EPISODE · Aug 29, 2025 · 38 MIN
017 The Grandma Stand: How Grandma Eileen Listened & Lifted Strangers in NYC with Mike Matthews
from The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way · host with Steve Harris – Real Talk, Real Laughs & the Real Grandparent Life
The power of family connection isn’t always found in big gestures — sometimes it lives in a single question, a laugh, or the steady presence of someone who truly listens. In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers is joined by Mike Matthews, who shares the unforgettable story of his grandmother, Eileen. What began as seasonal holiday visits blossomed into a friendship when she moved in with family — and eventually inspired the “Grandma Stand” in New York City, where strangers lined up for the chance to sit and talk with her. Eileen’s gift wasn’t giving advice. It was listening and understanding, creating a safe space where people could be honest, vulnerable, and fully themselves. From heartbroken friends to curious strangers, she lifted thousands of lives with her quiet empathy. Through her example, Mike discovered that grandparents don’t have to be perfect. In fact, it’s presence over perfection that creates the deepest connections. Vulnerability and intimacy — the willingness to admit mistakes, to laugh, to cry, to simply sit together — are the real legacy grandparents leave behind. You’ll hear about: How Eileen’s listening superpower inspired strangers to feel “lifted” The six-year journey of the NYC Grandma Stand project Why vulnerability builds intimacy across generations How grandparents can be a source of peace and connection beyond their own family This conversation is a gentle reminder: you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to show up, listen, and love. 👉 Pull up a chair, take a breath, and be inspired to bring more connection into your own family. Follow the adventures of the Grandma Stand & the Grandmothers on rotation on Instagram @grandmastand
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What this episode covers
Sometimes wisdom doesn’t come from grandpas alone. In this moving conversation, Rivers sits down with Mike Matthews to hear the extraordinary story of his grandmother, Eileen — a woman whose quiet presence, deep listening, and love created powerful family connections that rippled far beyond her own family. From holiday visits to six years (& beyond) of the famous “Grandma Stand” in New York City, Eileen transformed strangers’ lives with empathy, vulnerability, and the gift of listening and understanding. This is a conversation about how grandparents — grandmas and grandpas alike — can embrace presence over perfection, and how one voice of love can inspire intimacy, healing, and hope. 👉 Whether you’re a grandparent, parent, or grandchild, this episode is a reminder: sometimes the most powerful gift is simply to sit, listen, and say, “Tell me more.” Follow the adventures of the Grandma Stand and the Grandmothers on rotation on Instagram @grandmastand
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017 The Grandma Stand: How Grandma Eileen Listened & Lifted Strangers in NYC with Mike Matthews
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