The Grandpa Channel Podcast

Bear the Beams of Love with Rivers

In this heart-centered solo episode, Rivers shares why grandfathers aren’t just figureheads—we're flashlights.
Guides.
Bearers of love.
Inspired by Jesuit priest and gang intervention hero Greg Boyle, Rivers unpacks a dream, a poem, and a moment that shifts how we see our role as grandpas—not just in family, but in the world.
Episode Highlights
The book that lit the match
Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle becomes the emotional compass of this episode
A line from William Blake sets the tone:
“We are put on earth for a little space, that we might learn to bear the beams of love.”
The story of Pedro & the flashlight.
Pedro’s brother, Jovan, dies by suicide
Pedro dreams he's in a dark room.
In the dream, Greg Boyle doesn’t rescue him—he simply shines a flashlight at the switch
Pedro walks toward it. Flips it on. The room fills with light.
“The light is better than the darkness,” he says, weeping
The grandpa takeaway.
We don’t have to save our grandchildren.
But we can be the one holding the light steady
Our job isn’t to fix—it’s to be present, loving, and quietly powerful
To bear the beam, and invite them to turn it on
Quote to remember:
“None of us can save anybody—but we all fumble for grace and flashlights.” — Greg Boyle via Rivers
Grandpa truth:
You are the flashlight. Even if you say nothing at all
Your light= gods love
Shined steadily, not shouted
Grandpa is a calling
And your presence is the sermon
🎧 Who Should Listen
This episode is for:
Grandfathers navigating grief, imperfection, or silent seasons
Men who feel unsure if their presence matters
Anyone who needs to remember: steady love changes everything
 

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

This week’s episode is a masterclass in legacy—not perfection. Steve Newton joins Steve Harris for a rich, laugh-out-loud conversation about grandfathers, fatherhood, and how to build memories that matter.
Episode Highlights
Lessons from Grandpas past
Taught his 70-year-old grandpa to golf—by 86, the man shot par with one ball and a 7-iron.
His WWI grandfather swam through the night, documented wartime journeys in a journal… but rarely spoke of them.
Lawn-cutting turned life lessons: the railroad-working grandpa who overpaid his grandkids and overdelivered on love.
The fathers who came. before:
A pediatrician dad with a near-photographic memory, who scored #1 in the nation on the MCAT.
Thanksgiving traditions that included oil painting sleepovers.
A “hotel mayor” in assisted living—known for hosting more dinner guests than anyone else.
The quiet CIA Hero
Steve’s father-in-law: part-time general, full-time CIA, builder of a Polish rebel army during WWII, and post-retirement master grandpa.
Taught Steve plumbing, dry-walling, and legacy-building from the ground up.
Steve Newton: Grandpa in real time
Hosts over-the-top birthday parties (Nerf biathlons, snow cones, bounce houses).
Teaches grandkids “important skills” like clean whipped cream can usage.
Made “hamster vomit” popsicles with his oldest grandson and built unforgettable one-on-one bonds.
Now parenting a crowd: 11 grandkids that all live within 20 minutes of him.
Grandpa Redemption & the long game:
Think it’s too late to start? Steve says: No way.
Pro-tip: Vulnerable, funny stories that don’t preach are often the most powerful.
Key Takeaways:
It's never too late to connect: A 100-year-old grandpa built new bonds with distant grandkids.
Stories= emotional glue. Even goofy ones build identity and belonging.
Interaction > instruction. Playtime, teasing, and curiosity go further than advice.
Every grandkid is different: One-on-one memories matter—so does group presence.
Faith and heritage aren’t boring, if told right they're irresitable.
Favorite Quote:
“A grandpa that’ll play with you builds self-worth like you can’t believe.” — Steve Newton
Who should listen:
Perfect for grandparents, adult children, or memory-makers who want to:
Connect with family even after missed time
Transform everyday chaos into cherished tradition
Discover how to teach lessons without a lecture
Find purpose, joy, and comedy in modern grandparenthood
Next steps:
Try telling a “doofus” story this week—one where you messed up and made it out okay.
Ask your grandkids about their favorite holiday memory—and see where it leads.
Plan one simple, silly tradition just for them. (Snow cones count.)

The Tar Chewer, Knife Maker, and Service Giant with Brent Dial

This episode is a tribute to legacies that weren’t loud—but lived. Brent Dial joins host Steve Harris for a deeply personal conversation about grandfathers who shaped him, a father who raised him with quiet strength, and what he’s still learning as a grandfather of 17.
Episode Highlights
Grandpa Lessons That Stuck
One grandpa was a dog catcher, pecan farmer, and the guy who handed you a puppy as a goodbye gift.
Another was a knife maker, a game-night pinochle legend, and deeply sentimental—sometimes crying during General Hospital.
Both modeled service, humility, and devotion in ways Brent never forgot.
A Father Worth Honoring
Brent’s dad was a bishop, a husband who never raised his voice to his wife, and a man who shoveled neighbors’ driveways before his own.
 He was also a master of soft lessons: like what to do when a 15-year-old accidentally fires a rifle through a truck windshield.
Sticky Stories = Legacy
Tar-chewing on hot sidewalks.
Realizing service is more than a good deed—it’s a family identity.
Brent shares his own challenges—moments of impatience, over-gifting instead of being present, and wishing he’d taken grandkids fishing rather than just buying the poles.
But his deeper truth? Presence beats perfection. Kids don’t remember the moment—they remember how you made them feel
Legacy Through Living
Brent built a home with a separate entrance so kids (and later grandkids) could move in if life ever got rocky.
Because sharing space also means sharing moments—cutting grass, laughing, and learning how to show up better.
Legacy doesn’t need polish, it needs presence
Every moment is a memory, even the messy ones
Stories hold secret strength, especially the embarrassing, sticky, hilarious kind.
Be the bridge, between generations, emotions, and expectations.
You don't have to get it perfect, you just have to try.
Quote to remember: 
“My dad taught me how to serve—even when the other guy drove past with a winch.” — Brent Dial
Perfect for: Grandparents who think they’ve already missed their chance, Adult children learning what “legacy” actually looks like, Anyone who needs permission to remember that effort > polish
Next Steps:
Record one memory on your phone this week—messy audio, bad lighting, doesn’t matter
Tell the story that embarrasses you (the one with tar, or the truck, or the puppy)
And remember: your voice is the legacy
 

Grandpa Where You Are Planted with Rivers

“Can You Grandpa Someone? (Hint: Yes, You Can)” with Rivers
In this moving solo episode, Steve Harris—aka Rivers—shares a deeply personal story about being a “grandpa orphan,” how one Cubs fan grandfather-in-law changed everything, and why the verb to grandpa might be the most powerful gift we have.
Episode Highlights
The Grandpas He Never Knew
Both grandfathers passed away before Steve was born
Grew up craving what he saw other grandkids experience: presence, advice, affection
The One He Asked For
Met his wife’s grandfather, Don—a Cubs fan with a sharp wit
Asked him: “Will you be my grandpa?”
He said yes—and showed up with presence, interest, and love until the day he passed
 The Unexpected Mentor
Born with a cleft lip and misaligned teeth
His orthodontist, Dr. LeGrand Curtis, quietly became a surrogate grandfather
At 13, took Steve and his dad to lunch and said, “I’ve been thinking about you… I think you should study accounting, then go to law school.”
That moment changed the course of his life
Because someone out there is waiting to be grandpa’d. Maybe it’s your turn.
Takeaways
You don’t need DNA to grandpa
You need presence and permission
Small words = big legacy
A sentence at 13 shaped a future
Bloom where you're planted
There are “grandkids” all around you
Grandpa-ing is a verb
And it's a powerful, spiritual calling
You matter more than you know
 Quote to Remember: “I was a grandpa orphan… until I asked someone to be my grandpa. And he said yes.” — Rivers, The Grandpa Channel
 Who Should Listen
This one’s for: Grandpas without close relationships—yet. Mentors wondering if they’ve made an impact. Anyone who’s ever asked, do I really matter to them?
 Next Steps:
Reach out to someone who might need a grandpa right now
Share a story, a meal, or just say, “I’ve been thinking about you”
Because Grandpa isn’t just who you are.
It’s what you do.
 
 

What Grandpa Lou Taught Me About Legacy, Love, and $20 Bills with Abby Harris

Episode Summary: In the very first episode of The Grandpa Channel Podcast, we sit down with Abby Harris - life coach, triplet, and proud granddaughter - for a deeply personal and surprisingly funny conversation about the impact of her two very different grandfathers: Lou and Hank.
Abby shares the quirks, traditions, and quiet superpowers that made her grandpas unforgettable. From buttermilk sipping and fireworks at 5 PM to a legendary burger run during a rough high school day - this episode is a heartwarming reminder that the little things grandpas do leave big footprints.
 In This Episode, You’ll Hear:
How Grandpa Lou's goofiness and warmth made him unforgettable
The difference between being present and just showing up
A story about $20, basketball heartbreak, and unconditional love
Why discipline, devotion, and popcorn machines matter in legacy
Two grandpas. Two styles. One massive impact.
Featured Guest: Abby Harris is a certified life coach helping women rewrite stuck stories and live aligned, expanded lives. She's also a devoted granddaughter, born into legacy, and determined to carry it forward.
Mentioned:
Hires Big H in Salt Lake City
Grandpa Lou’s singing telegram jokes
The legacy of faith and discipline from Grandpa Hank
Favorite Quotes:
"I think we overcomplicate love. Grandpa Lou just showed up and loved us—no conditions."
"He met me where I was—and that changed everything."
"Jesus the Christ at eight years old was the most on-brand gift from Grandpa Hank."
🔗 Links & Resources:
Learn more about Abby: www.abbyharriscoaching.com
More on the show: www.thegrandpachannel.com
Loved this episode? Subscribe, leave a review, or text it to your dad or grandpa. Because wisdom unshared is wisdom lost.
#TheGrandpaChannel #LegacyLoud #AbbyHarris #FamilyStories #GrandpaWisdom
 

The Grandpa Channel Podcast Trailer

Welcome to The Grandpa Channel—where legacy isn’t something you leave behind, it’s something you live right now.
This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a movement. Calling all grandfathers everywhere to show up with purpose, pass on what matters, and tell the stories only they can tell. Hosted by a Steve Harrris aka Rivers (what his grandkids call him), this trailer is your first taste of the humor, heart, and holy ground of modern grandfatherhood.
You’ve got more to give. Let’s go out with a bang, not a thud.
Subscribe now—your grandkids are listening.

The Grandpa Channel Podcast with Host Steve Harris, aka Rivers

Welcome to The Grandpa Channel—where legacy isn’t something you leave behind, it’s something you live right now.
This isn’t just another podcast. It’s a movement. Calling all grandfathers everywhere to show up with purpose, pass on what matters, and tell the stories only they can tell. Hosted by a Steve Harrris aka Rivers (what his grandkids call him), this trailer is your first taste of the humor, heart, and holy ground of modern grandfatherhood.
You’ve got more to give. Let’s go out with a bang, not a thud.
Subscribe now—your grandkids are listening.