The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All

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!

What does it really mean to show up as a grandparent to an autistic grandchild? In this deeply thoughtful and practical episode, Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) talks with Jennifer Kaufman, author of Grandparenting on the Spectrum and longtime principal of an autism-focused school.

Jennifer shares insights from both her professional life and her personal experience as the grandmother of a child on the spectrum. This conversation is full of heart, wisdom, and practical tips for any grandparent—or anyone—wanting to love better.

In this episode:

How autism shaped Jennifer’s personal and professional world

The importance of adjusting expectations as a grandparent

How Jennifer’s husband built connection by simply showing up and staying present

Common pitfalls (like going in “guns blazing”) and how to avoid them

Why asking the parent is your best starting point

Long-distance grandparenting ideas: Zoom, books, and just being available

The #1 gift every autistic child should receive (you may be surprised!)

What to do when traditions don’t match neurodivergent needs

Why autism is not something to fix—but something we can grow to understand

Bonus Mentions:

Jennifer’s Book: Grandparenting on the Spectrum – available on Amazon

Her website: grandparentingonthespectrum.com

PSA: 93% of accidental deaths in children with autism involve water — consider giving autism-friendly swimming lessons.

Everyone’s got a flub they’ll never forget.

In this solo episode, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) shares the time he thought he was major league-bound... until he airmailed a ball into right field and watched his coach hurl a mitt into the fence.

It’s a story about confidence, embarrassment, and the kind of failures you don’t edit out—because they end up being the ones you remember.

If you’ve ever wanted to disappear after a public mistake (or you’ve had a coach throw something in your general direction), this one’s for you.

The lesson? Don’t try to be cool when you’ve still got the ball in your hand. And whatever happens...

Move on, baby. Move on.

Hosted by: Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”)

In this episode:

Interested in recording your life story? Reach out to Planted Media Co & tell them that Rivers sent you for a nice little Grandpa Channel discount

Quote to remember:

“I didn’t mean to look like an idiot, but I was. You learn to move on, baby. Move on.”

What does it mean to build something that lasts—then teach your grandkids how to carry it?

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with long-time friend Steve Grigg, son of Nephi Grigg, one of the founders of Ore-Ida and the inventor of the Tater Tot. But this isn’t just a food history story. It’s a deeply personal look at family legacy preservation, the evolution of grandparent family traditions, and the quiet superpowers grandfathers pass down through the generations.

From humble beginnings during the Great Depression to building a frozen food empire, Nephi Grigg’s legacy isn’t just found in grocery store aisles—it lives on in steak Sundays, backyard trampolines, and the way Steve Grigg shows up as a grandfather today.

This is a tater tot origin story you haven’t heard before—one filled with humor, love, and the kind of insights only a grandpa can offer.

If you care about legacy, family, or just really love tater tots, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

The true tater tot origin story (and the holey board that started it all)

How Nephi Grigg and his brother founded Ore-Ida

The Depression-era roots that shaped a family's work ethic

What “biting off more than you can chew—and chewing it” really looks like

Creating grandparent family traditions that stick

Why family legacy preservation doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful

What it takes to raise kids and build connective tissue between generations

How Steve Grigg passed on his father’s legacy in modern grandparenting

The power of making them laugh, knowing their names, and always having steak

Resources mentioned:

Planted Media (for recording your own legacy story)

Ore-Ida: oreida.com

Legacy Foundation: F. Nephi & Golden Grigg Legacy Project

Guest: Jim McCrea

In this episode:

*Note: Contains a few unfiltered moments and light swearing.

Mentioned:

Let’s Connect:

Newly minted grandpa Scott Becker meets twins Jack and Iris and feels something he did not expect - not the weight of responsibility, but the joy of a new role. He calls it the moon role. Not center stage, always present. We talk long distance grandparenting that actually lands, why presence beats perfection, and how stories become the bridge when miles get in the way.

Scott also shares the family chapter that expanded fatherhood for him - welcoming Isaac, a refugee from Uganda, into their home and hearts. If you grew up without a grandfather, or you miss the one you had, this one will feel like a hand on your shoulder.

In this episode

The moment that changed everything when he held his grandson for the first time

The moon role - a grandpa identity that feels steady and true

Long distance grandparenting with intention

Expanding family through love and belonging - Isaac’s story

What he wishes for Jack and Iris and how he plans to show up

Selected timestamps

Lines to keep

“When I held my grandson, I did not feel the weight. I felt this is going to be fun.”

“As a grandfather I get to be the moon.”

“Stories do not fade if we record them.”

Try this tonight

Ask a grandparent: “What do you wish your grandpa had told you?”

Then ask: “What do you want your grandkids to hear from you now?”

Hit record - phone video is perfect.

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What do you do when doctors give you six months to live?

For Frank Malizia, a Bronx native and lifelong Yankee fan, the answer was simple: hold on to faith, fight with everything he had, and cling to the hope of seeing his grandchildren one day. Against staggering odds, Frank survived stage-4 esophageal cancer, endured years of chemo and experimental treatments, and walked away with the nickname “miracle patient.”

Now, Frank spends his days as the proud caretaker of his two grandsons, Liam and Mason. Whether it’s scaling the steps of Kensico Dam—what they call “Top of the World”—cheering at Little League, or strolling to the train station in a taxi stroller, Frank treasures every moment. His grandkids didn’t just give him purpose—they gave him the strength to keep going.

In this heartfelt conversation, Frank opens up about:

How his grandkids became the gift that saved his life

The miracle of surviving stage-4 cancer

Lessons on patience, presence, and joy as a grandfather

Meeting the Pope in Rome and the blessing that still leaves him speechless

Why being “all in” with family is the only legacy worth chasing

This episode is a moving reminder that resilience, faith, and family can turn even the darkest diagnosis into a story of hope.