Angles with John Richmond

When Alissa Vogelsang was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, she refused to be defined by it. Over a decade later, she continues her fight with metastatic breast cancer — facing every setback with resilience, humor, and gratitude. In this episode, John Richmond sits down with Alissa to discuss her journey from diagnosis to treatment, the importance of being your own advocate, and how she fi...

In this powerful episode, John Richmond sits down with Kimberly LaRussa, founder of Sweet Buffalo, to discuss her inspiring journey from journalist to community advocate. Kimberly shares how Sweet Buffalo evolved from a good news platform into a lifeline for families in crisis, bringing joy and hope to children battling illness and supporting nonprofits across Western New York. She also opens up a...

In this episode, Dr. Helen Cappuccino, a breast surgeon at Roswell Park Cancer Center, discusses her journey into medicine, the importance of empathy in patient care, and the advancements in breast cancer treatment. She emphasizes the significance of early detection, lifestyle changes to reduce risk, and the collaborative environment at Roswell. Dr. Cappuccino also highlights the role of research...

When you think of St. Bonaventure basketball, one name stands above the rest: Coach Mark Schmidt. The winningest coach in Bonnie’s history, he’s built his program on values that don’t bend. Do it the right way, never cut corners, and treat everyone with respect. For nearly two decades, he’s led with discipline, preparation, and heart, earning championships on the court and admiration off it throug...

What happens when three women with completely different corporate backgrounds decide to take control of their own fitness journey and turn it into something bigger? On this episode of Angles with John Richmond, we’re joined by Amanda Meyers, Rachel McCrone, and Colleen Kirk the founders of Revolution Buffalo. What started as an idea among friends has grown into one of Buffalo’s most welcoming fitn...

From a small town in Iowa to Sundays in the NFL, Buffalo Bills tackle Spencer Brown has lived a journey built on grit and perseverance. In this episode, he opens up about his Hard Knocks experience, the ups and downs of draft day, and how Buffalo quickly became home thanks to Bills Mafia. Brown reflects on locker room culture, mental toughness, and what it means to block for an MVP quarterback lik...

What are you made of? That’s the question at the heart of this week’s Angles conversation. John Richmond sits down with Al Longo and Keith Vona to talk about Buffalo’s Veterans Race a community event that’s more than just a 5K or 10K. From its origins on the back of a napkin to becoming one of the city’s fastest-growing races, the Veterans Race is about perseverance, gratitude, and giving back. Al...

What if the cereal in your pantry was designed to be addictive? This week on Angles, Sharon Cryan, the founder and CEO of Food Nerd, shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up in Buffalo with a single mother battling MS to launching a company aimed at transforming how we feed our children. After a career in law, Sharon pivoted toward food advocacy, driven by her realization that ultra-proc...

In this episode of Angles, Lisa Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Compeer Buffalo, shares her journey from a college volunteer to leading an organization dedicated to combating loneliness and promoting mental wellness. The conversation explores Compeer's mission, the impact of loneliness on mental health, and the various programs they offer to support individuals in need. Lisa discusses the...

Emily Martin is the founder of Ally HR Partners, where she helps Buffalo companies hire the right people and tackle the tough conversations that keep teams on track. She joins host John Richmond to explain why HR should guide strategy, how clear accountability builds culture, and what makes Buffalo’s business scene uniquely collaborative. Enjoying the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share...

Tom Prince, Vice President of Western New York Athletics, turned a volunteer baseball blog into a full‑fledged sports network spotlighting student‑athletes across Buffalo. In this episode, host John Richmond chats with Tom about the evolution of youth sports, the mounting pressures athletes face, and why long‑term development beats early trophies. They dig into the art of balanced commentary, the...

Host John Richmond sits down with Justin Hartman—former New York City trial lawyer and founder of Hartman’s Distilling Co.—to unpack his leap from law to whiskey, the science of crafting award-winning bourbon, and the realities of scaling a Buffalo distillery through a pandemic. Hartman explains how courtroom discipline, relentless research, and a timely pivot into producing 30,000 gallons of hand...

Father‑son duo Tom and Cloogie Barnett turned a Buffalo tailoring shop into a bespoke powerhouse, dressing NHL superstars, CEOs, and wedding parties while staying true to blue‑collar roots. In this conversation with host John Richmond they trace the business from a post‑fire reboot in 1990 to an international brand, explain why hockey culture still shapes their work ethic, and share how the Buffal...

David Lord has built and exited tech companies for decades, but his newest venture is pure passion. After years chasing trout, he created Guidesly—a Buffalo-born platform that equips 1,500-plus outdoor guides with AI tools and marketing muscle so they can focus on delivering the “magic moment” for anglers. Sitting down with host John Richmond, David unpacks the $50 billion guiding industry, explai...

From humble beginnings with $2,000 and a side hustle, Dave Horesh co-founded Oxford Pennant, a company that resurrected the forgotten art of wool felt pennants and built a brand that reflects Buffalo’s pride and perseverance. In this episode, John Richmond talks with Dave about authenticity in branding, keeping manufacturing local, and the value of doing things the hard way—because it's the r...

In this episode of Angles, host John Richmond sits down with Brandon Bieron, a former U.S. Army Ranger turned business leader. Now president of Reimer Home Services, Brandon shares how battlefield lessons in resilience, discipline, and leadership have shaped his people-first approach to business. From failing his first Ranger School attempt to leading one of Western New York’s fastest-growing home...

Sal Capaccio, the ultimate Buffalo sports insider, shares his journey from coaching high school football to becoming the go-to voice on the sidelines and in the podcast feeds of Western New York. In this episode, John Richmond sits down with Sal to discuss his non-linear path to sports broadcasting, the lessons learned from teaching, and the leap of faith that brought him back to Buffalo. Sal open...

From cutting hair in his parents’ garage at 15 to running two successful shops, Jon Palmeri—known as Jonny the Barber—has built a brand around community, consistency, and attention to detail. In this episode, John Richmond sits down with Jon to unpack his journey from learning on YouTube to navigating the challenges of business ownership. Jon shares lessons on leadership, the power of showing up,...

From her first photography class at the Old First Ward Community Center to building a thriving local business, Sara Heidinger has dedicated her career to fostering creativity and community in Buffalo. In this episode, John Richmond sits down with Sara to explore her journey from New York City's fast-paced photography scene to co-founding Undergrounds Coffee House and curating local art at Cas...

Step inside the story of Moriarty Meats, Buffalo’s whole-animal butcher shop where old-world craftsmanship meets modern entrepreneurship. John Richmond sits down with Tom and Caitlin Moriarty, the husband-and-wife team whose journey took them from chance meetings in Ohio to building a community-focused business in Western New York. They share how studying butchery in France, pandemic pivots, and a...

In this premiere episode of *Angles with John Richmond*, we sit down with Chef Darian Bryan — the dynamic culinary force behind The Plating Society and personal chef to NFL stars. Chef Bryan shares his journey from a small cook shop in Jamaica to redefining fine dining in Buffalo, NY.  We explore his early love for cooking, immigrating to U.S., and how he built a brand rooted in hustle, creativity...