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

043 The Book She Wrote with Her Grandson (from 10,000 Miles Away) with Kathy Nunn

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?Download our free guide: “Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Ways to Connect with Your Grandkids” — 
🎧 Listen now and be inspired to tell (or write!) your story.

042 Steal Our Best Plays: 10 Real Moves for Deeper Grandkid Connection

This episode is your audio companion to our most popular resource:👉 “Steal Our Best Plays: Top 10 Ways to Connect with Your Grandkids.”These aren’t made-up theories — they’re field-tested, story-backed plays from real grandpas (and grandmas!) who’ve shared their secrets on the show.
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(You’ll get all 10 plays, step-by-step instructions, and a few hidden gems we didn’t have time to share.)
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

041 The Day I Melted Into a Pool of Gratitude with Steve Harris aka Rivers

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.

040 Wild Bill, Sheep Dogs & Grandpa Wisdom: Stories with Russ Miller

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.

039 The Gratitude Deficit: How One Grandmother’s Love Rewired a Family Tree with Bracha Goetz

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:📚 The children’s book that helps eliminate entitlement — without a single “lesson.”🧠 Why rewiring gratitude can start with one sticky-note, bedtime ritual, or Friday night question.
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

038 Father, Judge, Stranger: Unpacking a Complicated Legacy with Mike Harding

Episode Title: “I Never Heard My Grandfather's Voice — Now I Know Why That Matters”Guest: Mike HardingHost: Steve HarrisPresented by: The Grandpa Channel
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:Record your story with Planted Media — https://plantedmediaco.com (Tell them Rivers sent you for a Grandpa Channel discount.)
 

037 When Life Breaks Your Back, Love Lifts You: Grandparenting Through Grit, Faith, and Showing Up With Doug Wadsworth

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.
CTA:If this helped you, share it with one grandpa who needs a reminder to show up—and hit follow so we can bring one million grandpas into the huddle.

036 Shut Up & Listen: A Grandma’s Masterclass in Grandparent Connection with Kathy Healey

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:Grandkids don’t need a perfect grandpa. They need a present one.And the doorway to their heart opens when you quiet down long enough to hear theirs.
 
Link to Kathy's book: Nan's Alpahbet by Maryjane Spillane
Record your life story with Planted Media Co

035 The Grandpa Who Taught Me Hard Things Are Holy — A Masterclass in Grandparenting Through Love + Work Wayne Samuelson

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:Legacy isn’t loud. Legacy is consistent. And the things you do with your grandkids now are the stories they’ll repeat for decades.
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. 

034 How Endurance Sports Shaped a Better Grandpa: Lessons from Ken Walters

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