The Cool Grandpa Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Cole, a jazz musician, educator, author, and confidence coach. Adam shares his fascinating journey from performing jazz and teaching music to becoming a sought-after confidence coach. He discusses the different phases of life and how we can reinvent ourselves. We also discuss how confidence is crucial in public speaking, music, and professional growth and how...

In this engaging episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast , I sit down with writer and grandfather Don Akchin for a thoughtful discussion on modern grandfathering. We explore the evolving role of grandfathers, the joys and challenges of connecting with grandchildren, and how today's granddads are breaking past generational stereotypes. Don shares personal stories about his grandchildren, his love for w...

Vietnam veteran and author Jerry Glazer joins me in this compelling episode. Jerry shares his remarkable journey from being drafted into the U.S. Army, going through grueling training, and serving in one of the most harrowing conflicts in American history. He reflects on his experiences, the challenges of military service, and the deep brotherhood forged in war. Jerry also discusses his book, Viet...

In this episode, I discuss the importance of sharing life skills with grandchildren and creative ways to teach them essential lessons. I reflect on personal experiences with my father and how small, everyday moments can provide invaluable learning opportunities for grandkids. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The power of showing and sharing life skills instead of just telling. How can travel exp...

In this episode, I welcome back to The Cool Grandpa Podcast, Richard Eyre, a New York Times bestselling author and expert on family relationships, to discuss his latest project— How to Live the Second Half of Life . Richard shares his journey from parenting expert to grandparenting advocate, emphasizing the importance of being an intentional and proactive grandparent. Key topics include: ✅ The ev...

In this episode, I sit down with John Larson from CoHealth to discuss an innovative solution for transforming elder care—The Care Bidet. John shares his journey in the elder care space, the inspiration behind this groundbreaking technology, and how it aims to improve hygiene, dignity, and overall well-being for aging individuals and their caregivers. The Care Bidet is not just a convenience—it's a...

Daniel Crandall and I discuss the significance of capturing family stories and histories in this episode. We discuss the dynamics of family businesses, the role of publishing in preserving narratives, and the importance of engaging younger generations in storytelling. Daniel shares techniques for capturing family members' stories, the impact of these narratives on relationships, and practical tips...

In this week's episode, I explore an essential and often under-discussed topic: how grandfathers can navigate the challenges and rewards of having an autistic grandchild. Key Topics Discussed: Adjusting Expectations: The emotional process of shifting expectations for a grandchild's future. Recognizing the grieving and acceptance stages. Finding new ways to celebrate achievements and milestones.  ...

Kerri Lewis from Second Act Mastery joins me this week to talk about her journey through grief after losing her husband. We discuss the importance of addressing grief, its loneliness, and the societal expectations surrounding how one should grieve. Kerri emphasizes the role of counseling in helping individuals process their grief and the significance of support systems. We also explore the misconc...

Allan Shedlin joins us again for another engaging conversation. As Allan and I talked about being a grandfather, he reflected on the profound influence of his grandfather on his parenting style and the evolution of relationships between parents and their adult children. Allan shares anecdotes about his grandfather's calm demeanor and the importance of being present in children's lives. Our discuss...

Ricky Dickson, author and former CEO, is back for a dare; I say it? A second scoop, but in this case, we are talking about his experience with being a grandson and the profound impact of grandparents on personal development and family dynamics. Ricky shares his experiences growing up with both sets of grandparents nearby, highlighting their roles as mentors, supporters, and sources of wisdom. We d...

In this week's episode, I speak with Lendo Mutambala, founder of Super Daddy Club, about the challenges and needs of young fathers. Lendo shares his journey from Congo to Canada, his experiences as a young father, and the motivation behind creating Super Daddy Club as a resource for fathers navigating parenting and family dynamics. Our conversation explores the importance of fatherhood, the impact...

DeeDee More from More Than Grand joins me this week to talk about the challenges facing parents and what grandparents can do to be a resource to young parents. We delve into the critical topic of parental well-being, highlighting the mental health challenges parents face today, particularly in light of recent advisories from the Surgeon General. Our discussion covers the impact of social media, fi...

Ethan Yazel from I Love Muzzleloading joins me to discuss how the sport and hobby of muzzleloading have created a unique bond between multiple generations of his family. Ethan shares his deep family connection to muzzleloading and explores the rich histories of his grandfathers, Joseph Barnes and Harold Yazel. We discuss the history of muzzleloading over the last century, focusing on the use of mu...

This week is our final one-on-one conversation for 2024 about being a cool grandpa. In this conversation, I share valuable insights and tips for grandparents navigating the holiday season. I emphasize the importance of flexibility, adjusting expectations, and focusing on the quality of time spent with family. I discuss how grandparents support their adult children's new traditions while also consi...

Cool Grandpa Ricky Dickson is joining me to discuss his experience as the CEO of Blue Bell Ice Cream and being a father and a very cool grandpa. Recently, Ricky published his book One Scoop At A Time, which is an excellent book about his time at Blue Bell, from writing a marketing paper for a school project to becoming CEO and guiding Blue Bell through one of its most challenging experiences. Rick...

Allan Shelin from DADvocacy Consulting Group (DCG) joins this week's conversation. We get to know Allan and his experience as both a father and grandfather. Allan also shares his work as a principal at an elementary school in New York City and as an advocate for education and now for Daddys everywhere. We discuss his philosophy on education, the creation of the National Elementary School Center, a...

Bob Abate is on a mission to listen to and capture the stories of WW II veterans from New York City and the surrounding area. We discuss Bob's memories of being a small boy when World War II ended and the celebrations that were going on around him that he didn't understand at the time but grew to appreciate as he grew older. Bob and I also talk about his early years going through the Naval Academy...

This week's episode is our monthly one-on-one conversation. For our discussion, I have chosen to share a few questions and topics I recently had from grandparents. The first question concerns spoiling the grandchildren. Our second topic is the importance of knowing basic first aid and CPR, primarily pediatric CPR. The third topic is creating an enjoyable connection with the grandchildren as a Long...

Doug Morneau joins us for an engaging conversation. Doug shares his experiences and insights as a grandfather, discussing the importance of family relationships, the impact of technology, and the value of spending quality time with grandchildren. He reflects on his upbringing, the lessons learned, and how he aims to create a nurturing environment for his grandkids. Doug emphasizes the significance...

Michael Platt from Platt Motors sits down with us to share the remarkable story of his grandfather and the car business he started. You will enjoy hearing how Michael's grandfather started one of the earliest used car dealerships in New Jersey. Michael shares his earliest memories of going to auctions and seeing his father and grandfather work as direct-to-consumer sales and wholesale brokers. Mic...

Andre Renna shares his experience as a grandfather with us. We learn about Andre's reaction to learning that he would become a grandpa for the first time and how he was very excited to meet his grandchildren. I ask Andre about being a grandfather in the same community as his children and grandchildren. Andre shares with us how being close to his grandchildren is a blessing, but at times, it can al...

This is our second panel or round table discussion on The Cool Grandpa Podcast. I like to call these activities Cracker Barrels. I think I like that term because it is what we used in Scouts and because it is a fun nostalgic term for people getting together informally and sharing important and sometimes not-so-important information. We have four wonderful guests joining me to give their thoughts o...

Neil Taft joins our conversation this week to talk about being a Caring Grandparent. Specifically, we learn how Neil, a great-grandfather, is leading the charge to help all grandparents build and maintain incredible relationships with their grandchildren. Neil's mission is to enhance Grandparents' bonds with their Grandchildren by building solid and meaningful connections. Neil believes that stori...

In this episode, I am taking a victory lap with my good buddy, Steve Ownes, from the Fascination Street Podcast. In this fun conversation, Steve interviews me on my podcast. We discussed my motivations for starting this podcast and why I have kept this project going for over four years. Steve also talks to me about my children's book and where the heck the follow-up books are. We have a blast disc...