The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All

In this moving and often hilarious conversation, Steve Harris (aka Rivers) welcomes Linda Childs, the local crossing guard who’s become a legend to the children (and parents!) she serves. Linda talks about how a “retirement job” turned into a calling—sharing powerful stories of kids who greet her, trust her, and even heal through her gentle presence.

You'll hear about:

The autistic boy who found his voice at her crosswalk

Why she keeps a spreadsheet of every child’s name and birthday

How she handles distracted drivers with grit and grace

The emotional toll and incredible joy of being seen and showing up for others

This is an episode about consistency, kindness, and what it really means to make a difference—without fanfare or filters.

👟 Whether you're a grandparent, a parent, or just someone who needs a reminder of the quiet heroes in our midst, don’t miss this one.

In this episode:

🔗 Mentioned in the episode:

📣 Share this with a friend, grandparent, or someone navigating loss and looking for meaning in the quiet moments.

In a culture obsessed with achievement, titles, and appearances, obituaries quietly tell a different story.

In this deeply moving and surprisingly joyful conversation, Steve Harris welcomes Mary McGreevey, the woman behind the viral project Tips From Dead People, to talk about what thousands of obituaries have taught her about life, legacy, empathy, and meaning.

Rather than focusing on famous people or polished lives, Mary highlights everyday individuals — complicated, funny, flawed humans — and shows why those stories resonate most.

Why the best obituaries make you wish you’d known the person

What really matters at the end of life (hint: it’s not resumes or awards)

How reading obituaries can increase empathy — for others and ourselves

Why sharing imperfections may be the most loving legacy for kids and grandkids

The surprising healing power of honest storytelling during grief

How grandpas (and grandmas) can use stories to connect across generations

Why “zig‑zag lives” are not failures — they’re often the richest stories

“The little things are the big things.”

Why we’re all likely forgotten in three generations — and why that’s freeing

The power of love/hate lists as a storytelling tool

Why honest obituaries can be healthier for grief than polished tributes

How stories create empathy across political, cultural, and generational lines

Mary McGreevey is a writer, speaker, and creator behind Tips From Dead People, where she shares powerful lessons from everyday obituaries. Her work has been featured in Reader’s Digest and beyond, and she speaks to organizations about individuality, empathy, and storytelling.

Follow Mary:

Instagram / TikTok: @tipsfromdeadpeople

Mary's Substack\

The Grandpa Channel is a podcast about capturing the good stuff — stories, wisdom, humor, and hard‑won lessons worth passing down. Hosted by a real grandpa, it’s for kids, parents, and grandkids who believe stories matter because people matter.

📘 Free Resource:

If this episode made you laugh, cry, or rethink what really matters — share it with someone who needs a reminder that their story counts.

In today’s episode, Steve Harris takes the mic solo to tell a tale that’s as tender as it is ridiculous. It starts with a beloved baseball cap and ends in a hospital parking lot with a whole lot of love (and a little bit of vomit). Along the way, he reflects on marriage, parenthood, and the wild ride of discovering you’re having triplets.

Whether you’re a Red Sox fan or just a fan of good stories, this one’s got all the ingredients:

💡 Mentioned in this episode:

Planted Media – Tell your life story on video

The iconic Fenway Park

The quiet heroism of a woman navigating a brutal pregnancy

A tribute to the hats we lose and the memories we gain

👴 Leave a review, share it with a friend, or better yet, tell your favorite grandpa.

Some family traditions are planned.

Until years later, when you realize they became the memories everyone still talks about.

In this special episode of the Grandpa Channel, we’re sharing a collection of stories that highlight how everyday family rituals turn into lasting family memories. You’ll hear about:

A hand-built motorhome and Saturday morning Burger King runs

Fireworks, popcorn, and the legendary Cul-de-Sac of Fire

Diaries written for grandchildren not yet grown

Thanksgiving sleepovers with oil paints and blank canvases

Steak Sundays, Gramp Camp, and learning to spot the hand of God

Mountain Man breakfasts that turn into lifelong traditions

And a reminder that laughter might be one of the most important rituals of all

These stories aren’t about perfection.

Listen in, reflect on the traditions you inherited, and maybe start one of your own.

Listen to the FULL Episodes here: 

Wayne Samuelson, 035 The Grandpa Who Taught Me Hard Things Are Holy — A Masterclass in Grandparenting Through Love + Work Wayne Samuelson

Brad Harris, 007 Grandparent Stories: McFluffies, Fireworks & Life Lessons with Brad Harris

Dan Gibbons, 012 Family Legacy, Journals & Grandfather Wisdom | Dan Gibbons on Faith & Stories

Steve Newton, 004 From Hamster Vomit Popsicles to Russian Missions: Connection Built with Love with Steve Newton

Mollie Diamond, 024 Poison Pillow, Duddo & Snow Removal: How Grandpas Create Joy in the Small Things with Mollie Diamond

Steve Grigg, 030 The Man Behind the Tater Tot: Legacy, Invention, and Grandpa Wisdom with Steve Grigg

Dennis Bledsoe, 025 Family Legacy & Faith: How Grandpas Pass Down Resilience, Pioneer Stories, and Listening Paired with Curiosity with Dennis Bledsoe

Lee Ann Meads, 022 One-on-One Time, Funny Nicknames, and Finding the Hand of God with Lee Ann Meads

Stanley Lear, 021 Keep Smiling: Life Stories, Family Jokes & 94 Years of Wisdom with Stanley Lear

I worked with Planted Media to capture my life story, and they made the whole thing easy, meaningful, and actually fun. They’ll handle the setup—you just show up and tell your story.

Want to Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Ways To Powerfully Connect with Your Grandkids, get the free guide here!

This episode is a little different—and a little sacred.

We’re launching The Hotline—a new way to capture the grit, glory, and heart of real-life grandpa stories. Each month, we’ll drop a prompt. You record your voice. We amplify it.

To kick things off, Steve shares a recovered recording of his dad, Grandpa Lou, telling his own origin story:

How he bribed a sergeant to get married

Why Mormon boys made the best bartenders

What $78 a month bought in 1950

And why food, faith, and family always fed more than just hunger

This is what The Hotline is for—preserving the voices we love before they slip away.

🎤 Want to be part of it? Leave your story here!

🧡 Your story matters. And now, there’s a mic waiting.

In this raw and riveting episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with longtime friend and honorary "Urban Huck Finn"—Mike Deraedt. Born and raised on the hard-edged Lower East Side of Detroit, Mike shares powerful stories of survival, loss, resilience, and unexpected transformation.

From stealing hubcaps to studying calculus, bouncing at biker bars to teaching science, and surviving Vietnam to raising bright, capable kids—Mike’s life is a study in contrast. He opens up about trauma, redemption, and what it really means to take responsibility, no matter where you come from.

Topics include:

Growing up fast in Detroit’s toughest neighborhoods

Losing his father at age 7 and navigating life solo

Military service, trauma, and unexpected academic success

How storytelling, honesty, and hard-won empathy shaped his legacy

Advice for anyone navigating pain, parenthood, or prejudice

🔗 Want to record your own grandpa story or get featured? Visit plantedmediaco.com and tell them Rivers sent you.

Want to Steal our Best Plays? Get our Free Guide for 10 Ways to Connect Deeply with Your Grandkids here! 

What if the most meaningful stories at Christmastime came not from gift wrap, but from the raw honesty of children sitting on Santa’s lap?

In this powerful and unexpected episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) welcomes a real-life Santa who shares the funny, spiritual, and deeply moving stories behind the red suit. From silly sibling rivalries to tear-stained notes from kids asking for peace at home instead of presents, Santa reflects on what he’s learned after decades of listening — really listening — to the hearts of children.

We also explore:

The surprising #1 thing kids ask for

A haunting Christmas wish from an 11-year-old girl

Santa’s journey from air traffic controller to spiritual mentor in red velvet

What grandpas (and all of us) can do to bring magic and meaning back to modern life

Why grandparenting isn’t just for family — and how to “grandpa where you’re planted”

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this conversation is a beautiful reminder of what it means to see, hear, and lift each other. Let this episode fill you with wonder — and maybe change the way you think about Santa forever.

🎄 Merry Christmas — and may it last all year long.

Steal Our Best Plays: Get the Free Grandpa Channel Guide on How To Connect WIth Your Grandkids here!

What if your most meaningful Christmas gift came from a convicted felon?

This story is a powerful reminder that God sees us, loves us, and often sends help through the most unexpected people.

You’ll hear about:

The triplet car crash that triggered a shame spiral

What volunteering in maximum security jail taught Steve about grace

The most profound prayer he’s ever heard (and why he cried through the whole thing)

The mysterious power of peace, even when it seems God is silent

A special message of hope for this Christmas season

PLUS: A shoutout to Planted Media for helping grandpas record their life stories on video — check them out at plantedmediaco.com and mention “Rivers” for a Grandpa Channel discount!

STEAL OUR BEST PLAYS: 10 Ways to Powerfully Connect With Your Grandkids, Free guide here!

In this heartwarming and wisdom-packed episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) chats with Dr. Katherine Schlaerth—a  geriatrician& family physician, author, and grandmother of 21—about what it means to show up for your family across generations.

Together they explore:

How to stay healthy and active so your grandkids can climb all over you (literally)

Why grandpas are powerful culture-keepers

The surprising impact of rituals, letters, and language

How faith, storytelling, and showing up build unshakeable legacies

You’ll hear about Bones the skeleton, cousins camp, why letters still matter, and how grandpas transfer joy and lifelong passions through example. This one’s full of heart, humor, and helpful takeaways.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Schlaerth’s book: The Way Our Bodies Age

Planted Media video legacy services (use code RIVERS for a Grandpa Channel discount)

Grab our free guide: Steal Our Best Plays- 10 Ways to Powerfully Connect with Your Grandkids 

🎧 Listen, laugh, and leave a review!