The Cool Grandpa Podcast

Rebecca Fraser-Thill joins us to talk about grandfathers, multi-generational relationships, and the importance of traditions within the family. We are introduced to Rebecca's grandfather, Raymond Green, who lived about a half-hour from Rebecca. Although Rebecca talks about having a stronger bond with her grandmother, Raymond played an essential role in her life. They both enjoyed feeding the birds...

Renowned keynote speaker Kent Julian sits down with us to talk about one of his three heroes, Enoch Marshall. Kent shares how they were opposites in many ways, yet he was drawn to Enoch. When Kent thinks about and describes his grandfather, the word that comes to mind is WISDOM. We discuss how Kent's grandfather was there as Kent's spiritual awakening began in middle and high school. Kent talks ab...

In this conversation, we are joined by Richard Eyre. Richard and his wife Linda have been writing and speaking about values-based parenting for over 20 years. Richard has taken his experience and insight with parenting and created a great book about being a proactive grandfather. With over 34 grandchildren, Richard has had experience building deep and meaningful relationships with grandchildren bo...

Roland Thompson sits down with us to talk about the importance of connections with our grandchildren and family. Roland is currently working on two books and launching his foundation, Heart of the Fathers . We kick off our conversation, discussing Roland's reaction to the news that he would be a grandfather while still having children at home and adopting another young child. Roland is passionate...

Jody Noland joins us for this week's conversation. I met Jody at Kent Julian's Paid to Speak conference in September 2021. Jody is passionate about discussing the importance and intimacy of letter and note writing. As an author, speaker, and coach, Jody Noland brings an infectious passion for writing words of encouragement. Her greatest joy comes from helping others leave nothing unsaid to the ess...

In this week's conversation, we are joined by Dave Wadsworth. I met Dave at Kent Julian's Paid To Speak conference in Atlanta, GA. We immediately hit it off about life and, of course, cool grandpa stuff. In this conversation, Dave and I discuss the joy that he and his wife shared when they found out they would become grandparents. Dave is currently building a lake on his property, where he plans t...

Our conversation is with James Lott Jr. James, and I sit down to talk about his relationship with his Dutch and Puerto Rician/Indian grandfathers. We talk about where James gets his gift of gab and fun times hanging out with his Grandfather in New York during the crazy 1980s. James also talks about the influence of his Dutch grandfather and his application for dry humor and the fun saying, "If it...

Our conversation is with Tabasco. Tabasco sits down with us to discuss his experience of being a grandfather who lives close to his grandchildren. In this exciting conversation, we talk about how Tabasco how hearing the news that he would be a grandfather was like starting a new chapter in his life and a chance to share the world with another child. We continue to talk about how Tabasco could focu...

This great conversation with Lee explores how a grandfather's example of service teaches the grandchildren valuable lessons about helping others. We also discuss how Lee and the family positively install closely held family values to the upcoming generation. Lee serves as director of the Brisbane Legacy group ( https://www.legacy.com.au/brisbane/BrisbaneLegacy ). This group serves the people of Au...

This week's conversation is with Dave Evans. Dave and I sit down to talk about his experience with being a grandfather. We talk a lot about his granddaughter Nyia and her challenges. During Nyia's delivery, she went without oxygen for about 12 minutes resulting in Nyia having extensive brain and motor issues. Nyia and her family are working with the great people at NAPA on an individual therapy pl...

This week's episode is another conversation just between the two of us. In this conversation, we talk about the importance of traditions and rituals. We can use traditions and rituals to create stronger family bonds and bonds between grandfathers and grandchildren. Rituals are those details that are part of traditions. An example of a ritual is that grandma and the grandchildren ALWAYS work togeth...

Welcome back to another fun conversation with someone from my past. Thal Dixon is a good friend of mine from our High School days. Thal is sitting down with us to have a conversation about his interesting and entertaining Grandpa Penrod. Thal discusses how no matter where his family moved, his Grandpa and Grandma were a constant in his life. We even hear about how Thal was going to school in Idaho...

Our conversation is with Gramps Jeffrey. Gramps Jeffrey is a children's book author and grandfather of six. Gramps looks at the world through the lens of what has changed and evolved since he was a kid. We discussed his book, I Don't Want to Turn 3 , and what inspired him to write this exciting and entertaining book. We talk about how important it is to read to our children and grandchildren. Read...

This week, we talked with DeeDee Moore. DeeDee was in a similar spot as I was when she found out that she would be a grandmother. That spot was that there were some articles, podcasts, and magazines, but nothing designed to help grandmas or grandpas understand their new roles. Taking what she had experienced as a mom, elementary school office lady, and years as a communications consultant Dee Dee...

The episode that you will hear is a fantastic bonus show that can help grandfathers and grandparents. Ever wonder who those people go over the top at Halloween and have the best home haunt in the neighborhood? Meet Nationally recognized home haunt and prop designer expert Roger Hayes. Order your drink and pull up a chair so you can join my conversation with Roger as we catch up about all things Ha...

Our guest is Dr. Gene Beresin. Gene is a great guy and is working hard with the devoted staff of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. According to the center's about page, The Clay Center "...is a free, practical, online educational resource dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, teens, and...

"I'm in a place in my life where I get offered parts that I didn't get offered before - fathers and uncles and grandfathers and so on. And it took me a long time to get to that place, but I'm glad because it opens up new territory." - Christopher Walken The episode is a one on one conversation with me and you. In this conversation, I discuss how we are taking on new roles even at our age, which is...

Sylvia Liu has never met her grandfathers, but they have played an important role in China's history. Most importantly, they have played a significant role in Syliva's life through their example and influence on her mother and father. Sylvia sits down with us to discuss her grandfathers, her life as an environmental lawyer, and now as a children and young adult author. Sylvia's maternal grandfathe...

Dan Miller joins us for a fantastic conversation about how to help our grandchildren to think creatively about education, work, and life. Learn about Dan's experience and expectations when he learned that he would become a grandfather. Dan was excited and viewed the grandchildren as an extension of the fun and exciting times he and his wife, Joanne, had with their children. Our discussion then foc...

Kerry Byrne, Ph. D., joins us for our conversation today. Kerry has studied aging and care for 25 years. She is the Founder of The Long Distance Grandparent, a mission-driven business helping grandparents build strong bonds with their grandchildren from a distance. As a mom to 2, with grandparents living at a distance, she believes children need their grandparents, now more than ever – no matter t...

" Dear Mr. Venon. We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…and an athlete…and a basketcase…a prince...

In this conversation, Frank Pomata, aka Baba, sits down with us and talks about the impact and relationship with his grandfathers. We first learn about Carl (Carmello) and Anthony (Grandpa Tony) and what these two very different people did with Frank growing up in Brooklyn, NY. Frank had the interesting experience of living upstairs from his Grandpa Carl. With Grandpa Carl, Frank became his drivin...

In this conversation, we sit down with Richard, "Rick", Capriola to discuss the important topic of adolescent addition. We dive into what addiction means and how Grandfathers can play an important role in the identification, treatment, and recovery of a grandchild suffering from substance dependence. Rick Capriola spent 11 years working as an addictions counselor for Menninger Clinic in Houston Te...

Please pull up a chair and join Aaron and me for an interesting conversation about a company he started almost ten years ago but is really catching fire today. Aaron and his brother Cody started Readeo to help connect Aaron and Cody's parents to Cody's children once Cody moved to Chicago. Readeo holds several patents on the combination of video conferencing and digital children's books. The unique...

This conversation is just with you and me. I share four different activities you can do with your grandchild or anyone that do not require a smart device or application. These are fun and, most importantly, engaging activities that you can do today. Collecting Collecting is a great way to discover what your grandchild is interested in. The grandchildren will naturally want more of whatever they ar...