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
Stray gunfire kills 64-year-old gas station owner in West Town; teen wounded
“Mr. Khan was a wonderful guy. Very down to Earth. And very compassionate with his family and with the community and always worked hard to raise his kids, educate them,” a longtime family-friend said.
More Chicago restaurants in danger of permanently closing due to pandemic
As winter approaches, some restaurant owners are now pushing the city to expand indoor dining, saying it is their last lifeline.
'It's sad to see places like this go': Southport Lanes to close after nearly a century in business
Southport Lanes has been in operation for 98 years, since 1922. But owners say business has dropped so sharply because of the pandemic, it's forced to close by the end of the month.
3-year-old, 6 others hurt following house explosion in Northwest Indiana
Bystanders rushed to the rescue of a little three-year-old girl after a house explosion in Northwest Indiana.
Teacher fears losing job due to Trump's order banning Americans from doing business with Tik Tok
A local teacher may lose her job because of President Trump's war against the popular social media app "Tik Tok.”
Indiana virus caution urged as IU seeks fraternity closures
Indiana University officials have asked all 40 fraternity and sorority houses on its Bloomington campus to shut down because high rates of coronavirus infections, but say they have no authority to force them to close.
Cook County launches ‘Mask Up’ campaign to target young adults
Cook County healthcare workers say we are now in the beginning stages of a "second surge" of COVID-19.
Chicago trains law enforcement to navigate areas hit hard by looters, vandals
The city practiced dispatching CPD squads, along with other city vehicles, to strategically block streets all the way from division down to 18th street on Thursday night.
White Sox fan gifts Cubs fan with kidney donation
An incredible gift was given from a diehard White Sox fan to a diehard Cubs fan. It is living proof that even rivals can come together when the need is there.
Chicago police release new batch of looting surveillance videos
A week after a second round of widespread looting, the Chicago Police Department has continued its blitz of releasing surveillance video to the public in hopes of identifying more criminals.