The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 570: The Grandfather Effect | Ted Page, Good Grandpa
Host: Jenny Yurch
Guest: Ted Page, Author of Good Grandpa: Stories from the Heart of Grandfatherhood
Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the transformative impact grandfathers have within families, drawing insights from Ted Page's new book, Good Grandpa: Stories from the Heart of Grandfatherhood. The discussion explores the emotional journey into grandfatherhood, the cultural invisibility of grandfathers, the bridging role they play across generations, and actionable wisdom for fostering stronger family bonds—especially through outdoor play and the sharing of stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Emotional Impact of Becoming a Grandfather

• Unique Rush of Emotion: Ted recounts the overwhelming happiness and emotional outpouring at the news of becoming a grandfather.
  • “Upon hearing the news of my impending grandfatherhood, I was so overwhelmed with happiness. I joined my wife Nancy in going bananas. I hugged her, I hugged my daughter and son-in-law. I hugged the in-laws. I might have hugged the cat.” (Ted, 02:34)
• A New Identity: The transition to ‘Boppy’—a new family name and role, and an entirely new phase of life.
  • “It was such a life altering experience that it was like being born into a different life… this was a different role that I needed to grow into.” (Ted, 03:39)
• Compared to Fatherhood: Being a grandparent is less about the day-to-day grind and more about sharing joy and life wisdom.
  • “I'm also known for giving my grandkids chocolate for breakfast... my way of saying, you know what, I love you, life is sweet.” (Ted, 05:19)

Why Some Grandparents Disengage

• Different Choices, No Judgment: Some choose leisure in retirement, while others yearn for deeper involvement.
  • “There are plenty of grandparents out there… they want to play golf or, you know, play with their friends… it is interesting… there is an aspect of this which is like, how do we in our own families… navigate our relationship with our grandfather and our grandmother?” (Ted, 07:34)
• Cultural Gaps: Grandfathers are less discussed in culture; through stories, Ted hopes to offer a cultural roadmap for engaged grandfatherhood.
  • “It kind of shows up, you know, without being a classic how-to book, but more of like a life map for how grandfatherhood fits into the whole family experience…” (Ted, 09:15)

Fostering Grandparent-Grandchild Relationships

• Yearning for Connection: Many grandparents ache to be involved, but adult children sometimes unintentionally create distance.
  • Ted shares a story of a grandfather volunteering at his granddaughter’s school to spend more time with her after being kept at arm’s length by his own adult children. (10:14–12:17)
• Impact of Intergenerational Bonds: Extended time with grandparents, especially due to increased life expectancy, enables the planting of “seeds of wisdom and love.” (Ted, 12:25)

Navigating Modern Childhood: Screens, Hustle, and Heritage

• Technology as a Double-Edged Sword:
  • Grandparents often worry about excessive screen time.
  • Ted uses a story of Colombian children surviving in the Amazon thanks to grandparent-taught skills to highlight the importance of passing down real-world wisdom.
    • “Their grandmother had taught them…here’s the fruit to eat… that time we spend with families can make a huge difference.” (Ted, 13:28–16:40)
  • But technology can also connect distant families (FaceTime, blogs) and preserve stories.
    • “We are the first generation of grandparents who have the Internet… the best way to communicate and share stories the world has ever seen.” (Ted, 16:55)
• The Importance of Storytelling: Encouragement to write “forever letters,” document family histories, and share values across generations—now facilitated by digital tools. - “We can help our grandchildren reduce screen time, put the phones away, and read book after book after book. That is a hugely powerful thing.” (Jenny, citing Ted, 17:40)

The Power of Outdoor Experiences

• Role of Nature: Ted’s Vermont family farm serves as the backdrop for nurturing curiosity and connection—mirrored in his grandkids’ muddy adventures.
  • “My grandsons were here...I see them coming back from the clay pits, and they look like something out of a movie...I’m thinking, yeah, we did something right here.” (Ted, 18:19)
• Intergenerational Legacy: Outdoor work and play (moving rocks, climbing trees) are means of passing on values, resilience, and cherished memories.
  • “There is no substitute for hard work. And these are the things that get passed down.” (Ted, 27:59)

The Grandparent Perspective on Time and Mortality

• Experiencing Time's Acceleration:
  • “As a grandpa, I’m experiencing time with a sense of increasing acceleration. As a grandpa, the emotions are all the more poignant because I know this is my last rodeo.” (Jenny, citing Ted, 32:36)
• Legacy Through Memory and Letters:
  • Ted describes a grandfather who writes “forever letters” via email—creating a lasting connection for future generations. (Ted, 29:43–32:36)
• Cherishing Each Day: “The more we recognize how precious every day is, I think the more it drives us to think, how can I instill the things that matter in these kids?” (Ted, 32:36)

Grandparenting as a Cultural Blind Spot

• Absence in Popular Culture:
  • Ted notes a lack of representation and storytelling about grandfathers, both in media and literature.
    • “The only thing I could find in the web was the movie Bad Grandpa. That was it...no celebrity grandfather had written a book.” (Ted, 41:30–42:44)
• Coming Out of the Shadows: Ted’s blog and book aim to highlight grandfathers’ wisdom and stories, making “grandfatherhood the celebrity.”

Universal & Unexpected Aspects of Grandfatherhood

• The “Grandfather Club”:
  • Diverse ages, backgrounds, and experiences unite grandfathers in a kind of exclusive, joyful club.
  • “You have no control over it...It’s kind of like in the movie Jurassic Park…you don’t have control over this!” (Ted, 46:23)
• Sharing the News & Naming Traditions:
  • Heartfelt and creative ways families announce grandparenthood—for instance, giving a sonogram in a Valentine’s Day card.
  • Meaningful, idiosyncratic grandpa nicknames (“Boppy,” “Pop Pop,” unique baby sounds).

Intergenerational Advice & Reflection

• Being There:
  • “Be there for them.” (Aunt Lois, via Ted, 52:31)
  • The simplicity and power of showing up, listening, and creating opportunities for connection.
• Asking Questions & Sharing Stories:
  • The richest family treasures often remain locked away unless someone asks.

Notable Quotes

• “We're the first generation of grandparents who have the Internet...the best way to communicate and share stories the world has ever seen.” (Ted, 16:55)
• “If you can be a good listener, everything else is possible.” (Ted, 55:32)
• “I wear big ears, asking lots of questions, trying to stay open to where the story leads me. Try to be a good listener.” (Jenny, citing Ted, 55:32)
• “My one wish from all this...do not wait until you are 66 to learn those things that these grandfathers wish they knew when you were your age.” (Ted, 59:20)

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• Personalized Book Letter & Importance of Connection: (01:29–02:34)
• Becoming “Boppy” and the Life-Altering Transformation: (03:39)
• The Chocolate-for-Breakfast Grandpa: (05:19)
• Generational Differences in Grandparent Engagement: (07:34)
• Story of the Longing Grandpa & Long-Distance Grandparenting: (10:14–12:17)
• The Amazon Survival Story & Passing Life Skills: (13:28–16:40)
• Encouragement to Write Family Stories and Letters: (16:55–18:19)
• The Importance of Outdoor Play & The Family Farm: (18:19–20:43)
• Moving Rocks with Gramp: Love Expressed Through Labor: (25:21–27:59)
• Reflections on Mortality and Legacy: (29:43–32:36)
• Explanation of Grandfather Invisibility in Culture: (41:30–43:44)
• The Club of Grandfathers—Commonality Across Age & Culture: (46:23–48:06)
• Best Advice for Grandkids: “Be your best.” (53:24)
• Favorite Outdoor Childhood Memory — Lightning Storm in New Mexico: (58:04)

Closing Reflections & Takeaways

• Grandfatherhood is a transformative, powerful phase that deserves attention and celebration in our families and in popular culture.
• Grandparents—especially grandfathers—have the power to shape family history and individual character through presence, storytelling, outdoor play, and intentional legacy-building.
• Cultivating relationships across generations requires openness, good questions, and cherishing every moment—because, as Ted puts it, “this is my last rodeo.”

For more stories and wisdom, Ted’s book Good Grandpa and his blog goodgrandpa.com offer a treasury of grandparent insights and encouragement.

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