The LoCo Experience

Curt Bear

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. EXPERIENCE 254 | NOW This is NOCO - With Ben and Kelsi Harris of This is NOCO

    6D AGO

    EXPERIENCE 254 | NOW This is NOCO - With Ben and Kelsi Harris of This is NOCO

    Now This is NOCO! - Ben & Kelsi Harris, Owners of This is NOCO and the NEW Discover NOCO Magazine On today’s episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I’m excited to introduce Ben & Kelsi Harris to our listeners!  They are the owners of the This is NOCO media company, and recently expanded their offerings through acquisition of Discover Fort Collins magazine - which will be adding editorial and community content and rebranding as Discover NOCO this spring!   And - they’ve recently come aboard the team for The LoCo Experience podcast - Ben in production and Kelsi managing social media and Co-Hosting a new short-form Business & Community News segment on The LoCo Experience!   Ben & Kelsi came back to Northern Colorado in 2020, escaping Covid-nation in California, where they worked together at a Christian camp - and Ben rekindled his production business, The Hype and the Heart at that time.  The opportunity to acquire NOCO Date Nights Instagram page surfaced in January 2024, and they’ve grown their following and rebranded to This is NOCO in the summer of 2025.  They are all about local, and together, we’re LoCo for Local, and so please welcome to the show - and to the team - and enjoy my conversation with Ben & Kelsi Harris of This is NOCO! 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 37m
  2. EXPERIENCE 253 | Hey Gutsy Lady! - My Conversation with Jenna Lee Dillon, 6x Founder and CEO of Gutsy Money

    JAN 17

    EXPERIENCE 253 | Hey Gutsy Lady! - My Conversation with Jenna Lee Dillon, 6x Founder and CEO of Gutsy Money

    Jenna Lee Dillon spent her growing up years in Southwest Colorado - in the small town of Mancos - on the way from Durango to Mesa Verde National Park. Her father was in the real estate business - some construction but especially buy, fix, and flip - a decade before it was cool.  After high school, she wanted someplace bigger and warmer, which landed her at Arizona State University.   Just out of school, Jenna Lee landed a job in marketing - a remote job for a California agency - and she soon evidenced her gutsy personality by starting her own freelance agency on the side, and exploring the most interesting places to live.  With stops in Austin, Chicago, Portland, Dublin and Fort Collins before finding her current home in Arvada, Jenna Lee lived the digital nomad lifestyle a decade before it was cool!  She’s a 6X Founder, and is turning one of her ventures - Screen Freed Revolution - into a non-profit in 2026. In this conversation we explore financial best practices and emotions, the urge to start new things and to run Spartan Races, and discuss why Jenna Lee and her family should move back up to Fort Collins.  There’s lots of smart business content, many fun and inspiring stories, and plenty of laughs, so please join me in enjoying my conversation with Jenna Lee Dillon. 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 41m
  3. EXPERIENCE 252 | Big Bears in the House! - A Conversation with John Palke, Owner of BBP Realty, Partner in Big Bear Properties, and a Lender with Edge Home Finance

    JAN 10

    EXPERIENCE 252 | Big Bears in the House! - A Conversation with John Palke, Owner of BBP Realty, Partner in Big Bear Properties, and a Lender with Edge Home Finance

    John Palke and I were introduced at a Realities for Children event some months back, and when we finally enjoyed a coffee together, I knew he had a story that I had to dig into and share! In real estate since 2019, John had previously been a commercial fisherman in Alaska (where he once fell in the water and nearly froze to death), was a partner in one of my favorite band bars, Hodi’s Half Note, and worked in operations at Vestas - until he realized giant windmills were a mostly a heavily subsidized boondoggle.   After getting into real estate with a name-brand firm, John became a partner in a property management business, Big Bear Properties.  During the refi boom, he referred a full-time income worth of mortgages to a friend - who  encouraged to become a licensed mortgage broker - allowing him to provide full-service real estate for investors - or a la carte for anyone!   In 2025, he decided to go his own way in real estate, founding BBP Realty almost exactly a year from when this episode was released.  John’s a great storyteller, and I enjoyed every bit of this conversation - and I think you will too.  So please join me in getting to know and love my new friend John Palke.   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

    2h 3m
  4. EXPERIENCE 249 | Don’t Feed Your Cows Candy! - with Kevin Pallaoro, CEO of Grass Fed Foods, Inc.

    12/20/2025

    EXPERIENCE 249 | Don’t Feed Your Cows Candy! - with Kevin Pallaoro, CEO of Grass Fed Foods, Inc.

    In this episode of The Loco Experience podcast, I sat down with Kevin Pallaoro, the CEO of Grass Fed Foods. Kevin shares his journey from growing up on a ranch in Salida, Colorado to becoming a leader in the natural beef industry.  Did you know that Salida was heavily settled by Italian immigrants? - well you do now.   We delve into the history and operations of Grass Fed Foods and its brands Teton Waters Ranch and Sun Fed Ranch.  Kevin's passion for healthy, sustainable food is evident as he discusses challenges in the industry, including the economics of beef production and honoring commitments to animal welfare and environmental sustainability.  Did you know that most “grass fed beef” in the US is fed pelletized grass in a feedlot?!   We also explored Kevin’s family and career path, from financial roles in various food companies, including a season in Germany - to his current leadership position and how he ascended to the role.  Kevin emphasizes the importance of balancing work and family, and drawing wisdom from  experience and from mentors.  Overall, it's a rich conversation about values, business strategy, and the drive to make a difference in the food industry.  So please join me in enjoying my conversation with Kevin Pallaoro.   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 43m
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!