Allow me to make a hackneyed code block diagram
 • <- rotational center
 |
 |
 +👈<<<  <- pounds (force applied at radius)
 ⇡
 feet (distance from center)
Because the final unit is a combined feet×lbs, it's subject to the commutative property of multiplication. For example, 89 foot-pounds of torque is equivalent to 89 pounds of force at 1 foot away from the rotational center, or 1 pound of force 89ft away from the rotational center.
I typically imagine it by putting a weight of x pounds at the end of a 1ft wrench held perfectly level, idk.
If it gets you talking about it, even in the context of telling them to shut the fuck up, it's working :)