Anthony Ponce
Anthony Ponce is a veteran Chicago journalist who grew up in the northern suburbs.
In July 2016, he gained national attention when he left his job in TV news to become a full-time Lyft driver, launching the podcast Backseat Rider. As a Lyft-driving storyteller, Anthony brings audiences the wide-ranging, hilarious, touching, sometimes bizarre, and always real conversations he has with his passengers.
“Listening is a lost art form,” he told CNN. “What I think is missing right now in our national dialogue is aggressive listening.”
Anthony joined FOX 32 in 2018 to co-anchor Good Day Chicago and launch Backseat Rider as a news segment.
In returning to television, Anthony’s goal is to remind Chicagoans that while specific issues can be divisive, we have a lot more in common than is often depicted on the news.
Before joining FOX 32, Anthony spent nearly a decade as a reporter/anchor at NBC Chicago, and spent years as a reporter in Indiana.
He has a Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and did his undergrad at Indiana University.
Anthony — a Sox fan — lives on the North Side with his wife, Maggie, and son, Theo.
The latest from Anthony Ponce
Family, friends gather to mark what should have been murdered mom's 20th birthday
Loved ones gathered Saturday to remember the life of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, the pregnant mom who was killed in one of Chicago's most gruesome murders, on what should have been her 20th birthday.
Elderly man looking for girl who left kind note for him: 'I will always remember you'
It was a touching gesture of kindness across generations, and now there is a search for a little girl who left an encouraging note for an elderly man.
Chicago girl, 11, suddenly falls ill and may need heart transplant
A neighborhood on the North Side is rallying around a young girl who suddenly fell ill and may need a heart transplant.
Chicago getting into the holiday spirit with Christmas 50 days away
Some of us are still eating our way through the Halloween candy. But across Chicago, the Christmas spirit is trying to take over.
Classes to resume Friday after CPS, CTU reach agreement to end strike
Chicago teachers and the nation's third-largest school district reached a labor contract deal on Thursday, ending a strike that canceled 11 days of classes for more than 300,000 students.
Trial begins for former Chicago police officer charged with killing neighbor while off-duty
A former Chicago police officer, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, is on trial for murdering his neighbor.
Cook County Sheriff cracking down on distracted drivers with cell phones
Distracted drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers, killing thousands of people every year.
Program teaches Chicago children how to play lacrosse
A Chicago program is introducing children to a sport some may not have never heard of. It is using lacrosse to teach them lessons both on and off the field.
Board votes to close Rich East High School in Park Forest
After years of declining enrollment, south suburban School District 227 has voted to close Rich East High School.
Chicago's electric scooter pilot program ends after four months
The fate of Chicago’s electric scooters is now in the hands of city officials and Chicagoans.