034 How Endurance Sports Shaped a Better Grandpa: Lessons from Ken Walters
The Grandpa Channel: Grandparent Stories, Family Legacy & Life Lessons · with Steve Harris – Real Talk, Real Laughs & the Real Grandparent Life
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Show Notes
In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Rivers talks with guest Ken Walters — a 61-year-old grandpa with 12 grandkids spread across the country. Ken shares how endurance events (Ironman, ultras, biking) taught him the power of persistence, how to stay connected with grandkids you don’t live near, and why small check-ins & little moments will always beat big gestures.
You’ll hear stories about recording messages mid-race, surprising his kids with last-minute flights, how he partners with his wife to grandparent as a team, and why he wants to be a fountain of peace in a world that feels heavy to kids today.
In this episode:
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What endurance races teach you about grandparenting
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Tools for long-distance grandparent connection (FaceTime + tiny consistent touch points)
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Why presence > perfection for grandkids
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How tradition builds generational glue
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Why relationships have to come first — always
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The advice he’d give to his 31-year-old self
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