A podcast about fatherhood and personal growth
No sitting on the sideline dad
No Sitting on the Sideline Dad explores self-discovery and personal improvement through the lens of fatherhood. Join Joe Foley as he engages with experts and shares relatable stories, tackling the challenges of parenting in today's world.
New to No sitting on the sideline dad?
Here are some great episodes to start with. Or, check out episodes by topic.
Recent Episodes
181
Oct. 25, 2026
Always the Strong One? The Hidden Cost of Holding Everything Together | Anette DeMattio
Everyone counts on you. But what happens when you're running on empty? In this episode of No Sitting on the Sideline Dad, I talk with Anette DeMattio, author of Too Strong for Your Own Good, about the pressure to keep going, take care of everyone else, and put your own needs last. Anette shares her experience as a six-time cancer survivor and how it shaped her understanding of strength. We talk about asking for help, making room for yourself, and what our kids learn from watching how we handle
Oct. 20, 2026
Why Does Calm Feel Unsafe? Childhood Trauma and Survival Mode
Everything is going well. So why are you waiting for something bad to happen? My sister, Carrie Long, joins me for a personal conversation about childhood trauma, codependency, and the habits we carry into our relationships and parenting. We grew up in the same family. We didn't experience it the same way. Carrie shares her perspective as a social worker and a mother. Together, we talk about learning to read the room, trying to keep everyone happy, and growing up feeling responsible for other
179
Aug. 22, 2026
AI Plus Doctors: Becoming Your Own Patient Advocate with Emmy Hernandez
What happens when several doctors, specialists, and test results still fail to reveal the full picture? In this episode, Emmy Hernandez shares the story of a serious health crisis that left her bedbound, in severe pain, and searching for answers. After struggling to get her medical history connected across different specialties, Emmy created a custom AI assistant called Dr. Clara to help organize her symptoms, test results, and questions for her care team. Emmy explains how she used AI as a re
178
Aug. 9, 2026
What Would You Love? Rebuilding Your Life After 50 with Dr. Kim Nugent
Have you ever reached the end of the day, handled everything you needed to handle, and still felt like something was missing? You go to work. Pay the bills. Take care of your family. Do what people count on you to do. From the outside, everything may look fine. Inside, you may feel stuck, worn down, or like you are living on autopilot. In this episode of No Sitting on the Sideline Dad, Joe talks with Dr. Kim Nugent about what happens when you know you want something different from your life
177
Aug. 3, 2026
Will It Matter That You Lived? A Conversation with Todd Malloy
What happens when survival mode follows you into adulthood? In this episode, Joe talks with Todd Malloy, a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and founder of Inner Peace Counseling Center. Todd shares what it was like growing up without his father, feeling like he had to become an adult too soon, and learning how those early experiences shaped his work, relationships, and sense of identity. They discuss how childhood patterns can continue into marriage, parenting,
176
June 30, 2026
You Did Everything Right (And It Still Didn't Work)
My son had the right rod, the right reel, and knew how to work the bait better than I do. He still didn't catch a single fish. And he was ticked off about it. In this solo episode, I talk about that afternoon at the lake — and why it turned into one of the most important conversations I've had with him. Because here's the truth: sometimes you do everything right, and it still doesn't work out. I learned that the hard way myself, long before that fishing trip. This episode is for dads standing
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Recent Blog Posts
Sept. 21, 2025
How a Rebel Doctor Added 10 Years to Our Lives: 5 Takeaways That Will Change How You Think About Health Step into any modern gym, and you’ll see a familiar sight: rows of treadmills, people jogging through city parks, and a culture that treats fitne
How a Rebel Doctor Added 10 Years to Our Lives: 5 Takeaways That Will Change How You Think About Health Step into any modern gym, and you’ll see a familiar sight: rows of treadmills, people jogging through city parks, and a culture that treats…
July 26, 2025
Why We Need to Talk About Narcissistic Abuse – A Conversation That Could Change Lives
There are some conversations that stay with you long after they end. My recent interview with Dana S. Diaz is one of those. Dana, author of Gasping for Air: The Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse, doesn't just share a story—she breaks a silence m…
June 28, 2025
The Golden Rule of Co-Parenting: Building Respect After Divorce
By Joe Foley | Host of No Sitting on the Sideline Divorce is rarely part of anyone’s dream for their family—but it’s a reality many parents face. And when children are involved, the stakes feel higher. Emotions run deep. Conversations are hard. But…