ANGLES PODCAST

Hailing from Jamaica, Chef Darian brings the heat to Buffalo, NY and everything he serves. Featured in many media outlets, he inspires appetites around the world. From fine dining pop-ups to private dining experiences, and from meal prep for professional athletes to the long lineworthy events for his Jamaican-inspired “Jerk Hut,” extra is always on the menu—whether you’re talking his signature fedoras and chef jackets or the colossal surf and turf he’s known for.

Business/Organization: Bratts Hill, The Plating Society

Moriarty Meats has been Tom and Caitlin’s dream since they first met. The first Moriarty Meats butcher shop was founded on a love of small European neighborhood shops, amazing food, and a warm welcoming feeling. The first Moriarty Meats was opened on Grant Street in 2018 part-time, where the present building was found. Moriarty Meats values quality, community, culture, curiosity, and connection.

Business/Organization: Moriarty Meats

After studying photography at Mckinley high school, Sara continued her craft at the University at Buffalo and in New York City. She moved back to Buffalo and splits her time now between Undergrounds Coffee House & Roastery, of which she is part owner, and Photography, including curating a gallery space at 500 Seneca. Her journey has become more than just creating a final product, but a celebration of experiences for herself and others that may have been unknown otherwise.

Business/Organization: Undergrounds Coffee House and Roastery

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. Since Jonny the Barber opened his first barbershop, his main focus has been on the client. Everyone who works in his shops loves what they do and simply does it the best.

Business/Organization: Jonny the Barber

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.  Sal discusses his non-linear path to sports broadcasting, the lessons learned from teaching, and the leap of faith that brought him back to Buffalo. Sal opens up about the importance of preparation, building relationships, and maintaining objectivity in sports media, plus the moment he broke the Terrell Owens signing story that changed everything.

Business/Organization: Buffalo Bills

Brandon Bieron went from being a U.S. Army Ranger to a business leader. Now president of Reimer Home Services, Brandon shared 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 service companies, Brandon’s story is a powerful look into humility, culture-building, and service at scale.

Business/Organization: Reimer Home Services

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 right way. They explore business growth, navigating failure, building a culture of kindness, and why success means more when it’s shared.

Business/Organization: Oxford Pennant

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, explains how the 43North accelerator helped anchor Guidesly in Western New York, and shows why a strong culture and clear accountability still beat raw enthusiasm.

Business/Organization: Guidesly

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 Buffalo Shamrocks youth program puts fun and sportsmanship back into youth hockey.

Business/Organization: Tom Barnett NY

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 sanitizer kept operations on track. The discussion covers mentorship, balancing risk with vision, and plans to create a “Kentucky-style” visitor experience on Buffalo’s waterfront. A must-listen for entrepreneurs and bourbon enthusiasts alike.

Business/Organization: Hartman’s Distillery

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 role of parents and coaches in shaping character, and the future of multi‑use athletic facilities in Western New York. If you love sports at their purest—passion, community, and a dash of play‑by‑play—you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Business/Organization: Western NY Athletics

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.

Business/Organization: Ally HR Partners