It Runs In The Family

Hosted by Liz & Leila Willingham

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Episodes

149

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

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/

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 14749 min

From Lockdown Margaritas to National Drinks Brand: The Bar Buoy Story with Tim and Ria Ball #147

It started with a margarita and a beach bar floating away on the tide… Now, it’s a thriving family firm making quality drinks available anywhere. Tim and Ria Ball tell us how their lockdown cocktail-making hobby became Bar Buoy, a growing canned cocktail business rooted in the Southwest. They share what it’s really like to build a company together: the excitement, the cash-flow worries, and the smaller, more domestic negotiations… Bar Buoy Cocktails have also very kindly given our listeners a code for 15% off before the 31st of December! Listeners can use the code FAMILY15 at www.barbuoy.co.uk . 🔑 Key Themes Turning a lockdown hobby into a growing business Working together as a couple and defining responsibilities Building a cocktail brand around quality and provenance Managing the realities of small-business growth and cash flow Trust, resilience and staying true to your own direction 🔗 Connect with us Bar Buoy Website: https://www.barbuoy.co.uk/ Bar Buoy IG: https://www.instagram.com/bar_buoy Bar Buoy LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bar-buoy-limited/ Ria Ball: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riaball/ Tim Ball: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timballbarbuoy/ 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/

October 7, 2026Episode 14617 min

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

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 businesses Defining a true crisis vs an issue The “golden hour” and the importance of speed with a plan Treating 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/

September 23, 2026Episode 14548 min

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

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 growth Next-generation leadership in a family business Modernising a legacy industry Resilience through downturns and failed bets Sustainability 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/

September 9, 2026Episode 14449 min

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

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 Cream Multi‑Generational Family Business Dynamics Next‑Gen Ownership and Leaving a Legacy Where B Corp Values Meet Family Values Innovating 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/

August 26, 2026Episode 14347 min

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

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 work Earning your place as the next generation Generational 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/

August 12, 2026Episode 14238 min

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

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 Business Balancing Tradition with Sustainable Innovation Leadership 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/

July 29, 2026Episode 14137 min

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

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 Business Innovation in Bedding and the Science of Sleep Sustainability, B Corp, and Ethical Textiles Leadership, Mentorship, and Learning on the Job Family 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/

July 15, 2026Episode 14033 min

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

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 Cornwall Balancing multiple ventures, creativity and family life Protecting 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/

July 1, 2026Episode 13933 min

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

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 Business Growing Up Inside the Business: Identity, Conflict and Commitment Leading Through Grief and Sudden Responsibility Culture, 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/

June 17, 2026Episode 13832 min

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

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 value Leaving a stable career to “stop building someone else’s future” Harnessing individual strengths in a family business Communication, 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/

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