With help from guest authors, experts, and community and business leaders, the Familius Helping Families Be Happy podcast explores topics and issues that connect families to the nine habits of a happy family: love, play, learn, work, talk, heal, read, eat, and laugh together.
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Laurie Duersch, a book editor and two-time brain tumor survivor, joins host Christopher Robbins to discuss her new picture book The Book Machine , which celebrates children's innate creativity and imagination. The episode explores how boredom fuels creativity, why parents should embrace "failure" as learning, and how to cultivate creative confidence in children by allowing experimentation,…
Host Christopher Robbins interviews author Deborah Williams about creating meaningful bedtime routines that prioritize security over perfection. Williams shares insights from raising nine children and observing her grandchildren across two vastly different family schedules—one highly structured, one flexible—revealing that consistency in love matters far more than rigid routines. Through charming…
Raising Nature Lovers: Why Every Child Needs a Bird Book Christopher Robbins hosts a conversation with Zev Labinger, a visual artist, musician, and ecologist, about the newly published book "Hear Them Sing: Songs and Calls from North American Birds." Labinger, who immigrated to Israel in 1986 driven by his passion for ornithology, shares how his lifelong fascination with birds—beginning in fifth…
Phyllis Harris, author-illustrator of the wordless picture book Claude , joins host Christopher Robbins to discuss how inspiration strikes during life's mundane moments—bike rides, driving, mowing—when the mind is free from digital distractions. Harris reveals that her debut picture book was inspired by Claude Monet's paintings and her own dog, Brinkley's, interruptions while she works, ultimately…
Finding Hope After Suicide Loss In this powerful episode, host Christopher Robbins speaks with Lisa Sugarman, author, mental health advocate, and three-time suicide loss survivor. Lisa shares her profound journey of discovering at age 45 that her father—whom she believed died of a heart attack when she was 10—actually died by suicide. The conversation explores how language shapes stigma around…
In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins welcomes author Tracy C. Gold to discuss her picture books "Call Your Mother" and "Call Your Father." Tracy shares insights from writing these books, which celebrate the importance of staying connected with parents across generations. The conversation explores how to avoid stereotypes about parental roles,…
Central Park: Adventures Through the Seasons Join host Christopher Robbins as he explores the magic of Central Park with librarian and author Christina Ergenay in this delightful episode about urban green spaces and seasonal adventures. Through discussion of Ergenay's beautifully illustrated children's book "Central Park: Adventures Through the Seasons," listeners will discover why urban parks are…
A Walk in the Forest with Cathy Goldberg Fishman Host Christopher Robbins welcomes children's book author Cathy Goldberg Fishman to discuss her new book, A Walk in the Forest , which celebrates trees from around the world and their cultural significance. Fishman, a former teacher and bookstore owner, shares her thoughtful selection of representative trees for ten countries—including the sequoia…
In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins interviews New York Times bestselling author Richard Eyre about his latest book, "The Grandparenting Blueprint." Richard, a father of nine with 34 grandchildren, shares his insights on modern grandparenting and the importance of teaching life lessons to grandchildren. The conversation explores the "12 secrets"…
In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Dutton, a middle school digital media teacher, photographer, and sneaker enthusiast with over 400,000 Instagram followers. Andrew shares his journey from childhood basketball player captivated by athletic footwear to becoming a recognized sneaker photographer and collector. He discusses how he integrates his passion for sneakers into his teaching, using…
