Grandpa Channel: Grandparent Stories, Family Legacy & Life Lessons

053 She Threw Up in My Red Sox Hat: A Love Story

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:– Unexpected plot twist– A long-suffering but amazing wife– Humor that sneaks in the back door– A reminder that love shows up in the messiest moments
💡 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.

052 Where Family Traditions Become Family Memories

Some family traditions are planned.Others just happen.Most don’t feel important while you’re living them.
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.They’re about showing up, repeating what matters, and creating spaces where connection can grow.
Listen in, reflect on the traditions you inherited, and maybe start one of your own.Because what we repeat with love becomes what our families remember.
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.Mention The Grandpa Channel for a nice little discount.
Want to Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Ways To Powerfully Connect with Your Grandkids, get the free guide here!

051 The Hotline Is Open: Grandpa Lou, Lost + Found

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.

050 Urban Huck Finn: The Wild & Redemptive Life of Mike Deraedt

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! 

049 Santa’s Secrets: What Kids Really Ask For (It’s Not Toys)

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!

048 The Inmate Who Prayed for Me: A Christmas Story with Rivers aka Steve Harris

What if your most meaningful Christmas gift came from a convicted felon?In this deeply personal episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve "Rivers" Harris recounts the unraveling of his life during the 2009 holiday season: financial collapse, family stress, deep spiritual discouragement—and the surprising moment of peace that arrived through a tattooed, soulful, gospel-loving inmate named Moses.
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!

047 Doctor, Grandma, Legacy Keeper: The Power of Health, Ritual, and Storytelling with Katherine Schlaerth

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!

046 Joyful Discipleship & Campfire Songs: Grandfathering Across Generations with Brent Nielsen

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.
 
Show Notes (with SEO & Keywords):
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

045 Wisdom, Legacy & Love: A Conversation with Historian Richard Bushman

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.
🔍 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
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
💡 Key Takeaways:
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?🎥 Visit PlantedMediaCo.com and tell them Rivers sent you for a Grandpa Channel discount!
📺 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!

044 Sleepovers, Snowball Fights & the Secret to Being a Great Grandpa — with Bill Mansell

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