Backseat Rider

After announcing a new TV version of Backseat Rider--soon to be unveiled on 'Good Day Chicago'--Anthony turns to his passengers for advice as he returns to the world of local news. This week's cast: a warehouse worker, a bartender, a CEO, and a psychologist. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

This week: role reversal on Backseat Rider! For the first time ever, Anthony goes from the driver seat to his own back seat, letting a fellow podcaster take control of the car and the questions. Sean Sechrist is the Chicago-based host and creator of Unbeaten Path (https://apple.co/2pZv6vA), a podcast that explores the ins and outs of risk-taking. In today's conversation, Sean asks Anthony about everything from his musical background, to the lowest moments of his entrepreneurial venture, top interviewing tips, setting "systems" instead of goals, and advice for other people considering taking a risk in life. Articles/blogs/social media mentioned during this week's interview: Author Scott Adams on systems vs. goals http://bit.ly/2H6eGc3 Film Director Robert Rodriguez on breaking from the heard http://bit.ly/2pZczzl Find Sean's podcast at UBPath.com and follow him on Instagram at UnbeatenPath_ * Today's episode is brought to you by Geico (www.geico.com) and Truecar (www.truecar.com) *

"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." It's been 50 years since Andy Warhol was credited with that quote, coining the phrase "15 minutes of fame." In honor of Anthony expanding Backseat Rider into a Chicago TV segment, he asks this week's passengers about their own "15 minutes." This episode explores society's obsession with celebrity and makes us question our definition of "success": is it personal satisfaction or validation from the outside world? -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

Another school shooting--this one in Maryland--comes just days before another national day of protest against gun violence. With March for Our Lives scheduled for Saturday and National Walkout Day this past week, gun reform is top-of-mind for many Americans, including this week's backseat riders. In this episode, Anthony gets candid perspective from a suburban father who champions responsible gun ownership, a woman who lost her nephew to gun violence, and the owner of an AR-15 rifle (the same kind used to kill 17 high school students in Parkland, FL) -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

Sex and drugs take centerstage when the Lyft app pairs Anthony with a former model whose addiction to crystal meth derailed his life. Hear the unfiltered story of how the addiction started ("I used to get tipped in crystal meth from the drag queens"), how he paid for it ("hustling for the drug with men"), and ultimately...how he finally broke free. Later in the episode: a fascinating look at the career of a woman who choreographs sex scenes on stage. NSFW! -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

Are you the oldest? The baby? A middle child? The only child? How has your birth order affected who you are today? In this episode, Anthony's passengers delve deep into both painful and uplifting territory: how a pick-up basketball game changed two brothers forever, how a woman's vivid dreams of letting her sister die still haunt her, the loneliness of an only child, and how narcissism, mental illness, bad behavior, and age differences all manifest in real peoples' lives. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

If you had to choose one song that's had the biggest impact on your life, which one would it be? In this episode, Anthony takes this question to the Backseat Riders...yielding some compelling back-stories, including: the song that helped a passenger recover from being victimized by "liars and thieves," a man who walked in on his cheating girlfriend, a woman who escapes an emotionally abusive relationship, and how one piece of jazz music has come to define both the ups and downs of one passenger's life. This is a rebroadcast of a story first released in June 2017. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

On January 13th, an emergency alert reporting an inbound ballistic missile sent Hawaii into a state of panic. It turned out to be a false alarm, but for a period of up to 38 minutes, thousands of residents and tourists thought they might die. In this episode, a couple there on their honeymoon tell the story of what those 38 minutes were like...from their initial nonchalance to eventually placing "goodbye" phone calls to their loved ones. Anthony's other passengers share the stories of their own life-or-death moments, which range from home invasions and armed robberies, to car accidents, muggings, and a near-miss at an amusement park. Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

It's Valentine's Day - a perfect chance for Anthony to probe his passengers about their love lives. How did they find love? Do they believe they're with "the one"? This week's cast: a small-town 4th grade teacher, a nurse at a prestigious hospital, a real estate agent married to a Chicago doctor, and a 24-year-old who suffers from panic attacks. Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

Have you ever seen anything that you were not "supposed" to see? This week: how one passenger found out a loved one was a prostitute, what one woman did after witnessing a hit-and-run, and for one man...the long-term impact of walking in on his mom having sex when he was 8 years old. Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

How do you tackle stress? What is your go-to strategy? This is a topic we most often hear about from life coaches, therapists and other "experts"...but what about everyday people? What works for them? This week, you'll hear from a recovering alcoholic, a struggling actress, a bus driver with a fascinating hobby, and a 69-year old self-described "stoned bitch." Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

In late January--arguably the toughest part of winter--many Chicagoans question why they choose to live there. In this episode, Anthony's passengers explore their relationships with the city, both the best and worst parts. The result: Chicago through the lenses of both the well-to-do, and the struggling. (includes bonus interview with a life-long journalist related to your host) Passenger shout-outs: Ravinia Festival (www.ravinia.org); The Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu); Navy Pier (www.navypier.org); Giordano's (www.giordanos.com); Osmium Coffee Bar (www.darkmattercoffee.com); Lincoln Station (www.lincolnstation.com) Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

You've heard of a sugar daddy. A "sugar baby" is the other half of this type of relationship. Did you know that millions of American women are "sugar dating" to graduate from college debt-free, and that the Internet is making it easier than ever? In this episode, Anthony picks up a 27-year old woman en route to dinner with her sugar daddy, where she will earn $1000 for her time ("nothing sexual at all.") Listen as she opens up to Anthony about: how the transactions happen, how much she can earn, and why she believes for her, sugar dating = female empowerment. EXPLICIT/NSFW. Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit. This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com) Sugar Dating Articles: http://www.businessinsider.com/sugar-daddy-dates-sugar-babies-seeking-arrangement-2017-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/seeking-arrangement-sugar-daddies-pay-sugar-babies-college-tuit

In this episode, Anthony seeks input from passengers after his wife's decision to get a tattoo sparks a tense conversation.   Join the Backseat Rider Facebook Community at https://t.co/qaFOi6. New Lyft users: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit.   Tattoo artist Mike Ramos Instagram: Ramsies and www.blackatlasstudios.com This episode is sponsored by Truecar (www.truecar.com) and Geico (www.geico.com)

The most shocking, hilarious, bizarre, and moving interviews of 2017. These are all real passengers, paired with host/driver Anthony Ponce by the Lyft application. WARNING: EXPLICIT / NSFW -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit

A man shares the details of a life-changing medical procedure, and a woman opens up about how her unique first name has affected her life. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Link to Anthony's article for The Atlantic's Citylab: http://bit.ly/2oLOle0

Which piece of advice has REALLY stuck with you over the years? After a collection of real passengers addresses this question, Anthony surprises them with a follow-up that's sure to get you thinking. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit

This week in Anthony's Lyft car: a life-long circus performer, a self-proclaimed nihilist, and why a man who spent years on a gift for his wife says it ultimately "went over like a lead balloon." NOTE: This episode marks the first time Anthony takes part in a mission to transport a body part. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6-NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit-Episode sponsored by Blue Apron (visit blueapron.com/backseat for $30 off your first order)

A woman recalls the horror of being sexually assaulted on a public bus; a female ad exec calls out a male coworker; a woman construction worker reflects on sexual harassment in the workplace. Anthony's real Lyft riders open up about their own experiences, as the sexual misconduct scandal continues to make headlines across the nation.-BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6-NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit

How much thought do you give to negative news stories? How do they affect your mental health? After an onslaught of traumatic national stories, Anthony and his riders discuss their impact on daily life. In this episode, you'll hear why a quarrel is brewing between one man and his next door neighbor, why some topics are off-limits in one Chicago household, and why one man refused to enter an iconic Chicago building.-BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6-NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit