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Helping Families Be Happy

Helping Families Be Happy

By: Familius
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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.Copyright 2020 All rights reserved. Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • The Art of the Sneaker with Andrew Dutton

    The Art of the Sneaker with Andrew Dutton
    Apr 1 2026
    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 them as conversation starters and creative assignments for his students. The conversation explores the intersection of art, fashion, and function in sneaker culture, as well as Andrew's process for balancing his professional life, family responsibilities, and creative pursuits. Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Christopher Robbins introduces the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and welcomes guest Andrew Dutton, a photographer and middle school digital media teacher who has built a following of over 400,000 on Instagram through sneaker photography. 00:01:49: Andrew thanks Christopher for having him on the podcast. 00:01:52: Christopher discusses his own limited knowledge of sneakers, mentioning Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers from his youth and a recent experience unknowingly purchasing Hokas. 00:02:15: Andrew responds that original Chuck Taylor sneakers would probably be worth something nice today. 00:02:23: Christopher shares his story about buying Hoka sneakers without realizing their brand significance until a fashion-conscious friend pointed it out. 00:03:01: Andrew explains how his love of sneakers began with childhood basketball, watching NBA players on ESPN, and receiving Eastbay catalogs in the mail where his parents would order shoes. 00:03:50: Andrew describes keeping those Eastbay magazines and dreaming about Air Jordan shoes that were too expensive for his family, and how wearing cool basketball shoes after the season made him feel important. 00:04:37: Andrew discusses how the feeling of wearing special shoes has stayed with him into adulthood, now viewing sneakers as wearable art created through collaborative design processes. 00:05:43: Christopher asks when Andrew transitioned from viewing sneakers as products to seeing them as art. 00:05:55: Andrew explains that after college and entering teaching, he began questioning his desire for footwear more deeply and appreciating the artistic process, including hand-sketched designs of early Michael Jordan shoes. 00:07:08: Christopher asks about Andrew wearing different shoes every day as a middle school teacher and how it has become a focal point in his classroom. 00:07:22: Andrew confirms he wears his extensive sneaker collection to class as part of being authentic to himself, using shoes as conversation starters to build relationships and trust with students. 00:08:09: Christopher inquires whether Andrew uses shoes to teach specific principles. 00:08:16: Andrew describes a signature assignment where students design their own dream shoe after mastering Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, encouraging them to tell personal stories through footwear design. 00:09:32: Christopher praises Andrew for inspiring creative thinking in the next generation and asks about his Instagram account with over 400,000 followers 00:09:55: Andrew explains that his Instagram journey began during the pandemic when he couldn't spend time with friends who shared his interest in sneakers, combining his existing photography passion with his love of footwear. 00:10:40: Andrew details how boredom during COVID led him to experiment with photographing shoes using his camera rather than just taking phone snapshots, combining two passions into a never-ending creative process. 00:11:30: Christopher poses a financial question about how Andrew budgets for purchasing so many shoes on a teacher's salary. 00:11:37: Andrew explains his approach of buying and selling shoes over years of patient collecting, advising that no sneaker is worth going into debt for and describing a carousel system of funding new purchases through sales. 00:12:20: Christopher asks how Andrew balances teaching, parenting two young children, and his sneaker passion. 00:12:31: Andrew describes his routine of working during the day, spending time with family after school, and then unwinding in his basement studio taking pictures after the kids are in bed. 00:13:10: Christopher asks for Andrew's advice to people wanting to lean into their creative passions. 00:13:38: Andrew advises not being afraid of failure, explaining that learning is a process of figuring out what works and doesn't work, and encouraging people to enjoy the creative process rather than expecting immediate mastery. 00:14:31: Christopher asks about Andrew's favorite pair of sneakers 00:14:38: Andrew explains that his favorite changes constantly with new releases, but the Air Jordan 2 model holds special significance as the first signature Jordan shoe he could afford as a junior or senior in high school. 00:15:32: Christopher asks where listeners can find Andrew ...
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    17 mins
  • Celebrating Independent Book Publishing with Lee Wind of the IBPA

    Celebrating Independent Book Publishing with Lee Wind of the IBPA
    Mar 18 2026
    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 communities around their content. The conversation also addresses the concerning trend of book banning and censorship, and IBPA's innovative "We Are Stronger Than Censorship" program that buys and donates two books for everyone book challenged. Lee provides valuable advice for aspiring authors and publishers, emphasizing the importance of professional development and community collaboration in the independent publishing world. Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Christopher Robbins introduces the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and himself as co-founder of Familius, husband, father of nine, author, and various outdoor enthusiast based in California's Central Valley. 00:00:59: Introduction of guest Lee Wind as Chief Content Officer for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the largest trade association for publishers in the United States. 00:01:13: Lee's personal mission described as writing books that would have changed his life as a gay Jewish kid and teen, including his award-winning non-fiction books "No Way They Were Gay" and "The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie." 00:01:35: Discussion of the "We Are Stronger Than Censorship" program that buys and donates two books to offset every one book challenged, run by IBPA with the American Library Institute and over 75 industry partners. 00:01:59: Lee expresses enthusiasm about joining the podcast to discuss book publishing. 00:02:12: Christopher shares his history with IBPA, having served on the board and participated in strategy that helped the organization grow. 00:02:34: Lee explains IBPA's origins in 1983 when about a dozen Southern California publishers pooled resources to send one representative to a major New York trade show. 00:03:27: Discussion of how IBPA has evolved while maintaining its core mission of advocacy, education, and tools for success to level the playing field for independent publishers. 00:04:15: Lee emphasizes the importance of independent publishing to prevent four or five corporations from deciding what everyone reads, highlighting the diverse and mission-driven approaches of independent publishers. 00:05:21: Christopher encourages the audience to explore independent books, music, and film as sources of exceptional content. 00:05:35: Christopher shares a personal memory of Jan Nathan, IBPA's founder, inviting him to dinner in 1990 and being welcoming and encouraging to him as a young industry newcomer. 00:06:20: Lee discusses how mission-driven independent publishers differ from corporate publishers focused solely on financial bottom lines, using examples like Patagonia and Just Us Books. 00:06:53: Christopher compares this to Familius's philosophy that revenue is simply fuel for the mission. 00:07:26: Lee explains how independent publishers understand the power of community and niche markets better than corporate publishers, with four out of five books in bookstores from corporate publishers but that fifth book representing hundreds of different independent voices. 00:08:38: Discussion of the advantages of direct-to-consumer sales for publishers vs. sales through major retailers like Amazon, where publishers don't own the customer relationship. 00:09:31: Lee cites Brandon Sanderson's successful Kickstarter campaign as an example of authors leveraging their platform and community. 00:09:45: Christopher mentions that Brandon Sanderson teaches at his alma mater BYU and that his niece has been one of Sanderson's test readers. 00:09:56: Lee shares that some of Brandon Sanderson's BYU lectures on topics like world building are available on YouTube. 00:10:15: Christopher discusses how Famis provides value to nearly 50,000 engaged subscribers through biweekly free content about helping families be happy. 00:10:45: Christopher acknowledges the highly competitive nature of the book industry, particularly regarding physical shelf space where getting one book on a shelf means removing another. 00:11:14: Lee shares IBPA's motto "helping each other achieve and succeed" and explains that bookstore sales are actually a small portion of most publishers' revenue. 00:12:09: Discussion of how quality books naturally generate word-of-mouth marketing and how AI- generated content makes quality even more important. 00:12:48: Christopher introduces the topic of book banning and censorship through Famis's book "Down with Lime Books," expressing his discouragement with how some have weaponized religion to deny people their own voice. 00:13:59: Lee agrees that while parents should have input into what their own children read, they shouldn't control what other ...
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    21 mins
  • See Your Children in the Stars with Kelly Conroy

    See Your Children in the Stars with Kelly Conroy
    Mar 4 2026
    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 rhyming guide to help people memorize the zodiac signs, similar to learning the 50 states alphabetically. Kelly shares fascinating astronomical facts about how the zodiac constellations work, including the surprising detail that you cannot see your own birth constellation during your zodiac period because the sun blocks it from Earth's view. The episode emphasizes learning together as a family and finding positive attributes in each zodiac sign to build self-esteem and connection to the universe. Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Christopher introduces the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and welcomes guest, Kelly Conroy, a picture book writer who is 50% silly fun-loving kid and 50% analytical former actuary, and cousin to the creators of the Berenstain Bears. 00:01:39: Kelly thanks Christopher for having her on the podcast. 00:01:40: Christopher asks Kelly about the inspiration behind her children's book "I See You in the Stars," which explores the signs of the zodiac. 00:01:53: Kelly explains she's always been fascinated by stars, astronomy, and astrology from a place of curiosity rather than expertise, and was inspired by a song that helps people memorize all 50 states alphabetically to create a similar rhyming system for the zodiac signs. 00:02:33: Christopher shares that he used to know all 50 states but couldn't name all 12 zodiac symbols anymore, though he knows he's a Sagittarius and has noticed common traits among people with that sign. 00:02:56: Kelly humorously notes that Sagittarius was the hardest sign to find positive aspects for, describing them as strong-willed and focused on doing what they want, which are great qualities but not always easy for others, relating it to her oldest son who is also a Sagittarius. 00:03:18: Christopher agrees that every Sagittarius he's met is very strong-willed and finds ways to do what they want, though these traits can be tempered. 00:03:32: Kelly adds that Sagittarians are also honest and funny, which is what she focused on in the book. 00:03:37: Christopher asks Kelly to explain how she added descriptions and characteristics to make the zodiac rhyme work in her book. 00:03:53: Kelly describes her process of starting with just the signs, then adding details like describing Scorpio as having a "forceful tale," and eventually expanding to include symbols, positive characteristics, and seasons as readers wanted to know more about their signs. 00:04:35: Christopher asks Kelly to help explain where the zodiac sign symbols come from and what they represent. 00:04:49: Kelly explains that the zodiac starts with Aries on the first day of spring, and the way zodiac signs work is that the constellation is opposite the sun from Earth's standpoint, meaning it's the one you can't see during that period. 00:05:48: Christopher realizes and confirms with Kelly that during his birth month in November, he cannot see the Sagittarius constellation because the sun blocks it. 00:06:21: Kelly clarifies that while you can't see your constellation during your sign period, astrologers say "the sun is in Sagittarius" during that time. 00:06:34: Christopher finds this information really interesting and realizes most people probably didn't know this fact, which also explains the relationship between zodiac signs and seasons. 00:06:47: Kelly confirms that Sagittarius is a fall sign, with winter starting in December. 00:06:48: Christopher asks Kelly about the most interesting things she learned during her research about the zodiac or people's interest in their signs. 00:07:07: Kelly shares that more people were excited to learn about their signs than she expected, and if she left out details of any sign, someone with that sign would ask about it, noting that the book applies to everybody rather than having separate books for each sign. 00:07:53: Christopher asks for confirmation that Kelly said Sagittarians have a personality trait of being funny. 00:07:57: Kelly confirms that Sagittarians are honest and funny. 00:08:00: Christopher jokes that he knows a few Sagittarians who aren't funny at all but acknowledges he is funny so it works for him. 00:08:13: Kelly clarifies that astrology isn't a science like chemistry. 00:08:14: Christopher asks Kelly what sign she is. 00:08:16: Kelly reveals she's a Gemini, the twins, and explains they can have high and low emotions, describing herself as usually either hyper or asleep. 00:08:29: Christopher asks if Kelly has enough information to quickly go through each sign and give the key attribute for each. 00:08:39: Kelly goes through all ...
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    12 mins
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