Getting Real - Cliff Ponte

Cliff Ponte
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Getting Real, hosted by Cliff Ponte, is a Fall River podcast about the people, stories, struggles, and moments that shape a city. Across this first season, Cliff sits down with guests who have lived Fall River from the inside — public figures, business owners, community voices, friends, critics, and people who have found themselves in the headlines. The conversations are personal, direct, and sometimes controversial, but always rooted in understanding the real person behind the reputation. For Cliff, this season is also a chance to show a different side of himself: not just the city councilor, business owner, or public figure moving a hundred miles an hour, but the person behind it all. Through honest conversations about ambition, setbacks, perseverance, politics, community, and second chances, Getting Real invites listeners to see Fall River — and the people who help define it — with more depth, more honesty, and a little more humanity.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    JT Hoar, Chief of Police

    In this episode of Getting Real with Cliff Ponte, Cliff sits down with Fall River Chief of Police JT Hoar for a candid conversation about his career in law enforcement and the responsibility that comes with leading a city police department. Chief Hoar reflects on his path through the Fall River Police Department, from his early days as a patrolman and the real-world experiences that shaped his approach to policing, to his current role serving as Acting Chief of Police. The conversation also explores the challenges facing the department today, including the resources and funding needed to protect residents, support officers, and keep Fall River safe. Chief Hoar shares his perspective on leadership, accountability, and what it means to carry responsibility at the highest level of a public safety organization. It’s a wide-ranging look at policing, public service, and the decisions that impact both the officers on the street and the community they serve.

  2. Aug 24

    Mike Silvia from Fall River Reporter Part 2

    In this week’s episode, we sit down with Mike Silvia of Fall River Reporter for part two of a two-part conversation. Listen to part 1 https://cliffpontepodcast.com/episodes/mike-silvia-from-fall-river-reporter-part-1 Mike joined us for nearly two hours to discuss a wide range of topics affecting Fall River, from what it’s like covering the city day to day to conversations surrounding the police chief, outstanding warrants, local government, public safety, and much more. This is just the first half of our conversation, with even more to come in part two. Learn more about Mike and follow his reporting at FallRiverReporter.com.

  3. Aug 17

    Mike Silvia from Fall River Reporter Part 1

    In this week’s episode, we sit down with Mike Silvia of Fall River Reporter for part one of a two-part conversation. Mike joined us for nearly two hours to discuss a wide range of topics affecting Fall River, from what it’s like covering the city day to day to conversations surrounding the police chief, outstanding warrants, local government, public safety, and much more. This is just the first half of our conversation, with even more to come in part two. Learn more about Mike and follow his reporting at FallRiverReporter.com.

  4. Aug 10

    State Representative Carole Fiola

    What does a State Representative actually do—and how does the work happening on Beacon Hill make its way back home to Fall River? In this episode, Cliff sits down with State Representative Carole Fiola for a candid conversation about public service, politics, and what it really takes to represent a community. Fiola pulls back the curtain on a job most people only see from the outside, explaining the relationships, negotiations, committee work, constituent calls, and persistence required to move legislation forward and bring resources back to the district. But this conversation is about more than the mechanics of state government.  It’s also about Fall River. Fiola discusses her deep connection to the city, the importance of making sure Fall River has a strong voice in Boston, and why being present in the community is such an important part of representing it. She shares how conversations with residents can influence legislation, why building credibility at the State House takes years, and how projects that appear simple from the outside can require years of work behind the scenes. Cliff and Carole also get into the changing nature of politics itself—from the decline of local journalism to the impact of social media and the increasingly personal criticism directed at elected officials. If you’ve ever wondered what your State Representative actually does, how Fall River competes for attention and resources in Boston, or what motivates someone to stay in public service, this episode offers a rare look behind the curtain.

  5. Aug 3

    The Bobby Couto Show

    Cliff Ponte welcomes Bobby Couto to discuss how Bobby built The Bobby Couto Show from a self-help outlet into a major Fall River platform that expanded into political interviews, his refusal to do “gotcha” content, and why he took heat for interviewing figures like Paul Coogan.  They break down why good people avoid running for office, Cliff’s lesson about being respected rather than liked, and Bobby’s view that local media and city politics are shaped by agendas, influence, and control—highlighting the WSAR incident where Bobby was pulled from an on-air appearance after criticism of the station resurfaced.  00:00 Welcome 01:48 Meet Bobby Couto02:23 Self Help Origins03:50 Politics Enters Show05:56 No Gotcha Interviews07:43 Respected Not Liked12:06 Why Good People Avoid Office15:52 WSAR Radio Deal20:22 Banned From Airwaves23:59 Media Control Claims26:04 Influence and Priorities28:52 Bad Decisions Fallout29:36 Chief Appointment Politics31:37 Disagree Without Hate34:38 Mayor Race Reflections36:45 Nepotism And Influence37:46 Fixing City Infrastructure39:12 Council Dynamics Mentorship43:05 Why Voters Stay Home46:05 Money Talks In Politics48:09 Human Experience And Purpose53:22 Closing Thanks And Charity

  6. Jul 27

    Marcel Riley from Mae's Playground

    Marcel Riley never expected to lead a citywide movement. He is a Fall River maintenance worker and father trying to create a sensory space for his autistic daughter. But after his fiancée was diagnosed with cancer—and the community rallied around his family—Marcel saw an opportunity to return that support. In this episode, Marcel shares how a backyard sensory board, a petition and an outpouring of community support grew into Mae’s Playground: an inclusive sensory playground planned for Abbott Court. He discusses the families driving the project, the thoughtful features being designed for children of all abilities, and what Fall River’s response has taught him about advocacy, generosity and the power of showing up for your neighbors. Resources Mentioned Mae's PlaygroundDoug Flutie Jr. Foundation for AutismNoah’s Place Playground

  7. Jul 20

    Will Flanagan

    Former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan joins Cliff Ponte for the debut episode of the podcast—and the conversation goes far beyond politics. Will reflects on his unexpected rise to the mayor’s office, the recall election that abruptly ended his administration, and whether he would ever run again. He also shares the remarkable story of surviving a near-fatal stabbing, the difficult road back, and how the experience reshaped his priorities. The conversation also explores Fall River’s economic challenges, the changing political landscape, entrepreneurship, and why Will believes artificial intelligence will transform nearly every part of modern life.

  8. Episode 1

    Season 1 Trailer

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About

Getting Real, hosted by Cliff Ponte, is a Fall River podcast about the people, stories, struggles, and moments that shape a city. Across this first season, Cliff sits down with guests who have lived Fall River from the inside — public figures, business owners, community voices, friends, critics, and people who have found themselves in the headlines. The conversations are personal, direct, and sometimes controversial, but always rooted in understanding the real person behind the reputation. For Cliff, this season is also a chance to show a different side of himself: not just the city councilor, business owner, or public figure moving a hundred miles an hour, but the person behind it all. Through honest conversations about ambition, setbacks, perseverance, politics, community, and second chances, Getting Real invites listeners to see Fall River — and the people who help define it — with more depth, more honesty, and a little more humanity.

Information

  • Creator
    Cliff Ponte
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cliff A Ponte Inc 2026