Frontier Flights, Driverless Cars, and the Power of Food: A Founder's 48-Hour Wild Ride

The life of a founder is a thrilling, unpredictable mix of lessons and unforgettable experiences. The past 48 hours? A whirlwind of both. Buckle up.

Lesson #1: Budget Airlines Aren’t Always a Bargain

Flying from Charlotte to Phoenix on Frontier Airlines is a test of patience, budgeting, and tolerance for discomfort. Their fleet may be new, but

• You will pay for your carry-on.

• You will pay to speak to a human at their counter.

• You will sit in a seat that doesn’t recline - free or paid.

That last one may be great for the person behind you. Not so great for you.

Lesson #2: The People You Meet Make the Journey Worth It

Thanks to a two-hour connection delay in Houston, I finally arrived at my Phoenix hotel at nearly 3 AM - courtesy of my new friend Dee, a hardworking Uber driver from Tucson who drives two hours to Phoenix for work. Because, well, life.

I have to credit my amazing late parents for teaching me well - I’m far too interested in people to act like I’m too important to talk to them just because I’m in the back seat of a car. Dee wasn’t just fun to talk to - he’s also a foodie. By the time I stepped out of his car, he was proudly rocking a Kitchen Copilot shirt (his favorite color is green) and was excited to use our platform to help his family make healthier food choices, especially for those with medical dietary needs.

Lesson #3: The Future Has Arrived (And It Drives Itself)

After just a few hours of sleep, I had a 9 AM brunch meeting. My best (and only) option to get there on time? A driverless car. Yep, I took my first Waymo ride. The car navigated Phoenix’s construction maze like a pro while I sat there feeling like I had time-traveled. Naturally, this became my brunch icebreaker - tech is transforming everything, from how we travel to how we plan, cook, and manage our kitchens.

Lesson #4: Baseball, Philanthropy, and the Business of Food

I was in Phoenix at the invitation of my amazing friend, Amy Hever, Executive Director of Players Trust, the official nonprofit of the MLB Players Association (MLBPA). Amy and her team - including Joe Kalar and many others - are rockstars. This year’s Players Classic 2025 brought together:

• 500+ attendees

• 100+ professional players

• $500K+ raised to support

• 25,000+ students across 100+ communities in 9 countries

One of the biggest highlights? Hall of Famer Dave Winfield receiving both the Curt Flood Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy.

In case you don’t know who Winfield is:

• 12-time MLB All-Star

• 7-time Gold Glove winner

• 6-time Silver Slugger

More than a sports legend - he’s a legend of giving back.

And yes, I won something, too: the longest drive raffle. My prize? An autographed CC Sabathia Hall of Fame ball!

Amy and I first bonded two decades ago over a passion for serving disinvested communities. This time, we reconnected over another shared passion - food. If she weren’t leading Players Trust, she’d be a chef. She invited me to Phoenix because she believed Kitchen Copilot would deeply resonate with her world.

Lesson #5: Food is the ‘F’ in Life

Athletes care deeply about food - nutrition fuels performance. At Kitchen Copilot, we’re inspired by the growing awareness that health and wellness aren’t just about what we eat but how we manage those choices. The key isn’t prohibition or rigid diets - it’s intentional, joyful planning based on personal preferences, needs, and tastes. That’s where technology comes in:

• A digital platform that learns who you are so it can serve you well

• AI-powered meal planning

• Smart shopping lists

• Nutrition analysis

  
  

Think of Kitchen Copilot as a Waymo for food - you tell it where you want to go, and it takes you there, guiding your culinary journey toward better meals, smarter choices, and a healthier lifestyle.

For creators? Our recipe and cookbook-building tools provide a home for chefs, influencers, and food lovers - a place to share knowledge, inspire communities, and preserve culinary stories.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog titled Food is the ‘F’ in Life (you can read it here). That sentiment resonated with many incredible people I met in Phoenix, including:

• Dr. Ashleigh Huffman (Former Sports Diplomacy Chief, U.S. State Dept.)

• Robert N. Johnson (Former Kraft Executive)

• Robert Gondo (President, Tokyo Gardens Company)

• Natalia Sol (National Summer Learning Association)

…and many more.

Lesson #6: Airplane Seats Recline for a Reason

After soaking up all these incredible experiences, I headed back to the airport for my return trip on Frontier. This time, I had an exit row seat - more legroom, better experience, right?

Not so fast.

A 9-hour Orlando layover stretched to 11 hours, and a rare snowstorm in Charlotte (my final destination) threatened cancellations of inbound flights. That would have meant missing an important medical appointment. The key lesson on the final leg of my journey was that more legroom means nothing when the seat doesn’t recline. More than once, I jolted awake as my head snapped forward. Reclining isn’t a luxury - it’s crucial for posture relief, rest, and circulation. For those at risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), it’s not just comfort - it’s a matter of life and death.

Final Thoughts

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about building businesses - it’s about living a life full of unexpected lessons, serendipitous encounters, and unforgettable moments. From budget flights and driverless cars to MLB legends and passionate foodies, these 48 hours reminded me that the best stories often happen when things don’t go as planned.

Now, back to work - after that doctor’s appointment.