Most e-commerce stories start with product-market fit.

This one started with Frodo.

On this episode of Check-In to Check-Out, we talk with Kyle Cole, co-founder of The Hero’s Journal—a journaling brand built on the idea that life gets easier when you start seeing yourself as the main character.

What started as a nerdy side project turned into a seven-figure DTC brand powered by story, community, and a refusal to send boring emails.

Kyle opens up about:

Accidentally going viral during quarantine with a “Quarantine Quest”

Scaling fulfillment from garage to 3PL—and the painful (but hilarious) budget mistake he made

What every e-commerce leader gets wrong about community building

How to forecast without deluding yourself

Why the best marketing emails sometimes have no CTA

If you’ve ever tried to justify a warehouse lease based on “the traffic you're manifesting” or had your team melt down over a 3PL gone rogue, this one’s for you.

It’s funny, vulnerable, and weirdly practical.

And yes, we talk about iOS 14.

Perfect for: Directors of E-Commerce, DTC operators, brand builders who think “community” isn’t just a Slack channel

Listen in and remember: you are the hero. Just maybe... also the operations oracle.