Backseat Rider

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. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

What keeps you up at night? For most of this week's riders, the answer to this question is anxiety. But for a select few, the answers were extremely specific. Hear a man's terrifying account of surviving a plane crash, why one woman hides all the knives in her house, the saga of a self-described "painkiller junkie," and the important issue facing a staff member at waxing salon. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

With Father's Day almost here, Anthony & his passengers explore the experiences that have defined their relationships with their dads, including: why a rabbi hasn't spoken to his father in months, a dad's reaction after his daughter was kicked out of college for plagiarism, the "academic contract" one teenager signed with her dad, and the story of how a certain beverage brought one father and son together after years. At the end of this week's episode: a surprise guest. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

R&B star Brandy and her boyfriend, Sir the Baptist, end up in the back seat of Anthony's Lyft, leading to a wide-ranging follow-up to last week's discussion about passion. The two artists speak candidly about: the lowest moments in their careers, how they discovered their authentic selves, the songwriting process, and where music comes from. The conversation ends with some encouraging words for Anthony and other people pursuing their dreams in life. (Anthony returns to "everyday" passengers next week) -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Blue Apron (FREE meals at BlueApron.com/Backseat) & TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

"How do people go about finding what their passion is in life? Their purpose or reason for being here?" After a woman leaves that question on the Backseat Rider Hotline, Anthony takes it straight to his passengers. From makeup artists to CEOs, hear how real people discovered their passions. Featured in this episode: Howard Tullman (@Tullman), CEO of 1871 (@1871Chicago) & Chicago's foremost advisor to start-ups/entrepreneurs. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

Almost everywhere you look, a story is unfolding. In this episode, Anthony drives at night, asking his passengers to think deeply about what's happened to them since waking up that morning. The result is a unique portrait of life on a typical day in Chicago: from romantic encounters and stunning moments of clarity...to workplace fights, tense transactions between shoppers and salesmen, afternoon trysts, and family emergencies. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

The Lyft app pairs Anthony with the mother of actress Jennifer Beals (Flashdance, The L Word, NBC's Taken) and results in a candid mother/daughter interview. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

With Mother's Day coming up, passengers examine the highs and lows of their own relationships with their moms. Randomly: Anthony picks up the mother of a major Hollywood star. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

Who was your most memorable teacher? What made this teacher so memorable? It's Teacher Appreciation Week and a perfect chance for Anthony to explore this topic with his passengers. This week: how a 1st grade teacher saved the school year following a tragedy; how a 7th grade computer teacher predicted the future; and why a high school teacher decided to never speak to his students again. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Climate of Hope (pre-order at ClimateofHope.com), Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

"What is your biggest regret?" In this episode, Anthony takes that question to his passengers. You'll hear from a former bank robber, a former drug addict, a woman who skipped her grandmother's funeral, and several people who stopped doing things they once loved. Hear how these "regrets" shaped their lives. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Audible (get your free audiobook at audibletrial.com/rider), Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

Anthony goes out with some friends and the conversation turns to: when each of their parents embarrassed them the most. Everyone had a tale, so he decides to take this topic to the passengers. Resulting stories range from low-grade embarrassment (her dad wore WHAT to drop her off at school?) to life-altering humiliation ("I could feel the Earth move beneath my feet.") GRAND FINALE: Anthony shares his own story, then ambush-interviews his own mother. -BACKSEAT RIDER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: https://t.co/qaFOi6W0Zl -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK: 312-709-4667 or backseatrider1@gmail.com -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Audible (get your free audiobook at audibletrial.com/rider), Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

What--in your life--do you need to let go of? When Anthony takes this question to the passengers, a waitress explains why she's wearing an ankle monitor; the captain of a high school football team reveals an off-field challenge; and a makeup artist tells the story of why she quit Facebook. -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK LINE: 312-709-4667 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Audible (get your free audiobook at audibletrial.com/rider), Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

We've all had close calls in life, whether it's frantically erasing what would've been a career-ending email seconds before it gets read (happened to Anthony)...or something far more dangerous. In this episode, passengers share their most intense close calls: from grizzly bear encounters to foot-chases with knife-wielding cab drivers. -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK LINE: 312-709-4667 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -Episode sponsored by Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

Anthony wakes up feeling uninspired until his passengers share how they motivate when times are tough. In this episode: a former Ivy League basketball player overcomes self-doubt; a woman rebuilds her career after an unusual allergic reaction; a cancer survivor's outlook on her career changes after her diagnosis; and how a woman has motivated herself to exercise every day for nearly 15 years. -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK LINE: 312-709-4667 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit -This episode is brought to you by Harry's (free trial--awesome razors--at Harrys.com/Backseat), Blue Apron (first 3 meals free at BlueApron.com/Backseat), and TrueCar (www.truecar.com)

Everybody remembers their first kiss...right? Passengers divulge the details of their own memories to Anthony, including a man who explains why his first kiss didn't happen until age 21. -BACKSEAT RIDER FEEDBACK LINE: 312-709-4667 -NEW LYFT USERS: use promo code BACKSEATRIDER for up to $50 in free ride credit This episode presented by TRUECAR (www.truecar.com)