Sideline Sanity with Michele Tafoya

Salem Podcast Network

For nearly three decades, Michele Tafoya reported the action from the sidelines. She covered the NBA, NFL, Olympics, and the college football and basketball national championships. And now, during these insane times in our world, she thinks we need a serious dose … of sanity. This is sideline sanity, with your host — one of the sanest people on planet earth — Michele Tafoya.

  • 36 minutes 53 seconds
    Trump's pardon of an NYPD detective was made possible by a soap star.

    It's damn difficult to get a Presidential pardon. Emmy-winning soap actress Martha Byrne worked tirelessly to get one for her husband, former NYPD detective Michael McMahon. Their story has all the makings of a Netflix drama. Martha and Michael tell Michele how the FBI falsely accused McMahon of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party. A judge sentenced McMahon to Federal prison, and the details are astounding.

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 35 minutes 42 seconds
    Ten Republicans are running to unseat Tim Walz.

    Chris Madel is a recent entry into the Minnesota Republican Gubernatorial race. He says he has the right message on fraud, public safety, and education. And, he says, "My opinions are actually yours." He joins Michele to explain why he is running.

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 34 minutes 57 seconds
    Democrats take the Black community for granted.

    Congressman John James is the living embodiment of the American Dream. But as a conservative, he gets more pushback from people who "look like him" than from anyone else. His resume is beyond impressive, he's a proven leader, and he is vying for the Governor's mansion in Michigan. What's not to like?

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 6 seconds
    Is America prepared to take our values seriously?

    There are brutal realities in the world today. Cancer is one. Terrorism is another. And political division is one that could wreck this country. What will it take to confront and rise above them? This is a bitterly honest Wildcard Wednesday. Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator. Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter. Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221 Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/ Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 46 seconds
    Republicans see a lane in Minnesota.

    Patrick Knight has entered the crowded field of Republicans who want to kick Tim Walz out of the Governor's mansion. He is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel who attended Georgetown Law and Harvard Business schools. He has been the CEO of food processing company... and he's coached youth hockey. Can he add Governor to his resume?

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 45 seconds
    She wants to continue fighting for Minnesota.

    In February 2025, Lisa Demuth made history as the first Black lawmaker and first Republican woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Now she's running for Governor of Minnesota, looking to unseat Tim Walz. She shares her vision with Michele.

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    11 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 56 seconds
    Confronting reality is a really smart thing to do.

    A fifteen-year-old girl gets raped in the U.K. Minnesota taxpayers get fleeced by a valuable voting bloc. And Randi Weingarten is at it again. It's Wildcard Wednesday.

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    10 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 28 minutes 5 seconds
    Fraud in Minnesota has Tim Walz facing a blizzard of opposition.

    "Minnesota is in real trouble. The next governor needs to be battle-tested and solutions-oriented," writes Jeff Johnson. He joins Michele to explain why he thinks he is the candidate to unseat Tim Walz.

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    8 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 35 seconds
    Again, It's the economy, stupid.

    Ned Ryun, CEO of American Majority, assesses why democrats won last November. But he also sees room for Republicans to make strides in the midterms. Plus, he has the ear of the President. What kind of advice does he give to Donald Trump?

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 9 seconds
    Who says billionaires are bad people?

    Do you remember what then President Obama said about illegal immigration? Could be be elected today? And just how scary is Tim Walz? Also, why does the left hate billionaires?

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 December 2025, 6:00 pm
  • 33 minutes 20 seconds
    Why does Tim Walz think he's deserving of a third term?

    In this series of interviews with Republican gubernatorial candidates in MInnesota, we introduce you to Philip Parrish. Parrish says, "I am running as a Republican but reject the divisive tactics of partisan elites. My focus is on practical solutions and common ground to serve all Minnesotans, particularly the hardworking poor, with integrity and respect."

    Michele Tafoya is a four-time Emmy award-winning sportscaster turned political and cultural commentator.

    Record-setting, four-time Sports Emmy Award winner Michele Tafoya worked her final NBC Sunday Night Football game at Super Bowl LVI on February 13, 2022, her fifth Super Bowl. She retired from sportscasting the following day. In total, she covered 327 games — the most national primetime TV games (regular + postseason) for an NFL sideline reporter.

    Learn More about “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://linktr.ee/micheletafoya

    Subscribe to “The Michele Tafoya Podcast” here: https://apple.co/3nPW221

    Follow Michele on twitter: https://twitter.com/Michele_Tafoya

    Follow Michele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmicheletafoya/

    Learn more about the Salem Podcast network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 December 2025, 6:00 pm
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