2025's Episodes
(Note: our podcast pages are currently under construction. Check back often to see years 2020-2024 come alive. In the mean time, you can still listen to all of these episodes on Spotify & Apple Podcasts).
Mike Hayes blends military discipline with people-first leadership as CEO of GLC Business Services. In this conversation with Michael Palumbos, he reflects on returning to the company his father co-founded in 1992, facing partner misalignment, pandemic pivots, and the challenge of protecting culture while pursuing growth. Listeners will hear how a carefully crafted buy-sell agreement prevented a messy split, why mentorship fuels loyalty in a high-turnover industry, and how legacy done right means giving the next generation options, not obligations.
Kevin Ellis of Upstate Niagara Cooperative joins Michael Palumbos for a powerful conversation on legacy, leadership, and transformation. From his roots on a family farm in Tully, New York, to leading a $1.5 billion dairy cooperative, Kevin shares how early lessons in agriculture shaped a no-nonsense approach to governance, growth, and fairness while managing 260+ family farms. From $1M corn choppers to AI-powered plants, Amish dairies to 5,000-cow operations, he offers a masterclass in balancing tradition, innovation, and sustainability—while aligning purpose with profitability.
Fourth-generation leader and author of The Farmer’s Code, Mike Young of Wegis & Young joins Michael Palumbos to share the extraordinary journey of a family business that evolved from hands-on farming to visionary legacy stewardship. With candor and wisdom, Mike reveals how his family navigated scaling across generations, exited 85% of their farmland to protect future wealth, and built businesses fueled by regulation and strategy. From equal pay to family governance, and from political involvement to next-gen preparation, this episode offers a blueprint for living—not just leaving—a legacy.
Author and founder of One World Investments, Scott Saslow joins Michael Palumbos to reframe the family office not as a luxury but as a vital business. Drawing from personal experience and his book Building a Sustainable Family Office, Scott shares what most families get wrong after a liquidity event—and how to fix it. Together, they explore why wealth management requires the same rigor, talent strategy, and purpose-driven vision that built the business in the first place. With insights on embedded offices, outsourcing vs. hiring, and sustainable impact investing, this episode offers a blueprint for families navigating new complexity with clarity and intention.
Leadership visionary and founder of Be Generative, Brent Robertson joins Michael Palumbos to highlight the overlooked superpower of generative listening and its role in transforming family businesses. In a time of massive generational transition, Brent shows how leaders can move from control to empowerment, shift from reactive succession to intentional growth, and build organizations that are future-ready. With compelling insights and practical strategies, this episode is a masterclass in creating space—for innovation, identity, and legacy. A must-listen for leaders navigating what’s next with clarity and purpose.
Second-generation CEO Randy Carr, president of World Emblem, joins Michael Palumbos to share the gritty journey of rebuilding a failed family business into a 1,600-employee global leader. Randy reveals how embracing lean manufacturing, overhauling leadership structure, and reframing technology as a strategic advantage transformed both culture and bottom line. From near-fistfights with his brother to mentoring his son into the business, this episode dives into the emotional and operational realities of running a family enterprise. A must-listen for leaders navigating growth, succession, and the power of cultural change.
In this episode of the Family Biz Show, Eriksen Dickens, co-founder of Platinum Peek and Dickens Brothers, joins Michael Palumbos to explore the intersection of storytelling, legacy, and family business leadership. Eriksen shares his journey from making backyard movies with his brother to running a production company that creates legacy documentaries preserving family stories, values, and experiences for future generations. He also unpacks the challenges of building a creative business—balancing leadership with his brother, managing a growing team, and selling creative services. Together, Michael and Eriksen reflect on moving from success to significance.
Peter Moustakerski, CEO of Family Office Exchange (FOX), joins Michael Palumbos to explore the evolving world of family offices and the strategies needed for multi-generational success. This episode dives into the real cost of running a family office, why governance is critical beyond the founder generation, and how peer communities transform family enterprise management. Peter shares his journey from global business strategy to guiding some of the world’s most influential families, offering practical advice on balancing complexity, collaboration, and legacy planning. Essential listening for leaders building wealth with purpose across generations.
Three generations of the Firkins family, the team behind Tile Wholesalers, join Michael Palumbos to share what it takes to run a thriving multi-generational business. This episode explores succession planning, generational leadership, and the challenges of ownership transition. Al, Dave, Kathryn, and Conor Firkins reveal how they’ve built success by prioritizing trust, embracing change, and keeping communication open. Listeners will hear how they scaled across decades, balanced family dynamics in decision-making, and stayed competitive through customer service and culture-driven growth. Packed with insights for family business owners focused on sustainability and legacy.
Executive coach and author Cathy Carroll, founder of Legacy Onward, Inc., joins Michael Palumbos to explore the emotional and strategic tensions that define family-owned businesses. Drawing from her book Hug of War, Cathy shares how families can lead with both love and logic by managing polarities like fairness vs. equality, tradition vs. innovation, and independence vs. interdependence. Through powerful stories and practical tools, this episode offers family business leaders a fresh perspective on conflict, governance, and preparing the next generation for leadership. A must-listen for families serious about legacy and long-term success.
Michael Bower, owner of Eagle Metal Craft, shares his journey of buying and transforming a struggling multi-generational family business. From navigating the challenges of acquiring a company with no succession plan to implementing strategic growth, Michael reveals how he revived a declining legacy into a thriving enterprise. Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or part of a family business, this episode is packed with insights on leadership, business transformation, and long-term success.
Join us as we dive into the psychology of sales with Nikki Rausch, founder of Sales Maven and expert in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). In this episode, Nikki breaks down the four levels of competence and how understanding them can transform sales, leadership, and communication in your family business. Learn how to identify hidden skills, develop stronger sales strategies, and create authentic connections that drive growth.
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