Forward | Better Athletes. Better People.
Forward is the youth sports podcast for parents, coaches, and mentors who want to develop better athletes—and better people. Hosted by Coach Joe Clemente and publisher Kevin Mulhearn, each episode explores youth sports, leadership, parenting, and personal growth through honest conversations, practical advice, and stories that challenge conventional wisdom. Inspired by the bestselling book The Long Ride Home, Forward helps families keep the game in perspective while never losing sight of what matters most.
FWD | When Should Parents Talk to the Coach?
⏩ In Episode 3 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin Mulhearn tackle one of the biggest challenges in youth sports: knowing how—and when—to communicate with your child’s coach.
From coaching your own son or daughter to navigating playing time, lineup decisions, and difficult conversations, they discuss:
• When parents should talk to a coach—and when they shouldn’t
• The challenges of coaching your own child and avoiding “daddy ball” accusations
• How to choose coaches you can trust
• Why athletes need to learn to advocate for themselves
• What coaches are really thinking when they make playin...
FWD | The Tough Guy Parent Trap
When does pushing a young athlete build resilience—and when does it begin to break them down?
In Episode 2 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin Mulhearn examine the “old-school tough guy” approach to parenting and coaching. Drawing from their own childhoods, their experiences as sports parents, and Joe’s 25 years as a coach, they explore what that style gets right, where it goes too far, and why toughness without balance can do lasting damage.
Joe shares how relentless training, public criticism, and the fear of disappointing his stepfather affected him as a young athlete. Kevin reflects...
FWD | The Ride Home That Changed Everything
What happens when a coach realizes he needs to stop coaching—and start being a dad?
In the first episode of Forward, Joe Clemente shares the story behind The Long Ride Home: How to Help Your Kids Shine in Youth Sports (Without Driving Them Crazy) and the painful car ride that changed the way he approached parenting, coaching, and youth sports.
Joe and Kevin Mulhearn talk candidly about the pressure parents place on young athletes, the mistakes they made with their own children, and why even well-intentioned criticism can damage a child’s conf...
FWD | Trailer
Welcome to Forward: Better Athletes. Better People.
Youth sports have changed—but the guidance for parents hasn’t.
Hosted by publisher Kevin T. Mulhearn and veteran coach Joe Clemente, Forward explores the conversations every sports parent needs to hear. Drawing from Joe’s book, The Long Ride Home: How to Help Your Kids Shine in Youth Sports (Without Driving Them Crazy), each episode tackles the challenges of raising young athletes while protecting what matters most: your relationship with your child.
Whether you’re a parent, coach, or athlete, you’ll find practical...
