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Hello! We're Liz & Leila Willingham and welcome to "It Runs In The Family". We're the mother and daughter duo working within the public relations and communications agency, Liz Lean PR. Running a business is hard - really hard. Every business has its challenges and it's own ups and downs - but in a family business, this is often exaggerated by the willingness to speak your mind. But it also has some huge advantages that the corporate cultures just can't compete with. In this podcast, featuring a different family business guest in each episode, we're going to be digging into the stories, values and traditions of other family and multi-generational businesses. We'll explore their history, learnings and how they've developed through the generations and the unique advantages they've had over their competitors. We discover where human relationship migrates into business; the ups, downs, twists, turns and landmark moments that seal the fate of these fascinating organisations. You’ll get to hear some brilliant life stories too; some to make you laugh and others that’ll warm your heart. Many of our clients are family businesses who we've worked very closely with over a number of years - we've heard brilliant stories that reveal true values and fun operating as a family business. We want you to feel inspired by stories of others, find their honesty relatable and reach out to us with your own experiences. If you have any questions for future guests, have a story of your own or have any feedback please do feel free to get in touch on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itrunsinthefamilypodcast/

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Check latest episodes from It Runs In The Family podcast

Crisis Comms: How Family Businesses Survive a PR Incident #146

2026/10/07

When a crisis hits a family business, there’s more at stake than just a brand – it’s your family name above the door and generations of hard work on the line. You might not want to imagine your family business in the headlines for the wrong reasons, but if it did happen, what would you do in that first critical hour? In this special episode of It Runs In The Family, Liz and Leila unpack what a real crisis looks like, why the first 60 minutes matter so much, and how family businesses can prepare to protect their reputation before the worst happens. This timely episode ties into a new initiative to help family businesses in their most challenging moments: Protect by LLPR. 🔑 Key Themes The unique emotional impact of crises on family businessesDefining a true crisis vs an issueThe “golden hour” and the importance of speed with a planTreating reputation as a strategic asset🔗 Connect with us Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Going Global: A4 Labels’ Journey from Side Hustle to Worldwide Success with Charlie Hawker #145

2026/09/23

At just 26 years old, Charlie Hawker has the reins of his father’s business, and he’s reinventing a ‘dinosaur industry’ in his own ambitious image. Charlie takes us from counting sheets of labels in his parents’ spare room to steering A4 Labels through manufacturing, sustainability initiatives and ambitious global plans. We unpack the emotional reality of handing over the reins in a family business, the pressure of leading through three years of decline, and the quiet resilience it takes not to walk away when things get hard. 🔑 Key Themes Accidental entrepreneurship and organic growthNext-generation leadership in a family businessModernising a legacy industryResilience through downturns and failed betsSustainability and purpose as competitive advantage🔗 Connect with us A4 Labels Website: https://a4labels.com/ A4 Labels LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a4labels-com/ A4 Labels IG: https://www.instagram.com/a4labels_uk/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

From Dairy Farm to National Scoop: The Marshfield Ice Cream Family Story with Dawn & Angus Hawking #144

2026/09/09

One fateful year for dairy farmers and a simple milk quota turned a Cotswolds dairy farm into a nationally-beloved, family-owned ice cream brand - Marshfield Farm Ice Cream. In this episode of It Runs in the Family, Leila and Liz sit down with mother-son duo Dawn and Angus Hawking to explore how diversification and graft turned a side hustle in the late-80s into a multi‑generational business. From robotic milkers and B Corp accreditation to Swizzles licensing deals and “Deliver‑Moo” home delivery, we bring you a candid, hilarious, and practical look at building a family business the next generation is proud to inherit. 🔑 Key Themes The Family’s Diversification from Dairy to Ice CreamMulti‑Generational Family Business DynamicsNext‑Gen Ownership and Leaving a LegacyWhere B Corp Values Meet Family ValuesInnovating and Creating New Partnerships🔗 Connect with us Marshfield Website: https://www.marshfield-icecream.co.uk/ Marshfield LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marshfield-farm-ice-cream/ Dawn LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-h-26815827/ Angus LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-hawking-7652871a2/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

We Out Here 2026: The Families Behind The Festival #143

2026/08/26

What happens when your festival colleague is also your mum, your aunt or your dad behind the decks? In this We Out Here Festival special, Liz and Leila roam the show to find artist liaison dynamos, Tanzanian musical queens, and a producer–DJ team comprising father and daughter to hear how music, work and family blur into one big shared project. Together, they unpack the unspoken language of working with loved ones, the reality behind proving yourself, and the quiet graft that keeps artists feeling held on and off stage. 🔑 Key Themes Unspoken language and trust at workEarning your place as the next generationGenerational knowledge and cultural legacy Festival teams as extended family🔗 Connect with us Chloe Bailey-Williams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-bailey-williams/Glyn Bush (aka BiggaBush): https://www.linkedin.com/in/glyn-bush-717a1516/Our Motive: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-motive/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Shouldering a 165-Year Legacy of Award-Winning Cheddar with Wyke Farms’ Lucie Clothier #142

2026/08/12

What does it feel like to grow up thinking your family farm is simply a shared passion, only to realise you’re now stewarding a cheddar recipe beloved in 160 countries? In this episode of ‘It Runs In The Family’, fourth-generation custodian Lucie Clothier lifts the lid on Wyke Farms’ journey, and the pressure – and privilege – of protecting a 165-year legacy. 🔑 Key Themes Carrying On a Legacy in a 165 Year Old BusinessBalancing Tradition with Sustainable InnovationLeadership Across Generations🔗 Connect with us Wyke Farms Website: https://www.wykefarms.com/ Wyke Farms LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyke-farms/ Wyke Farms IG: https://www.instagram.com/wyke_farms/ Lucie Clothier LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyke-farms/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

The Fine Bedding Company’s 100-Year Journey with CEO Claire Watkin #141

2026/07/29

What does it take to keep a 100+ year-old family business feeling fresh? The fourth-generation CEO of The Fine Bedding Company, Claire Watkin, uncovers a century-long journey from feathers flying around a Liverpool factory to award-winning innovation, B Corp status, and a factory in Estonia with its own beehives. Join us for a fascinating look at a leader who became MD at 28, as Claire joins us on ‘It Runs In The Family’ to share how a strong values-led culture can carry a business across generations. 🔑 Key Themes Stewardship of a Fourth-Generation Family BusinessInnovation in Bedding and the Science of SleepSustainability, B Corp, and Ethical TextilesLeadership, Mentorship, and Learning on the JobFamily Dynamics and the Next Generation🔗 Connect with us The Fine Bedding Company Website: https://www.finebedding.co.uk/ The Fine Bedding Company LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fine-bedding-company/ Claire Watkin LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-watkin/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

More Than a Brand: How Fat Willy’s Became Synonymous With Cornwall with Fat Willy’s Marc Ward #140

2026/07/15

Cornwall is a corner of the world which imprints itself on all who visit, and few businesses are quite as synonymous with their origins as Fat Willy’s, a perennial presence on the Cornish coastline. In this episode, Liz and Leila sit down with Co-Owner and Director Marc Ward, to retrace the steps of how a surf shack dream from the 1980s became a Cornish institution, from Marc’s dad’s original vision to how the brand has grown while staying firmly rooted in Cornwall and family life. 🔑 Key Themes Place-based branding and the allure of CornwallBalancing multiple ventures, creativity and family lifeProtecting margins, resilience and focus🔗 Connect with us Fat Willy's Website: https://fatwillysstives.com Fat Willy's IG: https://www.instagram.com/fatwillysstives/ Fat Willy’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FWStives/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Turning Down McDonald's to Build a Family Firm Far Stronger with Dominion Print Ltd MD, Verity Fox #139

2026/07/01

Dominion is a three-generation print business which nearly began as the UK’s first McDonald's franchisee - that ‘sliding doors’ moment set the trajectory for a far greater journey for the firm’s family… In this episode, Liz and Leila sit down with Verity Fox, Managing Director of Dominion, the three‑generation print business that’s been part of her life for as long as she can remember. Verity shares what makes the business like a “hungry sibling”, sudden succession, balancing grief with leadership, and the quiet strength of a team that rallies when the family is in crisis. 🔑 Key Themes Legacy and Succession in a Three-Generation Family BusinessGrowing Up Inside the Business: Identity, Conflict and CommitmentLeading Through Grief and Sudden ResponsibilityCulture, Team Loyalty and the “Friday Screamer” Spirit🔗 Connect with us Dominion Print Website: https://www.dominionprint.com/ Dominion Print LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dominion-print/ Verity Fox LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verity-fox-aa031866/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Upcycling Coffee into Skincare with Tepi Naturals’ Co-Founder & CEO, Brent Thomas #138

2026/06/17

When your dad tells you that life is a do-it-yourself project, what would you feel empowered to build? A single, overlooked byproduct of coffee roasting has become Tepi Naturals, a family-run skincare brand headed up by the ambitious and driven Brent Thomas. Brent joins us to share the leap from biotech to farmers’ markets, the realities of working alongside his parents and sister, and the pressure and purpose that come with building something of your own. 🔑 Key Themes Turning waste into valueLeaving a stable career to “stop building someone else’s future”Harnessing individual strengths in a family businessCommunication, trust, and growth in a competitive market🔗 Connect with us Tepi Naturals Website: https://www.tepinaturals.com/ Tepi Naturals LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tepi-naturals-807639410/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

From 300 Dogs to 3 Generations: Saving Strays in Romania with Anca and Sara Tomescu #137

2026/06/03

When a late‑night phone call in Bucharest led Anca Tomescu’s mother to rescue 300 dogs in a single day, she had no idea she was founding one of Eastern Europe’s oldest and most remarkable shelters. In this episode of ‘It Runs In The Family’, we meet Anca and her daughter Sara, the second and third generations behind Adăpostul Speranța Shelter, now home to over 500 elderly, disabled, and rehabilitated dogs. They share what it’s like to grow up in a shelter, how Sara is now blending business skills with a lifelong love of animals, and how the duo are so much more powerful together than apart. 🔑 Key Themes Turning Crisis into a CallingMulti‑Generational Family Business DynamicsLeading With CompassionBlending Passion with ProfessionBalancing Work, Family, and Boundaries🔗 Connect with us Adăpostul Speranța LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/speran%C8%9Ba-shelter/ Adăpostul Speranța Website: https://adapostulsperanta.ro/ Anca Tomescu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anca-tomescu/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

The Unquestionable Ethics of an Organic Brand with Steenbergs’ Co-Founders, Axel and Sophie Steenberg #136

2026/05/20

When Sophie and Axel Steenberg walked away from corporate life to start an organic spice business, they bet on their values, their patience, and their family. Steenbergs is a business grown from a tiny North Yorkshire unit with just two kilos of each spice; now it’s a tried, tested and trusted brand, known for doing the right thing at all costs… Sophie and Axel join us to explore the reality of doing business ‘the nicer way’, and how your business’ ethos is a stark reflection of the family who runs it. 🔑 Key Themes Building a Values-Led, Organic BusinessPatience and Risk in a Niche MarketPreserving Your Ethics Amid Wider PressuresEnvironmental Responsibility🔗 Connect with us Steenbergs Website: https://www.steenbergs.co.uk/ Steenbergs LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steenbergs/ Steenbergs IG: https://www.instagram.com/steenbergsltd/ Axel Steenberg LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axel-steenberg-3209b37/ Sophie Steenberg LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-steenberg-a475828/ Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

A Living Piece of History: The Headland Cornwall’s Iconic Legacy with Director, Veryan Palmer #135

2026/05/06

The Headland Cornwall is an unmistakably iconic hotel overlooking Fistral Beach, and the family in charge have their eyes set on the long term… Veryan Palmer is the hotel’s director, and has wanted to be a hotelier since the age of 10 - her passion for the building, the team, and the area is second to none. Discover a building steeped in history, and learn what it takes to keep it running as more than a hotel, but as a living piece of Cornish history. 🔑 Key Themes Custodianship and HeritagePeople, Culture and TeamCommunity Responsibility and the Cornish Visitor EconomyBalancing Legacy with Future Growth and Sustainability🔗 Connect with us The Headland Cornwall Website: https://www.headlandhotel.co.uk/The Headland Cornwall IG: https://www.instagram.com/theheadlandcornwall/The Headland Cornwall LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-headland/Veryan Palmer LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veryan-palmer-fih-mi-is-a528a115/Veryan Palmer IG: https://www.instagram.com/veryanp/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Inside 50 Years of London Glassblowing with Peter and Sophie Layton #134

2026/04/22

The idea that glass can be worked in a small studio, rather than a closed-off factory, was once novel. Thanks to Peter Layton, it’s become an icon of London. He discovered studio glass in the US, and has since built one of the UK’s most influential glass studios, thriving for over 50 years and now boasting a site on Bermondsey Street. We’re joined by Peter and his daughter, Sophie, who share how family, community and a deep love of craft have kept the fires burning through recessions, big commissions and the handover to the next generation. 🔑 Key Themes The Craft and “Magic” of GlassCommunity, Mentorship and Open StudiosResilience and CreativitySuccession Planning🔗 Connect with us Guest Website: https://londonglassblowing.co.uk/London Glassblowing IG: https://londonglassblowing.co.uk/London Glassblowing LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-glassblowing/Peter Layton LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-layton-7a04996/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

How to Hire Your Parents with Forbes 30U30 & Founder of Xi Home Dumplings, Wenjun Xiang #133

2026/04/08

Food is more than food for the Founder of Xi Home Dumplings Bay - whether it’s love or an apology, it’s the strongest language shared by this family. Wenjun Xiang launched her career while she was still in school, starting the business with her mum at age 17, and while Forbes 30 Under 30 is a mighty accolade to achieve in that time, it’s not the only definition of success for her. Join us for a truly unvarnished take on the family business journey with Wenjun, as she describes what makes the relationship with her maternal co-worker a unique challenge… 🔑 Key Themes The messy reality of family businessResilience and riskCultural identity, love and communicationAmbition and redefining success🔗 Connect with us Xi Home Dumplings Bay Website: https://www.wjxfoodculture.co.uk/Xi Home Dumplings Bay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wjx-food-culture/Wenjun Xiang LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenjun-x-9716811b8/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Don’t Get It Right, Get It Going: Lessons from the Vineyard with Velfrey Vineyard’s Fiona and Ryan Mounsey #132

2026/03/25

Velfrey Vineyard began life as a field beside a family magazine business. Reinvention took the Mounsey family to pastures new. Fiona is a Director in the business alongside her son, Ryan, and both of their spouses, making their award-winning wine business a wide-spanning family affair. Ryan and Fiona join us on the podcast this week to share how a chance tasting of local wine, a well‑thumbed vineyard handbook, and a willingness to “just get it going” led them from animal feed trade titles to an internationally acclaimed vineyard in Pembrokeshire. 🔑 Key Themes Reinventing a Family BusinessLong-Term Risk and Reward in Starting a VineyardWeather, Wildlife and the Realities of FarmingFamily Dynamics and Shared Decision-MakingBalancing Tourism, Provenance and Growth🔗 Connect with us Velfrey Vineyard: https://www.velfreyvineyard.com/Velfrey Vineyard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/velfrey-vineyard/Velfrey Vineyard IG: https://www.instagram.com/velfreyvineyard/Ryan Mounsey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mounsey-6b34aab1/Fiona Mounsey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-mounsey-09551272/Liz Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/lizzielean/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-willingham-09273a3/ Leila Willingham: https://www.instagram.com/leilawillingham/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leila-willingham-821530a1/ Liz Lean PR: https://www.lizleanpr.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/lizleanpr https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-lean-pr/

Podcast reviews

Read It Runs In The Family podcast reviews

5 out of 5

1 reviews

★★★★★

Agatha Fan! 2021/06/10

Fantastic episode!

Loved the episode with Tamsin! Wish I lived near Stockton Bury to see all that was talked about. Wonderful heartfelt episode about the future of gard...

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