ANGLES PODCAST

Dhane Smith and Josh Byrne of the Buffalo Bandits join Angles with John Richmond to talk about leadership, legacy, and what it takes to win championships in Buffalo.

They open up about their bond as teammates, the lessons from losses that fueled their title runs, and how the Bandits’ culture represents the blue-collar mindset of the city. Dhane and Josh also share their thoughts on teamwork, community, and staying grounded through success.

Business/Organization: Buffalo Bandits

Filmmaker Brenda Turteltaub Feldstein joins Angles with John Richmond to discuss her journey from Brazil to Buffalo, and how a $30 BPO student pass sparked the path that ultimately led to her directing the feature documentary *Love Letters to Music*, centered on world-renowned conductor JoAnn Falletta.

Brenda shares the power of quiet leadership, the evolution of documentary filmmaking, and the importance of curiosity, resilience, and passion. She opens up about building trust with JoAnn, filming across the world, studying hundreds of hours of footage, and why classical music is more important now than ever.

Business/Organization: A Special Story

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson joins Angles with John Richmond to talk about family, leadership, work ethic, and his journey from Alaska to the NHL.He opens up about his father’s influence, the lessons that keep him grounded, and the mindset behind becoming one of hockey’s elite scorers. Tage also shares his thoughts on team culture, handling pressure, his love for Buffalo, and what it will take to bring playoff hockey back to the city.

Business/Organization: Buffalo Sabres

Jeremy Van Antwerp, better known as Chef Redbeard, has become one of Buffalo’s most distinctive culinary creators. In this episode, John sits down with Jeremy to explore how a self‑taught cook built one of the city’s most unique dining experiences, why he left the corporate food world behind, and how curiosity, grit, and authenticity shaped Kitchen Studio into what it is today.

Business/Organization: The Kitchen Studio by Chef Red Beard

Estate planning isn’t about documents it’s about protecting the people you love. John Richmond sits down with Daniel Schuller of PB Elder Law to break down wills, powers of attorney, Medicaid, crisis planning, and the biggest misconceptions that financially devastate families. Daniel also shares real-world horror stories, practical steps every family should take, and the business and leadership lessons he’s learned while helping scale one of Western New York’s fastest‑growing law firms.

Business/Organization: PB Elder Law

From London to Buffalo, from a pub napkin sketch to winning 43North — Al Borz shares the decade-long journey behind Twipes, the world’s first fully biodegradable, truly flushable wipe. In this episode, John and Al dive into R&D breakthroughs, fundraising with no safety net, surviving early failures, and what it means to build a mission-driven startup in a massive legacy industry.
Al also opens up about leadership transformation, culture fit, the emotional weight of being a founder, and the exciting future of Twipes as they prepare new product lines and scale into the U.S. market. A powerful conversation for founders, operators, and anyone obsessed with innovation.

Business/Organization: Twipes

In this New Year’s Eve episode of Angles with John Richmond, John and producer Brett sit down to reflect on the first eight months of the podcast – recorded exactly eight months to the day after their original test episode. They talk candidly about why Angles started, what they’ve learned from dozens of conversations, and how listening, consistency, and community shaped the show more than any strategy or metric. This episode is about gratitude, momentum, and continuing the work into the new year.

In this episode of Angles with John Richmond, John sits down with Brad Gelber, the new Director of Marketing & Brand Strategy at Richmond Vona. Brad shares his path into marketing, what attracted him to Richmond Vona, and how intentional brand-building creates trust long before a client ever picks up the phone.
They explore what modern law firm marketing really means, balancing authenticity with scale, content strategy, internal culture, and why storytelling is the most powerful differentiator in a crowded legal marketplace.

Business/Organization: Richmond Vona

For more than 60 years, Adrian Jules has been a Western New York institution built on craftsmanship, relationships, and uncompromising standards. In this episode, John sits down with father-and-son team Peter E. and Peter A. Roberti to explore what it takes to build, protect, and evolve a true legacy business. They discuss generational leadership, adapting to changing styles and lifestyles, the importance of communication and trust, and why client experience matters just as much as the product itself.

Business/Organization: Adrian Jules

In this episode of Angles with John Richmond, John sits down with Tom Szulist, founder of Innocence Cannabis and Singer Farm Naturals. Tom shares a deep, thoughtful exploration of the human body, the endocannabinoid system, and how cannabis, food, and the microbiome work together to support balance and health. Drawing from decades of experience in finance, agriculture, and plant science, Tom challenges conventional thinking around medicine, wellness, and personal responsibility. This conversation goes far beyond cannabis — it’s about understanding the body’s operating system, living in the present moment, and reclaiming health through education, awareness, and nature.

Business/Organization: Innocence Cannabis

In this episode of Angles with John Richmond, John sits down with Colleen Heidinger, President of 43North, Buffalo’s nationally recognized startup accelerator. Colleen shares her personal journey from growing up in Buffalo’s First Ward to building a career in global media, film, and venture ecosystems and ultimately returning home to help shape Buffalo’s entrepreneurial future.

This conversation explores leadership, risk-taking, community-building, and what it truly takes to create an ecosystem where startups and people want to stay. From the realities of startup selection and venture capital to mindset shifts, Buffalo pride, and the human side of leadership, this episode offers a powerful look at how cities are rebuilt through people who show up.

Business/Organization: 43North

In this episode of Angles with John Richmond, John sits down with Larry Quinn, former President and Managing Partner of the Buffalo Sabres and one of the most influential executives in Buffalo sports and civic life. Larry played a central role in leading the Sabres through multiple ownership eras, including the Knox family and Tom Golisano, helping guide the franchise through some of its most successful and culturally significant years.

Beyond hockey, the conversation explores leadership under public scrutiny, organizational culture, downtown Buffalo development, public education reform, and Larry’s work with the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. This episode offers a thoughtful look at how leadership decisions inside major institutions ripple far beyond the arena.

Business/Organization:Buffalo Sabres