Travis Makes Money

In this episode, host Travis Chappell and producer Eric swap stories about the strangest, most unconventional ways people are making real money—from TikTok shops to doodle detanglers—and how “weird” ideas can turn into serious income. Travis also opens up about his own nontraditional paths to getting paid, from door-to-door sales to a short-lived modeling side quest. On this episode we talk about:...

In this episode, host Travis Chappell and producer Eric run through ten rapid‑fire “two‑minute” money scenarios—from surprise IRS letters to flooded houses and hidden luxury spending—to reveal how Travis actually thinks under pressure. The conversation blends practical frameworks, blackjack metaphors, and relationship dynamics to show how to make saner decisions when cash gets tight or emotions ru...

In this episode, host Travis Chappell and producer Eric run through a series of real‑world “curveball” scenarios—from surprise medical bills to flooded houses and lowball dream-job offers—to talk through how to respond without blowing up your finances. With a mix of humor, baseball metaphors, and practical frameworks, they show how to build decision rules that keep you calm and rational when life...

This episode features host Travis Chappell and producer Eric having a rapid-fire, hilarious, and surprisingly deep “Would You Rather” session built entirely around money, investing, and lifestyle tradeoffs. Using a list of AI-generated prompts, they unpack how real people should think about risk, retirement, lifestyle creep, and building wealth with their actual constraints in mind.​ On this episo...

In this episode, host Travis Chappell and producer Eric break down missed opportunities, painful losses, and fraud-adjacent stories to show how real-world investors actually think through risk. Using everything from crypto FOMO to Shark Tank misses and Ponzi-style funds, they explore how to build a rational investing framework that can survive both wins and wipeouts.​ On this episode we talk about...

This solo-style episode features host Travis Chappell in a vulnerable, highly practical conversation with his producer Eric about how so‑called “flaws” shape your career, income, and long-term direction. Together, they explore internal validation, boredom, sales, and why entrepreneurship can be a better fit for people who crave variety and new challenges.​ On this episode we talk about: Why Travis...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric dive into what to do when the people around you—friends, collaborators, or industry peers—start making public choices that feel off-brand, unethical, or just flat-out embarrassing. They talk through when to quietly distance yourself, when to speak up, and how to manage association risk in a space where stages, podcasts, and social feeds are all interco...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric have fun with icebreaker prompts (“What would you do if you had to double $10,000 in 30 days?”) before diving into how better questions shape better decisions, careers, and relationships. They break down the most powerful questions to ask yourself, to ask mentors, and to ask before you jump into any new opportunity.​ On this episode we talk about: Why...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric unpack how seemingly tiny decisions—good and bad—quietly compound into massive outcomes over time. Using the classic “tortoise and the hare” story as a metaphor, they talk through why consistent, boring actions often beat flashy sprints, especially in business and wealth-building.​ On this episode we talk about: The “tortoise vs. hare” mindset and why...

In this solo-style episode, Travis and his producer Eric react to a viral Dave Ramsey clip where Dave flexes having a zero credit score while owning a campus worth roughly $500 million—and use it to unpack how “no credit, no debt ever” advice lands for people who aren’t billionaires. The conversation explores the tension between hating the credit system, still needing to function inside it, and th...

Dr. Michael Breus—known worldwide as “The Sleep Doctor”—is a clinical psychologist, board-certified sleep specialist, bestselling author, and one of the ten most influential people in sleep. He’s appeared on The Dr. Oz Show around 40 times, was named the top sleep specialist in California by Reader’s Digest, and has spent over 25 years helping executives, entrepreneurs, and high performers use sle...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric break down how to think about relationships in business—from early-stage networking, to picking partners, to knowing when it’s time to walk away. Using personal stories (including a near “bridge-burning” moment that later turned into a restored friendship and new deals), Travis lays out a practical framework for building a network that actually support...

PGA Tour veteran Jay Delsing is a nationally syndicated host of Golf with Jay Delsing, a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and author of You Wouldn’t Believe Me If I Told You: An Unforgettable Memoir of Golf, Grit, and a Blue-Collar Kid on the PGA Tour. From a modest, sports-obsessed upbringing in St. Louis to earning his PGA Tour card and building a hospitality business around pro-ams,...

Producer Eric joins Travis for a door-to-door sales deep dive, pulling from years of real-world canvassing experience in security, solar, and church outreach. From getting chased by dogs and dealing with “ostrich” homeowners to dissecting viral sales clips, this episode turns war stories into a practical masterclass on how to sell at the door without being sleazy or burning out.​ On this episode w...

Peter Imburg is the founder and CEO of Elfster, the world’s most widely used Secret Santa and gift exchange platform, now serving over 40 million users globally. He bootstrapped the company from a side project in his basement into a profitable, affiliate-driven e‑commerce engine—without taking a dollar of venture capital or angel money. On this episode we talk about: How Peter went from paper rout...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric react to a series of viral skits that poke fun at B2B sales reps, door-to-door bros, and MLM stereotypes—and use them to break down what actually makes for good, ethical selling. The conversation hits on empathy, objection handling, long-term thinking, and why trying to “pound” customers for one big commission check is a terrible strategy if you want a...

Andrew Giancola is the creator of MasterMoney.co and host of The Personal Finance Podcast, a top personal finance show doing over 400,000 downloads every month. He started with no money, no investing knowledge, and the same fears around asking for a raise most people have, and now teaches millions how to build real, lasting wealth through simple systems, smart debt strategies, and increasing incom...

Travis teams up with his producer Eric to react to a wild news story about two Dairy Queen franchise owners in Long Island who got hit with a $6 million lawsuit over a technical payroll violation. Using their situation as a springboard, Travis unpacks the often invisible risks of small business ownership, the realities of razor-thin margins, and why the legal and regulatory environment can feel st...

Retired Navy Senior Chief Travis Winfield is a bestselling author and the CEO of Military Operated Real Estate (MORE), the first national real estate brand built specifically for service members and veterans. He went from growing up with almost nothing to building a powerhouse six‑agent team that has closed over 700 homes and more than $350 million in sales, and his mission now is to fix the finan...

Austin Armstrong is a 20+ year social media marketing veteran who started on MySpace at 14 and has since built a successful agency and AI-powered software company, Syllaby. He’s also the author of Virality, a book distilling two decades of wins, losses, and experiments into a practical playbook for turning attention into income.​ On this episode we talk about: How Austin stumbled into social media...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric react to a call from The Ramsey Show with George Kamel and John Delony, where a 26-year-old caller wrestles with whether to wipe out his $20,000 savings to pay off credit card and truck debt. Using that scenario as a springboard, they dig into the psychology of safety, why cash in the bank feels like a “warm blanket,” and how to make smarter decisions...

In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric riff on the wild success of Jesse Cole and the Savannah Bananas, a baseball franchise that exploded by obsessing over fan experience instead of traditional revenue models. Using Jesse’s journey from near-bankruptcy to selling out NFL stadiums, they unpack how “fans first” thinking can transform any business, not just sports. On this episode we talk abo...

Bishop Kevin Foreman is a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and wealth strategist who has generated and managed millions through ministry, real estate, coaching, and digital ventures. From pioneering his first business at 12 to building Denver’s largest Black-owned mortgage company and leading Harvest Church, he blends biblical principles with bold execution to help people break cycles of lack and s...

Producer Eric joins Travis in this episode to break down why creators, podcasters, and business owners do not need millions of followers to build a serious income online. Eric is a veteran content producer and host in his own right, bringing a creator’s eye for monetization strategies, niche positioning, and long-term brand building to the conversation.​ On this episode we talk about: Why a massiv...

Travis sits down with long‑time friend and entrepreneur Jason Haugen to unpack the very real, very unsexy side of building and exiting a nine‑location RV dealership group that peaked at $100M a year—then got crushed by a 70% sales drop and exploding interest costs. After taking some time off, walking through his wife’s cancer battle, and licking his wounds, Jason is now co‑founder and CEO of Black...