The Grandpa Channel: Grandparent Stories, Family Legacy & Life Lessons

056 The Crossing Guard Who Knows Every Name: Linda’s Lessons in Love, Safety & Showing Up

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.

055 The God of Dropped Dimes: A Grandpa's Story About Faith, Coincidences, and the Ones We Love

In this episode:– A trip to the ER becomes an unexpected spiritual moment– What “dropping dimes” really means—from sports to the sacred– Stories of Steve’s late father, and why he believes love lives on– How to recognize divine moments in everyday life– A reflection on faith, legacy, and the presence of God in hard times– A beautiful quote from Frederick Buechner on God's subtlety– Why Grandpa Steve believes in a God “in the thick of our day-to-day lives”
🔗 Mentioned in the episode:Planted Media – https://plantedmediaco.com (Use code “RIVERS” for a special discount)
📣 Share this with a friend, grandparent, or someone navigating loss and looking for meaning in the quiet moments.

054 What Obituaries Teach Us About Living a Life That Actually Matters | The Obit Lady Mary McCreevy

Episode Overview
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.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
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
Memorable Moments & Ideas
“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
About the Guest
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\
Intro Video about Tips From Dead People
About The Grandpa Channel
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:Steal Our Best Plays — 10 legacy‑level ideas to help grandpas show up in ways that matter👉 www.thegrandpachannel.com/playbook
Closing Thought
If this episode made you laugh, cry, or rethink what really matters — share it with someone who needs a reminder that their story counts.

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!