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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 grandc…

Andre Renna shares h…

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 also be difficult. We learn about Andre's background growing up in Brooklyn, NY, with his extended family very close by and having that shared experience of living and growing up next to his grandpare…

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 becau…

This is our second p…

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 on how fathers and fathers-in-law can support moms. After all, the old adage that if mom isn't happy, no one is happy is more true than we might like to admit. This event's participants are Dr. Ker…

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 main…

Neil Taft joins our …

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 stories and shared experiences can strengthen the grandparent/ grandchild bond. You are going to love how Neil has worked hard to develop and maintain his relationships with his children, grandchildren…

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 motivation…

In this episode, I a…

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 discussing the journies we have both been on, and we include some fascinating accounts of folks we have interviewed. I hope you enjoy this conversation. Please like and subscribe to the podcast if you…

This week, our guest is Patrick Brady. Patrick is passionate about gathering his family history and stories. As Patrick started to look at the marketplace, he recognized that there wasn't a service or…

This week, our guest…

This week, our guest is Patrick Brady. Patrick is passionate about gathering his family history and stories. As Patrick started to look at the marketplace, he recognized that there wasn't a service or platform that would allow building a central location to preserve that unique family history and enable the family to make it their own truly. At Heritage HQ, each family gets its unique domain to upload and create files that can be shared and edited. The family website or domain will contain a family tree and records of birthdates, genealogy, and essential documents. Each family will have a He…

This is our monthly one-on-one conversation. This week, I am discussing my impressions of DeeDee More's great blog post, "A Grandparent's Response to the Surgeon General's Advisory on Parents' Mental …

This is our monthly …

This is our monthly one-on-one conversation. This week, I am discussing my impressions of DeeDee More's great blog post, "A Grandparent's Response to the Surgeon General's Advisory on Parents' Mental Health." Some of the data collected over the last few years concerning parents and their mental health might be surprising to you. I was surprised to learn about some of the challenges that young parents face beyond dealing with picky eaters, colicky infants, and potty training, to name a few. As Grandfathers, I think we can help our grandchildren's parents by doing the following: Educate o…

Doug Sohn from Success After Sixty is joining the podcast to discuss his experience living in a multi-generational home. If Doug's name sounds familiar, that is because he is a returning guest. Doug i…

Doug Sohn from Succe…

Doug Sohn from Success After Sixty is joining the podcast to discuss his experience living in a multi-generational home. If Doug's name sounds familiar, that is because he is a returning guest. Doug is joining us again to talk about living in a multi-generational home. We learn that Doug and his wife have always had a full home, regardless of whether it contained six children or other people coming to live with them. As our discussion continues, we learn that Doug and his wife had moved into a Retirement community, expecting they would be mostly just themselves. Doug shares with us that hi…

Karen Stillman from Baby Making Genius is back on the podcast to discuss her relationship with her grandfathers and share her thoughts about her father as a grandpa. We are introduced to George (Grand…

Karen Stillman from …

Karen Stillman from Baby Making Genius is back on the podcast to discuss her relationship with her grandfathers and share her thoughts about her father as a grandpa. We are introduced to George (Granddad) and Henry (Grandpa Daddy)and their relationship with Karen and her siblings. Continuing our discussion, we hear how Granddad was a scary grandfather and Grandpa Daddy was a fun-loving card-playing grandfather. Grandpa Daddy introduced the kids to the game Crib or Cribbage. We learn that the grandkids were brought up playing by 'grandpa's rules,' meaning grandpa typically won the game. Grand…

This week's guest is Jim Tracy, or as he is better known, The Grampion. Jim and I dive right in and talk about the challenges and fun of being younger grandfathers. Jim shares with us how he is buildi…

This week's guest is…

This week's guest is Jim Tracy, or as he is better known, The Grampion. Jim and I dive right in and talk about the challenges and fun of being younger grandfathers. Jim shares with us how he is building connections with his grandchildren of all ages. We learn how The Grampion is staying active and working out with his grandson, who is a Division 1 level football recruit, and his five-year-old grandson, who wants to sling on a ruck pack and go hike the mountains around Eagle(Boise), Idaho. We also learned how Jim would sit down with the granddaughter, who was learning music, and how he encourag…

This week's conversation is with Aaron Larsen, the founder of Grandparents Academy. In our discussion, Aaron and I discuss the incredible Growth of Grandparents Weeks from its first year to the presen…

This week's conversa…

This week's conversation is with Aaron Larsen, the founder of Grandparents Academy. In our discussion, Aaron and I discuss the incredible growth of Grandparents Weeks from its first year to the present day. It has been incredible to be associated with Grandparents Academy and watch this amazing community's growth focused on strengthening grandparents and grandchildren. Incase you don't know what Grandparents Week is all about, It has become the largest online gathering and celebration of grandparents. With your free sign-up, you will get to hear amazing presenters talking about topics such a…

A few weeks back, I volunteered at the scout camp where I worked in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. It was a blast being with a group of energetic people who are really putting their hearts and sou…

A few weeks back, I …

A few weeks back, I volunteered at the scout camp where I worked in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. It was a blast being with a group of energetic people who are really putting their hearts and souls into doing what they can to make the world a better place. I was able to eat, Sleep, work, and sweat with these great folks. Over the week, I made a few observations about Generation Z, or iGen, as they are sometimes called. To start out, let's define Gen Z as anyone born between 1995 and 2015. Here are a few of the characteristics of iGen that I read about from Generational Kinetics (genhq…

Jim Padilla from Gain The Edge joins us this week to talk about his experience as a grandfather. This is a fantastic conversation as we learn about Jim's past and how he grew up with less-than-stellar…

Jim Padilla from Gai…

Jim Padilla from Gain The Edge joins us this week to talk about his experience as a grandfather. This is a fantastic conversation as we learn about Jim's past and how he grew up with less-than-stellar male role models. We dive right in and learn about Jim's background and how he never thought he would be a father or a grandfather. Like so many of us, life had other plans, and Jim and his wife are celebrating 30 years together and 25 as husband and wife. They have three fantastic daughters and now six grandchildren. Jim opens up about being raised in an abusive home and area and being in ja…

Dr. Karen Stillman joins the conversation this week to discuss how she helps women worldwide work through fertility issues. We learn about Karen's passion for taking a holistic approach to the challen…

Dr. Karen Stillman j…

Dr. Karen Stillman joins the conversation this week to discuss how she helps women worldwide work through fertility issues. We learn about Karen's passion for taking a holistic approach to the challenges women face when addressing issues around fertility. Dr. Karen talks to us about her challenges when trying to conceive. Although Karen was an Obstetrics and gynecology Resident and had access to numerous tests, doctors, and other resources, it wasn't happening. That's when a conversation with her mother about her successful appendix surgery when she was 13 years old recalled some important m…

This week's guest, Craig McManus from McPlants, is on the show to discuss Gardening and landscaping and how these activities can build lasting memories. Craig starts our discussion by sharing his expe…

This week's guest, C…

This week's guest, Craig McManus from McPlants, is on the show to discuss gardening and landscaping and how these activities can build lasting memories. Craig starts our discussion by sharing his experience as a professional gardener and operating one of the best garden centers just outside of Atlanta. We review and visit Craig's memories of becoming a grandfather for the first time and how he started creating a special bond with his grandson, Gram. Some of Craig's earliest memories are of holding his grandson and just making a popping sound with his mouth that seemed to both entertain and f…

This weekend is July 4th or Independence Day in the United States. It was the day that the United States declared its independence from England. In this one-on-one conversation, I want to encourage yo…

This weekend is July…

This weekend is July 4th or Independence Day in the United States. It was the day that the United States declared its independence from England. In this one-on-one conversation, I want to encourage you to declare your independence from just ONE thing holding you back on your journey to becoming the coolest grandparent ever. We declare independence from a negative mindset, emotion, or even a condition by doing the following: Write down (paper, a Google Doc, whatever but something) ONE (1) thing causing you not to enjoy being the best grandparent ever. Don't write down more than one thing. …

This week's episode is a round table or cracker barrel discussion for The Cool Grandpa Podcast. The term cracker barrel comes from when, primarily, men would gather in a country store and eat saltine …

This week's episode …

This week's episode is a round table or cracker barrel discussion for The Cool Grandpa Podcast. The term cracker barrel comes from when, primarily, men would gather in a country store and eat saltine crackers out of a wooden barrel while talking about the weather, news, gossip, etc. I thought this description fits rather well to get a great group of guys together to talk about Grandpa stuff. In this episode, we have the following guests, who comprise our august body: Frank Pomata, who joins us from Long Island. James Lott Jr. represents Los Angeles (and Brooklyn). Neil Taft is from Leland, Nor…

Dr. Gene Beresin, MD, MA, from The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, joins us to discuss the increase in loneliness among today's teenagers. We start by discussing the Surgeon General's report on l…

Dr. Gene Beresin, MD…

Dr. Gene Beresin, MD, MA, from The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, joins us to discuss the increase in loneliness among today's teenagers. We start by discussing the Surgeon General's report on loneliness, the causes and effects of loneliness in teenagers, and the role of social media and over-scheduling in contributing to loneliness. We also discuss and emphasize the importance of face-to-face interactions, social-emotional learning, and deep relationships in combating loneliness. We talk about the need for grandparents to be a resource for their grandchildren. Gene and I feel that Gra…

This week, we have another chance to have a one-on-one conversation. In this week's episode, I share four tips you can implement immediately to enhance your relationship with your grandchildren. Our…

This week, we have a…

This week, we have another chance to have a one-on-one conversation. In this week's episode, I share four tips you can implement immediately to enhance your relationship with your grandchildren. Our first tip is to help our grandchildren learn to give and receive compliments. Remember that when complimenting our grandchildren and people generally, we want to be timely and specific. Too often, we can fall into the trap of discounting or dismissing compliments for different reasons. A great way to help our grandchildren learn to be both polite and generous with their praise is to model how to …