Travis Makes Money

Travis Chappell
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated daily

You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.

  1. 2 hr ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money Without Following One-Size-Fits-All Homebuying Rules

    In this conversational-style episode, Travis and producer Eric break down the gap between traditional personal-finance advice and the realities of today’s housing market. They react to Rachel Cruz’s homebuying framework, unpack the limitations of rigid debt-free and 15-year-mortgage rules, and discuss how to make a housing decision based on your actual income, cash flow, goals, and risk tolerance. On this episode we talk about: Why paying off every debt before buying a home may be unrealistic for many households The challenge of meeting a 25% take-home-pay mortgage guideline in today’s housing market Whether a 15-year mortgage or a 30-year mortgage makes more sense Why a low-interest car loan may not deserve the same treatment as high-interest credit-card debt The tradeoff between paying extra toward a mortgage and investing in index funds or ETFs How “debt-free” financial advice can work differently at high incomes than it does for someone earning an average salary Why personal-finance advice needs context, nuance, and an honest look at your current financial situation How increasing income can create more options when homeownership feels out of reach Top 3 Takeaways Treat financial rules as considerations—not universal requirements. Paying down consumer debt, building emergency savings, and avoiding overleveraging are worthwhile goals, but not every prospective homebuyer can realistically check every box before purchasing. A 30-year mortgage can provide flexibility. A longer term often means a lower required monthly payment. You can still make extra principal payments when it makes sense, while retaining the ability to invest, build cash reserves, or adapt to changes in income. Match the decision to your own numbers. Buying a home should not be driven by blanket advice or pressure to “get in the market.” Evaluate your income, debt, savings, projected expenses, location, interest rate, and plans for the next 12 months before committing. Notable Quotes “The pieces of content that tend to do really well are the ones that are giving you the code.” “That doesn’t account for nuance at all, which there’s obviously a crazy amount of nuance in every single person’s personal financial situation.” “If you can buy your house, you should. But there’s a lot of things that make it to where people can’t buy a house right now.” “Don’t put yourself in a bad situation just to buy a house because you think it’s a good idea to buy a house.” Connect with Travis Chappell: Website: Travis Makes Money Instagram: @travischappell Other: Travis Chappell on LinkedIn A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 3 hr ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building a Referral-Driven Interior Design Business with Maya Moghadam

    Maya Moghadam is an interior designer and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience spanning high-end residential, hospitality, commercial, and healthcare projects. After building her first company in Iran at age 24, Maya moved to the United States to earn her second master’s degree at SCAD and later launched Maya’s Design Studio. Her approach centers on educating clients, leading with service, and building relationships that turn into long-term referrals. On this episode we talk about: How Maya’s early exposure to art, architecture, and hands-on materials shaped her interior design career Why she left an established business in Iran to pursue a second master’s degree in the United States The transition from employee to business owner—and why clients encouraged her to start her own studio How educating clients instead of pressuring them to buy creates stronger sales and repeat business Building a design firm that works across residential, hospitality, commercial, healthcare, and senior-living projects The immigrant entrepreneur mindset, overcoming assumptions, and creating professional connections from scratch Why thoughtful interior design can support functionality, well-being, and mental health Top 3 Takeaways Sell through service, not pressure. Maya’s client-first process starts with learning how someone lives and what they need—not with pushing the most expensive product. That trust creates referrals that can last for years. Your broad experience can become your differentiator. Rather than limiting her firm to one design niche, Maya combines experience across hospitality, healthcare, commercial, and residential work to offer a more versatile perspective. Relationships outlast transactions. Clients may forget a name or a particular purchase, but they remember how you made them feel. Being transparent, accountable, and genuinely helpful creates durable business relationships. Notable Quotes “I don’t want to sell the item. I want to completely [make sure] they understand what they pick and what’s the reason.” “I’m going to spend exactly the same amount of time for someone who wants to purchase a whole home or just one small piece of five hundred dollars.” “People remember when they feel trust and [you] be genuine and transparent.” “We live ninety percent of our time indoors. It matters how is our environment.” Connect with Maya Moghadam: Website: https://mayasdesignstudio.com/ — book a complimentary consultation Other: Follow Maya’s Design Studio for interior-design education, project insights, and design services A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 4 hr ago

    SOLO | Make Money by Becoming a Better Friend, part 2

    In this solo episode, Travis continues the conversation about the growing loneliness epidemic and why meaningful friendships are essential for a successful and fulfilling life. Travis shares personal experiences—from navigating a difficult season in business to recovering from cancer surgery—and explains how those moments reshaped the way he prioritizes relationships. Instead of focusing purely on business or money strategies, Travis dives into the overlooked reality that strong friendships are one of the biggest contributors to long-term happiness, health, and even professional success. He breaks down practical ways to become a better friend, how to intentionally create shared experiences, and why ambitious people often need to be extra careful not to sacrifice relationships in pursuit of achievement. On this episode we talk about: Why the modern loneliness epidemic is affecting people—especially men—more than ever How creating shared experiences is one of the best ways to strengthen friendships Why ambitious people often sacrifice friendships for work (and why that’s dangerous) How to prioritize friendships alongside work, family, and personal goals The power of asking deeper questions to build genuine connection Top 3 Takeaways If you want better friendships, become a better friend first. Strong relationships rarely happen by accident—you often need to be the person who organizes the hangouts, plans the trips, and brings people together. Don’t sacrifice friendships for ambition. Work and success matter, but neglecting meaningful relationships can lead to long-term regret. Scheduling time with friends is just as important as scheduling work. Deeper connection comes after trust—not before. Small talk isn’t pointless; it builds the foundation that allows deeper conversations and stronger friendships to develop. Notable Quotes “Your life will be a collection of the decisions you make—and one of the most important is whether you prioritize your friendships.” “Most friend groups don’t fall apart because people don’t want to hang out… it’s because nobody takes the time to plan anything.” “We don’t build trust by offering help—we build trust by asking for help.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@travischappellclips⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. 1 day ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money by Protecting Your Digital Legacy

    In this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and producer Eric explore a topic that most creators and entrepreneurs rarely think about: what happens to your digital business when you die? From podcasts and YouTube channels to sponsorship agreements, subscriptions, intellectual property, and online communities, today's creators can build valuable businesses that don't fit neatly into traditional estate-planning frameworks. Travis and Eric discuss the importance of documenting account access, determining who controls digital assets, protecting valuable content, and thinking intentionally about what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. On this episode we talk about: Why creators and entrepreneurs need to think about estate planning for their digital businesses What happens to podcasts, YouTube channels, royalties, sponsorships, subscriptions, and other digital assets after someone dies The legal and financial questions creators should ask about ownership, account access, intellectual property, and transferring digital businesses Why writing a book can serve as a permanent time capsule for your ideas, experiences, and lessons How to think about your content as a legacy and decide what should be preserved, passed down, repurposed, or deleted Top 3 Takeaways Your digital business is an asset, so treat it like one. If your content generates revenue or has significant commercial value, make sure someone you trust can legally access and manage it if you're no longer able to. Don't wait until something happens to figure out your digital estate. Identify who owns your accounts, intellectual property, sponsorship agreements, subscriptions, and other assets, and talk with an attorney about how they should be handled. Think intentionally about the legacy you're building. Whether it's a podcast, YouTube channel, or book, consider what you want to remain after you're gone—and document the ideas and lessons you want future generations to have access to. Notable Quotes "The point is to not like you don't have to already have all the answers to have written a book. It's just sort of like, here's what I've discovered so far." "It's a time capsule to look into what I was thinking about at that time in my life." "If you want to achieve some sort of extraordinary success, something that's beyond mediocre, beyond average, then you have to put in beyond average effort in order to be able to achieve beyond average results." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: instagram.com/travischappell Other: travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. 1 day ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money Building Seven-Figure Businesses While Raising a Family

    Beth Mazza and Victoria Sivrais are serial entrepreneurs, business partners, and the co-founders of Female Mavericks. Together, they have built and exited two successful professional services firms that advised S&P 500 leaders through high-stakes decisions. Now, as mothers of nine collectively, they're using everything they've learned to help more women build and scale seven-figure businesses. In this episode, they share how their partnership began, how they identified opportunities in underserved markets, why mentorship and proximity to smart people matter, and how they're now helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses without sacrificing the lives they want to live. On this episode we talk about: How Beth and Victoria went from corporate careers to building and exiting successful professional services firms Why identifying gaps in an established market can create opportunities for new businesses The importance of learning from mentors and spending time around people who have the results you want How Beth and Victoria built a highly complementary business partnership based on different skill sets, shared values, and mutual trust Why they're now focused on helping 10,000 women build seven-figure businesses while balancing entrepreneurship and family Top 3 Takeaways Prioritize learning over earning early in your career. Find the smartest person you can, get close to them, and absorb how they think, communicate, make decisions, and operate—not just what they know. Look for opportunities where others aren't willing to compete. Beth identified an underserved market, offered a better-priced service, and challenged CEOs' thinking to win clients despite competing against much larger firms. Choose business partners based on complementary strengths and shared values. Beth and Victoria's partnership worked because one naturally leaned toward strategy and vision while the other excelled at execution, while both shared the same ambition, purpose, and commitment to supporting each other. Notable Quotes "You get to decide if you're the person to build a business around the disruptive thing and if it's the right timing." "I think my career would have been so different if I was at home fifty to seventy-five percent of the time." "As long as you're not making a profit, you are not making money." Connect with Beth Mazza & Victoria Sivrais: Website: FemaleMavericks.com — female entrepreneurs can visit the site and connect with Beth and Victoria about their mentorship programs. Book: Entrepreneur Like a Mother, releasing September 22 **use code Maverick25 code, so listeners can get the bundle. A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. 1 day ago

    SOLO | Make Money by Becoming a Better Friend

    In this solo episode, Travis Chappell reflects on the importance of friendship and how meaningful relationships impact our health, happiness, and success. Inspired by a conversation between Simon Sinek and Trevor Noah, Travis shares personal lessons about how chasing business success and carrying burdens alone led him to unintentionally distance himself from friends. He explores the idea that friendship may be the ultimate “biohack” for a better life, dives into the famous Rat Park experiment on addiction and community, and explains why being a great friend is often the key to building deeper relationships. On this episode we talk about: Why Simon Sinek calls friendship the “ultimate biohack” for health, happiness, and longevity The powerful lesson from the Rat Park experiment about community and addiction Why refusing to share struggles with friends can actually damage relationships The balance between vulnerability and becoming the constant “complainer” in a friend group Practical ways to strengthen friendships by creating shared experiences and memories Top 3 Takeaways Friendship is one of the most powerful predictors of health and happiness. Meaningful relationships can impact everything from emotional well-being to long-term longevity. Being a good friend means allowing others to show up for you. Refusing to share struggles can unintentionally rob your friends of the chance to support you. Experiences create stronger friendships than conversation alone. Shared activities and memories build deeper trust and connection over time. Notable Quotes "Friendship is the ultimate biohack that literally fixes everything." "If you don’t allow your friends to be there for you, you’re robbing them of the opportunity to be a good friend." "Stop asking how to make friends and start asking how to become a great friend." Connect with Travis Chappell: Website: ⁠https://travischappell.com⁠ Podcast: ⁠https://travischappell.com/podcast⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. 2 days ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money... With Nicotine? Does It Actually Make You More Productive?

    In this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and producer Eric dive into an unexpected question: can nicotine actually help you perform better in sales, content creation, and other demanding work? After seeing clips from business influencers discussing nicotine pouches, the two explore the potential benefits, risks, addictive nature, and diminishing returns of using nicotine as a productivity aid. Travis also shares his own experience using nicotine during intense sales and podcasting schedules, while emphasizing the importance of moderation, self-awareness, and putting guardrails around potentially addictive habits. On this episode we talk about: Why nicotine has become increasingly popular among salespeople, entrepreneurs, and other high performers Whether nicotine can actually improve focus, energy, and performance during sales calls and creative work The difference between nicotine being genuinely helpful and simply becoming an addictive habit How tolerance, overuse, and timing can create diminishing returns and negatively affect sleep and overall well-being Why people should be cautious about jumping straight into addictive substances and consider less risky nootropics and productivity tools first Top 3 Takeaways Productivity benefits don't eliminate the risks. Nicotine may provide short-term focus and energy, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea for everyone or that more is better. Watch for signs that a tool has become a dependency. If you can't stop using something tomorrow, it's worth stepping back and evaluating how much control you actually have over the habit. Start with the lowest-risk option that works. Before experimenting with addictive substances, consider alternatives such as better sleep, mindfulness, or non-addictive nootropics—and if you do use nicotine, establish boundaries around how and when you use it. Notable Quotes "There's always a point of diminishing returns in any vice." "I'm very cautious against advising people to go start using an addictive substance." "If you can't stop something tomorrow, then maybe stop it just for a little bit and double check that you can."Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. 2 days ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money Through Disruption: How AI Is Changing Business, Careers, and Opportunity

    Jeffrey Cole is one of the world’s leading voices on media, technology, and the digital future. He founded the World Internet Project, the longest-running global study of online behavior, and has spent more than three decades studying how major technological shifts reshape society and business. He also directs the Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School and has taught more than 35,000 students. In this episode, Jeffrey shares his perspective on why AI could be the most disruptive technology in history, where new opportunities are emerging, and how entrepreneurs and workers can thrive in a rapidly changing economy. On this episode we talk about: Why the internet, COVID, and AI represent an unprecedented period of disruption—and how AI could be the most disruptive technology yet The difference between innovation and true disruption, and how disruption can completely reshape or eliminate entire industries How AI may transform the job market and why careers centered around human connection, creativity, caregiving, and hands-on skills could become increasingly valuable Why the trades and apprenticeship models may be better positioned for the future than traditional four-year college pathways How technology has leveled the playing field for entrepreneurs, making it possible to build businesses and creative projects with dramatically lower costs and overhead Top 3 Takeaways Look for opportunity in disruption. When industries are being transformed, entire new niches and business models emerge. Instead of resisting change, entrepreneurs can look for the opportunities created by it. Develop skills that are difficult to automate. Human connection, caregiving, creativity, and hands-on skills may become increasingly valuable as AI and automation replace more routine jobs. Keep overhead low and surround yourself with smart people. Technology has dramatically reduced the cost of starting businesses and creating products, giving individuals and small teams opportunities that once required massive amounts of capital. Notable Quotes "All of this chaos creates incredible opportunities to find new niches, to really build new businesses." "AI has the potential to be the most disruptive technology of all time." "The best single thing you can do is be around smart people with low overhead." Connect with Jeffrey Cole: Book: Disrupters at the Gate A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Travis Chappell
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2k
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 Travis Chappell
  • Show Website
    Travis Makes Money

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