What if the real advantage in life isn’t just what you earn…

…but how you experience the world?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Steve Grace, Founder of Nudge Group, shares how travel, lifestyle design, and smart flying have shaped the way he lives, parents, and builds businesses.

We talk about flying long-haul as a family, why economy is not always the “cheapest” option, and how using smarter travel strategies can unlock premium experiences that most people think are out of reach.

Steve shares how he has used services like iFly Flat over the years to make business class travel more accessible, especially when travelling with a family of five.

But this conversation goes beyond seats and status.

We get into what travel actually does to you.

From five-star destinations to islands with no electricity, Steve explains why contrast is the most valuable part of travel, and how those experiences have shaped his kids’ worldview and his own decision making as a founder.

We also explore how travel creates perspective, why founders should spend more time outside their environment, and how exposure to different cultures can completely change how you think about business and life.

Along the way, we touch on building multiple businesses, the evolution of recruitment through content, and why community and in-person connection are becoming more valuable in a digital world.

This is a conversation about travel as leverage.

Because once you see more of the world, you start playing a different game.

Steve Grace

Founder, Nudge Group

Nudge Group: https://nudgegroup.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengrace/

Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/

Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

00:00 Why Travel Changes Perspective

02:22 Flying Better and Accessing Business Class

05:18 From Customer to Podcast Guest

10:07 Building a Lifestyle Around Travel

18:00 Why Founders Need Global Exposure

25:49 Raising Kids Through Travel

27:01 Caribbean Travel and Unique Experiences

30:48 Seeing Different Ways of Living

34:58 Travel as a Life Advantage

40:08 Business, Media and Lifestyle Design

45:30 Community and Lifestyle Leverage

50:03 AI, Travel and the Future of Work

53:34 Rapid Fire Travel Questions

55:16 Where He Is Heading Next

What happens when you wire $25,000 of your life savings into a 20-foot container of coconut water… without a business plan?

In this episode of Always Business Class, Scott Mendelson, Founder of Raw C, shares the real story behind building one of Australia’s recognised coconut water brands from scratch and why he is now taking on the 350 million person US market.

We talk about selling one box on day one.
Driving nine hours around Sydney trying to convince stores to stock a product nobody understood.
Competing in a Coles and Woolworths dominated market.

And the compounding power of showing up in person.

Scott unpacks why naivety can be a competitive edge, how coconut water penetration jumped from 11 percent to over 26 percent, and why flying 15 hours for a two-hour meeting secured a US national retailer.

This is a conversation about long games.
About protecting factory relationships in Vietnam.
About category growth versus ego.
About not dying wondering.

If you are building a consumer brand, negotiating with major retailers, or thinking about expanding beyond Australia, this episode will sharpen your thinking.

Guest

Scott Mendelson
Founder, Raw C

Raw C: https://rawc.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raw_c/

Sponsors

Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/

Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Chapters

00:00 The $25,000 Container
02:52 Why Start FMCG With No Experience
05:22 Selling One Box
10:24 Coconut Water’s Category Growth
16:30 The US Retail Breakthrough
34:19 Factories, Loyalty and Long-Term Thinking
49:59 Taking on America

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it a scam?
Are points even worth it anymore?
Do you need millions of points to fly business class?

After 150 discovery calls with Australian founders across construction, agriculture, professional services, FMCG and tech, this episode of Always Business Class breaks down the most common myths about points, business class travel, and the Flights Club model.

We unpack the psychology of dynamic pricing, why business class fares to the US are now $10,000+, and how points create a fixed-price alternative in a volatile travel market.

This is not about hacks or shortcuts.
It is about cost versus benefit, systems versus guessing, and using business expenses strategically.

If you are a founder spending money anyway and want more comfort, more flexibility and more meaningful travel experiences, this episode is for you.

Sponsors

Join Flights Club: https://iflyflat.com.au/membership/

Accor Plus Explorer Membership: https://www.accorplus.com/explorer-membership/

Chapters

00:00 Points Equals Flights: The Core Philosophy
02:33 Is Flights Club a Scam?
05:31 Cash vs Points: Two Separate Systems
09:43 Why Fixed Pricing Changes the Game
11:26 Cancellation Freedom and COVID Lessons
13:50 Why People “Can’t Find Seats”
17:35 Using Points Poorly vs Strategically
20:25 The Biggest Earning Myths
27:02 Are Points Worth It Anymore?
37:45 Platinum vs Black Membership Breakdown
42:23 Travel, Joy and Founder Perspective

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.