Ep50: John Richmond - Behind the Mic, What It Cost to Start Richmond Vona, and What He Knows Now

For episode 50 of Angles with John Richmond, the tables are turned. Producer Brett Tuttle steps out from behind the camera and into the host chair to interview the man who has been asking the questions all along. This is the episode John never fully planned for: a honest look at who he is, where he came from, what building Richmond Vona actually cost him, and what he has learned about himself along the way. Brett pulls John through the origin story of Richmond Vona - the moment at a previous firm that cracked the door open, and how consuming entrepreneur biographies and the Founders podcast drives his curiosity even more. John talks about what it was like to self-fund a law firm through its first years, living in a constant state of fight or flight, watching the bank account drain while all the right markers were moving in the right direction, and why he never once thought about quitting even when he absolutely should have. He goes deep on hiring, on what it means to protect people and where that drive actually comes from, and why high standards are non-negotiable at a firm where the clients are never just case files. The conversation covers the podcast itself: why John refused to make a legal show, what Angles has taught him about authenticity and curiosity, and which guests genuinely surprised him. He also talks about what being a goalie forged in him that still shows up every day in how he runs the firm, and why he believes leaders are made, not born. Then Brett asks the questions John has been sitting with privately: what fatherhood has changed, who he has not yet thanked enough, and what he would say to the version of himself who almost quit law school. Fifty episodes in, this is the one where you finally get to know John Richmond. Enjoying the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share Angles with John Richmond with a friend. Visit www.richmondvona.com/angles-podcast/ for more 🎧 New episodes every week. 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @anglesjohnrichmond @johnrichmondlaw @richmondvona 🎥 Follow us on TikTok: @richmondvona @johnrichmondesq 📺 Watch on YouTube: @angleswithjohnrichmond Disclaimer: This episode is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the guest and host are their own and do not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Chapters 00:00 --- Introduction: why Brett is in the host chair for episode 50 01:02 --- What is it like being on the other side of the mic 02:32 --- Documentary filmmaking, storytelling, and why the truth matters 04:11 --- The moment that cracked the door open for Richmond Vona 07:05 --- The Founders podcast and what it means to learn from the greatest builders in history 09:02 --- Finding solace in the failures of founders who became legends 10:31 --- What John wishes he had known about building a team from the start 12:44 --- Pay the A player: why cutting corners on great hires costs more 13:09 --- Rick Rubin, the producer philosophy, and creating space for your team 15:44 --- Where the drive to protect people comes from 17:57 --- High standards: why the bar only goes higher and what it means for the firm 20:05 --- What Richmond Vona will always be, no matter what 22:14 --- Hockey, goalies, and what playing through a bad goal teaches you 24:07 --- Are leaders born or made, and why charisma is not leadership 26:11 --- What building this firm actually cost 29:11 --- Starting just before Covid: why it barely registered 30:28 --- Milestones: how to acknowledge them and keep moving 31:38 --- The team survey: what the people at Richmond Vona actually said about John 33:47 --- How to lead people who are not wired the way you are 36:44 --- What John is most proud of when he walks through the office 38:22 --- Hiring for heart: why compassion cannot be taught, only found 41:50 --- Why Angles was never going to be a legal podcast 43:39 --- What 50 episodes have taught him about himself 47:21 --- Standout guests: surprises, connections, and what every conversation has had in common 49:40 --- Dream guest for episode 100: Dominik Hasek 51:35 --- Curiosity as a throughline: where it started and why it shapes everything 54:06 --- How to live with questions that have no answers 55:56 --- Fatherhood: his daughter, his wife Nicole, and what changed 59:49 --- The closing question: who has he not thanked enough 01:00:12 --- His parents: the moments that made him who he is