

The Family Business Podcast
Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Every family has a story worth telling.
The Polsky Family Business Podcast shines a light on the inspiring, often unconventional journeys of family-owned businesses. Through rich conversations and reflections, we explore how families navigate challenges, build legacies, and redefine what it means to achieve generational success.
Hosted by Jamie Shah, a family business leader, educator, and entrepreneur, each episode connects authenticity with aspiration, helping listeners feel seen, understood, and inspired.
The Polsky Family Business Podcast shines a light on the inspiring, often unconventional journeys of family-owned businesses. Through rich conversations and reflections, we explore how families navigate challenges, build legacies, and redefine what it means to achieve generational success.
Hosted by Jamie Shah, a family business leader, educator, and entrepreneur, each episode connects authenticity with aspiration, helping listeners feel seen, understood, and inspired.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 10, 2025 • 48min
Succession Isn’t a Spreadsheet
Emily Holdman, Managing Director at Permanent Equity, brings her expertise in family business transitions to the discussion. She explores the emotional complexities of succession, challenging the common view of it as a power struggle. Highlights include assessing emotional readiness between generations, the importance of leadership skills, and strategic planning for seamless transitions. Emily emphasizes building trust and honest feedback, and advocates for collaborative approaches that ensure continuity beyond titles.

Aug 13, 2025 • 36min
A Seat at the Table Featuring: Nick Perrino, Home Run Inn
Fourth-generation leader Nick Perrino shares how Home Run Inn grew from a neighborhood tavern to a Chicago tavern-style pizza legend—without losing the family feel. From scaling to 80 pizzas a minute to navigating succession after loss, Nick reflects on the values, intentional growth, and employee culture that have kept people at the table for decades.

Jun 23, 2025 • 24min
"With Our Name on the Door" - featuring Matt Miniat
Matt Miniat of South Chicago Packing and Miniat Holdings joins Jamie to talk about what it means to steward a fifth-generation family business rooted in one of Chicago’s most iconic industries: meatpacking. From early pivots to product reinvention, Matt shares how the company leaned into its tallow legacy and used the unexpected power of TikTok and direct-to-consumer growth to find new relevance.
They explore the tension between tradition and innovation, the weight of operating under your own name, and how values like long-term thinking and food safety shape every decision. It’s a conversation about staying grounded in where you come from—even as you adapt to a rapidly changing world.

May 6, 2025 • 28min
Big Slice Energy: Elana Schulman on Legacy and Leadership at Eli’s Cheesecake
In this episode, Jamie sits down with Elana Schulman, third-generation leader of Eli’s Cheesecake, to explore what it means to carry a family name—and a legacy—into the future. From the steakhouse where it all began to the values that still guide the business today, Elana shares stories of innovation, identity, and what it's like to grow up inside one of Chicago’s most beloved food brands. From launching a non-dairy cheesecake to reimagining what leadership looks like in the third generation, Elana Schulman brings humor, heart, and insight to this episode.

Mar 24, 2025 • 32min
Episode 1: Work Was Love
Work Was Love
Featuring: Jessica Shah and Michelle Ranavat
Join Jamie and her sisters for an intimate kickoff conversation. They discuss their unique paths into (and around) their family business, the dynamics of sibling collaboration, and what it means to grow up inside a company—literally.