Travis Makes Money

Trust is one of the most valuable assets any creator or entrepreneur can build. In this  episode, Travis Chappell and producer Eric reflect on a conversation with wellness creators Michael Smoke (Higher Up Wellness) and Tony (Train Bloom) about audience trust, brand partnerships, and the long-term value of protecting your reputation. They discuss why saying "no" to the wrong opportunities oft...

Kit Chellel is an investigative journalist, Bloomberg Businessweek writer, and author of Lucky Devils. After uncovering a hidden world of elite professional gamblers who consistently beat casinos, sportsbooks, and betting markets, Kit spent years researching how these "advantage players" think—and discovered their mindset has applications far beyond gambling. In this episode, he shares the su...

Money is one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance, and in this solo episode, Travis Chappell distills insights from nearly 2,000 interviews with world-class entrepreneurs, investors, entertainers, and financial experts. Drawing on lessons from guests like Josh Peck, George Kamel, Brandon Carter, and others, Travis explores the mindset shifts that separate people who use money wisel...

Sports betting has never been more accessible—or more heavily advertised. In this episode, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric to examine the rapid rise of online sports betting, particularly among younger audiences. They discuss the psychology behind gambling addiction, why sportsbooks are built to profit from the average bettor, and how to approach gambling responsibly if you choose to pa...

Jeremy Pollack is a PhD social and organizational psychologist, conflict resolution expert, and founder of Pollack Peacebuilding Systems. Through his consulting firm, he helps Fortune 100 companies, nonprofits, and organizations build healthier workplaces by improving communication, resolving conflict, and developing peaceful leadership. In this episode, Jeremy shares his unconventional career jou...

On this solo episode, Travis turns the mic on himself and pulls lessons from some of his most impactful past guests to talk about the “dark chapter” — the messy, painful, often hidden seasons that actually create credibility and trust with your audience. Instead of highlighting a single guest, he weaves stories from Scott Harrison, Garrett J. White, Dane Cook, Frederick Douglass, and his own exper...

Creating content can be one of the fastest paths to building a business around something you genuinely enjoy. In this episode, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric to unpack a recent Gary Vaynerchuk clip about the difference between creating and consuming content. They explore why so many people spend hours consuming media they love instead of building something around it, how hobbies can ev...

John Kim is a licensed therapist, speaker, bestselling author, and the creator behind The Angry Therapist. Known for his raw, honest approach to relationships and personal growth, John has built a thriving business by turning his own heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery into books, content, coaching, and community. In this episode, he shares how a $20 PayPal payment changed the trajectory...

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis sits down solo to unpack one of the most important success themes from nearly 2,000 episodes: thinking long term and staying in the game when most people tap out early. Rather than featuring a single guest, Travis pulls together stories and lessons from a diverse roster of past guests—comedians, pro athletes, coaches, and entertainers—who all built dur...

In this episode, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric to unpack one of the most valuable content strategy lessons they've come across in years. Inspired by a YouTube creator's breakdown of the algorithm, they discuss why the most successful creators don't constantly reinvent themselves—they consistently solve the same problem for new audiences. Along the way, they explore what this means for...

Teri Ijeoma is an investor, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Trade and Travel, an investing education company that has helped tens of thousands of people learn how to build wealth through the stock market. After leaving her career as an assistant principal, Teri turned trading into a full-time profession before building one of the country's most influential investing communities. She's also...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell reflects on one of the biggest themes he's uncovered after nearly 2,000 podcast interviews: generosity. Drawing from conversations with bestselling authors, entrepreneurs, behavioral scientists, and business leaders, Travis explains why the people who build the strongest networks and create the biggest opportunities are the ones who give first—without keeping...

Artificial intelligence is changing the way people manage their money—but should you trust it with your financial future? In this solo episode, Travis Chappell and producer Eric break down a recent Financial Planning Association study that tested seven major AI tools on real-world financial planning scenarios. They discuss where AI shines, where it falls short, and why human judgment is still irre...

Gary John Bishop is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the most influential voices in modern personal development. Known for his no-nonsense, brutally honest approach to self-improvement, Gary has helped millions of people break free from limiting beliefs and stop waiting for motivation to change their lives. In this episode, he shares why personal growth isn't about positive thinking—...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell continues his series highlighting the biggest lessons from hundreds of conversations with world-class entrepreneurs, athletes, authors, and high performers. This time, he explores one of the most consistent themes that emerged from analyzing over 100 guest interviews: your environment shapes your future. Drawing on stories from Scott Harrison, Jack Carr, Dane...

In this episode, Travis Chappell and producer Eric kick things off by recapping Travis's Alaska cruise before diving into a fascinating discussion about the cost of living across America. Using recent data on what it takes to live comfortably in every state, they explore the trade-offs between affordability, lifestyle, location, and quality of life—while sharing plenty of personal stories and frie...

Kira Shishkin is the CEO of informed.now, the #1 news-by-SMS service in America, and a four-time entrepreneur with a background spanning investment banking, venture capital, private equity, and corporate strategy. A Ukrainian-Israeli immigrant and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Kira has built businesses across education, cryptocurrency infrastructure, and fintech before launching informed.now with a...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down eye-opening stats from a five-year study on the daily habits that separate the wealthy from the poor. From credit score savvy to flossing and networking, he shares personal stories—like the time his truck's wheel fell off in Las Vegas—and actionable mindset shifts to level up your financial game. On this episode we talk about:   The massive ga...

This episode features Travis Chappell and producer Eric discussing an insightful clip from actor Jason Bateman about his complicated relationship with money growing up as a child actor. Using Bateman's story as a jumping-off point, they explore how financial confidence is built through developing valuable skills, why your relationship with money matters more than most people realize, and how inves...

What do relationship-building, intentional wealth, and world-class storytelling have in common? In this special compilation episode, Travis highlights three unforgettable conversations from the first half of 2026 featuring communication expert Jon Levy, Die With Zero author Bill Perkins, and legendary entrepreneur, author, and Canva Chief Evangelist Guy Kawasaki. Together,...

Travis Chappell solo-hosts this episode of Travis Makes Money, sharing hard-won life lessons from his own journey as a creator, entrepreneur, and podcast coach. He breaks down mindset traps that keep people stuck—like perfectionism, negativity bias, and emotional reactivity—and offers practical tools for building resilience, happiness, and momentum in both life and business. Through stories, analo...

This episode is a conversation with Travis Chappell and producer Eric as they dive into an unexpected business lesson sparked by fast food. What starts as a discussion about Burger King's CEO admitting the company's chicken nuggets need improvement turns into a broader conversation about transparency, leadership, authenticity in marketing, and how business owners should communicate wins and failur...

Building an iconic brand takes more than a great idea—it takes vision, resilience, and years of relentless execution. In this compilation episode, Travis highlights three unforgettable conversations with entrepreneurs who built category-defining businesses from the ground up. Former Starbucks executive Mesh Gelman shares the lessons he learned from Howard Schultz before creating Cumulus, an innova...

On this solo episode, host Travis Chappell breaks down one of the core values that has transformed his life and business: radical responsibility. Drawing from his background in door-to-door sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship, Travis shares hard-earned lessons about refusing to blame circumstances and instead reclaiming control over outcomes. Through real stories—from struggling sale...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the creative landscape, but what does that actually mean for artists, musicians, and creators? In this episode, Travis is joined by producer Eric for a candid discussion inspired by a viral take from Grammy-winning songwriter Gino the Ghost on AI training models and copyright. Together, they unpack the legal, ethical, and creative implications of AI, deb...