programs for low-income seniors. Music highlights feature Songwriters in the Round at Construct Brewing with Aubrey Dale, Eli Ray, and Brian Johansson, plus FoCoMX April 24-25 with 400+ bands across 41 venues. Catch Wade Keith's band Soul Puppets at Salt Road Brewing Saturday, April 25 at 1:45 pm. Boys and Girls Club in Weld County is getting a new podcast studio thanks to Breeze Thru Car Wash support. United Way of Weld County's free Children's Festival hits Island Grove April 11 with STEM activities, art, and games. The Rotary Afterwork Club hosts the 21st annual Black Tie Bingo April 18 at One North, raising funds for community and international grants. The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 121st annual event April 8 at the Hilton, and NOCO Boss Babes meets April 6 at Top of the Lake Coffee with Dr. Melna McLaughlin speaking on hormones and business. Food picks spotlight the Global Village Museum's Southern Indian cuisine dining event March 31 benefiting the museum, and Consuelo's Express on Lemay for unbeatable breakfast burritos and Nanita's Finest sauces. Stay connected, NOCO.

    14 min
  4. EXPERIENCE 263 | The Spirit of Adventure and Community with Joel Gustafson, Founder & CEO

    MAR 28

    EXPERIENCE 263 | The Spirit of Adventure and Community with Joel Gustafson, Founder & CEO

    I had Joel Gustafson and Jess Gries into the studio last fall to talk about Seed & Spirit Distilling, and specifically the recent news of their expansion into what was the Funkwerks portion of the building on Lincoln Avenue in Fort Collins. We tasted lots of samples and the guys shared a lot of stories, but with the two of them, there really wasn’t time to do justice to the journey of either partner.   In the meantime, we were honored to have Seed & Spirit partner with The LoCo Experience podcast as our Spirit Sponsor, and with the opening of their new space upcoming in Q2, it seemed like a perfect time to get to know Joel and his passion for community and adventure - and dreams for the future - a little better.   We enjoyed some FoCo LoCo’s - with Seed & Spirit’s delicious rum, coconut water, and lime, shared a lot of laughs, and touched on the sources of Joel’s drive to create meaningful community at every stage of the journey.  So please join me in enjoying my conversation with Joel Gustafson.

    1h 52m
  5. The LoCo PULSE | Week of March 23th, 2026

    MAR 23

    The LoCo PULSE | Week of March 23th, 2026

    This week, we're soaking up the unexpected summer vibes in late March and sharing what's happening across Northern Colorado. We kick off with Miles Beyond Running Community and their Urban Ultra coming up in April, a 50-mile individual or relay race from Bellevue to Greeley on the newly completed trail. We celebrate Mandy Mullen's growth with Miles Beyond, expanding from race series to helping other communities build their running cultures, plus her new Lululemon ambassadorship. We share the exciting news that Original Roma in Greeley has reopened after employees banded together to bring back the beloved spot for bazookas and calzones. Community gatherings include the Fly Fishing Film Tour at Lincoln Center with St. Peter's Fly Shop, Loveland's monthly foodie walk featuring five downtown restaurants, and Ginger and Baker's first murder mystery dinner, The Baker's Half Dozen, coming in May. Music highlights feature the Sonic Spotlight showcase at the Armory, teaching young bands the business of music, and Max Mackie's solo performance at Salt Road Brewing on March 27. We spotlight two incredible fundraisers: House of Neighborly Service's Hope Blooms fashion show on April 17 (with a special MC appearance) and Matthew's House 20th birthday celebration on April 18. Business events include the BBB's 28th annual Celebration of Ethics and the She Goes High Solo No Mole Summit on March 27, an introvert-friendly networking event at the BBB. Food picks highlight Estes Park's final Dine Around Town Thursday with $6 deals at 35 restaurants and the classic steak sandwich at Steak Out Saloon in Fort Collins. Enjoy the sunshine, NOCO. 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank (https://www.locothinktank.com/) 💡Learn about This is NOCO www.thisisnoco.com Music By: A Brother's Fountain (https://www.abrothersfountain.com/)

    16 min
  6. EXPERIENCE 262 | Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Starting New Companies - Featuring Kyle Bentley, President &

    MAR 21

    EXPERIENCE 262 | Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Starting New Companies - Featuring Kyle Bentley, President &

    My guest this week was Kyle Bentley, I connected with Kyle on LinkedIn back in 2019, and saw him growing his business - Bentley Welding Inc. through the years, and then more recently saw a new set of businesses arise - Coyote Tanks, Blue Northern Constructors, and Ceros Industrial - and Bentley Welding becoming Bentley Mission Critical.  I thought he might have a problem, and so I reached out to see if he’d join me in studio for a conversation on The LoCo Experience! In studio, I found out he’s also VP of the District 6 School Board in Weld County, President of the Board of Directors at the Greeley Family House, and on the Foundation Board for UV Tech in his native Vernal, Utah.   In recent years, Kyle’s business has shifted from primarily oil and now into tech, building modular data center units in shipping containers!  This one’s a wild ride with a fascinating Northern Colorado employer, so please join me in enjoying my conversation with Kyle Bentley.

    1h 37m

  7. MAR 16

    The LOCO PULSE | Week of March 16th, 2026

    This week, we share Northern Colorado community news, starting with the upcoming NOCO Urban Ultra and Relay (a 50-mile individual or team event) and a March 22 documentary release at The Lyric from AJ Fountain’s band A Brother’s Fountain about their 120-mile, 23-day Snake River music journey.  They note Loveland’s Fourth Street reopening near Loveland Aleworks, then highlight Ginger and Baker’s April 11 spaghetti-and-meatballs teaching kitchen camp for kids 10–16, Fort Collins’ Third Friday FoCo Foodie Walk (including Hot Sauce Realm), and Wellington’s St. Patrick’s-themed Mingle on Main. Arts picks include the March 22 Cinderella ballet in Greeley, Foothills Mall’s “Stillness In the Rush” window exhibit through March 31, and ZZ Top on March 24.  Community support includes Breeze Thru river cleanups, the Women’s Fund’s March 21 Decadent Desserts fundraiser, and the Abundance Foundation’s May 3 sober music event. They plug an April 29 “Cultivate Culture” workshop, recommend Old Town Food Tour, celebrate a birthday dinner at The Still Whiskey Steaks, and crown Silver Grill’s corned beef hash as the St. Patrick’s Day MVP. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see what we're up to: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Music By: A Brother's Fountain

    15 min

  8. MAR 15

    EXPERIENCE 261 | Building Community and Belonging with Dustin Peyser, Founder and President of the Timnath Chamber of Commerce

    In this episode of The LoCo Experience Podcast, I sat down with Dustin Peyser, the Founder and President of the Timnath Chamber of Commerce. Dustin shares how he co-founded the chamber alongside the early adopters and supporters, driven by his passion for local business and community building.  We discuss the chamber's rapid growth to 55 members and his innovative initiatives like the 'Click Local' business listing platform. Dustin was inspired and supported throughout by his wife Crystal, a likely future guest on the show.  For Dustin, creating a Timnath Chamber is a bit of a legacy project, and a way to truly be a part of the community he loves.   After jumping into the time machine, Dustin recounts his move from upstate New York to California and eventually to Timnath, Colorado, overcoming insecurities and challenges along the journey, and ends with a truly LoCo Experience - an emotional story of his near-arrest upon returning from a cruise - over a paperwork mixup with the military that had him labeled as AWOL from a decade prior.  He’s a fun guy, and a fellow communitarian, and I know you’ll enjoy my conversation with Dustin Peyser.   The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more 💡Learn about LoCo Think Tank Follow us to see what we're up to: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Music By: A Brother's Fountain

    1h 58m
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4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The LoCo Experience is a long-form conversational podcast that dives deep into the journeys of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers in Northern Colorado. Hosted by Curt Bear, Founder of LoCo Think Tank, the show brings real, raw, and unfiltered conversations—where guests share their successes, struggles, and lessons learned along the way. LoCo Think Tank is Colorado’s premier business peer advisory organization, founded in Fort Collins to help business owners gain perspective, accountability, and encouragement to grow both personally and professionally. LoCo chapters bring together business owners at all stages of the journey into professionally facilitated peer advisory chapters, led by experienced business veterans. These groups provide a trusted space to share challenges, seek advice, learn togethter, and support each other’s success. The LoCo Experience Podcast extends this mission beyond the chapter meetings— bringing the wisdom, insights, and stories of local business leaders to a wider audience. Our triad mission with this podcast is simple:  Inspire through real stories of resilience and success.  Educate by sharing valuable business insights.  Entertain with engaging, unfiltered conversations. If you love “How I Built This” and the free-flowing style of Joe Rogan - but with a Northern Colorado focus - you’ll enjoy The LoCo Experience!  Our closing segment, "The LoCo Experience," asks guests to share their craziest stories — and we get some doozies! It’s a passion project with purpose, and we invite you to listen, follow, and share, and maybe consider sponsoring. Know someone with a great story?  Nominate your favorite business leader for an episode!

Information

  • Creator
    Curt Bear
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The LoCo Experience
  • Show Website
    The LoCo Experience

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