This episode is your audio companion to our most popular resource:

Each “play” includes:

A clip from a real Grandpa Channel guest

A simple, repeatable action you can take

A few twists to make it your own

🧠 Whether you're a brand-new grandpa or a seasoned pro, you'll walk away with fresh ideas, deeper purpose — and probably a few good laughs.

🛠 Download the full companion PDF here

Guests Included in today's episode: Mollie Diamond EP: 024, Brent Dial EP: 002, Wayne Samuelson EP: 035, Ken Walters EP: 034, Steve Newton EP: 004, Brian Golding EP: 018, LeeAnn Meads EP:022, Lee Crayk EP: 026, Ty Yagi EP: 013, & Dan Gibbons EP: 012

Welcome back to the Grandpa Channel — where grandpas share stories, grandkids get curious, and legacy lives on.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) shares a deeply personal story — one that’s equal parts vulnerable, redemptive, and quietly powerful.

Born with a cleft lip in 1955, Steve spent years undergoing surgeries and orthodontic work. But it wasn’t until a chance encounter during his mission in Finland — with a little girl on a cold October day — that all of his mother’s teachings about gratitude came flooding in.

This episode isn’t just a story about scars or surgeries. It’s about emotional breakthroughs. The kind that reshape how we see the world — and our place in it.

In this episode:

How Steve’s mom taught him gratitude with relentless kindness

His fear of learning a foreign language — and how he overcame it

The exact moment he “melted into a pool of gratitude”

A gentle challenge to reflect on your life’s turning points

Whether you’re a grandparent, parent, or simply someone reflecting on your own path — this story will stick with you long after the episode ends.

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, we’re joined by Russ Miller — master storyteller, retired accountant, cowboy at heart, and proud grandpa.

Russ shares:

What it was like growing up as a “feral child” in rural Utah

His father’s incredible life as a world-renowned saddle maker (with clients like Robert Redford and Willie Nelson!)

What it meant to grow up around rodeos, leatherwork, and cowboy values

The legacy of “Wild Bill” Miller — his infamous saloon ride-in and connections to Butch Cassidy’s gang

The difference between real grandpa stories and “cardboard cutouts”

How trauma shaped generations — and why Russ never drank or smoked

Life lessons he’d give to his 30-year-old self (and his grandkids today)

His superpower as a grandpa — and his kryptonite too

What to say when grandkids ask, “Is there still hope in the world?”

A rich, tender, and often hilarious conversation about what it means to live, learn, and leave something behind.

In this special episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers (Steve Harris) is joined by bestselling author and grandmother of 39 (!) Bracha Goetz to talk about a topic that changes everything: gratitude.

You’ll hear stories about:

How Rivers’ own mom instilled an “attitude of gratitude”

Bracha’s teenage search for meaning and how gratitude saved her from addiction

The surprising Jewish root of the word “gratitude”

Easy ways grandparents can nurture thankful, joyful kids (without preaching)

Plus:

This one’s tender, timeless, and full of ideas you’ll want to steal.

Bracha's website: https://www.growingimpactpublications.com/

Books Mentioned: The Mother Who Always Said Yes & The Happiness Box

Episode Title: “I Never Heard My Grandfather's Voice — Now I Know Why That Matters”

In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode, Steve sits down with his friend Mike Harding to explore what it means to be a son, a father—and one day, a grandfather.

Mike grew up never hearing the voices of his grandfathers. Raised in a large, devout, and disciplined family, Mike reflects on what was passed down, what was missing, and what he's determined not to repeat. He opens up about his father's toughness, the impact of emotional silence, and how recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous helped reshape his life and parenting style.

They discuss:

Growing up as the 7th of 9 children

The pain and silence of never knowing your grandparents

A father's love expressed the wrong way

The complexities of grief and legacy

Parenting with compassion instead of fear

Setting new patterns through vulnerability and conversation

The lifelong impact of mentorship and friendship

And what Mike would say if he could speak with his dad again

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that our stories matter—and that it's never too late to rewrite how the story ends. Whether you're a grandpa, a father, or simply trying to be better than the generation before, there's something here for you.

🎥 Mentioned in the intro:

Guest: Doug Wadsworth — Utah native, Navy officer, devoted grandpa/great-grandpa.

The early roots: Growing up near both sets of grandparents; linotype-operator grandpa at the Deseret News; hard-work DNA and Depression-era frugality.

Service threads: Dad’s WWII Pacific stories; Doug’s own path through OCS and commissioning; what service taught him about people, truth, and leadership.

The day everything changed: Doug’s son Dan falls through a garage ceiling—skull fractures, broken neck/back, becomes a paraplegic. The family response: immediate presence, hope, and practical faith.

Resilience in motion: Dan’s adaptive three-wheel ascent to Delicate Arch—hundreds cheer as he raises his arms under the arch. Independence, pain management, and still teaching his kids how to wrench on cars.

Grandpa plays that work:

Show up ritual: Be at the games, the recitals, the rough days—and let them see you keep showing up.

Cousins as a team: Monthly dinner tradition for married grandkids + spouses to keep the web strong.

Model faith quietly, daily: Prayer in the home, consistent language of hope, and lived patterns that kids can copy under stress.

Savor > sprint: “Slow down” and laugh more—don’t let repairs and busywork steal the moments.

Superpowers & kryptonite:

Superpower: Getting along while getting things done—truth with compassion.

Kryptonite: Thinking you’re right too often (ask Joan!).

Advice to 30-somethings: Make memories on purpose (camping, trips, projects). Invest in marriage and family—everything else fades.

Sponsor shout: Recording your story is easier than you think—Doug-approved. Mention “Rivers” at Planted Media Co. for the Grandpa Channel discount.

CTA:

In today’s episode, Rivers sits down with the unstoppable + deeply devoted Kathy Healey — a grandma who made connection her superpower.

Kathy reveals:

how being able to show up (literally) became her legacy

the insane story of holding her granddaughter’s hand through the NICU from hour one

why most grandkids aren’t asking for lectures…they’re asking to be heard

how to connect even when you live in different states

why tiny consistent gestures (like a 60¢ stamp + a handwritten card) become magic later

the #1 line Kathy wants every grandpa to tattoo on their brain: Shut. Up. And. Listen.

This episode is funny, bold, and surprisingly tender.

It will make you want to try harder — gently — without pressure.

Key Takeaway:

Link to Kathy's book: Nan's Alpahbet by Maryjane Spillane

Record your life story with Planted Media Co

In today’s episode, Rivers sits down with longtime friend + retired pulmonologist Dr. Wayne Samuelson — to talk about the grandpas who shaped him, the lessons he learned while building a house side-by-side with his grandfather, and how he now shows up for his own eight grandkids.

Inside this episode:

how a Depression-era craftsman grandpa framed hard work as evidence of God’s love

why grandkids don’t need “perfection” — they need presence

the power of storytelling + shared projects

what Wayne’s dad did that made his grandkids feel deeply seen

how to hold legacy lightly (without pressure, guilt, or regret)

the surprising thing Wayne would say to his younger self about career, life, and faith

Key Takeaway:

Interested in recording your life story, but you don't want to deal with all the "techy stuff". Reach out to Planted Media Co & tell them Rivers sent you for a nice little Grandpa Channel Discount. 

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers talks with guest Ken Walters — a 61-year-old grandpa with 12 grandkids spread across the country. Ken shares how endurance events (Ironman, ultras, biking) taught him the power of persistence, how to stay connected with grandkids you don’t live near, and why small check-ins & little moments will always beat big gestures.

You’ll hear stories about recording messages mid-race, surprising his kids with last-minute flights, how he partners with his wife to grandparent as a team, and why he wants to be a fountain of peace in a world that feels heavy to kids today.

In this episode:

What endurance races teach you about grandparenting

Tools for long-distance grandparent connection (FaceTime + tiny consistent touch points)

Why presence > perfection for grandkids

How tradition builds generational glue

Why relationships have to come first — always

The advice he’d give to his 31-year-old self

Looking to record your life story on video without the hassel? Reach out to Planted Media Co & mention The Grandpa Channel for a nice little discount

In this warm, laughter-filled episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) sits down with Jen Blosil — musician, thinker, and self-proclaimed “lover of people” — to explore what makes relationships between grandparents and grandkids truly meaningful.

Jen shares stories about her three very different grandfathers: a quiet priest, a gruff smoker with a soft spot, and a good man who didn’t always show it. Through humor and honesty, she reveals the truth that love is often spelled T-I-M-E.

Together, Steve and Jen dive into:

This conversation is funny, faith-filled, and surprisingly moving — a reminder that no matter your age, it’s never too late to connect, ask better questions, and love bigger.

Check out Jen's music here!

Check out Planted Media here!