PODCAST · society
The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All
by with Steve Harris (Rivers)
Every story has two stories. The one you just heard... and the one it stirs in your own life.The Grandpa Channel is a collection of conversations with people who have lived through joy, heartbreak, faith, loss, family, and everything in between.These aren’t interviews about accomplishments. They’re conversations about what life teaches us, often the hard way.As you listen to someone else’s story, you may find yourself understanding your own a little more clearly.Because here at The Grandpa Channel, we believe we’re all more alike than different.Every person has a story.And every story helps us see our own.
Episodes
-
095 The Day Dave Swan Became the One Who Needed a Good Samaritan
Dave Swan grew up a little rough around the edges in Rose Park, Utah. He still remembers moving to a new neighborhood as a kid and discovering that carrying a switchblade to gym class wasn't quite as normal there as he'd assumed. But another childhood moment stayed with him for a very different...
-
094 The Life I Was Trying to Get Back To: Five Years in Federal Prison with Portia Louder
Portia Louder remembers the moment the prison door shut behind her. She had been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for real estate fraud. Her youngest daughter was seven. Portia had spent weeks preparing to leave her husband and children, but nothing prepared her for walking through that...
-
093 When the Wound Becomes a Scar: Horses, Healing & the Courage to Forgive with Haley Murray
There’s something remarkable about a 1,200-pound animal choosing to trust you. For Haley Murray, that relationship with horses became much more than riding. Her horse Boomer began showing her things about trust, fear and herself that she hadn’t quite been able to name. During one liberty-work...
-
092 The Handshake That Got Me in Trouble with Steve Harris aka Rivers
What happens when a simple handshake breaks the rules? In this solo episode, Rivers shares the story of volunteering at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail, where one unexpected handshake with an inmate led to an unforgettable confrontation with a correctional officer. What begins as a humorous story...
-
091 Comedy Machines: The Family Stories We Never Stop Telling with Steve Harris aka Rivers
Some of the most meaningful stories in a family aren't the ones we plan. They're the unexpected moments that become part of our family's history. In this solo episode, Steve "Rivers" Harris shares why creating a home filled with laughter became one of his greatest hopes as a father. From blessing...
-
090 Quinns Don't Quit: What We Pass On Without Realizing It with Chase Quinn
Every one of us inherits something. Maybe it's a family tradition. A phrase repeated around the dinner table. A way of treating people. Or simply the example of someone who loved us well. In this conversation, Rivers sits down with his nephew, Chase Quinn, to explore the stories and experiences...
-
089 What Grief Taught Me About Love with Nadine Cooper
Grief changes us. But according to Nadine Cooper, it can also reveal what mattered most all along. After walking beside her husband through a long illness and eventually losing him, Nadine reflects on what grief has taught her about love, purpose, faith, and the stories we tell ourselves. Drawing...
-
088 The Rope Between Home and the Storm with Steve Harris aka Rivers
The Rope Between Home and the Storm Sometimes the greatest lessons come from the stories we laugh about years later. When a rare blizzard warning sent Rivers' wife into full "mother hen" mode, she called everyone she loved, urging them to get home before the storm hit. The blizzard never really...
-
087 You Can Be Right... And Still Be Wrong with Spencer Hoole
Most people see success and assume it happened quickly. Spence Hoole tells a different story. He shares how a disappointing ACT score became one of the turning points of his life, why consistency mattered more than talent, and how one painful year in junior high changed the way he treats people...
-
086 It Doesn't Feel Like Fear. It Feels Like Conviction with Slade Combs
What if the thing shaping your life isn't something you're even aware of? For more than twenty years, Slade Combs worked in advertising, helping companies understand what motivates people to act. Along the way, he became fascinated by something much deeper: the hidden fears that quietly influence...
-
085 Always Certain, But Not Always Right: How Our Emotions Keep Us from Seeing the Truth with Steve Harris
Always Certain, But Not Always Right How Our Emotions Keep Us from Seeing the Truth Have you ever been completely convinced you knew exactly what was happening... only to discover you were looking at the wrong situation entirely? In this solo episode of Grandpa Channel, Rivers shares one of his...
-
084 Why People Start to Make Sense | A Conversation with Therapist Sharilyn Green
My mom used to say that one of the great surprises of her life was that people are irrational. But as I've come to understand people, they start to become very rational. That simple observation becomes the thread that runs through this entire conversation. Steve sits down with marriage and family...
-
083 Listening Is the Truest Form of Love | What Life Taught Robert Comstock the Hard Way
Listening Is the Truest Form of Love | What Life Taught Robert Comstock the Hard Way Some stories begin with a dream. Others begin with a leather jacket hanging in a department store. When Robert Comstock walked away from a promising banking career to start a leather business in Uruguay, he had…
more -
082 Why Anger Makes You Blind | The Walnut Shrimp Story That Changed Our Family with Steve Harris, aka Rivers
Why Anger Makes You Blind | The Walnut Shrimp Story That Changed Our Family Sometimes life's greatest lessons arrive in the most unexpected ways. For the Harris family, it started with a container of leftover walnut shrimp, one hungry brother, one determined sister, and a practical joke that...
-
081 The Blessing We Never Would Have Chosen What Is the Meaning of Life When Everything Changes? with Karina Oshiro
The Blessing We Never Would Have Chosen What Is the Meaning of Life When Everything Changes? What is the meaning of life? It's a question many of us ask when life doesn't unfold the way we expected. For Karina Oshiro, that question became deeply personal when one of her parents went to prison…
more -
080 The Night I Destroyed My Father's Station Wagon: What My Dad Taught Me About Grace, Forgiveness, and Self-Control
The Night I Destroyed My Father's Station Wagon What My Dad Taught Me About Grace, Forgiveness, and Self-Control When Steve Harris was a teenager, he borrowed the family station wagon for a summer evening with friends. What started as an ordinary night ended with a destroyed engine, a junked car,...
-
079 Please Be Careful What You Wish For: What Raising Triplets Taught Me About Gratitude with Steve Harris
Thirty-four years ago, my wife and I received surprising news: we were expecting triplets. What followed was one of the most exhausting, joyful, overwhelming, and memorable seasons of our lives. In this solo episode, I share stories from those early years of raising triplets, including sleepless...
-
078 What Looked Like Fear Was Really a Question of Worthiness with Mike Allen
Finding purpose in life through an unexpected setback. What do you do when life suddenly stops going according to plan? For Mike Allen, a difficult season at work sparked a deeper conversation about purpose, self-worth, family, and what really matters. What initially felt like fear turned out to…
more -
077 “It’s Better to Be Loving Than Right” | Jenny Richards on Grief, God, and the Meaning of Life
Jenny Richards is a Juilliard-trained pianist, mother of four, and hospital chaplain whose life took an unexpected turn toward spiritual care after profound personal loss. In this conversation, Jenny reflects on what life taught her the hard way after losing her youngest sister to suicide…
more -
076 What Is the Meaning to Life? A Beggar, a Prompting, and “Thanks, Family.” with Steve Harris, aka Rivers
What is the meaning to life? For Rivers, the answer showed up unexpectedly one Saturday morning on the way to his grandsons’ football games. A man sitting cross-legged on the side of the road. A cardboard sign that read: “Anything would help.” A quiet prompting that felt inconvenient to follow.…
more -
075 What is the Meaning to Life? | Why Taking the Easy Way Can Make Life Harder with Kimball DeLaMare
If you’ve ever found yourself asking what is the meaning to life—especially after things didn’t go the way you expected—this conversation with Kimball DeLaMare is one to sit with. Kimball shares what decades of experience have taught him about life, relationships, and the lessons that only come...
-
074 Life Has Taught Me I’m Valued | What is the Meaning to Life with Wayne Allred
In this episode: Wayne Allred reflects on a lifetime of experiences that changed how he sees himself, his purpose, and his relationship with God. What started as a quiet question—what is the meaning to life—became something more personal. Through failure, faith, and moments of clarity, he came to…
more -
073 I Thought I Needed Control | How to Let Go of Control and Figure Life Out with Emily Orton
Moments where you feel like you’re feeling stuck in life… or even feeling trapped by life you didn’t choose. And yet, something shifts when you realize: You don’t have to have everything figured out in advance. You can move forward anyway. This episode explores: what it means to loosen your grip...
-
072 You Thought You Were Doing It Right, How to Change Your Perspective on What Really Matters | John Brasher
There are moments where nothing feels obviously wrong… until something shifts how you see it. In this conversation, John Brasher reflects on the kind of experiences that don’t seem big at the time—but end up changing your perspective years later. A small decision as a kid. A moment where trust…
more -
071 Why Is Life So Hard? When Life Almost Breaks You | Donovan Taylor
What does life teach you the hard way about suffering… and about hope? Why is life so hard sometimes—and what does it actually mean? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with musician and artist Donovan Taylor to talk about mental health, resilience, and how people begin to…
more -
070 How Do You Find Your Purpose in Life? When God Wants You to Know You Don’t Have to Be Afraid | Erin Allen
What did life teach you the hard way about fear… and about trust? How do you find your purpose in life—and what is the meaning to life when everything changes? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with Erin Allen for a conversation that moves through disruption, deep loss, and...
-
069 How Do You Trust Love Again After Your Parents’ Divorce? | Art Brothers
What did life teach you the hard way about love? Why is life so hard when trust is broken—and how do you learn to love again without certainty? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with his close friend Art Brothers for a conversation that moves from childhood fractures to...
-
068 What Is the Meaning of Life? Learning to Own Your Life Through Uncertainty | Emily Snyder Burrup
What happens when the life you expected… doesn’t unfold the way you thought it would? Why is life so hard when nothing goes according to plan—and how do you find your footing when everything feels uncertain? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Emily Snyder Burrup reflects on the moments that...
-
067 I Would Have Walked Right Past Him | Glen Nelson
What if the people you’ve overlooked had something to teach you? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Glen Nelson reflects on the lessons life taught him the hard way—from growing up as a chronically ill child to realizing he didn’t have to stay where he started. After a life-altering…
more -
066 The Way She Did Things | Daryl Hoole
Some people leave behind stories. Others leave behind ways of doing things that continue shaping a home long after they’re gone. — In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, we’re sharing the voice of Daryl Hoole—author of The Art of Homemaking and someone known for the way she ran a home with...
-
065 What Stays When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned | Bob Farewell
Some lives don’t unfold the way they were supposed to. Not because something went wrong but because something happened that changed everything. In this conversation, Bob Farewell reflects on the moments that shaped him over time from early patterns he didn’t question to the consequences that…
more -
064 You thought you were in control… until life said otherwise | Jeff Taylor
Most people carry a quiet belief: If I work hard enough, plan carefully enough, and make the right decisions… life will go the way I expect it to. But life has a way of interrupting that. In this conversation, Jeff Taylor reflects on what it looked like to: Reach a long-held goal - and still feel...
-
063 She Fell 2 Feet… and Everything Changed | Rebecca Critchfield
There are moments that don’t look like much from the outside. Two feet. A small shift. A single second. And then everything changes. Rebecca Critchfield was a full-time skydiver for over a decade, with more than 7,000 jumps. One unexpected moment in the air resulted in a spinal cord injury that...
-
062 It’s Their Journey, Not Yours | Bob Cupitt
What do you do when life doesn’t go the way you expected? In this conversation, Bob Cupitt reflects on the “sliding door” moments that shaped his life — from choosing his own path early on, to leaving teaching, building a global career, parenting through challenge, and learning that the journey...
-
061 Confessions from Rivers: I Was Told I Had the Head of a Horse
What happens when you spend your early life avoiding hard things… and then life drops you into the deep end? In this Confessions from Rivers episode, Steve shares a story from his early days as a young missionary in Finland—cold, homesick, and completely out of his depth. Hoping to survive the...
-
060 "A Thick Skin & a Quick Wit" — Consumer Bob’s Hard-Earned Wisdom
Thick Skin & a Quick Wit — Consumer Bob’s Hard-Earned Wisdom A mentor once looked at Bob Hansen and said something he never forgot: “I thought you were better than that.” Bob was 20 years old. The moment stung. But it became one of the most important lessons of his life. Bob went on to spend 40...
-
059 RootsTech Reflections: Three Lessons Life Teaches the Hard Way
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...
-
058 Slow and Steady Through Life’s Wake with Taunya Martin
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…
more -
057 I Junked the Family Car: Confessions from Rivers
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...
-
056 The Crossing Guard Who Knows Every Name: Linda’s Lessons in Love, Safety & Showing Up
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…
more -
055 The God of Dropped Dimes: A Grandpa's Story About Faith, Coincidences, and the Ones We Love
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...
-
054 What Obituaries Teach Us About Living a Life That Actually Matters | The Obit Lady Mary McCreevy
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…
more -
053 She Threw Up in My Red Sox Hat: A Love Story
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...
-
052 Where Family Traditions Become Family Memories
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...
-
051 The Hotline Is Open: Grandpa Lou, Lost + Found
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…
more -
050 Urban Huck Finn: The Wild & Redemptive Life of Mike Deraedt
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…
more -
049 Santa’s Secrets: What Kids Really Ask For (It’s Not Toys)
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…
more -
048 The Inmate Who Prayed for Me: A Christmas Story with Rivers aka Steve Harris
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...
-
047 Doctor, Grandma, Legacy Keeper: The Power of Health, Ritual, and Storytelling with Katherine Schlaerth
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...
-
046 Joyful Discipleship & Campfire Songs: Grandfathering Across Generations with Brent Nielsen
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...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Every story has two stories. The one you just heard... and the one it stirs in your own life.The Grandpa Channel is a collection of conversations with people who have lived through joy, heartbreak, faith, loss, family, and everything in between.These aren’t interviews about accomplishments. They’re conversations about what life teaches us, often the hard way.As you listen to someone else’s story, you may find yourself understanding your own a little more clearly.Because here at The Grandpa Channel, we believe we’re all more alike than different.Every person has a story.And every story helps us see our own.
HOSTED BY
with Steve Harris (Rivers)
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All have?
The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All currently has 98 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All about?
Every story has two stories. The one you just heard... and the one it stirs in your own life.The Grandpa Channel is a collection of conversations with people who have lived through joy, heartbreak, faith, loss, family, and everything in between.These aren’t interviews about accomplishments. They’re...
How often does The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All release new episodes?
The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All has 98 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All?
You can listen to The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All?
The Grandpa Channel: The Stories That Connect Us All is created and hosted by with Steve Harris (Rivers).
URL copied to clipboard!