PODCAST

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way

with Steve Harris (Rivers)

What a life reveals... because what a life reveals can steady another.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

35:29

071 What Almost Broke Me… Became the Turning Point |...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/24

What does life teach you the hard way about suffering… and about hope?In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with musician and artist Donovan Taylor to talk about mental health, resilience, and the kind of transformation that only comes through lived experience. Donovan shares his journey through years of severe mental illness, including a suicide attempt that became a defining turning point in his life. What followed was not a quick recovery, but a long and difficult process of

2:01

070 When God Asks You to Be Fearless | Erin Allen

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/21

What did life teach you the hard way about fear… and about trust?In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers sits down with Erin Allen for a conversation that moves through disruption, deep loss, and the kind of faith that is forged in experience. Erin shares the story of being prompted to face one of her greatest fears — skydiving — and how that moment became preparation for something far more difficult: the loss of her sister. What follows is not a conversation about easy answers. It’s about

32:03

069 Learning to Trust Love After It Breaks | Art...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/19

What did life teach you the hard way about love? 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 lasting commitment. Art reflects on growing up through his parents’ divorce and how it shaped his relationship with trust, commitment, and fear. He shares what it took to step into marriage despite uncertainty — and what 43 years of marriage have taught him since. The conversation expands into

33:54

068 Own Your Damn Life (Because No One Else Will) |...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/16

What happens when the life you expected… doesn’t unfold the way you thought it would? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Emily Snyder Burrup reflects on the moments that forced her to take full ownership of her life—from career pivots and long seasons of uncertainty to a defining realization in her mid-30s that no one else was responsible for her path. Her perspective is simple, but not easy: Own your damn life. Through stories of faith, relationships, and personal turning points, Emily shares

21:33

067 I Would Have Walked Right Past Him | Glen Nelson

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/10

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 experience with his daughter’s health, Glen began to question what really mattered—and shifted away from chasing things that no longer felt meaningful. But it’s his perspective on people that stays with you. Through

5:29

066 The Way She Did Things | Daryl Hoole

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/04/03

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 intention, order, and consistency. But this isn’t a lesson on organization. It’s a glimpse into how she thought. — Through a series of simple, repeated phrases, you begin to hear something deeper: A belief in

19:05

065 What Stays When Life Doesn’t Go As Planned | Bob...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/31

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 forced him to to a life that now looks nothing like what he once imagined. This is a story about addiction and recovery about selfishness and what it costs about family, loss, and becoming a caregiver in a way

25:12

064 You thought you were in control… until life said...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/27

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 unsettled Lose his career during the 2008 recession Rebuild without a clear roadmap Discover that what felt like disruption… was actually redirection This episode moves through the tension

19:00

063 She Fell 2 Feet… and Everything Changed | Rebecca...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/25

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 completely altered her life. In this conversation, she shares what it actually looks like to rebuild — not just physically, but emotionally and relationally. We talk about: What people get wrong about

14:33

062 It’s Their Journey, Not Yours | Bob Cupitt

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/20

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 matters more than the outcome. He talks about what it means to tell people what they need to hear, why respect matters more than being liked, and how some of life’s most meaningful lessons come through

7:04

061 Confessions from Rivers: I Was Told I Had the...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/18

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 brutal winter (and maybe look a little more impressive in the process), he sets out to buy a Russian fur hat. There’s just one problem. It doesn’t fit. What follows is a moment equal parts humbling and

26:23

060 "A Thick Skin & a Quick Wit" — Consumer Bob’s...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/13

Thick Skin & a Quick Wit — Consumer Bob’s Hard-Earned WisdomA 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 years as a television consumer advocate known to many in Southern California as Consumer Bob, helping everyday people stand up to unfair business practices. But the wisdom he shares in this conversation

16:17

059 RootsTech Reflections: Three Lessons Life Teaches...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/11

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 next step, even when the road feels impossible. Jeff Spencer reflects on growing up in poverty, learning

34:37

058 Slow and Steady Through Life’s Wake with Taunya...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/03/06

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 say about others — speak as if they could overhear. When life throws a wake at you, go slow

9:57

057 I Junked the Family Car: Confessions from Rivers

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/02/27

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 — gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. In this episode: The story of the “thrown

32:21

056 The Crossing Guard Who Knows Every Name: Linda’s...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/02/10

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 his voice at her crosswalk Why she keeps a spreadsheet of every child’s name and birthday How she

8:34

055 The God of Dropped Dimes: A Grandpa's Story About...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/02/06

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 Grandpa Steve believes in a God “in the thick of our day-to-day lives” 🔗 Mentioned in the episode: Planted

41:35

What Obituaries Teach Us About Living a Life That...

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/01/31

Episode OverviewIn 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 focusing on famous people or polished lives, Mary highlights everyday individuals — complicated, funny, flawed

6:05

053 She Threw Up in My Red Sox Hat: A Love Story

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/01/09

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, this one’s got all the ingredients: – Unexpected plot twist – A long-suffering but amazing wife – Humor

28:35

052 Where Family Traditions Become Family Memories

The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way ·

2026/01/06

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 motorhome and Saturday morning Burger King runs Fireworks, popcorn, and the legendary Cul-de-Sac of

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The Grandpa Channel: What Life Taught The Hard Way

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