The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All

What does it mean to be a joyful disciple as a grandpa? In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) sits down with his longtime friend Brent Nielsen, a father of six, grandfather to 26, and world traveler with stories and wisdom to spare.

Brent shares how he and his wife Marcia have stayed deeply connected to their growing family — even while living halfway across the world. From weekly mission calls from New Zealand to car ride storytelling marathons, you'll hear powerful insights on intentional grandparenting, legacy, and faith.

They discuss:

Building one-on-one relationships with 26 grandkids

Grandparenting from abroad (and how Zoom became sacred ground)

What he learned from family-centered cultures around the world

How storytelling becomes a legacy

Teaching faith through joy (and campfire songs)

The advice he’d give his grandkids... and his own father

If you're looking for real connection, spiritual grounding, and a few good laughs — this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:34] Rivers’ call to action to record your life story — and why your grandkids want your corny jokes and rugged voice on video

[01:26] Meet Brent Nielsen: Grandpa to 26, friend for 50 years, and servant-leader in global church service

Why “joyful discipleship” is the ultimate goal for family life and faith

Parenting and grandparenting while living in New Zealand and the Philippines

Maintaining relationships with grandkids across continents — and how a simple Monday ritual made all the difference

The surprising impact of storytelling on long road trips (and how grandkids remember every detail)

Why funny + faithful is Brent’s grandfathering sweet spot — and how campfire songs play a starring role

Advice for grandpas: Follow grandma’s lead, stay joyful, and stay present

What to say to a worried teen granddaughter in a chaotic world

The power of missionary letters, personal traditions, and being a fountain of peace for the rising generation

Key Takeaways:

Grandfathers have unmatched influence through intentional connection

Stories are your superpower — use them early and often

Faith doesn’t have to be formal — let joy and fun lead the way

Grandparenting is legacy-building in real time

What does it mean to be a grandfather today — and how has that role changed over time? In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) welcomes legendary historian, author, and beloved grandfather Richard Lyman Bushman for a conversation filled with timeless wisdom, personal reflection, and multigenerational insight.

Now 94, Bushman shares his lived experience as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather — and opens up about the joys, challenges, and surprises that come with growing a family legacy. Together, they explore what makes grandparenting so vital, how storytelling shapes connection, and why being fully present might be a grandfather’s greatest gift.

🎓 Richard Bushman is Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University and author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. He’s been called “one of the most important scholars of American religious history” and continues to mentor and inspire across generations.

02:00 — Life in NYC & being surrounded by 20 grandchildren (and counting!)

05:00 — How the role of grandfathers has changed over the last century

08:00 — Lessons from his own grandfathers

10:00 — What he hopes his grandkids would say about him

13:00 — The power of stories, family lore, and being known

18:00 — Prophetic blessings and how he connects spiritually with his grandkids

25:00 — What inspires him from American history

30:00 — What he would tell his 34-year-old self

32:00 — A final message for grandfathers everywhere

Grandfathers today have more time and more tools to connect than ever before

Storytelling is how we pass down not just facts — but who we are

Being a grandfather isn’t just biology — it’s a calling of love, guidance, and presence

“They need to feel who you are” — Bushman on spending real time with grandkids

Don’t underestimate the power of small, everyday moments

🧭 Ready to start capturing your story on video?

📺 Subscribe to The Grandpa Channel on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify — and share this episode with someone you love.

Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Ways to Connect With Your Grandkids here!

Bill Mansell — longtime neighbor, father, and grandfather — joins Steve (“Rivers”) on The Grandpa Channel for a beautiful conversation about what it truly means to be a grandparent in today’s world.

From growing up knowing all four of his grandparents to now becoming the “older generation” himself, Bill shares stories full of humor, heart, and hope. He talks about the value of multi-generational homes, why being a peaceful grandparent matters, and how the real gift we give grandkids is simply showing up with love and presence.

💡 You'll hear:

Why mundane moments with grandparents become magical

The surprising thing Bill’s dad did every morning for him

The lesson behind a “snowball fight” that destroyed a backyard

Thoughts on sharing faith with grandkids — gently and authentically

What he’d tell his 32-year-old self about parenthood, grandkids, and life

Whether you're a grandparent, parent, or someone navigating family relationships — this one will leave you feeling seen, softened, and inspired.

Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Powerful Ways to Connect With Your Grandkids

In this heartfelt and history-rich episode, Rivers (Steve Harris) interviews Kathy Nunn, a retired educator and author living in Melbourne, Australia. Kathy shares her journey from Wales to Papua New Guinea to Australia — and the beautiful creative project she completed with her grandson: co-authoring a book inspired by Welsh legends.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Kathy and her grandson co-wrote The Welsh Warrior’s Wonder

Why everyday stories from your past matter more than you think

A fascinating legend about Welsh explorers arriving in America before Columbus

How to pass down ancestral heritage through story and imagination

The emotional ripple effect of engaged grandparenting

Why “boring” memories are actually gold to your grandkids

Whether you're a grandparent, a parent, or someone who values legacy, this episode is a warm invitation to capture and share the stories that connect us across generations.

👀 Mentioned in this episode:

Kathy’s pen name: Ariane Wen Nunn

The Mandan Tribe and Welsh coracles

Kathy’s upcoming plan to write a book with her granddaughter, too

And a whole lot of Grandpa Channel heart.

Link to Kathy's Book she wrote with her grandson

📥 Want more ideas to connect with your grandkids?

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to tell (or write!) your story.

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.

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