Travis Makes Money

On this episode, Travis and producer Eric riff on the labels entrepreneurs use—CEO, founder, business owner, freelancer—and why most of that title‑drama is more about ego than impact. They dig into the real difference between owning a business and just owning your job, what it means to be a “wantrepreneur” versus an entrepreneur, and how to finally pull the trigger on the business you keep talking...

Dr. Michael Housman is the founder and CEO of AI-ccelerator and the author of Future Proof: Transform Your Business with AI or Get Left Behind, where he helps organizations harness artificial intelligence to make better, faster, and less biased decisions. With a PhD in Applied Economics and Managerial Science from Wharton and an A.B. from Harvard, he has spent over 15 years architecting AI platfor...

In this episode, Travis and producer Eric break down how to think about pricing across products and services so you stop guessing, undercharging, or racing competitors to the bottom. They walk through how to find a healthy price point, when to go premium instead of cheap, and why your rates should reflect the value and outcomes you deliver—not how long the work takes. On this episode we talk about...

Filmmaker and tech founder Drew Schettler shares how he went from a strictly ministerial college path and church media work to running a production company and building Atlas, a modern all‑in‑one workspace for filmmakers. He talks about learning business the hard way as a creative, navigating burnout and feast‑or‑famine freelance cycles, and then spending seven months using AI and no‑code tools to...

Travis and producer Eric break down the real skills behind meaningful networking, from first impressions and handshakes to group text intros and double opt-ins. They explore how to treat “networking” like making real friends, why bad introductions can damage trust, and how to thoughtfully connect people in a way that actually adds value. This episode is a tactical, relatable guide to becoming some...

Jimmy Rex is a top-producing former real estate agent who closed over 400 transactions in his final year in the business and built a portfolio of more than 50 investment properties. He now runs “We Are The They,” a men’s mastermind and leadership group focused on helping high-performing entrepreneurs build better lives, not just bigger businesses, through experiences, coaching, and community. Jimm...

Travis sits down with his producer Eric for a fun, practical breakdown of whether speaking at events is actually worth it for entrepreneurs and creators. From horror-movie cold opens to hard-nosed math on time, travel, and ROI, this episode digs into when to say yes to a stage, when to walk away, and how to think about “paid to speak” vs “pay to speak” opportunities in a sane, strategic way. On th...

Veena Jetti is the founding partner of Vive Funds, an innovative commercial real estate firm specializing in conservative investment opportunities. With over $1 billion in real estate transactions and a dynamic career that spans education, community building, and thought leadership, Veena brings a unique blend of deep market expertise and a passion for empowering new investors. As a multifamily sy...

In this solo-style episode, Travis sits down with his producer Eric for an introspective conversation using the “rocking chair test,” a thought experiment where you imagine advice from your much older self at the end of your life. Instead of featuring an external guest, this episode turns the spotlight on Travis’s own mindset around regret, failure, and what he wishes he’d stop (and keep) doing in...

Fernando Angelucci is a self-storage investor and syndicator who’s transacted on over $200M worth of self-storage facilities across dozens of states in just six years. After starting in house painting, flipping, and multifamily, he ditched the “three T’s” (tenants, toilets, trash) and went all-in on self storage, where he now specializes in wholesaling, value-add deals, and creative seller-finance...

Dr. Michelle K. Johnston is a bestselling author, top executive coach, and leadership professor at Loyola University New Orleans who specializes in connection-driven leadership. She’s the author of The Seismic Shift in Leadership and the new book The Seismic Shift in You, co-written with legendary coach Marshall Goldsmith, where she unpacks seven powerful shifts leaders must make to deepen connect...

Travis is joined by his producer Eric for a rapid‑fire, no‑guest episode built around funny, candid questions about purchases, regrets, and money habits. Eric keeps Travis on his toes, pushing him to “bring the receipts” on everything from embarrassing Amazon orders to the masterminds and franchises he has invested in.​ On this episode we talk about: The most embarrassing Amazon purchases Travis w...

On this episode, Travis Chappell sits down with his producer Eric for a fun but revealing “check your contacts” game that exposes how much your network shapes your opportunities, decisions, and problem-solving capacity. Instead of focusing on tactics alone, they use real names from Travis’s phone to unpack what makes a relationship actually valuable beyond social proof or status.​ On this episode...

Jesse and Gabi Merl are a married power couple who rebuilt from bankruptcy and six-figure student loan debt to consistent multi–six-figure months through content, social selling, and smart investing. Jesse is a multi-exit tech entrepreneur turned YouTube creator behind “Jesse ON FIRE,” while Gabi is a hormone and cortisol-focused coach and social seller who built a thriving business from scratch u...

In this solo episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and his producer Eric react to a hot take by John Gafford. John Gafford is a highly successful entrepreneur in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and a recognized authority in the real estate industry. Before venturing into real estate, he carved out a remarkable path as an entrepreneur, leaving a lasting impact across various industries...

French-Canadian real estate investor, designer, and developer Natalie Cloutier shares how she and her husband Rob went from broke 20-year-olds in a basement condo to building 50+ rental units and a multimillion-dollar portfolio using a no-money-down build-to-rent strategy. With a background in architectural technology and a focus on new construction, Natalie has turned sweat equity and creative fi...

In this episode, Travis and producer Eric react to a viral video from Vivian Tu (“Your Rich BFF”) breaking down three popular “get rich quick” strategies that actually cost most people money: whole life insurance as an investment, day trading, and “passive” side hustles like wholesale real estate, Amazon dropshipping, and affiliate marketing. They use the clip as a springboard to talk about discip...

Rachel Zaslansky Sheer and Lori Zuker Briller are the co-founders of The Grapevine, a premier corporate and domestic staffing firm known for placing top-tier talent with high-profile executives, households, and leading companies. With 20+ years of recruiting experience across entertainment, tech, finance, real estate, fashion, and more, they’ve built a referral-driven “job matchmaking” agency and...

In this episode, Travis and producer Eric dive into breaking sports media news: ESPN and Penn Entertainment unwinding their $2 billion, 10-year ESPN Bet partnership just two years after launch and pivoting into a new multi-year deal with DraftKings. They unpack what this says about ESPN’s fading dominance, DraftKings’ position as the default sportsbook brand, and how Barstool founder Dave Portnoy...

Rod Khleif is a Dutch immigrant, multifamily investor, and high-performance mentor who has owned over 2,000 single-family homes and thousands of apartment units across the U.S. He hosts “Lifetime Cash Flow Through Real Estate Investing,” one of the largest commercial real estate podcasts, where he teaches investors how to use multifamily, senior housing, and other commercial assets to create long-...

In this episode, Travis Chappell dives into the mindset shifts that separate effective salespeople from those who plead for clients’ attention. With a focus on the photography industry as a case study, he breaks down common mistakes creatives make when marketing their services and shares actionable strategies to connect authentically with clients. On this episode we talk about: The difference betw...

With over two decades of real estate, sales, and professional coaching experience, Jeremy Herider's mission is to assist agents in building careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living. https://harvist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JT Mestdagh shares his extraordinary journey of resilience overcoming multiple complex medical challenges from birth and severe dyslexia to becoming an adventurer and inspirational author. His book No Bad Days: Turning Your Biggest Challenges into Your Greatest Opportunities encourages young adults and everyone to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and to live a positive, purpose-driven li...

In this candid and relatable episode, Travis and his producer Eric share personal experiences about starting in podcasting and content creation while grappling with imposter syndrome. They discuss how it's okay not to be an expert at first and how interviewing others can be a powerful way to create valuable content. Travis reflects on his own journey starting solo and the benefits of learning from...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric delve into how Gen Z approaches financial advice, heavily relying on social media platforms for guidance. They discuss the impact of the lack of traditional financial education, how social media has democratized access to financial info, and the risks and benefits of following influencers online. The episode highlights generational differences in finan...