The Cool Grandpa Podcast

Kitty Janvirn is a young woman who took a school assignment, had a passion for history, and created a podcast to capture the story of her grandparents and other grandparents. In our conversation, we learn about her mother's father, Paul Own, who, to Kitty, her brothers, and her cousins, is simply Doc. We learn that Doc was the town Pharmacist and enjoyed getting down on his hands and knees when th...

Ted Page was tired of the negative messaging about grandpas in popular media when he learned that he would become a grandpa. Instead of just complaining about that negative messaging, Ted decides to launch a blog about the positive aspects of being a grandpa, and so, Good Grandpa was born. We sit down for a unique show where Ted and I interview each other about how our lives changed when we found...

Welcome back! In this episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, we are privileged to have Retired Lieutenant General Ralph J. Jodice II join us and talk about his experience with being a grandfather. Ralph is the father of one of our past guests, Brian Jodice (A link to Brian's conversation is down below). As you will learn, Ralph is a heck of a guy and another good example of someone who is "doing it...

Capturing unique stories is what filmmakers do. Understanding and recognizing that your family has unique and impactful stories is an awesome insight and realization. Award-winning filmmaker Tyler Gildin sits down with us to discuss his grandparents and how lucky he has been to have known and experienced both grandfathers and grandmothers for most of his life. At the start of the conversation, we...

Scott Paton is a world-traveling grandpa who, like other new(ish) grandfathers, thinks about the legacy that they will be leaving their grandchildren. Scott and I sit down and discuss his reaction to finding out that he became a step-grandpa and grandpa. Scott, like my dad, became a grandfather through marriage first, then through birth. I was introduced to Scott by former guest of the podcast, Ma...

Children's Author Jeanne Willis sits down with us for a fun conversation about her wonderful grandfather, Fredrick Willis. Fredrick was born in 1895 and was a Victorian who served in the Army in Africa as a Sapper (Army Engineer). Jeanne talks about how her grandfather used to joke about losing his helmet while riding in a jeep in North Africa. The result, according to Fedrick, was his head becomi...

In this exciting conversation with Brian Jodice, we talk about his grandfathers and the lessons he learned from them. Brain shares with us stories about Pop (Jim Lepis) and Granddad (Pat Jodice). Both of these outstanding individuals were former servicemen in WWII and continued to serve their communities throughout their lives. Both grandfathers were from New Jersey (we didn't get into what exit.....

Marc Mawhinney sits down and has a fun discussion about his grandfather, George Mawhinney, and growing up in Atlantic Canada . Marc's grandfather was a fisherman and hardworking guy that taught Marc and Matt (Marc's twin) how to work hard and love baseball. Marc shares great stories about the connection that baseball has between family members and communities of fans. Through all the up-and-down y...

Lauren Huff is returning time with her grandparents by showing curiosity and interest in their varied and exceptional lives. Lauren is a writer and businesswoman from the California Central Valley. She was fortunate that her grandparents, for the most part, lived close by, which resulted in a close and meaningful relationship. Lauren and I met in Dan Miller's 48days Eagles community (see link belo...

Gordon Hunter sits down to talk to me about how to enjoy grandkids of all ages. Gordon Hunter is a good friend from here in the Atlanta, GA, area I have had the honor to know for about 16 years. We have a great conversation about Gordon's experience with being a grandpa and now great-grandpa to fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In our conversation, we learn about Gordon's reaction to...

Victoria was blessed to have two awesome grandfathers that were from two very different worlds but enjoyed the love of them equally. In the fun conversation with Victoria, we learn about her early years growing up in New Mexico on a farm across from her Grandpa Ben Gomez. We learn how industrious and fun Grandpa Ben was and how he would look for ways to include Victoria in the chores and the fun o...

Root beer floats and slush funds two valuable lessons that we learn about from Ted and Bob's experience with their cool grandpa. In this episode, we learn about how Ted and Bob's grandpa worked hard to connect with his grandsons. The biggest takeaway from this conversation is how much my friends loved going to Malibu, CA., Oregon, Montana, and other places to spend time with their grandfather and...

Welcome back! This is part 2 of my interview about Maj. General Rupertus, USMC. In this episode, Heather, Kim, and Amy join me to talk more about their extraordinary grandfather. If you haven't heard the first episode, I strongly recommend that you go back and listen to it. In fact, Click Here for the link to that first episode (26). In the first episode, we spend a lot of time going over the sist...

Encouraging his grandchildren's innate design is what Frank Sinclair is all about. Frank is one cool grandpa and shares his insights into encouraging and leading his grandchildren with love and respect. I was lucky to meet Frank through our mutual friend James Devine . After talking with James, he said that Frank had to be a guest and share his infectious personality and experiences with being a c...

In this episode, I talk with Heather, Kim, and Amy about the research and their drive to document and write about their grandfather, Major General William Rupertus, USMC. This is part one of a two-part series. With this episode, the four of us dig into the methodology and research of their grandfather. In part two, we spend time going through the General's life before joining the military and his...

In this episode of the Cool Grandpa Podcast, I discover how a grandfather and a godfather raised a boy to be a man. Ronnel Blackmon shares with me his powerful stories of his grandfather, Robert Hale, working with him at a young age to learn to be a man who walks with integrity and with a heart to serve others. Ronnel's grandfather worked full-time at the Firestone plant in Akron, OH, and then spe...

In this conversation, Alexis helps us understand the importance of growing with your grandchildren. We mean by this, and what Alexis helps to explain is that as our grandchildren grow and develop, it is important to recognize them at each development stage. This may seem like a "no duh" idea, but as parents and grandparents, it can be tricky to know when to adjust the relationship and how we inter...

This conversation is about the impact a self-taught aviator had on his grandson. My guest for this episode is Bryan Kirkpatrick. Bryan grew up in Wyoming and shared his grandfather's memories, Jim Good. Bryan describes how his grandfather enlisted in the Army at the age of 15 and was discharged at 18. Bryan's grandfather immediately served in the occupation forces after the Victory in Europe. Once...

In this conversation, we are learning about a strong relationship with Adrienne's grandfather. Adrienne sits down with me to discuss how she came to live with her grandfather starting at the age of one year old. Adrienne walks us through how her grandfather helped to raise her while her mom was driving a truck on national and regional routes. We learn how important it is that when grandfathers sha...

In this conversation with Harold, we dive into his passion for his grandchildren and costume building. Harold shares his experiences with living with his 22-month-old grandson and his mom and dad. Harold and I discuss how he and his grandson have developed a bond whereby the grandson is happy to comply with what grandpa wishes him to do like be still for diaper changes and going down for naps. The...

In this episode, Vinnie Tortorich shares his memories of his strong and loving Italian grandfathers. Vinnie and I dive into how his family immigrated to Louisiana from Italy. What his great-grandfathers and grandfathers did for a living in the bayous of Louisiana and how in just one generation the family moved from sharecroppers and immigrant fishermen into the middle class. Vinnie talks about how...

In this conversation with podcaster, firefighter, and former minister Jon Sanders you will learn first hand what a powerful influence a grandfather can have on a grandson. Jon shares with us how his grandfather affected his life. Jon was fortunate to know his grandfather for the first 37 years of his life. Jon discusses how he and his grandfather built a relationship through intentional communicat...

"Oh, my aching back!" I hate to admit it, but even before I was a grandpa, I had some back and neck issues. Mostly from sitting all day at my desk, I do have a few 'war' stories from my misspent youth that have contributed to my aches and pains.  This episode is all about learning the value that chiropractic care can have on a person's quality of life. My guest is Dr. Jay Di Vagno, who has been my...

Come on in and join the conversation with Mark Fonseca and me. We are discussing the impact that Mark's grandfather had on him in becoming a clothier and entrepreneur.  Mark also talks to us about how grandpas can show up and be relevant to their families and grandchildren. In this episode, we talk about some of the dos and don'ts of putting together a look that expresses the respect we have for t...

My good buddy Roger Hayes stops by to have a conversation with us about trick or treating safety with the grandkids. We cover basic costume safety and then dive into what to look for in a quality home haunt that you might come across in your neighborhood or community.  You would be surprised about what goes into a good home haunt and what are the signs of a haunt that you and the grandkids should...