The Enlightened Family Business Podcast

Hosted by Chris Yonker

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Aug 2026

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What if governance, succession, and leadership weren't just business strategies—but sacred opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation? Welcome to The Enlightened Family Business Podcast with Chris Yonker—author, trusted advisor to ultra-high-net-worth families, and 7th-degree black belt whose work bridges legacy with soul. This isn't your typical family business podcast. Each episode dives deep into the inner and outer dimensions of generational success—where family dynamics, conscious leadership, custom-fit governance, and soul-purpose clarity come together to shape continuity that feels as good as it looks. Rooted in Chris's Governance 2.0™ framework, the show explores: • Strategic governance aligned with family values • Transparent communication and relational repair • Mental, emotional, and physical well-being as business drivers • Personal development and transformation at every level • Succession planning that honors identity, meaning, and legacy Chris has guided some of the most complex family systems in the world—blending deep psychological insight, trauma-informed process, and spiritual intelligence. Whether you're a founder, rising gen leader, or advisor to family enterprises, this podcast will challenge, inspire, and equip you to lead with intention—and fulfill the purpose your soul came here to live. Subscribe now to discover what's possible when families align from the inside out.

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September 7, 2026Episode 16855 min

You can't change what you can't be with A conversation with David Young

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 168: You Can't Change What You Can't Be With — A Conversation with David Young In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with David Young — somatic experiencing practitioner, collective trauma healer, co-executive director at Somatic Experiencing International, and founder of The Art of Collective Integration — for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the most underexplored dimensions of human development: why intelligent, well-educated people keep repeating patterns that hurt them, and what it actually takes to change. David brings a remarkable lineage to this work — the son of an African American former Black Panther-turned-missionary and a Taiwanese mother, trained in intelligence analysis, East Asian philosophy, pastoral ministry, and somatic psychology. Together Chris and David explore why transformation isn't a cognitive event but a full-body physiological experience; why self-help books give us the cherry on top without the cake underneath; the difference between cultivating performance and cultivating wisdom; how the nervous system holds patterns that fire faster than the speed of thought; why anxiety in the rising generation is best met with co-regulation before analysis; what resilience actually means and why it's the highway to both personal and collective change; and what it looks like to raise a generation that can hold the complexity of a volatile, uncertain, rapidly accelerating world. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered why knowing better doesn't always lead to doing better. Episode Chapters · 1:07 Meet David Young · 4:05 Breaking Patterns — What's Really Going On · 5:55 Developing the Rising Generation for the Future · 7:00 The Stages of Development Haven't Changed — But Everything Else Has · 10:56 Belonging vs. Becoming: The Tension Every Rising Gen Faces · 15:37 Why Highly Intelligent People Keep Repeating Harmful Patterns · 17:24 Why Self-Help Books Give You the Realization Without the Change · 22:36 Same Car, Different Engine: What Changes When Healing Happens · 23:09 Performance Culture vs. Wisdom Culture · 27:53 Pain and Pleasure Are Not Enough — The Limits of Leverage · 29:33 What the Nervous System Has to Do With Everything · 34:35 Anxiety in the Rising Generation — What's Really Driving It · 36:52 Co-Regulation: The First Step Before Asking Why · 41:14 Building Resilience: The Highway to Personal and Collective Change · 47:16 Resilience Is the Capacity to Stay in Flow With Adversity · 48:01 A Message for Parents and Family Principals · 50:28 Resources and Farewell Websites · artofcollectiveintegration.com · traumahealing.org · chrisyonker.com About David Young David Young 楊正賢, M.A., CMMT is the Co-Executive Director of Somatic Experiencing International and the founder and lead teacher of The Art of Collective Integration (ACI), a methodology for addressing collective trauma and societal polarization through somatic, relational, and systems-based practices. As a collective trauma integration facilitator, certified mindfulness meditation teacher, and executive coach, David supports communities and organizations through critical transitions — helping them heal from collective trauma, navigate complexity, and enable healthy communication in polarized environments. With 20+ years of experience in leadership development, systems change, and trauma-informed consulting, David brings a unique approach that integrates somatic awareness, collective intelligence, and wisdom traditions to foster resilient, adaptive organizations. He has designed and facilitated large-scale leadership retreats and community healing initiatives in over 30 cities across the US and Europe, focusing on intergenerational leadership, cultural resilience, and conflict transformation. He is also a co-creator and co-facilitator of Attuned: Becoming Trauma Informed & Trauma Responsive in Professional Settings (accredited by the Law Society of Ontario) and The Leadership Dojo, an eight-week practice-based facilitation training. A student of collective trauma healing with Thomas Hübl, David holds multiple certifications in mindfulness, trauma facilitation, and conscious leadership, and is a teacher on Insight Timer, a global meditation app. He enjoys traveling, camping with his kids, martial arts, and hanging out in tea shops.

August 24, 2026Episode 16752 min

The One Plan Every Family Is Missing with Libby Boatwright

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 167: The One Plan Every Family Is Missing with Libby Boatwright In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Libby Boatwright — certified financial planner, former Stanford Medical Center chaplain, pastor, and author of The Last Things We Talk About — for a candid, deeply practical conversation about the one plan most families never make: an end-of-life plan. Drawing on decades of experience in palliative care, hospice work, financial planning, and pastoral ministry, Libby walks through the full spectrum of what families need to navigate when a loved one faces a serious diagnosis or decline — and why waiting until the last minute makes everything harder and more costly. Chris and Libby explore the critical difference between palliative care and hospice, how hospitals really operate and what they won't tell you, why your advanced directive is your most important legal document, the caregiving crisis quietly bankrupting American families, how to be an effective patient advocate inside a system not designed to help you, and what it actually looks like to help a loved one die well. Chris also shares his own firsthand experience navigating hospice for both parents — including a powerful story about standing up to a hospital trying to redirect his mother's care. This is a conversation every family should hear before they need it. Episode Chapters · 2:22 Meet Libby Boatwright · 4:31 What End-of-Life Planning Actually Covers · 7:29 When the Diagnosis Arrives: Legacy, Bucket Lists, and Getting the House in Order · 10:00 The Circles of Support — Who Will Be There When It Matters? · 12:44 How to Start the Conversation When Families Don't Want To · 15:00 The Advanced Directive, HIPAA, and the POLST — The Three Essential Documents · 18:32 The Caregiving Crisis: Costs, Burnout, and Family Conflict · 23:36 Alzheimer's, Memory Care, and What It Actually Costs · 26:17 Protecting Assets: Trusts, Look-Back Periods, and Planning Ahead · 28:13 Navigating the Hospital System: Case Managers, Patient Advocates, and How to Fight for Your Loved One · 35:00 Palliative Care: What It Is, When to Use It, and Why Most People Don't Know · 38:09 Hospice: Medicare's Gift at the End of Life · 41:18 Chris's Story: Standing Up to the Hospital · 46:59 About the Book: The Last Things We Talk About · 50:16 Resources and Farewell Websites · elizabethboatwright.com · chrisyonker.com Book · The Last Things We Talk About: Your Guide to End of Life Transitions by Elizabeth Boatwright (Bull Publishing, 2021) — available on Amazon About Libby Boatwright Rev. Dr. Elizabeth "Libby" Boatwright, BCC-PCHAC, CFP, is a chaplain, pastor, certified financial planner, and author who has spent over 30 years counseling families on end-of-life issues, loss, grief, estate planning, and the emotional and spiritual dimensions of dying. She served as a Relief Chaplain in Oncology Outpatient Palliative Care Medicine at Stanford Health Care, where she worked alongside hundreds of patients and families navigating serious illness and end-of-life transitions. In her book The Last Things We Talk About: Your Guide to End of Life Transitions (Bull Publishing, 2021), Libby offers a practical framework for creating what she calls the "white book" — a simple binder or flash drive of all the materials a family will need when a loved one passes — helping heirs avoid what she calls "the treasure hunt" of lost documents and unspoken wishes. Libby has lectured at universities, colleges, and medical institutions, led seminars at national conventions, faith communities, parenting groups, senior fellowships, and estate planning forums. She has published in Cancer.net, Morningstar, CSA Journal, and Barron's, and has been featured in newspapers across the country. She has also appeared on ABC Nightly News and hosted her own radio show, The Fiscal Therapist, on KAIM. Libby holds Master's degrees from UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and Fuller Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry in Semiotics and Future Studies from George Fox University, and holds certifications as a Certified Financial Planner and Board Certified Chaplain with Advanced Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care. She lives in Northern California.

August 10, 2026Episode 16659 min

Preparing the Rising Generation for Succession with Jeremy Lurey

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 166: Preparing the Rising Generation for Succession with Jeremy Lurey In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker is joined by Dr. Jeremy Lurey of Family Legacy First for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on one of the most underserved dimensions of family business succession — preparing the people, not just the plan. Recorded as part of the Family Business Executive Forum, this episode moves beyond the mechanics of who gets what and digs into the real work: the relational ecosystem, the communication structures, the identity questions, and the developmental gaps that determine whether a rising generation will thrive or fracture when the founding generation steps away. Chris and Jeremy explore why calling the next generation "now-gen" instead of "next-gen" changes everything; why the how of succession always matters more than the who; what the dashboard of a healthy succession ecosystem actually looks like; why governance without communication is just paperwork; and why the families that navigate multi-generational continuity best are the ones focused on individual flourishing, not just business continuity. They also share real client stories — both cautionary and inspiring — that illustrate what happens when families do this work and what happens when they don't. Episode Chapters · 0:00 Setting the Stage: Succession as a Process, Not an Event · 2:21 The Family Succession Ecosystem — What's Really Required · 5:31 Founder Influence and the Decision-Making Shift Across Generations · 8:00 The Relational Structure of the Rising Generation — Are We Building It? · 9:57 Fair vs. Equal: The Question That Stops Rooms Cold · 13:10 The Succession Dashboard: Eight Indicators of Ecosystem Health · 16:36 Now-Gen vs. Next-Gen: Why the Language Matters · 19:20 Leadership Development Is Intentional, Not Accidental · 23:02 How Much Input Should the Outgoing Leader Have? · 25:34 What Got You Here Won't Get You There · 28:00 Stewardship vs. Ownership — A Whole Different Framework · 30:24 Why Holistic Discovery Matters More Than You Think · 32:47 Life Happens Through Communication · 36:21 Elevating from Me to We · 38:13 When the Patriarch Won't Let Go — Real Stories · 42:07 Jay Hughes, Flourishing, and the Individual in the Family System · 44:02 Now-Gen Outside the Enterprise — A Powerful Case Study · 50:24 Parting Wisdom: Where to Start in the Next Seven to Ten Years · 54:50 Building the Multidisciplinary Advisory Team · 55:26 Resources and Farewell Websites · familylegacyfirst.com · chrisyonker.com LinkedIn · Search Jeremy Lurey or Chris Yonker About Jeremy Lurey Dr. Jeremy Lurey is the founder of Family Legacy First, a consulting practice dedicated to helping multi-generational family enterprises navigate succession, governance, and legacy planning with a focus on the human side of the process. With a background in management consulting and executive coaching, Jeremy works with families across the country on leadership transitions, family councils, retreats, and the relational dynamics that determine whether a family business survives across generations. He is a sought-after speaker and facilitator known for his practical, story-driven approach and his conviction that succession is never just about choosing the right successor — it's about building the right ecosystem for the whole family to thrive.

July 27, 2026Episode 16553 min

Rethinking Succession in Family Business with Josh Baron

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 165: Rethinking Succession in Family Business with Josh Baron In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Josh Baron — Harvard Business School faculty member, co-founder of Banyan Global, and co-author of multiple Harvard Business Review works on family enterprise — for a rich, deeply practical conversation on the topic that never gets old: succession. Josh has spent 20 years advising family businesses and teaching at Columbia and Harvard, and what he keeps finding is that families don't fail at succession because they chose the wrong person. They fail because they never built the right process. Together Chris and Josh explore why a family business CEO who's been in the seat for 30 years is not facing a job change — they're facing an identity crisis; why the how of succession is more important than the what; the critical difference between conquerors and rulers and why the next generation doesn't need to look like the founder to be the right fit; how to use the arc of succession — assets, roles, and capabilities — as a planning framework; what happens when the founding generation leaves and the next generation discovers they have no one to resolve their disputes; and why working backwards from the far future is one of the most effective tools for getting a reluctant founder to engage. They also dig into the four ownership models used by successful multi-generational family businesses and why the question isn't just who should run the business — it's whether the family should have a business at all. Episode Chapters · 3:56 Meet Josh Baron · 5:13 From Bain to Banyan: How Josh Found His Way Into Family Business · 8:00 Why Succession Is an Evergreen Problem — and Always Will Be · 10:12 What the Rising Generation Is Really Feeling · 13:12 Why G1 and G2 Struggle to See Each Other Clearly · 15:39 When Is the Right Time to Start Succession Planning? · 16:05 The Arc of Succession: Assets, Roles, and Capabilities · 20:48 Succession Is a Process, Not an Event · 22:11 The Danger of the One-Winner Moment · 24:33 Why Every Generation Needs a Different Kind of Leader · 27:50 How to Help a Founder Embrace What Got Us Here Won't Get Us There · 30:00 Grafting: How the Next Gen Should Introduce New Ideas · 31:30 Working Backwards: The Most Effective Tool for Reluctant Founders · 35:35 What Happens When the Founder Leaves and the Glue Disappears · 38:00 Should We Even Have a Family Business? The Question Nobody Asks · 40:19 The Four Ownership Models and When Each One Works · 46:09 The How Is Greater Than the What · 49:06 When to Get Outside Help — and Why You Always Need It · 53:31 Resources and Farewell Websites · hbs.edu (search Josh Baron) · banyanglobal.com · chrisyonker.com Book & Articles · The Founder's Final Act — Harvard Business Review, September–October 2025 · Search "Josh Baron HBS" for the full catalog of published work About Josh Baron Josh Baron is a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, coauthor of the Harvard Business Review Family Business Handbook, and a cofounder of BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors.

July 13, 2026Episode 16445 min

Unlocking Inner Potential: Tools for Sustainable Leadership with Shalin Desai

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 164: Unlocking Inner Potential: Tools for Sustainable Leadership with Shalin Desai In the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker welcomes Shailendra (Shalin) Desai, an engineer and longtime Art of Living teacher who has spent 20 years teaching breathing techniques and meditation in 64 U.S. cities, including Fortune 500 companies. They discuss shifting leadership needs, employee disengagement, and generational differences, emphasizing that calm, regulated nervous systems support trust, connection, and better decision-making. Desai explains Art of Living's SKY Breath (Sudarshan Kriya) and cites research, including a Yale study comparing outcomes with mindfulness-based stress reduction and an emotional intelligence program, noting benefits like reduced cortisol and anxiety and increased purpose. He guides listeners through a short bellows breathing (Bhastrika) exercise and brief meditation, recommends starting the day with the practice, and frames breathwork as daily "mental hygiene." · 00:54 Meet Shalin Desai · 04:25 Leadership Engagement Crisis · 08:34 Generational Leadership Shift · 11:02 Breathwork For Calm Leaders · 17:42 Why Breath Before Meditation · 21:22 Guided 12 Minute Practice · 36:02 When To Use It · 36:35 Real World Impact Stories · 42:22 Mental Hygiene Mindset · 43:20 Resources And Farewell Websites · artofliving.org · chrisyonker.com About Shalin Desai Shalin Desai is the Director of Programs for the Art of Living Foundation, one of the world's largest nonprofit organizations, whose initiatives have positively impacted over 500 million people across 180+ countries. With more than 25 years of experience teaching breathwork and meditation, Shalin is known for integrating ancient wisdom with modern leadership and well-being practices. He also serves as Chief Revenue Officer of Sri Sri Tattva, a global wellness brand offering natural and Ayurvedic products that promote holistic health through a blend of tradition and science. For over 15 years, Shalin has designed and delivered corporate leadership and wellness programs for organizations including Microsoft, Dell, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture, Salesforce, Eli Lilly and Company, and Merck & Co.. His work helps leaders and teams manage stress, build resilience, and cultivate mental clarity while reconnecting with a deeper sense of purpose. Personally trained by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Shalin is among a select group chosen to train teachers of the Art of Living programs. Through his seminars and speaking engagements, he combines scientific insight with practical tools that help individuals and organizations unlock sustainable performance and well-being.He is also known for his Intuitive Life Scan, a breakthrough approach in which trained guides provide unbiased, highly accurate insights into an individual's unique situation. Using techniques that access the intuitive space—also called Absolute Intelligence—participants gain clarity and actionable guidance beyond what conventional knowledge can offer. A highly engaging speaker known for his relatable storytelling and humor, Shalin inspires audiences with practical techniques they can apply immediately to improve focus, leadership, and overall well-being. Shalin holds a degree in Supply Chain Management from the State University of New York and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children.

June 29, 2026Episode 16339 min

Wealth Is Wellbeing: Helping Families Flourish with Susan Weingartner

Susan Weingartner has spent more than 25 years working at the intersection of capital and human behavior. Although she grew up as the daughter of a wealth advisor, Susan initially chose a different path. Her career led her through philanthropy, impact investing, sustainable real estate, and capital markets, where she came to understand a powerful truth: wealth is never just financial. It carries responsibility, and when that responsibility remains unspoken, it shapes families in ways they don't expect. As a founder of a family enterprise, former CEO, investor, and leader in philanthropy and impact investing, Susan brings a rare cross-disciplinary perspective to conversations about legacy, stewardship, and the human side of wealth. Today, Susan helps families prepare the next generation for the responsibility and stewardship of wealth. Through her speaking, advising, and thought leadership, she helps families, advisors, and institutions prepare people, not just assets, for the future.

June 15, 2026Episode 16246 min

You May be Making Decisions in the Dark - Jacques Santucci on Financially Preparing your Business for the Future

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 162: You May Be Making Decisions in the Dark — Jacques Santucci on Financially Preparing Your Business for the Future In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Jacques Santucci, President of Opus Consulting, for a grounded, practical conversation about one of the most underutilized levers in family business: financial leadership. Jacques brings a rare combination of international business experience — from Ernst & Young in France to CFO roles in the US — and 17 years of consulting to privately held and family-owned businesses across New England and beyond. Together, Chris and Jacques break down the critical differences between a bookkeeper, controller, and CFO; why so many family businesses are making major decisions with months-old data; what the early warning signs of financial trouble actually look like before an owner recognizes them; and why the fractional CFO model has become one of the most accessible and high-impact resources available to growing family firms. They also explore what a meaningful financial education pathway looks like for the rising generation — not to make them accountants, but to ensure they can read a P&L, understand a balance sheet, talk to a banker, and make decisions grounded in fact rather than gut feeling. Episode Chapters · 4:10 Meet Jacques Santucci · 7:12 From France to Maine: A CFO's Unlikely Journey · 11:04 Bookkeeper, Controller, CFO — What's the Difference and Why It Matters · 17:12 The CFO's Real Job: Looking at the Future, Not the Past · 19:25 When Is It Time to Bring In a CFO? · 21:33 Financial Reporting: What to Measure, How Often, and Why · 25:31 Early Warning Signs Your Business Is Heading for Trouble · 29:16 Customer Mix, Profit Margins, and Strategic Decision-Making · 30:16 A Real-World Case Study: Seasonal Business, Six-Week-Old Data, and What Changed · 31:47 Clean Data: Why Accuracy Is the Foundation of Every Good Decision · 35:20 Developing the Rising Generation's Financial Acumen · 40:08 What Every Next-Gen Leader Needs to Understand About the Numbers · 42:16 The Fractional CFO Model: Full Expertise at a Fraction of the Cost · 46:05 Resources and Farewell Websites · opuscg.com · chrisyonker.com About Jacques Santucci Jacques Santucci is the President and Founder of Opus Consulting, a nationally recognized full-service business advisory firm supporting companies from start-up to turnaround, and offering management and fractional C-suite services to unlock performance. Jacques is particularly skilled in helping businesses navigate complex inflection points and difficult industries, with over 20 years of experience in turnarounds and restructurings. He frequently serves as a restructuring officer, court-appointed receiver, or turnaround advisor — bringing disciplined execution and a practical, hands-on approach to each engagement. In his capacity as a fractional CFO, Jacques utilizes his strategic and financial expertise to help companies improve fiscal controls, cash flow, and align financial operations with long-term goals. From his frontline perspective in restructuring and turnarounds, he is keenly aware of the financial decisions and factors that lead companies into distress — and works with business leaders to avoid those pitfalls earlier in the business lifecycle. Jacques built his career as a strategic finance leader, holding senior roles at Ernst & Young and Universal Pictures in Paris, France, before bringing his expertise to privately held and family-owned businesses across the United States.

June 1, 2026Episode 16156 min

AI Is Coming Fast — What Family Businesses Should Do Now with Jack Potvin

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 161: AI Is Coming Fast — What Family Businesses Should Do Now with Jack Potvin In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker is joined by AI product builder Jack Potvin for a fast-moving, practical conversation about artificial intelligence and what privately held and family businesses need to do — right now — to stay competitive. Jack built his AI foundation working on one of the world's first computer vision models for sports before the rise of large language models, and now dedicates his work to helping independent businesses harness this technology before the window closes. Chris and Jack make the case for why family businesses — historically outperformers — are at a critical inflection point: large corporations are pouring tens of billions into AI adoption, and the playing field will not stay level for those who wait. Together they explore what AI actually is, the two core value drivers of efficiency and capability expansion, where to start when your team is at zero, why governance policies matter more than most owners realize, which specific tools deliver immediate value, and what AI genuinely cannot replace — deep domain expertise, broken process diagnosis, and nuanced human judgment. They also dive into real-world case studies from a beverage manufacturer and an insurance agency that have completely transformed their operations through AI, and close with a grounded, practical framework for family business leaders ready to take their first meaningful steps. Episode Chapters · 0:00 Welcome and Framing the Opportunity · 1:00 Meet Jack Potvin — From Sports AI to Family Business Adoption · 4:06 Why Family Businesses Are at a Competitive Inflection Point · 7:28 What Is AI? Defining LLMs, Efficiency, and Capability Expansion · 13:18 Should Your Company Have an AI Policy? · 16:04 Addressing the Fear: Job Loss, Data Privacy, and the Real Risks · 22:10 Where to Start: Daily Drivers, Existing Tools, and Filling the Gap · 26:54 Best AI Tools Right Now: Read AI, Whisper Flow, Notion, Gamma · 30:29 Operational Efficiency, Analytics, and Business Development · 31:11 Two Real-World Case Studies: Beverage Manufacturer and Insurance Agency · 35:23 What AI Is Great At — and Where Humans Must Lead · 40:40 AI for Business Development, Outbound, and CRM Automation · 45:59 Strategic Planning, Knowledge Bases, and Building Your Company's AI Brain · 50:20 Q&A and Closing Resources Websites · businessautomation.com · chrisyonker.com About Jack Potvin Jack Ryan Potvin is an entrepreneur and AI strategist focused on helping businesses adopt practical artificial intelligence solutions that improve efficiency, decision-making, and competitive positioning. As the founder of Business Automation, Jack works with companies to integrate AI into everyday business operations — from automating workflows and improving internal knowledge systems to enhancing marketing, sales, and strategic insight. Jack specializes in translating rapidly evolving AI capabilities into practical tools that business leaders can implement today, without requiring large technical teams or massive technology investments. He is particularly passionate about helping family-owned and employee-owned companies adopt AI in ways that strengthen their long-term competitiveness while preserving the leadership values and culture that make these businesses successful.

May 18, 202654 min

The Family Factor: Why Some Families Survive Conflict and Others Don't with Doug Baumoel

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 160: The Family Factor: Why Some Families Survive Conflict and Others Don't with Doug Baumoel In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Doug Baumoel, Founding Partner of Continuity Family Business Consulting and co-author of Deconstructing Conflict, for a deeply honest conversation about what actually tears family businesses apart — and what it takes to hold them together. Doug's path into this work is personal: he grew up as heir apparent in a thriving multi-generational family business that ultimately collapsed under the weight of poorly managed conflict, despite multiple consultants attempting to help. What he learned from that experience led him to develop the Conflict Equation Methodology, a systems-based framework rooted in the science of identity-based conflict — the kind of conflict that can't be mediated, negotiated, or governed away. In this conversation, Doug and Chris explore the critical distinction between disagreements, disputes, and true conflict; the concept of the Family Factor and why it's the single most important variable in any family business engagement; why governance overlaid on top of unresolved conflict is like pouring gasoline on a fire; and how trust is rebuilt not through warmth or wishful thinking, but through predictability. They also dig into early warning signs of passive and active conflict, why the first phone call from a prospective client can make or break an engagement, and what it really means to sacrifice for family. Episode Chapters · 8:48 Meet Doug Baumoel · 11:00 Growing Up as Heir Apparent — and Watching It Fall Apart · 14:00 Why Most Family Business Consultants Made Things Worse · 16:30 The Conflict Equation: A Systems Engineering Approach · 19:00 Identity-Based Conflict vs. Civil Dispute · 22:10 How Families Show Up: Stuck, Worried, or In Crisis · 23:22 The First Phone Call and the Bias Trap · 27:38 Family First or Business First? · 31:08 The Family Factor: Compromise, Forgiveness, and Care · 35:09 Are We Wired to Care for Each Other? · 39:00 Early Warning Signs: Passive vs. Active Conflict · 49:20 Why Governance Is Not a Conflict Solution · 52:44 Building the Family Factor Across Generations · 56:34 Resources and Farewell Websites · continuityfbc.com · chrisyonker.com Book · Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth, and Power — available on Amazon About Doug Baumoel, MBA Doug Baumoel is the Founding Partner of Continuity Family Business Consulting, where he specializes in conflict management and leverages his extensive expertise in family business, family office operations, and governance. He draws from over 25 years of business experience — including starting and managing businesses in both the U.S. and Europe, where he established and led the European offices of his second-generation family enterprise — to develop a robust process for analyzing the key variables that influence family business conflict. He co-authored Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth, and Power with Continuity Managing Partner Blair Trippe. His insights have been featured in Family Business Magazine, Thomson West's Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Guide, Private Company Director magazine, and Harvard's Negotiation Journal. A nationally recognized speaker, Doug has presented at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, Cornell University's Smith Family Business Initiative, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the Family Firm Institute, the American Bar Association, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). He serves as a board member of One Family Inc., a Massachusetts non-profit supporting families facing homelessness, and sits on the boards of a private foundation and a technology firm. Doug holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University. He is a Fellow of both the Family Firm Institute (FFI) and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), a Practitioner Scholar with Cornell's Smith Family Business Initiative, and a recipient of FFI's 2023 Interdisciplinary Award. Outside of work, he is an avid fingerstyle jazz guitarist who occasionally performs at charity events and jazz venues.

May 6, 2026Episode 15944 min

The Story Only Your Family Can Tell

The Enlightened Family Business Podcast Ep. 159: The Story Only Your Family Can Tell with Roy Moëd & Yvette Conn In this episode of the Enlightened Family Business Podcast, host Chris Yonker sits down with Roy Moëd and Yvette Conn, co-founders of Lifebook Memoirs, for a rich conversation about why documenting the stories of family business founders may be one of the most underutilized tools in the entire legacy planning space. Roy's journey into this work began with a deeply personal moment — repeatedly shutting down his blind father's stories until it was almost too late — and evolved into a global enterprise that has now chronicled over 20,000 lives across the world. Yvette, with her background in financial markets and business commentary, brings the lens of the family enterprise: how the unrecorded stories of founders get distorted over generations, how family myths quietly become sources of division, and how a book chronicling the origin of a family business can give an entire management team a living framework of values to build on. Together, they explore why so many people believe their story isn't worth telling, what it actually looks like to capture a 100-year-old family business history, the surprising emotional and relational benefits that emerge when stories are finally put to paper, and why a book — not a video — remains the most powerful medium for preserving a family's truth. This is a quietly profound episode for any family business leader who has ever wondered whether the story of how it all began still matters. Episode Chapters · 5:28 Meet Roy Moëd and Yvette Conn · 6:07 The Genesis: A Blind Father and a Secretary Who Listened · 9:34 From Memoir to Family Business Stories — How Lifebook Evolved · 11:07 Who Am I to Have My Story Written? The Self-Worth Question · 13:00 The Aha Moment: Why Every Story Is Worth Telling · 17:42 The Value to the Reader — Not Just the Subject · 19:00 How Founders' Stories Give the Next Gen Permission to Try and Permission to Fail · 20:40 Passing On Values, Not Just Value · 22:08 When the Family Story Gets Distorted — and Why It Causes Division · 24:46 Capturing Stories of Founders Who Are No Longer Alive · 27:21 You Can't Ensure Your Memory, But You Can Ensure Your Memories · 30:42 How This Work Has Enriched Their Own Lives · 37:11 What Families Ask: How Much Time Does This Actually Take? · 39:46 Using the Book Project as a Legacy Role for a Retiring Founder · 42:39 Why a Book Beats a Video · 43:40 Resources and Farewell Websites · lifebookmemoirs.com · chrisyonker.com About Roy Moëd Roy Moëd is the co-founder of LifeBook Memoirs, which he launched in 2010 alongside his wife Yvette following extensive research at the Toronto Brain Health Institute. The company officially launched in October 2011 and secured venture capital funding in 2012. Today, over 20,000 people worldwide own a LifeBook. Roy's entrepreneurial journey began in 1978 with the founding of Pourshins Limited, which he built — starting with just £4,800 — into an international enterprise employing over 600 staff across four factories in four countries. He later re-engineered the company into a global virtual logistics and BPO provider before selling it to gategroup in 2007. Beyond business, Roy is a passionate philanthropist and advocate: he founded a polo club in Windsor, participated in the London to Sydney air race to raise money for charity, volunteered with Crisis at Christmas, and assisted with refugee relocation efforts at the Polish-Ukrainian border. He has been an active YPO member since 1991 and is deeply involved in the Parenting Community, creating forums and events focused on ageing parents. About Yvette Conn Yvette Conn co-founded LifeBook Memoirs in 2011 after a distinguished career in financial markets. After earning her Economics degree from the University of Bath, she entered the City of London — then still heavily male-dominated — and rose through the ranks at Laurie Milbank and later Investec, becoming one of the first female partners in the City and a member of the London Stock Exchange. Today, alongside her role at LifeBook, she leads the company's prestigious OPUS Division, which works with individuals, families, and founders to capture their life journeys and preserve their legacies for future generations. Yvette's rare combination of financial rigour and emotional intelligence allows her to guide clients through the storytelling process with warmth, discretion, and authenticity. As she puts it: "While a balance sheet tells you what a family owns, a story tells you who they are."