Helping Families Be Happy

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 sui...

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, emphasizi...

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 fo...

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" Richa...

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 the...

In this episode, Christopher Robbins speaks with Lee Wind, Chief Content Officer for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), about the vital role independent publishing plays in bringing diverse voices and stories to readers. They discuss IBPA's history and mission, the advantages of mission-driven publishing over purely profit-driven models, and how independent publishers create commu...

In this episode, host Christopher Robbins welcomes Kelly Conroy, a picture book writer and poet who is the cousin of Jan and Stan Berenstain, creators of the Berenstain Bears. Kelly discusses her new children's board book "I See You in the Stars," which explores the twelve signs of the zodiac in a fun, educational way for families. The conversation delves into how Kelly was inspired to create a rh...

In this episode, Christopher Robbins interviews Richard Hill, the first adoptee to identify his birth family through genetic genealogy. Hill is the author of Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA . They discuss DNA testing for ethnic ancestry, exploring why results often surprise people due to the randomness of DNA inheritance and thousands of years of human migration and m...

In this inspiring episode, former world surfing champion Shaun Tomson shares his powerful methodology for finding purpose and transforming mindset during challenging times. Tomson discusses the creation of his book, "The Surfer and the Sage," co-written with philosopher Noah benShea during COVID-19, which addresses the widespread feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, and disconnection. He intro...

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy Podcast, host Christopher Robbins speaks with award-winning author Jessica Spear about the critical challenges of social media and AI safety for teens and preteens. They discuss the irrefutable data showing how social media is negatively impacting youth mental health, the emerging concerns around AI companions and chatbots that teens are using for e...

In this episode, host Christopher Robbins interviews Christopher Mannino about his new book "Making It Up: A Revolutionary Way to Bond with Kids Through Play." Mannino shares how parents, teachers, and caregivers can strengthen their relationships with children through just 10 minutes of daily imaginative play using improv techniques. The conversation explores the two pillars of Mannino's method:...

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy Podcast, host Christopher Robbins speaks with Paul Mandelstein, author of "The World's Best Dad During and After Divorce," about navigating the holidays as a divorced or separated parent. Paul emphasizes reframing divorce as creating an "extended family" rather than a "broken home" and stresses that holidays should focus on the children's wellbeing,...

You Deserve Flowers with Devon Blow In this episode, host Adina Oberman interviews Devon Blow, a dynamic artist and illustrator from Los Angeles who specializes in illustration, design, writing, and social justice advocacy. Devon discusses her debut book "You Deserve Flowers," a pocket-sized collection of affirmations and poetry that originated from a therapy assignment focused on self-affirmation...

Celebrating Christmas Around the World The podcast episode of "Helping Families Be Happy" features host Christopher Robbins and guest Stephanie Campisi, an Australian author based in Southern California. The discussion revolves around global Christmas traditions, inspired by Stephanie's book, " 12 Little Elves Save Christmas." The book takes readers on a journey through various countries' unique f...

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins interviews parenting expert Donna Tetreault about building trust within families. They discuss the foundational importance of trust in parent-child relationships, drawing on insights from Stephen M.R. Covey's work on trust. Donna emphasizes the difference between smart trust and blind trust, explaining how parents c...

Autonomy-Supportive Parenting with Dr. Emily Edlynn, PhD In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy Podcast, host Christopher Robbins interviews Dr. Emily Edlynn, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of " Autonomy-Supportive Parenting." Dr. Edlynn explains how autonomy-supportive parenting, based on self-determination theory, nurtures three fundamental human needs: autonomy, competenc...

Kitchen Secrets for the Holidays with Jason "Chop Happy" Goldstein In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, Christopher Robbins hosts food blogger Jason Goldstein. Goldstein, known as Chop Happy, shares insights and tips for preparing stress-free holiday meals, highlighting the importance of creating a positive kitchen environment. He provides innovative kitchen hacks, including u...

Language is Fun! The Compound Noun Treasure Hunt with Kimberlee Gard In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Adina Oberman interviews award-winning children's author Kimberlee Gard about her newest book "The Compound Noun Treasure Hunt," part of the Language is Fun series. Kimberlee shares her personal journey of overcoming dyslexia and her mission to create engaging books t...

Cooking Up French Cuisine with Your Kids Barbara Beery In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Adina Oberman interviews Barbara Beery, founder of Foodie Kids Culinary Center and author of 20 cookbooks, about her newest release "Ooh La La Kids Cook French" launching November 2025. Barbara shares her passion for teaching children French cooking techniques through approachable...

What to Consider when Medicating Children with Doctors Pilar Trelles and Robert Jaffe In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy Podcast, host Christopher Robbins is joined by Dr. Pilar Trelles and Dr. Robert Jaffe to discuss their book, "A Parent's Guide to Starting Psychiatric Medications for Kids: Start Low and Go Slow When Medicating Children." The episode delves into the complexities of...

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Ericka Sanchez In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins interviews Ericka Sanchez, a Mexican-born recipe developer, food stylist, and creator of the award-winning blog Nibbles and Feasts. Ericka shares her journey from documenting family recipes to becoming a successful cookbook author with four published books. She d...

Building Routines & Positive Behavior Strategies with "Academically April" In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Adina Oberman talks to April, an educator and member of the PBIS team in her California school district. April shares her strategies for building effective classroom routines and the importance of positive behavior interventions. They also discuss how parent...

Helping Children Learn Sportsmanship with Dr. Frank Sileo In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins welcomes Dr. Frank Sileo, a New Jersey licensed psychologist and author, to discuss sportsmanship as an important value for children. They explore the role of parents, coaches, and teachers in modeling good sportsmanship and the impact of competition on a chi...