It Runs In The Family

Hosted by Liz & Leila Willingham

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

144

Latest episode

Aug 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

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/

June 3, 2026Episode 13738 min

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

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 Calling Multi‑Generational Family Business Dynamics Leading With Compassion Blending Passion with Profession Balancing 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/

May 20, 2026Episode 13645 min

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

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 Business Patience and Risk in a Niche Market Preserving Your Ethics Amid Wider Pressures Environmental 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/

May 6, 2026Episode 13542 min

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

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 Heritage People, Culture and Team Community Responsibility and the Cornish Visitor Economy Balancing 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/

April 22, 2026Episode 1341 hr 0 min

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

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 Glass Community, Mentorship and Open Studios Resilience and Creativity Succession 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/

April 8, 2026Episode 13340 min

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

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 business Resilience and risk Cultural identity, love and communication Ambition 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/