The Magic of Grandparenting with Allan Kronzek - EP 236
Release Date: 06/27/2025
Best Of: The Legacy We Leave Behind | with Sylvia Liu EP - 274
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes Can grandparents influence our lives even if we never really knew them? Author and former environmental attorney Sylvia Liu believes the answer is yes. In this fascinating conversation, Sylvia shares the remarkable stories of her two grandfathers, both generals in Nationalist China whose lives intersected with some of the most pivotal events of the twentieth century. Although Sylvia met one grandfather only once and never met the other, their courage, sacrifice, commitment to service, and love of family profoundly shaped the generations that followed. Sylvia and I also discuss...
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The 3 Biggest Challenges Grandparents Face Today EP - 273
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
The 3 Biggest Challenges Grandparents Face Today (And What the Research Says) Grandparenting is one of life's greatest blessings—but it isn't always easy. In this episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, Greg Payne explores three of the biggest challenges facing grandparents today, backed by current research and years of conversations with grandparents across the country. You'll discover why family estrangement has become one of the fastest-growing emotional challenges for grandparents, why millions of grandparents are unexpectedly raising grandchildren, and how relationships with adult children...
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America's First Grandfathers EP - 272
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes: As a six-year-old boy in Louisville, Kentucky, I celebrated America's Bicentennial in 1976 with parades, flags, and neighborhood celebrations. Fifty years later, that little boy is now a grandfather himself, reflecting on what it means to leave a lasting legacy. In this special Independence Day episode, we look at a side of America's Founding Fathers that rarely makes it into the history books: their roles as grandfathers, mentors, and family men. What can Thomas Jefferson teach us about being present with our grandchildren? What does George Washington show us about family by...
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The Biggest Aging Myths with Eileen Kopsaftis EP - 271
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
What if most of what we've been told about aging is simply wrong? In this episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, I sit down with wellness expert, physical therapist, educator, and author Eileen Kopsaftis to discuss why decline is not an inevitable part of aging. Drawing on decades of experience helping people improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore function, Eileen shares practical strategies that grandparents can use to stay active, independent, and fully engaged with their families. From nutrition and hydration to movement, mindset, and community, this conversation challenges the...
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The Hidden Power of Encouraging Dads - EP 270
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes As grandfathers, we often focus on our grandchildren, and rightly so. But one of the most effective ways to positively influence our grandchildren may be to encourage the fathers raising them. In this Father's Day episode, I discuss the unique role grandfathers can play in supporting sons and sons-in-law as they navigate modern fatherhood. Drawing from personal experience and observations, I explore the challenges fathers face today, the importance of encouragement, and how grandfathers can offer wisdom without becoming controlling. You'll learn practical ways to strengthen...
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The Power of Family: with Terry Willis EP - 269
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Episode Summary What happens when families stop talking? In this heartfelt conversation, I welcome fellow grandfather and family advocate Terry Willis, founder of The Power of Family. Terry shares the deeply personal experience that inspired his mission to help families reconnect, communicate, and strengthen relationships across generations. Together, we explore the challenges facing modern families, including estrangement, generational differences, social media's impact on relationships, and the growing need for meaningful conversations between parents, grandparents, and grandchildren. ...
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Hope for Estranged Grandfathers and Families EP - 268
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Family estrangement is one of the most painful experiences a grandfather can face. Whether it involves an adult son, daughter, or grandchildren, the separation often leaves unanswered questions, lingering hurt, and a deep desire for reconciliation. In this solo episode, I explore why estrangement has become increasingly common, why fathers are often disproportionately affected, and what grandfathers can do to rebuild trust and connection. Using the story of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as a historical example, I share how two of America's most influential founders experienced years of...
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Popsicles, Campfires, and Lifelong Memories EP - 267
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes What do grandchildren really remember about summer? It's usually not the expensive vacations. It's the popsicles melting on the porch. Fishing lines tangled in weeds. Late-night ice cream runs. Campfire stories. Helping Grandpa wash the car, laughing over terrible jokes, and riding in the truck to the hardware store. In this heartfelt episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, I reflect on how ordinary summer moments can create extraordinary emotional bonds between grandfathers and grandchildren. Drawing from my own childhood memories, conversations with other grandfathers, and...
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Revisiting Ep. 207 Documenting Our Veterans’ Stories EP -266
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes: This Memorial Day weekend, we're bringing back one of the most meaningful conversations ever shared on the Cool Grandpa Podcast: my interview with veteran storyteller and oral historian Bob Abbott. Bob has spent decades preserving the stories of World War II veterans — from Marines who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima to sailors, sharpshooters, nurses, and everyday Americans who quietly carried the burden of war long after returning home. His mission has never been about fame or recognition. It has been about remembrance. In this heartfelt "Best Of" episode, Bob shares: Why...
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Encouraging Entrepreneurial Grandchildren EP - 265
The Cool Grandpa Podcast
Show Notes In this episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, I explore how grandfathers can help nurture entrepreneurial thinking in their grandchildren, not simply to create businesses, but to help develop resilience, creativity, initiative, leadership, and purpose. Drawing insights from conversations and teachings from Dan Miller, Dave Ramsey, and David Senra's Founders podcast, Greg discusses how entrepreneurship is often "caught before it's taught." Children absorb confidence, creativity, and a willingness to take risks from the adults around them, especially trusted grandparents. My...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Cool Grandpa Podcast, Greg chats with acclaimed magician and author Allan Kronzek. Allan shares the inspiration behind his book, Grandpa Magic, and how simple, playful magic tricks can help grandfathers create lasting connections with their grandchildren.
Allan explains how magic is a tool for engagement, wonder, and even mentorship. Whether you’re performing napkin bunnies for toddlers or mind-reading acts with teens, there’s a trick for every age and ability. He also dives into how magic supports critical thinking, imagination, and intergenerational bonding.
Listeners will discover:
- The origin story behind Grandpa Magic
- Why magic can bridge generational gaps
- The psychology behind believers and skeptics
- How to tailor magic tricks to different age groups
- The empowering effect of teaching kids magic
- Tips for getting started with magic as a grandparent—even if you’ve never done it before
🧙♂️ Learn why magic isn’t just about tricks—it’s about connecting, engaging, and inspiring.
🔗 Links and Resources:
- Visit Allan’s website: www.grandpamagic.net
- Find Grandpa Magic on Amazon
- Watch the Adventures of Ronnie the Rubber Band on YouTube
- You can watch our conversation on YouTube by using this link: https://youtu.be/hXjfx_S5kcs