Helping Families Be Happy Familius

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Christopher Robbins, co-founder of Familius Publishing, husband, father of nine, author, fisherman, backpacker, and aspirational musician based in the Central Valley of California, talks to Caroline Saunders, a Bleu-trained freelance food writer and recipe developer. Caroline is known for her work in climate-friendly cuisine, discusses sustainability practices that start at the end of the fork, emphasizing the importance of making eco-conscious choices in daily life. The discussion focuses on exploring sustainability in the kitchen and how individuals can become better stewards of the planet through their food choices.
 
Episode Highlights:
01:51: Caroline discusses the significant role of food in the global climate crisis, emphasizing that the food system contributes to about one-third of global carbon emissions annually.
02:39: Caroline talks about food waste and its impact on the environment, mentioning that food waste drives about 80% of global carbon emissions. She provides insights into the challenges of food waste and how individuals can address it.
04:20: The conversation shifts to practical tips for reducing food waste. Caroline introduces strategies like the "first in, first out" method and befriending the freezer to minimize waste.
05:44: Caroline addresses the issue of food waste, pointing out that 80% of global carbon emissions come from food waste. She provides practical tips, like the "first in, first out" method, to reduce food waste at the household level.
09:48: Christopher addresses the issue of increasing meat consumption and its implications and asks Caroline about practical steps and considerations for reducing animal product intake.
10:08: The focus turns to the environmental impact of consuming animal products. Caroline emphasizes the importance of making more sustainable choices, such as opting for chicken over red meat, eggs over chicken, and so on.
11:42: Caroline highlights the connection between biodiversity, health, and longevity. She mentions the "Blue Zones" concept, where regions with centenarians share commonalities like plant-forward diets.
12:08: Christopher shifts the conversation towards healthier eating and asks Caroline for guidance on starting a journey towards a more sustainable and healthy diet.
14:30: Caroline introduces the concept of climate-friendly desserts. She explains her passion for sustainable dessert recipes, emphasizing plant-forward desserts and using leftovers creatively for desserts.
17:32: Caroline delves into the role of dessert in sustainability, discussing plant-forward desserts and the versatility of desserts in utilizing leftover ingredients.
 
Key Points:
Food contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, prompting the need for sustainable eating practices.
Reducing food waste and shifting towards plant-based diets are pivotal in combating climate change.
Lowering meat consumption, especially red meat, is essential for both personal health and environmental sustainability.
 
Tweetable Quotes:
"Health and sustainability go hand in hand. A plant-forward diet not only benefits us but also nurtures the biodiversity crucial for a resilient food system." - Caroline
"Every meal is an opportunity to make a positive impact on our planet. Small changes in our food choices today lead to a healthier and more sustainable future tomorrow." - Christopher
"Desserts aren't just sweet treats; they're solutions. Embrace climate-friendly ingredients and turn leftovers into a delightful part of your sustainability journey." - Caroline
 
Resources Mentioned
Helping Families Be Happy Podcast Apple
https://www.caroline-saunders.com/
https://palebluetart.substack.com/
Podcast Editing

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Christopher Robbins, co-founder of Familius Publishing, husband, father of nine, author, fisherman, backpacker, and aspirational musician based in the Central Valley of California, talks to Kathryn Thompson. Kathryn is a web designer and consultant for small businesses and non-profits, with a passion for knitting and a penchant for Taylor Swift songs. Kathryn is also the author of three books: "Drops of Awesome," "Buckets of Awesome," and "532 Ways to Be Awesome." The focus of today's episode is on the significance of laughter and play in family dynamics.
 
Episode Highlights:
02:00: Kathryn shares the origin of the awesome concept during a challenging period of postpartum depression. She explains how the concept emerged as a way to shift her perspective and find humor in difficult situations.
03:16: Kathryn discusses the visualization of "drops of awesome" and how it became a tool for building momentum in her daily life. The metaphorical bucket of awesome is introduced as a way to celebrate small victories.
04:52: Kathryn shares her experience with overcoming the negative voice in her head and how the concept of drops of awesome helped her focus on the positive aspects of her life. The discussion touches on the motivation that comes from celebrating small victories.
05:16: Positive reader feedback is highlighted, with Kathryn sharing a specific story of a reader who found inspiration and permission to recognize their own drops of awesome. The transformative effect of the concept on people's lives is discussed.
07:03: Christopher discusses challenges in Kathryn's life, such as postpartum depression, her husband's layoff, and health issues. He prompts Kathryn to share stories illustrating how humor and laughter helped during these difficult times.
08:01: Reflecting on the job loss, Kathryn stresses the importance of finding ways to connect and solidify family relationships through humor. She shares how they turned a challenging situation into a memorable play day.
10:12: Kathryn recalls the laughter and joy she and her husband experienced while creating the humorous LinkedIn profile. She shares the positive outcome of the job search, emphasizing that their attitude and approach shifted the entire tone of the experience.
11:43: Christopher addresses how humor can be used to emotionally strengthen during serious health issues, referring to Kathryn's experience with her daughter's thyroid cancer diagnosis.
13:20: Kathryn details their humorous approach to her daughter's surgery, including a knitted stocking for the thyroid and a playful sword to "fight" cancer. The family continued finding humor in the post-surgery period, creating jokes around the scar and even displaying a stuffed thyroid in a jar.
14:38: Kathryn emphasizes that their humor was never at the expense of her daughter, Claire, and it always followed Claire's lead and sense of humor. The family's approach helped them find joy during challenging times.
15:36: Kathryn advises not to take oneself too seriously during challenging times. She suggests stopping and asking, "What is funny about this situation?" as a way to shift perspective and find humor even in the darkest moments.
 
Key Points:
Kathryn introduces the "drops of awesome" concept as a coping mechanism during postpartum depression, celebrating small positive actions to shift perspective.
The conversation explores using humor and play during challenging times, including a layoff turned into a playful family day and finding humor in a daughter's thyroid cancer journey.
Kathryn advises to ask, "What is funny about this situation?" as a practical way to use humor during tough times, emphasizing the importance of not taking oneself too seriously.

Tweetable Quotes:
"In the midst of challenges, celebrate the small victories as drops of awesome to shift your perspective and build momentum." - Christopher
"Humor is a powerful tool to navi

In this insightful episode of "Helping Families Be Happy," host Christopher Robbins engages with Christopher Mannino, a former theater teacher turned author, to explore how the principles of play and theater can significantly enhance parent-child relationships. The discussion delves into practical techniques and personal anecdotes that highlight the transformative power of play, offering listeners a blend of theory, actionable advice, and inspiring examples to foster deeper connections within their families.
 
Episode Highlights:
00:00:09: Christopher Robbins introduces the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, setting the stage for a dialogue on using play to strengthen parent-child relationships. Robbins, a father of nine with a diverse background, shares his passion for bringing real-life, nurturing information about love, family, relationships, and life to listeners.
00:01:39: Guest Christopher Mannino expresses gratitude for being part of the podcast and sets the tone for a conversation focused on the art of playful interaction and its role in family dynamics.
00:01:43: The concept of transforming parent-child relationships through play is introduced. Mannino provides context by reflecting on his experiences as a theater teacher and a stay-at-home dad, emphasizing the natural yet overlooked importance of play in building strong familial bonds.
00:02:54: Mannino advocates for dedicated playtime, suggesting a minimum of ten minutes daily to deeply engage with children. He shares how meaningful these moments can become, transforming ordinary play into cherished memories that bolster the child-parent connection.
00:04:11: The conversation shifts to specific theater techniques that can enhance play, with Mannino offering practical advice on engaging children and entering their imaginative worlds through the principle of "Yes, and."
00:07:34: Another theater technique, emotional recall or using an "anchor," is discussed. Mannino explains how drawing on vivid, positive memories can help parents become more present and emotionally available during playtime.
00:11:46: Strategies for changing negative dynamics, especially after a child has had a tough day, are explored. The significance of maintaining a playful and affirmative approach to diffuse tension and shift the mood is highlighted.
00:14:35: The conversation concludes with insights into Mannino's upcoming book, which aims to provide parents with tools to revolutionize their playtime interactions and deepen familial relationships through simple yet effective theater-inspired methods.
00:17:01: Robbins wraps up the discussion by thanking Mannino for his insights and asking about ways listeners can connect with him online, leading to the sharing of Mannino's contact information.
Key Takeaways:1. Daily, dedicated playtime can significantly enhance the parent-child connection, turning routine interactions into lasting memories.2. The use of theater techniques like "Yes, and" and emotional recall can deeply enrich play experiences, fostering creativity, acceptance, and emotional bonding.3. Addressing negative moods and dynamics through playful engagement, rather than confrontation, can effectively transform challenging moments into opportunities for connection and joy.4. Introducing structured yet flexible play exercises from theater can provide parents with powerful tools to engage and connect with their children on a deeper level.
Tweetable Quotes:
"The more you play with your kids, the richer the memories and the stronger the bond." - Christopher Mannino
"Saying 'Yes, and' to your child's imaginative ideas can open up a world of creativity and connection." - Christopher Mannino
"Using positive emotional anchors can help us be more present and engaged during playtime with our kids." - Christopher Mannino
Resources Mentioned: Christopher Mannino: https://www.christophermannino.com/

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Adina Oberman talks to Sarah Jayne, a content creator and blogger based in Pennsylvania. The mission of her blog and social channels is to inspire parents to embrace cultural experiences and travel with their kids.
 
Episode Highlights:
01:48: Sarah shares the origin of her blogging journey, driven by the desire to connect with other moms during maternity leave amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discusses the unexpected growth and opportunities that unfolded in her content creation journey during the pandemic.
03:59: Adina reflects on the relatability of Sarah's story for many parents navigating challenges during the pandemic.
05:02: Sarah elaborates on her multicultural family background, highlighting the importance of raising bilingual children and incorporating intentional choices in cultural learning.
06:41: Sarah discusses specific strategies for cultural learning, including reading books, watching TV shows, and spending time with Spanish-speaking family members.
09:45: The discussion delves into the impact of intentional parenting choices and exposing children to diverse experiences, both culturally and in other aspects of life.
10:44: Sarah empathizes with the challenges of parenting and acknowledges the victory in simply getting kids ready on time. She mentions the commonality of parenting stress and the added challenges, especially when it involves traveling with kids.
11:27: Sarah encourages a shift in mindset towards exploring diversity locally and exposing kids to different cultures without the need for extensive travel. Adina agrees and acknowledges the wealth of diversity available within neighborhoods.
12:41: Sarah emphasizes evaluating the pros and cons of traveling with kids, highlighting the positive impact on children. She mentions the strategies, tips, and tricks she has learned for successful family travel.
14:14: Adina appreciates the point about accepting that meltdowns can happen anywhere, not just during travel. They discuss the inevitability of meltdowns and the importance of not letting the fear of meltdowns limit travel experiences.
15:14: Sarah suggests connecting with the local tourism board as an excellent starting point to discover cultural events and resources. She recommends looking for multicultural events, passing through the area, or featuring different cuisines.
16:28: Adina discusses additional resources for cultural experiences, mentioning local libraries offering museum passes. She highlights the benefits of such resources, including free passes and the flexibility to handle meltdowns without significant financial investment.
17:52: Sarah reveals that her family is currently going through the adoption process to complete their family of five. They became home study approved at the end of 2023 and are eagerly awaiting a match.
19:26: Adina appreciates Sarah's openness in sharing her adoption journey, acknowledging the messiness of family life and the contrast with the curated perfection often portrayed on social media.
 
Key Points:
Tips and challenges of family travel are shared, focusing on the positive impact on children and strategies for managing inevitable challenges.
Sarah suggests utilizing local resources like tourism boards, social media, and library museum passes for cultural learning experiences.
The conversation touches on family, multiculturalism, and travel, emphasizing local resources for cultural learning and offering insights into family travel challenges.
 
Tweetable Quotes:
"Traveling abroad is amazing, but you don't need to go past your neighborhood to expose kids to diversity. Shift your mindset to explore local multicultural opportunities." - Sarah
"Local libraries offer free museum passes. It's a great way to introduce kids to something new without financial pressure. Check your local library for these resources." - Adina
"Family life is messy, far from perfect. Sarah's openness abou

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Christopher Robbins, co-founder of Familius Publishing, husband, father of nine, author, fisherman, backpacker, and aspirational musician based in the Central Valley of California, talks to Antonio Sacre, a bilingual Cuban and Irish American writer. As a writer in television, Antonio focuses on multicultural family dynamics, telling universal stories with authenticity and culturally specific details. He is a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival and other global events, inspiring audiences to embrace their family narratives. Antonio's stories, published in award-winning books like "My Name is Cool," and audio recordings, highlight the power of storytelling in fostering resilience and strengthening family relationships.
 
Episode Highlights:
01:46: Antonio introduces himself as a storyteller, emphasizing curiosity and the art of asking questions. He shares his journey into storytelling, starting with family inquiries and later discovering storytelling as a profession.
03:07: Antonio discusses the value of storytelling in family environments, emphasizing its role in building connections, creating joy, and fostering easier communication between parents and children.
04:20: Antonio suggests incorporating storytelling into daily activities, such as car rides, meal preparations, and walks. He highlights the importance of creating a storytelling space and being present by minimizing distractions like devices.
06:56: Christopher and Antonio delve into the essence of storytelling, touching on the idea that the details of a story may not matter as much as the overall message or connection it conveys.
07:54: Antonio advises parents to realize they have stories to share, even if they don't see themselves as storytellers. He encourages exploring family history, using car rides for storytelling, and finding opportunities to share stories during daily activities.
08:11 Antonio encourages individuals to recognize the abundance of stories in their lives, offering suggestions on where and how to tell them.
11:44: Antonio explains the concept that details don't matter in storytelling unless they are crucial to the point of the story. He shares an example of forgetting the chalk bag during a climbing competition and how a coach's story helped his son in a similar situation.
13:37: Christopher and Antonio discuss the role of reading in storytelling. Antonio recommends starting with family stories and then expanding to collections of folk tales from the library, emphasizing the importance of librarians in this process.
16:54: Antonio emphasizes the power of stories, drawing from personal experiences with his own family's stories, the brain's response to storytelling, and its impact on literacy. He shares Maya Angelou's quote about the lasting emotional impact of storytelling.
18:23 Christopher interjects with a remark about the significance of libraries, citing David McCullough's comment that there are more libraries than McDonald's, which Antonio appreciates.
23:10 Antonio highlights the impact of stories on brain activity, language acquisition, empathy, and reading skills.
 
Key Points:
Storytelling is crucial for creating strong bonds within families by sharing personal experiences and traditions.
Rather than getting every detail right, prioritize the core message of a story to deepen the emotional connection and understanding.
Research suggests that storytelling activates specific brain circuits, contributing to improved language acquisition, prevention of conditions like Alzheimer's, and enhanced literacy skills in children.
 
Tweetable Quotes:
"Family stories weave the fabric of connection, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and traditions”. - Antonio
"Immerse your family in the power of shared narratives; it's the secret sauce that fosters resilience in tough times.” - Antonio
Storytelling is the universal language that binds generatio

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Adina Oberman talks to Jackie Gill, a mom and freelance content creator specialising in DIY arts and crafts, particularly in the holiday space. Jackie is passionate about creating various life moments, both big and small, and she shares her creative ideas on her Instagram page and blog.
 
Episode Highlights:
01:41: Jackie talks about her crafting journey, mentioning her creative side and how she began sharing it on Instagram during the Covid lockdown. She emphasises the desire to bring positivity and creativity to those stuck at home.
03:37: Jackie candidly discusses the inevitable crafting fails, mentioning that for every successful project shared on Instagram, there are around 10 fails behind the scenes. She acknowledges being a perfectionist but highlights the importance of embracing the messiness, especially when crafting with kids.
05:12: Adina and Jackie share a laugh as they recall a memorable crafting fail involving a garland dyed with fabric dye that ended up looking like a crime scene.
06:08: Jackie underscores the significance of sharing both successful projects and failures on social media. She emphasises that her intention is not to project perfection but to authentically connect with others and create a sense of community around the messiness and fun of crafting.
07:29: Reflecting on the twists and turns of crafting, Adina appreciates the unexpected outcomes, finding beauty in the creative process. She emphasises the joy derived from the unpredictability of crafting, transforming unexpected outcomes into something beautiful and memorable.
08:37: Adina reflects on the lasting memories formed with children during messy and creative moments, emphasising the gift of quality time and memorable experiences. She underscores the value children receive—quality time and messy, memorable moments with their special grown-ups—rather than solely focusing on the end result.
10:33: Stressing experimentation, Jackie recommends saving beginner-friendly projects and gradually refining skills, fostering a sense of confidence. She advises taking the plunge, especially with kids, exploring beginner-friendly projects, and gradually finding preferences through experimentation.
11:19: Jackie recommends picking projects based on individual strengths and interests, avoiding overwhelm. She advises organising materials by type to maintain clarity in crafting projects.
13:34: Adina asks for tips on organising craft materials, and Jackie recommends grouping materials by type, making it easier to find what you need.
15:37:  They discuss the idea of trying new crafts by sharing materials with friends, making it a low-risk and collaborative venture. Jackie shares her strategy of decluttering by repurposing or giving away unused materials, fostering a sense of community with a craft-sharing circle.
17:10 Adina recaps the advice, including starting without overthinking, focusing on the process, organising materials, planning purchases with project ideas, and sharing unused materials. 
 
Key Points:
Overcome the fear of not being good enough or making a mess. Start with small, beginner-friendly projects, and don't be afraid to try different crafts to discover your preferences.
When crafting with kids, prioritise the experience and memories over achieving perfect results. Embrace the mess and chaos that may come with involving children in crafting activities.
Use social media platforms like Instagram for crafting inspiration. Look for beginner-friendly projects and ideas that require minimal materials.
 
Tweetable Quotes:
"Crafting is a journey of growth; from the chaos of Covid lockdowns to becoming a parent and content creator, my skill set has blossomed." - Jackie Gill
"Crafting is not about perfection, but about creating memories with your kids. Embrace the mess and enjoy the process! - Jackie Gill
“Don't fear a craft store overwhelm. Start small, focus on projects