It’s more than where we work, it’s where we live. It’s where we raise families. Where we show up for one another – in the everyday and in the unexpected. It’s where names are neighbors, and care is connection. It’s about the people. SCAN FOR MORE INFO
Explore. It is a word that often brings to mind plane tickets, winding backroads, or faraway destinations. But in this issue, we discovered that exploration is just as much about the lives we build every day as it is about the places we go.
Throughout these pages, you will meet people who are helping Williamson County residents explore life with greater ease, beauty, freedom, and connection. From Rod Holliman of Honest1 Auto Care, who reminds us that dependable transportation quietly protects the rhythm of our daily lives, to Jenson Smith of Punchout Pros, whose commitment to reliability restores trust in an industry where follow-through has become rare, this issue celebrates the people who help life move forward smoothly behind the scenes.
You will also explore the joy of home through Fritzi Celentano and WOW Windowboxes Nashville, where effortless beauty transforms ordinary spaces into something extraordinary. And for those craving adventure beyond the driveway, Tennessee’s expanded Bike Tennessee trail system and Andrea Giordano’s BNA Cheap Flights prove that exploration can begin with either a set of handlebars or a perfectly timed airfare alert.
Finally, Columbia Academy reminds us that some of life’s richest exploration happens through tradition, memory, and community, where Friday night lights and generations of shared experiences continue to shape a sense of belonging.
As summer unfolds, I hope this issue inspires you to explore more deeply, your community, your home, your relationships, and the moments that make life meaningful along the way.
Warmly,
ATHENA WEST, PUBLISHER @THOMPSONSSTATIONLIFESTYLE
Thompson’s Station Lifestyle is available for pickup at the following locations:
• Grecian Family Restaurant and Bakery
• Frankie's Pizza & Grill
• Local Dr's Offices and businesses around the area
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Athena West | athena.west@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Karen Creason | karen.creason@citylifestyle.com
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman QUALITY CONTROL
Marina Campbell
In Williamson County, luxury is not just about square footage or designer finishes. It is about creating beauty without creating more work. When calendars are packed and life rarely slows down, one of the greatest luxuries of all might just be pulling into your driveway and being greeted by a home that looks absolutely beautiful and put together, without lifting a finger to make it happen. That is exactly the kind of magic Fritzi Celentano creates through WOW Windowboxes Nashville. With overflowing seasonal flowers, custom-designed window boxes/planters and worry free maintenance, Celentano has built a business around one simple idea: beauty should feel joyful, not stressful.
“I think luxury should make you feel calm and complete, and it shouldn’t come at the cost of stressing you out,” Celentano said. “With WOW’s green glove service, there is no effort on your part to pull it all together. Let WOW do it.”
And that “WOW” moment is exactly what happens when clients first see their homes transformed. Window boxes spill over with color. Trailing vines dance in the breeze. Even homes that already boast gorgeous architecture and landscaping seem to come alive with new personality custom to the homeowners style.
“I think our window boxes and seasonal plantings are the mascara and lipstick for your home,” Celentano said. Like the perfect lipstick shade, those finishing touches change with the seasons. Bright pinks and
lush greenery may take center stage in the summer, while deep reds and evergreens create drama during the holidays.
For homeowners, the best part is that they do not have to think about any of it. WOW Windowboxes handles the design, installation, irrigation and seasonal plantings, providing a complete green glove experience. Clients simply appreciate the beauty while Celentano and her team handle the hard work behind the scenes. “You can enjoy it right away! Love the drive up to your home or a drink in the backyard,” she said. “We do all the work and we worry about keeping them alive”. That includes one of the company’s most valuable features: customized irrigation systems that take the guesswork out of plant care entirely.
In Tennessee heat, where flowers can wilt quickly under the summer sun, our WOW irrigation system offers something homeowners crave almost as much as beautiful blooms: peace of mind. “Homeowners can go away for the weekend or a month. We check on their plantings.” For busy families, frequent travelers and homeowners juggling demanding schedules, that freedom matters. “Outsourcing something that isn't in your wheelhouse is smart. We want you to love your space right away,” Celentano said.
Because at the end of the day, effortless living is not really about flowers. It is about creating a home that greets you with joy the second you pull into the driveway.
37 NEW TRAILS ADDED TO THE STATE’S BIK E TENNESSEE PROGRAM
Looking to get out into the great outdoors and explore more of The Volunteer State this summer? There’s no better time to hop on a bike and hit the trails, since the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development announced that as of April, 37 newly curated gravel cycling routes have been added to the state’s Bike Tennessee program.
“The addition of gravel routes brings a new dimension to the Bike TN program, giving cyclists even more ways to experience Tennessee’s natural beauty,” says Chelsea Trott, Communications Manager for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Cyclists can take in mountain views, winding river valleys and rolling farmland across the state in a whole new way. These new
routes add up to 1,000 miles to the already established routes that make up the Bike Tennessee network. With this new addition, it will now boast a total of 89 different cycling routes spanning a variety of terrains.
Tennessee now features more than 1,800 combined miles of cycling experiences in addition to existing road routes, creating new opportunities to experience and discover the state’s rural communities, charming small towns and local businesses along the way,” says Trott.
ARTICLE BY LISA VALENTINE | PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
Since its initial launch in 2024, the Bike Tennessee program has continued to expand and bring more adventure to tourists as well as residents who want to experience everything from mountain landscapes with elevation gain to rural communities across the state where cyclists can explore the beauty of these areas on two wheels.
Cyclists can use the “Ride with GPS” app to locate the Bike Tennessee trails around the state. This app was created with the help of Shannon Burke, who is one of the professional route developers and cycling guides behind the Tennessee Gravel website. On this app, cyclists can see everything from route details and elevation information to hidden gems and terrain information, in order to pick the perfect ride for their skillset and preferences.
For more information and a map of all of the trails, visit Bike.TNVacation.com or follow the Bike Tennessee accounts on Facebook (Bike Tennessee) or Instagram (@bike.tennessee).
CONTINUED >
44 MILES / 3000 FEET OF CLIMBING
This trail through Leipers Fork is a beautiful challenge. Riding through ridge roads lined with trees and wide-open spaces, it takes cyclists through 13 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway, while also featuring some steep climbs with almost 20% grades.
36 MILES / 2500 FEET OF CLIMBING
The Erin Loop features a ride through pastures, woods, and open fields. The climbs of this ride reach the upper teens, making it a challenge while also getting to explore some of the prettiest Tennessee countryside.
43 MILES / 1700 FEET OF CLIMBING
The Bell Buckle Loop is the perfect ride to experience the idyllic countryside that Middle Tennessee has to offer. The quaint small town of Bell Buckle is where cyclists can stop for a bite to eat in a cafe, browse antiques, or get some ice cream.
17 MILES / 900 FEET OF CLIMBING
Explore the Cheatham Wildlife Management Area on this smooth, gravel out-and-back trail. Enjoy a peaceful tree-lined ride without having to worry about traffic. It’s even close to the Harpeth River if you want to float or take a dip to add to your adventure.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
Being a dealership built on family values means not cutting corners. It means personalized videos instead of canned messages. It means honest appraisals instead of games. Most importantly, it means treating every customer the way we’d treat our own family.
Before a single wall is painted or a final walkthrough is complete, most homeowners carry a quiet fear into a construction project: Will anyone actually follow-through? For many people, this frustration is familiar. Calls go unanswered. Timelines shift without explanation. Contractors disappear for days at a time, leaving homeowners wondering what is happening inside the spaces that matter most to them.
For Jenson Smith owner of Punchout Pros, that growing lack of reliability is exactly why consistency matters more than ever. “I think a big part of it is that many companies have grown faster than their systems, communication, and accountability can support,” Jenson said. “Unfortunately, homeowners and commercial property owners have gotten used to unanswered calls, missed timelines, and feeling left in the dark during projects.” What bothers Jenson most is not simply the inconvenience. It is the weight of what clients are actually handing over when they hire someone to work on their home or business. “At the end of the day, people are trusting you with their home, business, money, and time,” notes Jenson.
That perspective has shaped the way he approaches both construction and
relationships. While craftsmanship matters, Jenson believes trust is often built in quieter moments, returning a phone call, showing up when promised, communicating honestly when problems arise and staying engaged long after the exciting part of the project has passed. “To us, reliability shouldn’t feel like a luxury, but in today’s industry, it honestly has become one."
The company’s emphasis on follow through did not happen accidentally. It has been intentional since the beginning. “We’ve always believed that skill matters, but character and consistency matter just as much. Anyone can market themselves well or make promises during the sales process, but the real test is what happens after the contract is signed.”
That philosophy has become especially important during the stressful moments that naturally come with construction. Jenson understands that delays and complications can happen on almost any project. What clients remember most, he said, is whether they felt informed and respected while navigating those challenges. “Most people can handle delays or issues if they are informed and communicated with honestly. What creates stress is silence and uncertainty.”
“Sometimes difficult conversations must happen in construction, but people appreciate transparency far more than avoidance.”
Rather than waiting until something goes wrong, his team focuses heavily on proactive communication from the beginning. Expectations are discussed early. Updates are given consistently. Clients never wonder if anyone is still paying attention. “Sometimes difficult conversations must happen in construction, but people appreciate transparency far more than avoidance."
For Jenson, one of the most overlooked parts of the industry is what happens near the end of a project. The final details, punch lists and walkthroughs may seem small compared to the larger renovation itself, but he believes those final interactions often become the lasting memory clients carry with them. “A project can go really well overall, but if the last 10% is disorganized,
delayed, or incomplete, that becomes the lasting impression. That is why “closing the loop” has become such an important part of the PunchOut Pros culture. Finishing strong means continuing to communicate, honoring commitments and making sure clients feel cared for until every final detail is complete. “People remember how you made them feel during the stressful parts and especially at the finish line."
In Williamson County, where relationships still drive much of the business community, Jenson has seen how consistency naturally creates long term trust. Much of the company’s growth has come through repeat customers, referrals and relationships built slowly over time. Jenson stresses, “When people know they can depend on you, that trust naturally leads to repeat business and referrals. He believes reliability is rarely built through grand gestures. More often, it comes from small habits practiced consistently every day. “Showing up on time, communicating proactively, staying organized, and following through on commitments are habits that have to be reinforced daily. None of it is flashy, but those small habits repeated consistently are what create dependable results.”
At its core, Jenson hopes clients remember more than the finished work itself. He hopes they remember feeling respected during a process that can often feel overwhelming. “Construction projects can be stressful, and our goal is to reduce that stress by being dependable, communicative, and professional." In an industry where reliability is increasingly rare, simply keeping your word may be one of the most valuable things a company can offer.
PunchoutPros.org
GET A PRE-TRIP INSPECTION
Have a tech check brakes, fluids, belts, battery, and tires.
TEST YOUR AC
No one wants to be stuck in traffic without cold air.
CHECK YOUR TIRES
Look for proper inflation, tread wear, and make sure you have a spare.
UPDATE EMERGENCY KIT
Include water, snacks, jumper cables, flashlight, first aid kit, phone charger, and basic tools.
TOP OFF FLUIDS
Coolant, oil, windshield washer fluid, and transmission fluid.
DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE
Too much weight affects braking and fuel economy.
Don’t gamble with your vacation. Book your Summer Checkup today and drive with confidence, wherever the road takes you.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Ashley Dickinson, Director of Marketing & Communications at Columbia Academy, believes the traditions that shape a school community are rarely confined to a classroom. They live in the moments that students carry with them long after graduation, the sounds, sights, and shared experiences that become part of a community’s identity for generations. At Columbia Academy, few traditions capture that spirit more powerfully than Homecoming Friday night.
For students, families, alumni, and longtime supporters, Homecoming is far more than a football game. It is a reunion, a celebration, and a reminder of the connections that continue to bind generations together.
Dickinson says one of the most emotional parts of the evening is watching families return to the same campus that once shaped their own childhoods. “It has a special feeling,” she explains. “Families bring their children back to a place that meant so much to them growing up.”
That sense of continuity is woven into every detail of the night. The Homecoming court parade, the presentation of kindergarten girls escorted by cheerleaders, and the kindergarten boys leading the football team onto the field all create moments where the youngest students begin participating in traditions that have existed for decades.
And then there is the cannon.
Before kickoff, the sounding of the cannon signals more than the start of a football game. For alumni returning to campus, it is a nod to the former Columbia Military Academy. Dickinson describes it as “a thrilling start to every football game- a sound that you can feel in your chest.” It reconnects generations through shared memory and excitement.
The tradition symbolizes both reflection and renewal, honoring the memories of former students and cadets while creating new ones for current players, families, and children experiencing those traditions for the first time.
While Friday night football remains a centerpiece of school culture, the atmosphere surrounding Homecoming extends far beyond athletics. Columbia Academy intentionally creates opportunities for connection throughout the evening. Alumni and new families gather in designated areas with food and fellowship, allowing old friends to reconnect while newcomers begin building their own ties to the school community.
Children race around “the hill” beside the football field while alumni classes celebrate reunions and former graduates are recognized during halftime festivities. The school’s Alumni of the Year is also announced during the game, emphasizing the lasting relationship between the school and those who once walked its halls.
CONTINUED >
Those relationships are deeply connected to the school’s history as the former Columbia Military Academy. Though Columbia Academy has evolved over the years, many traditions from the CMA era continue to shape the school’s values and identity today.
The school’s red, white, and blue colors remain an homage to Columbia Military Academy, and each year CMA Day invites former cadets back to campus for chapel and lunch with current students. Dickinson says these gatherings are among the most meaningful traditions the school maintains.
“The CMA alumni are wise, knowledgeable men who usually served in our U.S. armed forces,” she says. “They are a powerful reminder of our school’s and country’s foundation.” During these visits, alumni share stories about their experiences at CMA, discussing the discipline, brotherhood, and preparation that shaped their lives. Students listen intently as the older generations recount wartime experiences, campus memories, and lessons learned long before smartphones and social media existed.
In today’s fast-moving world, Dickinson believes preserving these intergenerational relationships matters more than ever. The conversations between students and alumni help young people develop a deeper appreciation for history, service, sacrifice, and community. They also create a sense of belonging that stretches far beyond a single graduating class.
That enduring connection is perhaps most visible during graduation ceremonies when the CMA scholarship is presented. The scholarship, awarded to students entering the armed forces or those with family members who served, represents the continuation of
“THE CMA ALUMNI ARE WISE, KNOWLEDGEABLE MEN WHO USUALLY SERVED IN OUR U.S ARMED FORCES. THEY ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER OF OUR SCHOOL’S AND COUNTRY’S FOUNDATION.”
service-minded values passed from one generation to the next. “It is always a special time during each graduation ceremony when a CMA alumnus presents the scholarship to the accepting student,” Dickinson says.
Even as communities across the country struggle with increasing disconnection, Columbia Academy continues investing heavily in traditions that strengthen relationships both on and off campus. The school recently created a dedicated alumni coordinator position to ensure former students remain connected to the school and its mission long after graduation.
Through athletic events, performances, reunions, and campus gatherings, Columbia Academy continues proving that traditions are about far more than nostalgia. They create anchors in people’s lives, reminders that they are part of something larger than themselves. For many families, the memories made under Friday night lights become lifelong touchstones, moments that define not only their school experience, but their sense of home, community, and belonging for years to come.
CABulldogs.org
#1-First CMA Day (2017):
CMA alumni shared stories about their days as cadets at CMA, had lunch with our students, toured campus and enjoyed the CMA Museum, and attended a home football game together that night. We also enjoyed the unveiling and dedication of the new Moore Hall Memorial, which was made of bricks from the former building that housed cadets from 1904-1979.
#2-2024:
Mr. Jerry Sands, a graduate from the Columbia Military Academy Class of 1958, donated 180 books to our lower school library on behalf of his class! One donated book titled “Frog’s Rainy Day Story” is authored by a fellow CMA alumnus and illustrated by his talented wife.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
When most people think about auto care, they think about oil changes, brake pads, or unexpected repairs. But for Rod Holliman, owner of Honest1 Auto Care in Spring Hill, reliable transportation is about something much bigger: quality of life.
Cars, he says, quietly shape nearly every aspect of modern living. They determine where people can live, how they spend their time, and whether their daily routines run smoothly or unravel unexpectedly.
“Our lifestyle still revolves around cars,” Holliman explains. “It’s the American way, and has been for hundreds of years. We depend on cars to get us where we want to go.”
“You’ll never have a successful business unless people know how much you care.”
That dependence is especially true in growing communities like Thompson’s Station and Spring Hill, where many residents choose suburban or rural lifestyles that require dependable transportation. Reliable vehicles create freedom, allowing families to commute to work, take children to school, travel comfortably, and maintain the pace of modern life without interruption. “Your vehicles are why you’re able to stay in rural areas,” Holliman says. “Cars are what enable you to have your lifestyle, whatever that looks like.”
At Honest1, the goal is not simply fixing vehicles. It is helping customers protect the rhythm of their everyday lives. Holliman understands that most people are already balancing packed schedules, careers, family responsibilities, and endless demands on their time. That is why
convenience and efficiency are central to the customer experience.
“People want to be in and out,” he says. “We help them with time management by offering a shuttle, staying on schedule, and making sure we can get them in and out and maintain their lifestyle.”
One recent customer dropped off her vehicle before work. Instead of waiting around for repairs, Honest1’s shuttle service drove her home so she could continue her day uninterrupted, including three scheduled conference calls. “We diagnosed the problem, and she didn’t waste any of her day,” Holliman says. “Convenience helps people get on with their lives.”
That philosophy extends beyond convenience into preventative care. Holliman believes one of the biggest mistakes drivers make is ignoring small maintenance
issues until they become major disruptions. “What people forget is that we do inspections,” he says. “The number of people who don’t regularly inspect belts and hoses and then go on a 1,200-mile trip is unbelievable. We’ve had six people alone get cars towed this week.”
For Holliman, maintenance is less about avoiding every possible problem and more about reducing the odds of life being interrupted by avoidable breakdowns. “When you take care of the little things, it won’t ever turn into a big thing,” he says. “It won’t eliminate problems, but the chances go down significantly.”
That preventative mindset is paired with another value Holliman believes is often missing in the auto industry: trust. “People assume everyone in the industry is going to take advantage of them,” he says.
“The number of people who don’t regularly inspect belts and hoses and then go on a 1,200-mile trip is unbelievable. We’ve had six people alone get cars towed this week.”
To combat that skepticism, Honest1 emphasizes transparency and education. Through its AutoVitals system, customers receive detailed inspections alongside links to independent educational resources that explain why specific repairs or maintenance recommendations matter.
“It’s independent from us,” Holliman explains. “It has photos, diagrams, and information that allows customers to check for themselves what we’re saying and why we’re saying it.” The approach empowers customers while reinforcing the expertise behind the recommendations. Holliman believes modern automotive work requires far more skill and intelligence than many people realize. “People have a misconception that mechanics are not bright, and that’s terrible,” he says. “They think anyone can do maintenance and fix things.” At Honest1, technology and technical expertise work together. While advanced diagnostic systems and artificial intelligence help identify problems, Holliman says experienced technicians are still essential.
“The internet and AI can be great, but it can also be garbage information,” he says. “Pairing real intelligence with artificial intelligence is where we shine.” That blend of innovation and old-school knowledge recently helped a customer whose radiator required a traditional repair approach rather than a purely technology-driven solution. “Technology advances,” Holliman says, “but sometimes you still need oldschool knowledge and hands to fix it.”
Holliman’s broader philosophy of care also extends to environmental
responsibility. Growing up around agriculture shaped his belief that businesses have a responsibility to protect the communities and land they operate within. “You need to be a good steward of what the Lord gives us,” he says. “By contaminating the land we live in, it can have devastating consequences.”
That commitment influences Honest1’s eco-conscious practices and reinforces the idea that responsible business ownership should benefit both customers and the larger community. Community involvement itself is another core value for Holliman. He encourages local business owners to become actively engaged through chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations, sponsorships, and civic meetings. “Until you get out and get engaged, you don’t know how you can help,” he says.
For Holliman, successful businesses are built on relationships, service, and visible care for the people around them. “You’ll never have a successful business unless people know how much you care,” he says. Ultimately, Holliman believes auto care is about far more than vehicles. It is about protecting freedom, reducing stress, preserving time, and helping people continue building the lives they want without interruption. Reliable transportation may often go unnoticed when everything is working properly, but behind countless commutes, family trips, workdays, and daily routines is the quiet assurance that someone helped keep life moving forward.
Honest1.com/Spring-Hill
BNA CHEAP FLIGHTS IS THE TRAVEL HACK YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED
ARTICLE BY MARIA DINOIA | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Some of the best businesses start not with a business plan, but with a feeling. For Andrea Giordano, that feeling struck for the first time in 2007 while seated in front of a computer screen, staring at a $25 flight from Columbus, Ohio to Nashville.
"I can think as far back as 2007," she says. "And I remember the feeling in my body of pure excitement and also I couldn't stop talking about it."
Twenty years later, that same instinct for a great deal has turned into BNA Cheap Flights — a fast-growing Instagram account and paid email subscription service that is quietly changing the way Middle Tennesseeans travel. Giordano has built something that feels less like a business and more like a public service.
For years, hunting cheap flights was purely personal. Giordano spent two decades in corporate life, including a stint as an ESL department head at a university and four years working for USAID, all while quietly searching Google flights in her spare time and posting deals to a small Instagram account she maintained just for the love of it.
"It was just a pure hobby," she says. "In between when I would take my lunch breaks or putting my kids down to sleep at night or whatever it was, I was just searching for cheap flights, posting it up there and just seeing what would happen."
The pivot came suddenly and unexpectedly. When USAID was shuttered in early 2025, Giordano lost her job on Valentine's Day. She had just hit 10,000 Instagram followers. With the help of her brother, a Franklin-based email marketing expert, she launched a paid subscription list that same week, appearing on Talk of the Town to announce it before she had even fully processed what she was building.
"I lost my job on that Friday, and then that Monday I'm on Talk of the Town ," she says. "And instantly maybe 50 people or so signed up in the first couple weeks and it was like, 'Oh, this might work.'"
Giordano's track record speaks for itself. A round trip to Savannah for $16. Wilmington, North Carolina for $38. Hawaii for $283. Copenhagen for $639 in the summer. Iceland (her favorite country of the 39 she has visited) for $199.
Her process is less algorithm and more intuition built over decades of daily searching. "Some of it is just tons of experience and just knowing what a good deal is to 100-200 different cities," she says. "It's like a deep knowledge within me. So when I see a flight, I know whether it's a good deal or not."
Her day involves opening Google flights multiple times, monitoring airline sales, and doing the tedious work that most travelers don't have time for. When Southwest announces a sale, for example, she goes deal by deal through the fine print. "Maybe of like 20 cities they're talking about, only one of them is actually a great deal," she says. "So I'll send an email for that one city."
Subscribers receive three to five flight deal emails per week, with occasional compilation emails — like her current roundup of the sixty cheapest summer flight deals — at $7 a month or $49 a year. The model is entirely subscription-driven and there are no affiliate links and no airline partnerships influencing what she recommends.
"I really do want to stay neutral," she says. "I'm here to share the cheapest flights for you. I'm not here to just promote one airline."
What makes Giordano happy are the messages she gets from subscribers. Subscribers meeting each other in Hawaii because they all booked the same deal she shared. A single mom writing to say that a $38 flight made a Niagara Falls trip possible for her family for the first time.
"I always say I just can't take all these flights that I find so I need you all to do it for me," she says. "Because I live vicariously through them."
“It was just a pure hobby. In between when I would take my lunch breaks or putting my kids down to sleep at night, I was just searching for cheap flights.”
Giordano hopes to see BNA Cheap Flights grow deeper into the local community. "I think of my email list as a personal friend," she says, "I'm the friend who just hops in your inbox and says, 'Hey, we should go to Berlin.'"
BNACheapFlights.com
mor e With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only Expir es 7/31/26. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.
