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 | Do a Nick Bumbaco: Zero Playing Time | Dean Bumbaco
🎥 Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/@HardKnockPress ⏩ In Episode 10 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin T. Mulhearn welcome their first guest, Dean Bumbaco, for a straight-talking conversation about youth baseball parents, playing time, and what happens when a coach hands your son a paper that says "zero playing time." Dean's son Nick played on a Don Bosco Prep team that won a state championship, but it didn't start that way. Dean shares how Nick turned that paper into a start, why...
16 Sept 2026
FWD | Are We Specializing Kids Too Soon?
⏩ In Episode 9 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin T. Mulhearn tackle one of the biggest questions in youth sports: Are we specializing kids too soon? Through personal stories, coaching experiences, and honest reflection, they discuss the benefits of playing multiple sports, the pressure young athletes face to specialize, and what specialization can mean for long-term athletic development. They also take a closer look at baseball and the growing trend of pitcher-only players—from high school t...
9 Sept 2026
FWD | Don’t Embarrass Your Kid
⏩ In Episode 8 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin T. Mulhearn explore what happens when parents let their emotions get the best of them—and how their behavior can impact their kids on and off the field. Using stories from their own experiences as athletes, parents, and coaches, they discuss why kids are often more aware of their parents’ behavior than parents realize, the pressure young athletes feel when adults cross the line, and why trust between parents, coaches, and athletes matters. The...
27 Aug 2026
FWD | Obsess. Have Fun. Hustle.
⏩ In Episode 7 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin T. Mulhearn explore the one thing every athlete can control: hustle. Using examples from youth baseball through the major leagues, they discuss why effort requires no special talent, how hustle and body language influence playing time, and why coaches must enforce the same standards for every athlete—including their stars. They also discuss: Why hustle is always within an athlete’s controlHow effort, attitude, and body language affect playing ...
19 Aug 2026
FWD | Lessons From Losses
⏩ In Episode 6 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin Mulhearn explore “Lessons From Losses”—why losing is an unavoidable part of sports, how athletes and parents respond to disappointment, and why some of the toughest losses can become the foundation for future success. Through personal stories, coaching experiences, and honest reflection, they discuss: Why losing can be so difficult for athletes, parents, and coachesWhat athletes can learn from mistakes and disappointing performancesWhy parents...
12 Aug 2026
FWD | The Comparison Trap. Comparing is human—rooting against another child is a choice.
⏩ In Episode 5 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin Mulhearn explore “The Comparison Trap”—why parents compare their kids to other athletes, when those comparisons become unhealthy, and what happens when wanting the best for your own child turns into rooting against someone else’s. Through personal stories, coaching experiences, and honest reflection, they discuss: Why comparison is a natural part of competitive sportsWhen comparison turns toxicWhy some parents root against their child’s teamma...
5 Aug 2026
FWD | Private School vs. Public School: Making the Right Choice for Your Athlete
⏩ In Episode 4 of Forward, Joe Clemente and Kevin Mulhearn tackle one of the biggest decisions youth sports families face: Should your child attend a private school or a public school? Drawing on decades of coaching and parenting experience, they discuss the realities of high-level high school baseball, what parents often misunderstand about elite programs, and how to make the best decision for your child—not your ego. They discuss: • The pros and cons of private vs. public school athletics &...
29 Jul 2026
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 &...
22 Jul 2026
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 criticis...
15 Jul 2026
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 w...
14 Jul 2026
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 yo...
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