Our special guest on this podcast is Peter Menconi, a former pastor and author of the book The Intergenerational Church. He joins Wayne Rice and John Coulombe for a very informative conversation about the various generations that populate not only our churches but our families. How are they different? How are they alike? And what can we do as grand…

After months of one-a-week and years of podcasting, Emily and Mike are changing the tempo and starting a new endeavor, Speak-E-Z--a grandparent-confidentila online meeting series. Come join us at our Patreon page for Speak-E-Z . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

We in the Club Sandwich Generation are caring for our aging parents as well as our kids and grandkids. Many of those aging parents want to "age in place," in homes that aren't properly set up for older folks to live alone. Architect Paul Spite has written about how to navigate these changes, like modifying a home to help our elders age in place, an…

Imagine having a book club with your grands--doesn't that sound like fun? Emily and Mike visit with a mother-and-son team who literally co-wrote the book on how to do this, from inside a book club that met for 11 years (until their kids left for college). RESOURCES Michelle and Ronan McCann are two of the authors of "Reading Together," available he…

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen is a professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and the author two recent books, Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation in Healthy Development and Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship (2nd Edition). In this conversati…

When infant grands come to visit, do they need baby gear you no longer have? BabyQuip to the rescue. Mike and Emily talk with Kelly Inglett, a provider for BabyQuip, a service that can rent you exactly what you need, where and when you need it. Their web presence is here, and there are links there to their mobile app for iOS and Android. BabyQuip i…

Author Diana Raab's passion is to help others discover the transformative power of memoir writing. She's written 13 books herself along her own journey of healing from her difficult past. We talk with Diana about her life and her latest book. Learn more at her web site. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

John Fischer is a pioneer of the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) movement who has written some of the church's most familiar and beloved songs and choruses. He has also written dozens of books including Saint Ben, Fearless Faith and 12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee. For years, he wrote daily devotions for Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life mi…

Gloria Horsley and Frank Powers are a pair! Therapists, co-authors, each previously married, and now dating, they're generous advocates of finding love later in life. Their helpful new book "Open to Love: The Secrets of Senior Dating" launches on Valentine's Day. We had a fun conversation with these lively, open-hearted grandparents. Their book is …

Dave Grunenwald has created a merit badge programs for grandparents to pursue with their grands. Suited for both one-on-one and group activities, it's a resource to help us put more focus and intention into our time with our grands. See examples, and explore his book series, at https://www.grandparentmeritbadges.com . See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

Filmmaker Melissa Davey is back with the story of her next film, "Climbing Into Life," about the oldest woman to scale El Capitan in Montana. Both the producer and her subject bring loads of inspiration for all of us. Learn more about Melissa's first doc, "Beyond Sixty," here, as well the trailer for her new film. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr…

Gordon MacDonald is the former pastor of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts and author of numerous best-selling books on leadership, marriage and the spiritual life. He has also served as president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of World Relief, and Chancellor of Denver Theological Seminary. In this conversation with Wayne Ri…

If you've watched much HSN or QVC, you may have seen or even bought clothing with the Diane Gilman label, the "Jean Queen" of tele-retail. Her new book is "Too Young to Be Old," and you'll likely agree with her after you hear our conversation with her. Diane's book is for sale at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637554532, and her web site and story are …

This year, the emotional center of the Morgans' holiday gatherings shifted from the grandparent's home to that of their adult children. Emotions are more mixed than giblet gravy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

Combining your pets and your grands can be chaotic, even scary--for both the animals and the small humans. Because it can go very badly, we must know our animals well and plan ahead for the good of all. Ellie Laks runs several animal rescue farms and is an expert in animal communication; her advice is practical, tender, and fascinating. Learn more …

Emily and Mike welcome back Dr. Emily Williams, a counselor and therapist, for some advice on how to navigate the choppy waters of holidays and family relations. Her website is https://www.silvermaplepsychology.com. For more on the topic of touchy conversations with the parents of your grandchildren, check out our episode titled "The Hard Things." …

Our 150th episode is a celebration, a look back at the top topics we've covered in the first 149. We recorded this one with a live audience in Williamsburg, Virginia. We even hired a stand-up comedian to warm up the audience--and he's 9! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

Emily and Mike share ideas from fans of the podcast on giving gifts for grandchildren at the holidays. We also talk with a charter sailing captain about the idea of giving your grands experiences, especially ones that include you. Our guest is Captain Robert of 757 Sailing Charters on the Virginia coast. For more on gifts for grands, check out thes…

Ben Patterson is a popular author, speaker and former Campus Pastor at Westmont College in Montecito, California. In this conversation with co-hosts Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, he discusses his new book When God Showed Up: A Memoir of the Surprising Work of God at Hope College 1994-2000. A student revival broke out while Ben served as Dean of the…

Emily's November article about podcast listening, published in the online magazine Next Avenue (nextavenue.org), invites readers to sample The Grand Life. This episode is a quick orientation for new visitors. Emily's article: https://www.nextavenue.org/what-podcast-listening-brings-to-the-table/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

ABC Television's reality show "The Golden Bachelor" seeks to enrich the lives of older singles, but seems to do so at the expense of their grandchildren. Emily and Mike have some thoughts about this and what it might say to the rest of us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

Kathy Buckworth is a radio and podcast host (and grandmother) near Toronto, Ontario. Kathy patiently answers our burning questions about Canadians, their politeness, and their maple syrup. Episode Notes Cathy Buckworth's radio program airs weekly on Zoomer Radio in Canada, with enough AM power to reach into the Central Northeastern US. The rest of …

It might be time for you to recheck your estate planning, because things change with time. Our chat with an elder law specialist might help you get motivated. You don't have to enjoy the process, but you really should do it. Notes: The National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, naela.org, can help you find an attorney in your state who can help. …

How present are you when you grandparent? Samantha Reynolds is a Certified Conscious Parenting coach. Her book, "Help Me Be Me," is available at her web site, http://www.samanthareynolds.ca . Notes Samantha credits learnings from Dr. Shefali, whose details and books are at https://www.drshefali.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati…

Emily and Mike discuss what happens when grandparents become too busy or too burdened and approach burnout. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

“One of these days” is when most of us intend to write down (or video-record) our significant life stories and memories so that our grandchildren will have a permanent record of what God has done in our lives and what we’ve learned during our lifetimes. Now there are several high- and low-tech resources to help “one of these days” get here a lot so…

Grandparents can provide great support to adult children going through a divorce. Emily and Mike talk with Leah, a single mom who has been through it herself. Leah is now a coach, driven by a passion to help women and their families through divorce. Learn more about her work at https://www.leahgiaquintacoaching.com See omnystudio.com/listener for p…

Capturing your family's stories, pictures, and media is a ton of work! Fortunately there are professionals who can help. Andrew Hall from No Story Lost talks about the work behind capturing and preserving a family's story. His company is at https://nostorylost.com. If you'd like to dig deeper on this, give a listen to these earlier episodes: "Captu…

Emily and Mike touch base with listeners on why ratings and reviews matter, the worrisome career choice of Social Media Influencer (depicted on this week's episode art), and how exactly to leave a podcast review on an iPhone. Please share your comments by email at grandlifeconnection@gmail.com or by voice at (317) 572-7876. See omnystudio.com/liste…

Dr. Frank Turek and Hanna Sims recently co-authored a curriculum called "Yes, God is Real" which is designed to teach apologetics to children between the ages of 7 and 12 years old. Dr. Turek is the best-selling author of I Don't Have Enough Faith to Become an Atheist and Hanna Sims is a children's ministry specialist. They believe that today's chi…

Some of us will be fortunate enough to see the results of intentional grandparenting in the lives of our older grands. Meet Zach Samalonis, a twentysomething who cared for and grew from his grandparents' struggles and influences. Stan Samalonis and Zach, age 8, grace the cover art for this episode. Zach's personal story is highlighted on his portfo…

Author and anthropologist Helen Ellis returns for an update with Emily and Mike about her books and research on being distance grandparent and a distance grandchild. Helen's books are available here on her website, distancefamilies.com. For more on this subject, check out earlier episodes: Global Grandparenting, Part 1 Global Grandparenting, Part 2…

Grandparents who live with the emotional consequences of trauma find it tough sometimes to be their best selves to their grands and adult children. John Henry Parker specializes in coming alongside veterans and helping them through personal transformation, using tools and ideas that apply to non-veterans as well. RESOURCES Email our guest at johnhe…

Many grandparents help fund needs (and wants) of their adult children and grands. This is dangerous territory, given the shortfall in retirement savings for many grandparents. Emily and Mike hear the bottom line from a financial educator, Cyrus Bamji, with the Alliance for Lifetime Income, which educates savers on a range of approaches to funding i…

Learn how to upgrade the way you listen, so you can learn more from your grands in your conversations with them. "Transformational Listening" is the technique explained by consultant and coach Christine Miles. Her book is called "What is It Costing You Not To Listen?," and her company is called Equipt. Visit www.equipt-people.com. For more on talki…

As some of our grands head to school for the very first time, we could imagine what it's like for them; or we could talk to an experienced preschool teacher, Chrissy Cox, which we did last year. Here's a new look at this great conversation (with some new ideas before and after) about school days for our youngest grands. See omnystudio.com/listener …

A lifetime of stuff can be a challenge to pass on, throw out, or leave behind as a burden to your family. Emily and Mike welcome Stephanie Denson, an organization consultant who helps people work through those lifetime accumulations. Learn more about her work at https://www.spiritandspacellc.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Denise Shick is the founder and CEO of “Help 4 Families,” a ministry which provides resources and encouragement for families dealing with gender confusion among one or more family members. In this candid conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe, she tells the story of how her father transitioned to become a woman when she (Denise) was only ni…

Talking about family, with family, can get tricky. Triangulation happens when three are in the conversation--and while it's not always a bad thing, it certainly can be. Psychologist Dr. Emily Williams helps us navigate this choppy sea. Find out more about our guest and her practice here. More Than Grand (affiliate link) can help you build great, en…

Social anthropologist Dr. Lynsey Farrell talks with Emily and Mike about how grandmothers can be a powerful force for multigenerational change, based on work she did in Africa and resources from her Grandmother Collective. RESOURCES Lynsey's site is https://www.grandmothercollective.org/ Mentioned: Marc Freedman, "How To Live Forever: The Enduring …

Emily and Mike recap their extended grand-sitting gig with a charming, challenging toddler. Spoiler: everyone survived. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

Capture your family history from those who lived it, before it's too late. Emily interviews Dr. Elizabeth Keating, author of The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations. Her book is available here and at other bookstores and online sources. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Most of our grands love stories, don't they? Listening Pond is a podcast full of stories "for kids and their adults," says Asa Gauen, co-creator of this series of fanciful stories in a podcast you can share with your grands. "Dragons Are Always Lucky" and its cover art appear courtesy of Listening Pond. Find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and on…

"It takes a village" to raise kids, and we are becoming that village for our toddler grandson while his parents take a long vacation. And how do we feel about this awesome responsibility? Mixed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

When Steven Arms turned 13, his father and grandfather surprised him by taking him away for a weekend retreat which changed his life forever. He was welcomed into manhood by not only his father and Bobo, his grandfather, but by several other significant men in his life who taught him the true meaning of manhood. In this episode of Legacy Grandparen…

Emily and Mike dig into two risks from the cyberworld that impact grandparents. One is how you use it to share about your grands...and the other is how it uses you, when the bad guys get help from Artificial Intelligence. These were mentioned in the episode, if you'd like to learn more: July 1, 2019 “Facebook Fail” The Grand Life Podcast S1E7 Kate …

Being a mindful grandparent is the expertise of author and educator Shirley Showalter, who returns with big ideas from her latest book, The Mindful Grandparent, written with Marilyn McEntire and available online here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.Door Emily Morgan, Author and Grandparent

Emily and Mike have made it out and back on a test visit up the East Coast to grandkids and an aging parent, relying on mass transit on wheels, not wings. It was a revelation, an education, and a confirmation. Hear what they learned in this "field report" on their big test run. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Tim Robertson is Director of Global Partnerships for the Legacy Coalition and in this lively conversation with Wayne Rice and John Coulombe he shares some of his favorite books for reading with grandchildren. He also discusses his role with the Legacy Coalition and how intentional Christian grandparenting is spreading all around the world. You will…

From their new home served by an Amtrak line, Mike and Emily plan a train trip to visit grands--which reminds them of an episode about toy trains as a way to bond with grandchildren. Their guest, Mr. Muffin, has a YouTube channel, "Mr. Muffin's Trains," where you can see his amazing collection of O-gauge model trains. See omnystudio.com/listener fo…