Travis Makes Money

Travis Chappell
  • 4.3 (389)
  • 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. 16h ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money by Building a Niche Podcast Audience

    Chris Van Vliet is a four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, entertainment reporter, YouTuber, and the host of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, one of the most recognizable wrestling interview shows. Chris built a devoted audience by spotting an underserved niche in pro wrestling, bringing genuine fandom and sharp interviewing to conversations with major talent, and then turning years of behind-the-scenes work into a full-time media business. On this episode we talk about: How Chris went from red-carpet entertainment reporting to building a dedicated wrestling audience Identifying “white space” in a crowded market and choosing a niche worth owning Why content needs to deliver real value instead of being published simply for consistency The shift from traditional TV to YouTube, podcasting, and creator-led media businesses How a highly targeted audience can be more valuable to sponsors than a much larger broad audience The difference between YouTube AdSense revenue and direct podcast sponsorship sales Why creators should treat their show like a business, not an occasional hobby The long-term skill-building, consistency, and persistence required to make content work Why in-person interviews and going the extra mile helped Chris land standout conversations Top 3 Takeaways A well-defined niche can create more opportunity than chasing a broad audience. Chris built momentum by leaning into wrestling at a time when few interviewers had access to in-depth conversations with wrestlers, rather than trying to appeal equally to every entertainment audience Small, specific audiences can be exceptionally valuable to advertisers. A focused show can command meaningful sponsorship revenue when it reaches people who are genuinely invested in a high-intent category, even without massive download numbers. Consistency and commitment are non-negotiable. Publishing a couple of episodes and disappearing will not build an audience; creators need a dependable cadence and must be willing to develop interviewing, outreach, preparation, production, and business skills over time. Notable Quotes “If you treat podcasting like a hobby, it will be a hobby. Pays you like a hobby. If you treat podcasting like a business, it will start to pay you like a business.” “The best thing about podcasting is anybody can do it. The worst thing about podcasting is anybody can do it.” “You don’t have to go to the super broad audience and become the next Joe Rogan to be able to make enough money.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Website: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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

  2. 17h ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money by Scaling a Service Business From Scratch with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia

    Dr. Hardik Chodavadia—better known as Dr. C—is the co-founder and CFO of Enamel Dentistry, a growing network of comfort-first dental studios across Texas. A dentist, entrepreneur, and co-host of the Day Ones podcast, Dr. C shares how he and a college roommate went from fresh dental-school graduates with student loans and no patients to building a repeatable multi-location business. He also breaks down the financial lessons he has learned through expansion, calculated risk-taking, investing, and building wealth early. On this episode we talk about: How repairing and reselling Xbox consoles in high school sparked Dr. C’s first excitement around making money Why he moved from biomedical engineering and a potential medical-school path into dentistry The surprising financing decision that led Enamel Dentistry to launch its first practice from scratch instead of acquiring an established office The operational challenges of scaling beyond being great clinicians, including hiring, leadership, training, and documented systems How Enamel Dentistry evaluates new locations, uses real estate availability as a growth driver, and built a major head start in a high-growth Texas development The difference between investing in unfamiliar “home run” opportunities and reinvesting in a business you understand deeply Why young entrepreneurs should live below their means, save consistently, and use compound interest to create the security needed to take smart risks Top 3 Takeaways Being skilled at your craft is not the same as being skilled at business. Great patient care helped Enamel Dentistry earn trust, but long-term scale required Dr. C and his co-founder to develop leadership, hiring, training, financial, and systems-building capabilities. Focus capital where you have an edge. A high-upside investment outside Dr. C’s core expertise failed despite strong signals and experienced backers, while a carefully chosen dental-office location succeeded because the team understood the market, demand, and operating model. Build financial security before chasing bigger opportunities. Living beneath your means and investing early can create the stability entrepreneurs need to make clearer decisions, weather setbacks, and take risks without putting their entire future on the line. Notable Quotes “Don’t put too much into something because you just never know. Even if everything is written all that’s, like, guaranteed, nothing is guaranteed.” “When you have security, you just move differently.” “You’re doing really well and making money doing this one thing, so just do more of it.” Connect with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia: LinkedIn: Dr. Hardik Chodavadia Instagram: @drharcho Enamel Dentistry: enameldentistry.com Podcast: Day Ones Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 1d ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money With a Podcast by Building What Your Audience Actually Wants

    Travis is an entrepreneur, podcast host, and media operator who built a profitable podcast business by treating every listener as valuable, listening closely to audience problems, and creating products that solved them. Rather than waiting for sponsorship revenue or chasing download numbers alone, Travis used free one-on-one calls to understand his audience, launched a mastermind based on their feedback, and eventually expanded into premium podcast coaching and other services. In this unique conversation were he trades places and sits in the guest chair, Travis shares his practical framework for monetizing a show from the ground up, why audience trust matters more than vanity metrics, and how creators can use consistency, experimentation, and continuous improvement to build a podcast that lasts. On this episode we talk about: Why “one is greater than zero” is the mindset creators need when building an audience from scratch Treating a small audience with the same care and quality you would give a large one How podcasts compete for attention with music, streaming platforms, social media, and every other form of entertainment Why sponsorships are not the only—or necessarily the best—way to monetize a podcast Using free audience calls as market research to identify the most valuable products and services to create The Ask Method: building an audience, asking what they need, and creating a solution around their real problems How Travis made his first sales before building a course or mastermind Why batching episodes protects your release schedule and helps creators avoid “podfade” The difference between being consistent and consistently improving Why long-form content, video podcasts, and YouTube can continue expanding the podcast opportunity Top 3 Takeaways Build for the audience you have, not the audience you wish you had. One engaged listener is more valuable than no listeners. If you create a great experience for the first few people who trust you with their attention, you create the foundation needed to reach thousands more. Monetize by solving verified problems. Do not start with a product you want to sell and force it onto an audience. Start with conversations, identify recurring challenges, and build the exact service, offer, community, or resource people are asking for. Consistency gets you in the game; improvement creates growth. Publishing on schedule matters, but it is not enough by itself. Improve your conversations, guest selection, format, audience feedback loops, distribution, and experiments with every new episode. Notable Quotes “If I have one person listening to my content, that is far better than zero people listening to my content.” “It’s the people who treat the audience of three like it’s a massive global audience that end up doing really well.” “Media is a product. The podcast is a product.” “You don’t have to be the expert to start a podcast about something. You just have to be curious about it.” “You build an audience and then you ask that audience what they want.” “Staying in the game is the metric that people need to optimize for.” “Consistency is the name of the game, but it’s also just the barrier to entry.” “It’s not just about releasing another episode next week. It’s about releasing another episode next week that’s a little bit better than the episode that you released this week.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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

  4. 1d ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building a Business That Fits Your Life with Sanaa Abourezk

    Sanaa Abourezk is a Syrian-born chef, cookbook author, and owner of Sanaa’s Gourmet Mediterranean in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A 2023 James Beard Award finalist, Sanaa has spent more than two decades sharing the food and traditions of her Syrian heritage while championing healthy, plant-forward cooking. She has authored five cookbooks and built a thriving restaurant by staying true to her food, her values, and her community. In this episode, Sanaa shares the lessons she learned from surviving the early years of her restaurant, managing cash flow, retaining great employees, and deliberately choosing a business model that gives her both financial stability and a fulfilling life. On this episode we talk about: How Sanaa went from an agricultural engineering degree in Syria to becoming a chef and restaurant owner in South Dakota Why she refused to compromise her food by adding burgers, fries, or other items just because customers suggested them The importance of cash flow and why entrepreneurs should build more financial runway than they think they'll need How Sanaa managed every aspect of her business in the early days, from cooking and accounting to cleaning floors Why treating employees well and making them feel valued can dramatically improve retention and customer experience How she self-published cookbooks when traditional publishers told her there wasn't a market for her ideas Why Sanaa has intentionally chosen not to franchise or open additional restaurants How to design your business around the lifestyle you actually want Top 3 Takeaways Cash flow can make or break a business. Revenue and profitability aren't enough if you don't have enough cash to cover payroll, rent, insurance, supplies, and unexpected disruptions. Build enough runway to survive the slow periods before assuming your business will become cash-flow positive. Don't compromise what makes you different. Sanaa was repeatedly told to add familiar American foods to her menu, but she stayed committed to her Mediterranean concept. That consistency helped her build a loyal customer base that valued what she uniquely offered. Success doesn't have to mean constant expansion. Sanaa could have opened additional locations or franchised her restaurant, but she chose to build a profitable business that gives her employees stability, allows her to take vacations, and lets her continue doing what she loves. The best business model is the one that supports the life you want. Notable Quotes "If you think your business needs two hundred thousand dollars to build, you ask for four hundred thousand." "If you believe in something, you just stick with it." "I would never serve something I don't eat. Period. That's it." Connect with Sanaa Abourezk: Instagram: @SanaaCooks27 Cookbooks: Sanaa's five published cookbooks A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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

  5. 2d ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money by Building a Powerful Network and Choosing Your Own Path

    In this special episode, Travis is in the guest seat for another show, where he challenges conventional expectations. After stepping away from the belief system and environment he grew up in, Travis learned to tolerate disapproval, think independently, and create a life aligned with his own values—not other people’s expectations. He also shares the practical origins of his podcasting career: starting with no meaningful network, learning from established podcasters, investing in mentorship and small-group events, and using a podcast as a powerful reason to connect with people he otherwise would not have had access to. Along the way, those relationships helped create opportunities to interview leaders including Shaquille O’Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Dean Graziosi, Ed Mylett, Alex Banayan, and more. On this episode we talk about: Why living in alignment with what is true for you can require accepting other people’s disapproval Learning to think independently instead of following inherited expectations, beliefs, or definitions of success Finding the “third option” beyond the false choice between following a prescribed path or destroying your life How curiosity can expose gaps in an inherited worldview and lead to meaningful personal growth Why a podcast is one of the most effective tools for building relationship capital from scratch Choosing a specific industry to become connected in before attempting to build a broad network Using mentors, paid masterminds, and intimate events to build relationships with key people in your field The difference between paying for information and investing in proximity, access, and long-term relationships Top 3 Takeaways You do not need everyone’s approval to build a fulfilling life. Doing what is true for you may disappoint people who are attached to an older version of you, but trying to live according to everyone else’s expectations can eventually create resentment, anger, and disconnection from yourself. Build a network around a clear direction. Start by identifying the industry or community in which you want to be known. One meaningful relationship with a well-connected person can create introductions and opportunities that make future connections significantly easier. Use a podcast to create legitimate access. You do not have to be the leading expert to host a valuable show. Be genuinely curious, invite people to share what they know, apply what you learn, and let the conversations help you—and your audience—move toward the destination together. Notable Quotes “Doing and honoring what’s true for you is an act of rebellion in a world that tells you to be like everybody else.” “You have to be okay with people’s disapproval if you want to do anything big.” “You have to give up the need to be liked by everybody so that you can be loved by the people who really do know you.” “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the only way to be happy or the only way to find fulfillment is this one path.” “You don’t have to be the expert to start a podcast about something. You just have to be curious about it.” “My number one networking tip is: start a freaking podcast.” “The relationship with him was more important than the information that he could give me.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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

  6. 2d ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money by Turning What You Have Into What You Need with Trixy Castro

    Trixy Castro is a first-generation Latina entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor who built Genesis Capital and Genesis Auctions from the ground up before selling both companies to Fortune 500 firms Goldman Sachs and Fidelity National Title within nine months of each other. She has facilitated more than $20 billion in real estate transactions across debt and equity and continues to invest in real estate, fintech, AI, and sustainability. In this episode, Trixy shares how she went from tutoring elementary school students as a teenager to building billion-dollar businesses—and why focusing on the resources you already have can be the key to creating opportunities. On this episode we talk about: How Trixy started her first business at 14 with nothing more than time, creativity, and a stack of homemade business cards Why you should focus on the resources you have instead of getting stuck on what you lack How Trixy taught herself the real estate lending business while working at Wells Fargo and living in a college dorm The importance of understanding your customers' businesses and solving problems they may not even realize they have How listening to clients led Trixy to create Genesis Auctions and bridge the gap between banks with distressed assets and investors looking to buy them Why staying committed to your mission and vision can help you push through rejection and long sales cycles How Trixy's experiences with failure ultimately led to Success Unlocked, a free community designed to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and build businesses Top 3 Takeaways Work with what you have. You don't need capital, connections, or expertise to get started. Your time, curiosity, willingness to learn, and ability to solve problems can be valuable resources—and they can help you earn your way into bigger opportunities. Understand the entire problem, not just your customer's request. Trixy built her businesses by getting deeply involved in her clients' operations and understanding where they were struggling. When you understand the challenges on both sides of a transaction, you can find opportunities to become the bridge. Keep your eyes on the North Star. Sales will fall through, prospects will say no, and progress will sometimes feel painfully slow. Having a clear mission and vision allows you to treat those setbacks as part of the process instead of evidence that your idea won't work. Notable Quotes "You can't get stuck with what you don't have." "When you help people make more money, they're like, 'Yeah, sure, come on over.'" "I learned more through failing than through winning." Connect with Trixy Castro: Social Media: Trixy Castro (@TrixyCastro) Website: SuccessUnlocked.com Community: Success Unlocked A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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

  7. 3d ago

    CO-HOST | Make Money by Investing in Yourself, Building Relationships, and Trusting the Process

    Building a meaningful network is not about paying for access—it’s about becoming someone who consistently creates value for others. In this special episode featuring Travis in the guest seat, he shares how he invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into coaching, masterminds, events, and relationships; used a zero-percent credit card to make an early bet on his business; and built connections that led to new opportunities, partnerships, speaking engagements, and interviews with icons such as Shaquille O’Neal. He also offers a more grounded perspective on ambition: define the life you want, stay flexible about the path, make time to be alone with your thoughts, and learn to see difficult seasons as part of the story rather than proof that you are failing. On this episode we talk about: Investing in coaching, masterminds, events, and personal development to expand your opportunities Why entering high-level rooms with a “How can I add value?” mindset matters more than extracting value Taking calculated risks early in your entrepreneurial journey without wasting money on status purchases or unnecessary equipment How one relationship, introduction, or event can create a chain reaction of career-changing opportunities Creating a five-year vision for your ideal life while remaining adaptable as circumstances change Why solitude, self-awareness, and keeping promises to yourself are essential to building self-trust Reframing burnout, setbacks, and slow seasons as a normal part of pursuing extraordinary goals Top 3 Takeaways Invest in becoming more valuable, not just looking more successful. Prioritize relationships, skills, mentorship, experiences, and rooms that can expand your perspective over expensive equipment or purchases that do not materially move your business forward. Approach every room as a contributor. The strongest networks are built by being helpful, thoughtful, and generous—not by showing up with a list of things you expect to receive. As your value grows, your ability to create opportunities for others grows with it. Get clear on the mountain you actually want to climb. If you are exhausted, discouraged, or questioning your path, pause long enough to assess whether you are pursuing your own definition of success. Hard seasons are inevitable, but they are easier to navigate when you know why you are doing the work. Notable Quotes “Your network will always increase in direct proportion to the amount of value that you can add to others.” “You can only connect the dots looking backwards.” “Sometimes you might just be climbing the wrong mountain.” “If you don’t like spending time with you, how do you expect anybody else to actually want to spend time with you?” “This is gonna make a really cool part of my story someday.” “You have permission to take the day off.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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. 3d ago

    INTERVIEW | Make Money by Learning to Read the Room with Pamela Meyer

    Pamela Meyer is an internationally recognized expert in deception detection, social observation, and human behavior. She is the bestselling author of Lie Spotting and her new book, How to Read the Room. Pam has trained executives, organizations, government agencies, investigators, and leaders around the world to recognize behavioral signals, navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, and build trust. In this episode, she explains why observation is one of the most overlooked skills in business—and how learning to read people and understand a room can make you more effective at influencing, negotiating, and building relationships. On this episode we talk about: How Pamela turned a natural ability to read people into a career in deception detection and behavioral observation Why successful businesses solve problems people already know they have—and how timing and luck factor into success Why teams often fail socially before they fail intellectually How to read a room by pausing, observing, and paying attention to who has influence The different ways you can build influence without forcing your ideas on people How to recognize inconsistencies between someone's words, body language, and behavior Why intuition can be a valuable signal—and how to distinguish it from unsupported assumptions Top 3 Takeaways Pause before you speak. When you enter a room, resist the urge to immediately contribute. Observe who's talking, who's being listened to, who has influence, and how people are responding to one another. You can learn a tremendous amount simply by paying attention. Influence is a long-term game. You don't need to make your impact in the middle of a meeting. Build relationships, understand the chain of influence, use back channels strategically, and recognize when waiting for the right moment will be more effective than forcing an immediate outcome. Pay attention to inconsistencies. When someone's words don't match their body language, facial expressions, or timing, your intuition may be picking up on a genuine signal. Learning to identify those inconsistencies can help you make better decisions about whom to trust. Notable Quotes "Teams fail first socially before they fail intellectually." "You would be amazed at how many unbelievably talented, well-off CEOs I've worked with that cannot do it." "When you instinctively trust somebody or you're instinctively repelled by them, what you're really doing is you're seeing an inconsistency between their words, their body language, their messaging." Connect with Pamela Meyer: Website: PamelaMeyer.com Books: Lie Spotting and How to Read the Room A Word from Our Sponsors: - 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! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 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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4.3
out of 5
389 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