The Grandpa Channel: What Life Reveals About What Matters

At the world’s largest family history conference, RootsTech, we set up a small recording space and invited people to answer a simple but powerful question: What did life teach you the hard way? Three people stopped, sat down, and shared reflections from their lives. Angie Shumway shares how a devastating health crisis and a memory from her military service taught her the importance of taking the n...

In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with longtime family friend Tanya Martin — grandmother, former company president, watercolor beginner, and lifelong learner. Tanya shares what life taught her the hard way: “You made the best decision you could with what you knew.” Don’t ever back anyone into a corner — always give them a way out. Forgiveness is a choice. Be careful what you...

The summer of 1972. A battered 1967 Oldsmobile station wagon. A teenage son who forgot to shift out of low gear. In this solo episode, Steve tells the story of the night he unknowingly destroyed the family car — and the way his father responded. No yelling. No shaming. No lifelong reminders. Just forgiveness. Through that moment, Steve began to understand something deeper about the nature of God —...

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 h...

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 Gran...

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 focusi...

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,...

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 motorho...

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 m...

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...

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 ask...

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...

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 surpri...

What does it mean to be a joyful disciple as a grandpa? In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Rivers (aka Steve Harris) sits down with his longtime friend Brent Nielsen, a father of six, grandfather to 26, and world traveler with stories and wisdom to spare. Brent shares how he and his wife Marcia have stayed deeply connected to their growing family — even while living halfway across the world....

What does it mean to be a grandfather today — and how has that role changed over time? In this heartfelt episode of The Grandpa Channel, host Steve Harris (aka “Rivers”) welcomes legendary historian, author, and beloved grandfather Richard Lyman Bushman for a conversation filled with timeless wisdom, personal reflection, and multigenerational insight. Now 94, Bushman shares his lived experience as...

Bill Mansell — longtime neighbor, father, and grandfather — joins Steve (“Rivers”) on The Grandpa Channel for a beautiful conversation about what it truly means to be a grandparent in today’s world. From growing up knowing all four of his grandparents to now becoming the “older generation” himself, Bill shares stories full of humor, heart, and hope. He talks about the value of multi-generational h...

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-wro...

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 twi...

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 encou...

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...

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...

Episode Title: “I Never Heard My Grandfather's Voice — Now I Know Why That Matters” Guest: Mike Harding Host: Steve Harris Presented 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 larg...

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 everyt...

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...

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 do...