Episodes

  • No Excuses: Pastor James David Manning and Michael Cohen Join Fernando

    No Excuses: Pastor James David Manning and Michael Cohen Join Fernando
    Jul 26 2026
    In this episode of No Excuses, Fernando Mateo is joined by Michael Cohen and Pastor James David Manning for a candid discussion on New York City politics, race relations, leadership, and community responsibility. From Mayor Mandani's recent decisions to personal stories of incarceration and redemption, the conversation explores fatherhood, accountability, urban violence, and the importance of investing in education to build stronger communities, followed by a call for collaboration and positive change.
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    53 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo: Reverend Rubén Díaz and Rubén Díaz Jr. Join The Program

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo: Reverend Rubén Díaz and Rubén Díaz Jr. Join The Program
    Jul 20 2026
    On this episode of No Excuses with Fernando Mateo, Reverend Rubén Díaz and Rubén Díaz Jr. join the show. Tune in to hear Fernando's "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly", spirited debate, and much more!
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    49 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 07-12-26

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 07-12-26
    Jul 13 2026
    Fernando Mateo leading a high-energy broadcast of his show, No Excuses, which highlights a mix of New York City politics, educational reform, and local commentary. Mateo utilizes a signature segment called "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" to evaluate the policies of "Mayor Mandami," praising a new "click to cancel" consumer law while harshly criticizing proposals for government-run grocery stores and a perceived lack of executive accountability. A significant portion of the program is dedicated to an interview with former schools chancellor David Banks, who discusses the massive Department of Education budget, the urgent need for literacy-based curriculum, and the political obstacles hindering systemic change. Throughout the show, Mateo maintains a populist tone, frequently interacting with guest Michael Cohen and offering pointed critiques of high-priced entertainment and local figures like Curtis Sliwa.
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    50 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 07-05-26

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 07-05-26
    Jul 6 2026
    On today's episode, Fernando Mateo explores themes of public safety and judicial integrity, criticizing the current leadership’s handling of rising crime and the proposed closure of Riker’s Island. Through an interview with retired Warden Howard Robertson, the source emphasizes the importance of vocational training and mutual respect as tools for true rehabilitation over mass incarceration or systemic excuses.
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    54 mins
  • Howard Robertson | 07-05-26

    Howard Robertson | 07-05-26
    Jul 5 2026
    Fernando Mateo hosts retired warden Howard Robertson to discuss the deepening crisis at Riker’s Island and the broader philosophy of rehabilitation over incarceration. Mateo opens the program by praising a Supreme Court decision regarding biological sex in sports, arguing that physical differences between men and women make trans-inclusive competition a matter of common sense and safety. The conversation then transitions to the duo's shared history at Riker’s Island, where they implemented vocational programs that provided inmates with trade skills and job placement to break the cycle of recidivism. Robertson critiques the current administration’s plan to close the facility, suggesting that spending billions on borough-based jails is a disingenuous fix that fails to address the underlying leadership failures and cultural issues within the Department of Correction.
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    27 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-28-26

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-28-26
    Jun 29 2026
    Fernando reflects on his week filling in on Sid & Friends alongside John Catsimatidis, Jake Novak, Judge Richard Weinberg, and George Venizelos, while thanking the WABC team for keeping the energy alive until Sid Rosenberg’s return. Fernando then turns to New York politics, sounding off on Zohran Mamdani’s political rise, the socialist movement gaining ground, low voter turnout, and what he calls lazy New Yorkers allowing a small percentage of voters to decide the city’s future. Joined by JC Polanco, Fernando breaks down Democratic Party weakness, Republican Party failures in New York City, the need for better candidates, stronger messaging, voter ID, capitalism, small business, immigration, and why New York must fight back before socialism reshapes the city.
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    52 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-21-26

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-21-26
    Jun 22 2026
    Fernando Mateo delivers a scathing critique of a rival media personality, later identified as Curtis Sliwa, whom he labels the king of the haters and the losers. Mateo structures his program around several audio clips of his adversary to illustrate what he views as a pattern of destructive negativity and a lack of respect for hard work and success. He specifically defends high-profile figures like James Dolan, the horse carriage industry, and even global pop stars against his opponent’s verbal attacks, arguing that these critics possess the power of the mic but use it to intimidate rather than build. Through a lens of unapologetic capitalism, Mateo emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship and job creation, contrasting his own identity as a builder with what he describes as the bitter ignorance of those who merely judge from the sidelines.
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    49 mins
  • No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-14-26

    No Excuses with Fernando Mateo | 06-14-26
    Jun 15 2026
    Fernando Mateo has a panel discussion regarding the tragic murder of Austin Metcalf, a white teenager stabbed by a black peer, Karmelo Anthony, during a track meet. Mateo and his diverse guests—representing black, white, and Hispanic perspectives—collectively argue that the case is a matter of right versus wrong rather than a racial conflict. They criticize the exploitation of race-baiting and the influence of violent rap culture, specifically condemning the defendant’s family for allegedly misappropriating donated funds while failing to take personal accountability.
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    46 mins