The New Bedford Podcast

The New Bedford Podcast with hosts Steven Richard and Marcus Coward welcomes Andrew O’Leary , Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools. In this episode, they dive into the challenges and opportunities facing local education, from student achievement to community impact, and discuss the future of schools in New Bedford.

Tune in for another hard-hitting episode of The New Bedford Podcast! This week, Steven Richard and Marcus Coward dive into some of the most talked-about and controversial stories shaking up the South Coast.

In this episode, Marcus Coward joins us to break down some of the biggest stories making headlines in the South Coast: The second fatal accident on the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge — why is this area becoming a hot spot for tragedy? A drive-by shooting on I-95 in Fall River , allegedly carried out by masked men — what we know so far. New Bedford’s new police chief steps in — what challenges lie ah...

In this powerful episode, Steven Richard sits down with Brian Conceicao and Catherine Buckley of the Veterans Transition House (VTH) in New Bedford—a nonprofit organization that has been serving homeless and at-risk veterans for over 30 years. Founded by Vietnam veterans in 1990, VTH has helped more than 3,000 veterans reclaim their lives through housing, rehabilitation, and community reintegratio...

In this episode, Steven Richard & Michael Silvia sit down with Manny DeBrito, the Election Commissioner for the City of New Bedford. They discuss the vital role of local elections, the importance of civic engagement, and how Manny and his team work behind the scenes to ensure fair, accessible, and transparent elections for the city’s residents. From voter turnout challenges to election securit...

In Episode 19, Steven sits down with David Daniels, the Program Director of RISE Recovery Support Center in New Bedford. RISE, which stands for Recovery in a Supportive Environment , is a peer-led recovery center built on compassion, connection, and community. David shares how RISE approaches recovery through an “all pathways” model—supporting every individual’s unique journey by meeting them exac...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with Helena DaSilva Hughes, President of the Immigrants Assistance Center in New Bedford. Helena shares the vital role the center plays in supporting and empowering immigrant families across the South Coast. From providing legal and social services to advocating for policy change, we explore how the IAC impacts the lives of...

In this powerful episode of The New Bedford Podcast , guest hosts Erica Richard and Keilianys Justiniano sit down with Dr. Michelle Houde and Kristin Batstone of The Women’s Center. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, they dive deep into the essential work the center does to support survivors, educate the community, and advocate for change. Together, they discuss the resources availa...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with longtime Councillor at Large, Naomi Carney , for a wide-ranging conversation about city politics, public service, and the future of New Bedford. Naomi shares her perspective on the most pressing issues facing the city, her experience serving on the council, and her deep-rooted commitment to the community.

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , Steven sits down with Ward 1 City Councilor Leo Choquette for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the most pressing — and controversial — issues facing the city. We dive into recent ICE raids in New Bedford and their impact on the community, unpack the heated “Text Gate” drama brewing between city councilors, and discuss Leo’s vision for bringing maj...

In episode 14 of The New Bedford Podcast, host Steven Richard sits down with Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver for an open and honest conversation about the state of New Bedford. From public safety and economic development to housing, and the challenges facing New Bedford, Shawn offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to serve the community at the local level.

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with Jeff Pelletier , the CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts —a nonprofit leading the charge in youth empowerment through career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy education. Jeff shares how JA is transforming the lives of over 6,000 students annually across 21 cities and towns in our regio...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with New Bedford City Councilor-at-Large Ian Abreu and special guest Elijah DeSousa , the founder of Citizens Against Eversource —a rapidly growing Facebook group that has amassed 28,000 members in just 28 days . The conversation dives into the outrage brewing across Massachusetts over Eversource’s high energy delivery fees...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with two influential local figures: Ian Abreu , City Councilor at Large, and Michael Silvia , owner of New Bedford Guide . Together, they dive into the biggest stories shaping the city and beyond. Topics include: ✅ New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira’s Retirement – What’s next for the department? ✅ "Sunbeam Bread...

In Episode 10 of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with financial advisor Chris Resendes for a wide-ranging conversation. They explore the practical use of AI in everyday life, the evolving gun laws in Massachusetts, and the important issue of police officers with PTSD qualifying for retirement benefits. Tune in for an insightful discussion that blends finance, technology, an...

In Episode 9 of  The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with Mayor Jon Mitchell for an in-depth conversation about his journey to becoming New Bedford’s mayor and his vision for the city’s future. They discuss his time as a federal prosecutor leading the task force to track down fugitive Whitey Bulger, Governor Healey’s challenges in addressing the migrant crisis, and the recent a...

In Episode #8, Steven sits down with his father Barry Richard, a legendary local talk radio host with nearly 50 years of experience behind the mic. Barry shares fascinating stories from his career, including his time covering Providence’s dynamic radio scene with Buddy Cianci, breaking the infamous Jasiel Correia story in Fall River, and his take on the 2024 election. We also dive into his current...

In episode #07 of The New Bedford Podcast: Steven Richard sits down with Greg DeMelo, an independent candidate for Bristol County Commissioner, to discuss his vision for the county.

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, host Steven Richard talks with Jesse St. Gelais, an independent candidate running for State Representative in the 8th Bristol District of Massachusetts. With the election on November 5th, Jesse shares his vision for the district and what motivated him to run outside the two-party system. Jesse discusses what sets his campaign apart and the unique approac...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, host Steven Richard sits down with City Councillor at Large Ian Abreu, who received the most votes of all the city councilors in New Bedford's previous election. Ian discusses a range of topics affecting New Bedford, including local politics, rising crime rates, and the ongoing debate between offshore wind development and its impact on the fishing indust...

n this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, Steven Richard welcomes back investigative journalist Jess Machado of Fall River Reporter for another deep dive into some of Massachusetts’ most pressing stories. Jess provides new updates on the tragic Jacob Pothier case, where questions continue to arise about the relationship between the student and a former staff member at New Bedford Voc Tech. The co...

In this episode of "The New Bedford Podcast", Steven Richard sits down with Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver to talk about his journey from a successful grassroots campaign to becoming a key voice in New Bedford’s local government. Shawn opens up about the highs and lows of his political journey, including how his opponents attempted to “cancel” him by resurfacing old Facebook posts during his c...

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast , host Steven Richard sits down with investigative journalist Jess Machado of Fall River Reporter . Jess is one of only 10 journalists given access to the courtroom to cover the highly publicized Karen Read murder trial. She shares exclusive insights into the case and what it’s like being in the room as the trial unfolds. Jess also opens up about her ongo...

In this episode, Steven sits down with a special guest, Michael Silvia—journalist, founder of New Bedford Guide , and owner of the Fall River Reporter . Join us as we dive into the origins of New Bedford Guide , how Michael turned his passion project into the largest social media presence in the South Coast, and the challenges and triumphs along the way. Whether you’re interested in journalism, lo...