“I’ve always been captivated by audio and how sound requires us to use our imagination,” says Richard. “I listen to music, news, and audio books.” His fascination runs deep and long. Richard recorded his first newscast at the age of nine, using his father’s briefcase-sized Sony tape recorder. As a child he spent countless hours creating handwritten newspapers on A4 paper for his parents. Between the ages of 12 and 14 he was a newspaper delivery boy. Those experiences would spark a lifelong interest in journalism and storytelling. 

Born to a British mum and dad, Richard found himself uprooted at 14 when his parents decided to move back to the U.K. from the U.S. The upheaval led to a change in thinking. “I was an unpopular kid, and that helped me identify with outsiders and underdogs. Societies that accept people from outside the mainstream are stronger than those that don’t,” he explains.

Richard kicked off his four-decade long career in radio after he received a Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Sussex in Brighton, England. He found his way back to the U.S. in 1984 to cover the presidential campaign. After a brief stint at CNN, he joined ABC News as a national reporter, moving into the role of newscaster, business correspondent, and show host during 29 years with the network.

Richard reported from four continents and 35 U.S. states.

He covered the 2008 Wall Street financial crash; the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany; 1984 - 2016 Presidential elections; OPEC oil conferences; the run-up to the First Gulf War (on assignment for six weeks in Jordan); the assassination of Anwar Sadat; and the collapse the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11.
 
His lifetime of experience has given Richard a strong belief in the power of words and the importance of both and trust. But he says he still has much to learn.

“I’ve been schooled by other, far younger podcasters about what’s new and different in our medium. In a world of constant change, listening carefully and with a good heart is a vital part of what we do.”

To hear how Richard contributes personally to the news media climate, listen to his weekly podcast How Do We Fix It? which takes a positive, opinionated, solutions-focused approach to current events.