# E116: Leading Through The Downcycle: Family-Owned Edition

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/driving-forward-podcast-6718779/e116-leading-through-the-downcycle-family-owned-edition
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/driving-forward-podcast-6718779/e116-leading-through-the-downcycle-family-owned-edition.md
Podcast: [Driving Forward Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/driving-forward-podcast-6718779)
Published: 2026-01-30T18:56:42+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/driving-forward-podcast/episodes/E116-Leading-Through-The-Downcycle-Family-Owned-Edition-e3edps7
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/ecdf2450/podcast/play/114795847/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-30%2Fec5efbd2-c855-b632-e769-c2ae210c1572.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/driving-forward-podcast-6718779/episodes/e116-leading-through-the-downcycle-family-owned-edition
Duration seconds: 3687

## Resource

Freight markets don’t care about your legacy, and family businesses don’t get a “pause” button when the cycle turns.We’re joined by Mike McDonough for a straight-shooting conversation on what it really takes to lead a family-run transportation company in today’s market. We get into the realities behind the numbers: staying disciplined when rates move, protecting service without giving away the farm, and building a business that can survive the downcycle and be ready for the next climb.If you’re a carrier, broker, or shipper trying to make smart decisions in a noisy market, this one’s for you.

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## Transcript

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