Know Your Ship

Some companies chase trends. Balance of Nature was built on the opposite bet — that people already knew what they needed to do, they just needed someone to make it possible. Lex Howard, CEO and owner of Balance of Nature, and Cedric Ebisch, Executive Vice President, unpack how they took that founding bet and built a company disciplined enough to scale it nationally, long after face-to-face selling...

Why is fast shipping actually hurting your brand? Geoff Tamman (CFO & Operations at Shipium) breaks down why delivery predictability builds significantly more long-term value than raw speed in e-commerce shipping. Discover how nine seasons of commercial fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska, shaped the risk management, team alignment, and operational discipline needed to run a high-growth logistics t...

In this episode of Know Your Ship, we return with the second edition of eHub Gives a Ship — our segment highlighting individuals and organizations working to do good in the world and create meaningful community impact. Host Frank Dolce, alongside co-host Preston Cochrane, sits down with Kelsey Lewis, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Utah. Kelsey breaks down how she built a fully opera...

This e-commerce founder story reveals how Lissy Skincare built a 7-figure brand with zero paid ads . Learn the realities of custom formulation logistics, organic influencer marketing, and transitioning from vibes-based marketing to data-driven business leadership when building a business from scratch. A million dollars in revenue. No ads. No investors. No formal business plan. Just a product that...

How do you scale a creative passion into a global, digital-first retail brand? The executive staff at Natural Life breaks down the backend mechanics, operational adjustments, and organizational culture required to sustain hyper-growth . For founders managing rapid digital expansion, this case study details how to align internal talent and protect brand integrity. In this customer story panel, we d...

How do you scale a creative passion from a kitchen table into a global, digital-first retail brand? Patti Hughes, Founder and CEO at Natural Life, explains how rejecting traditional retail logic and prioritizing an authentic, purpose-driven connection with consumers allowed her team to build a powerhouse business. For founders looking to navigate the competitive consumer goods market, this episode...

How do you scale a 3PL by timing every touch? Jeramy King (FFE Solutions) explains how applying high-volume manufacturing principles allowed his team to get fulfillment efficiency down to the minute. If you are building a business in the e-commerce shipping space, this episode reveals how to turn complex kitting projects into high-margin profit centers. In this founder story, we explore Jeramy’s t...

From a 30-year career in banking to making nearly $1M in a single month , Russ Warner’s story is about what happens when a side project actually takes off. In this episode, the founder of Ghost Boards explains what it was like to go viral overnight and handle the mess that followed. Russ talks about the reality of hyper-growth: packing thousands of orders in a driveway and figuring out global ship...

Building a global brand requires more than just high-quality products—it requires a philosophy. Ben Checketts, Creative Director of @rhone , pulls back the curtain on how a small startup took on industry giants by identifying the arrogance of incumbents and filling the gaps they ignored. In this deep dive, Ben explores the intersection of classic literature, high-performance athletics, and the &qu...

How to disrupt a male-dominated industry by putting community before the club. Megan Heaton (Fore All) reveals the marketing strategy and "founder grit" behind the fastest-growing women’s golf brand in the country. In this conversation, we explore the intersection of fashion, athletics, and modern brand-building. Megan pulls back the curtain on how Fore All moved past the "shrink it...

From volunteer social media manager to Executive Director, Amy Dott’s journey with Utah Refugee Connection is a masterclass in leading with heart. In this episode, Amy reveals how a "mosaic of goodness" is built through simple, meaningful acts of service and why the "unlucky" among us are often the ones with the most to teach. Amy pulls back the curtain on the complex reality o...

How to build a multi-million dollar logistics empire from a side-hustle. Paulo Socatelli (US Closer) reveals the secrets of international shipping and the "Immigrant Hustle" behind Brazil’s #1 freight forwarder. In this conversation, we explore the complexities of ecommerce shipping and logistics and supply chain management. Paulo pulls back the curtain on how he scaled US Closer from an...

Learn how Sterling Jones scaled JOJO’s Chocolate from a kitchen table to national retail. We dive into the ecommerce shipping secrets, CPG logistics , and the "Missionary Mindset" required to build a national brand. In this conversation, Sterling Jones pulls back the curtain on the grit, personal sacrifices, and strategic resets that define his founder story . He discusses the "humb...

How Shawn Nelson scaled Lovesac to a billion-dollar Nasdaq company. Learn the "MBA in a box" lessons from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the "Design for Life" strategy used to build a massive competitive moat. In this conversation, Shawn Nelson pulls back the curtain on the grit, failures, and "Shawn-isms" that define his 27-year journey in the trenches of American entrepr...

What does it take to lead a nationwide organization when you started with nothing but your belongings in a garbage bag? Celeste Edmunds, CEO of The Christmas Box International, joins us on Know Your Ship to share a story of radical resilience. Celeste opens up about the "Identity Shift" required to move from the foster care system to the boardroom. She discusses the grit it takes to knoc...

Robert Molling, founder of 1% Fitness Kitchen, didn’t just turn his life around—he rebuilt it through a system of discipline and logistics. After 30 jail bookings and losing 22 friends to substance abuse, Robert hit an inflection point at age 28. What started as cooking meals in transitional housing evolved into a data-driven nutrition company that now ships nationwide. In this episode of Know You...

Dr. Shannon O'Grady, CEO of Gnarly Nutrition, breaks down what's really in your supplements — and what most brands don't want you to know. From proprietary blends to NSF certification to the truth about carbs and artificial sweeteners, Shannon brings a PhD scientist's lens to an industry built on hype. Shannon shares her journey from graduate research and postdoctoral work into the...

Leadership often develops long before titles or recognition follow. In this episode of Know Your Ship , host Frank Dolce speaks with Jim Herrmann about the quiet lessons, influential coaches, and defining moments that shaped his path from rural Wisconsin to Division I football and beyond. Jim shares candid stories from his playing days and the leaders who left a lasting impression on him, includin...

In this episode of Know Your Ship , host Frank Dolce is joined by Ricky “Smaqs” Zazueta for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about addiction, incarceration, identity, and what it truly takes to transform your life. Ricky shares his journey from gang life and substance abuse to sobriety, leadership, and service — offering hard-earned insight into personal responsibility, resilience, and growth....

In this special episode of Know Your Ship , we introduce a new segment: eHub Gives a Ship — a series highlighting individuals and organizations working to do good in the world and create meaningful community impact. Host Frank Dolce, alongside co-host Preston Cochrane, sits down with Emily Bell McCormick, president and founder of The Policy Project for the inaugural episode. Together, they explore...

In this episode of Know Your Ship, Frank sits down with Lora Palmer, founder of Bonobo Baby, for a thoughtful conversation about entrepreneurship, motherhood, and building a consumer brand shaped by real-life experience. Lora shares how personal challenges, including postpartum depression, medical trauma, and parenting a child with autism, influenced her path into business and inspired her to crea...

Leadership looks different when it’s shaped inside operations rather than from the sidelines. In this episode of Know Your Ship , Frank sits down with Jim Cochrane, CEO of the Package Shippers Association and former USPS executive, for a candid conversation on leadership, learning the business, and developing people the right way. Jim shares how experience across operations, logistics, and executi...

A Conversation on Grit, Mentorship, and the Future of Our CountryLong before Jason Chaffetz became a national political figure, a Fox News contributor, or a leading conservative voice, he was a kid who learned the value of hard work from early mornings, tough lessons, and the coaches and mentors who shaped his life. In this episode of Know Your Ship, Jason sits down with Frank for a wide-ranging c...

Long before Perk Energy reached store shelves, it began as a quiet daily ritual that helped Rena Doman find strength in the face of a profound loss. In this episode of Know Your Ship, Rena opens up about the personal journey behind Perk Energy and the deeper purpose that has guided its growth. What started with a warm mug and a moment of stillness each morning eventually became a way for her to re...

Few leaders embody preparation, pressure, and purpose quite like TransImpact CRO Jey Yokeley. In this episode of Know Your Ship, Jey joins Frank to share how his journey from Charlotte to Appalachian State shaped the foundation of his mindset. A career-altering spinal injury could have closed the door, but instead, it refined his approach to discipline, resilience, and getting it right—on the fiel...