Daniel Solin joins Travis to explain why most investors are overcomplicating things and quietly lighting their wealth on fire. A former Wall Street attorney who spent decades representing clients burned by bad brokers, Daniel became a New York Times bestselling author of the “Smartest” series of investing books and now focuses on helping ordinary people outperform most professionals with a no‑nonsense, low‑cost strategy. On this episode we talk about: How 30 years as a securities lawyer opened D...
Dec 13, 2025•28 min
Travis brings producer Eric into the virtual studio for a late‑night, high‑energy reaction episode on how money, status, and expectations collide in modern relationships. Using viral clips about insane car payments, a rejected Walmart engagement ring, and a boyfriend insisting on separate finances and a prenup, they break down what these decisions reveal about values, red flags, and long‑term wealth building. On this episode we talk about: Why multi‑thousand‑dollar car payments are almost always...
Dec 13, 2025•29 min
Travis and producer Eric perform a tongue‑in‑cheek “autopsy” on the rise and fall of Clubhouse, revisiting a 2021 conversation with Jordan Harbinger where they questioned whether the app could ever compete with podcasting. They unpack why a product that looked brilliant on paper—and raised money at a $4B valuation—collapsed so quickly, and what creators, founders, and marketers should learn before betting their careers on the next hype platform. On this episode we talk about: What Clubhouse actu...
Dec 12, 2025•29 min
Travis reconnects with long‑time friend and solar sales leader Steven Cohen to break down how door‑to‑door solar has created life‑changing income for thousands of reps—and why the recent merger of Sunder Energy with publicly traded SunPower has only strengthened that opportunity. From early days earning a few hundred dollars per kilowatt to today’s multi‑thousand‑dollar commissions, Steven explains how the industry has evolved, what the new legislation means, and why performance‑based sales is s...
Dec 12, 2025•28 min
Neri Karra Sillaman joins Travis to unpack why immigrant entrepreneurs are disproportionately likely to build enduring, billion‑dollar businesses. Drawing on her journey from refugee child expelled from Bulgaria, to founder of a 25‑year‑old leather goods company, to PhD and entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University, Neri shares the eight principles from her book Pioneers: Eight Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs and how any founder can apply them. On this episode we...
Dec 11, 2025•30 min
Eric and Travis react to a clip of Riaz Meghji. Riaz breaks down the craft of powerful conversations, drawing on his two decades as a TV host, human connection keynote speaker, and author of Every Conversation Counts . Known for helping leaders build meaningful relationships in a distracted, digital-first world, Riaz shares practical frameworks any creator, entrepreneur, or interviewer can use to unlock deeper stories and stronger trust with guests, clients, and audiences. On this episode we ta...
Dec 11, 2025•32 min
Travis and producer Eric tackle one of the most common questions in personal finance and self‑help: can money really buy happiness? They dig into research on income and life satisfaction, talk through how money affects freedom and options, and explore cautionary tales of wealthy people who became slaves to greed. The conversation ultimately reframes money as a powerful tool—one that can remove money problems and expand your choices, but can’t fix who you are on the inside. On this episode we tal...
Dec 10, 2025•20 min
Keith Yackey joins Travis to talk about the surprising overlap between making more money and having a thriving marriage. A former contractor, pastor, and real estate investor who built a seven‑figure online business in 14 months, Keith now runs Married Game, where he helps men become the most attractive version of themselves for themselves—and, as a byproduct, for their wives. From proof‑of‑funds tools in real estate to high‑ticket relationship coaching, Keith has consistently turned conviction,...
Dec 10, 2025•36 min
Travis and producer Eric break down how “lifestyle creep” quietly traps people in careers and businesses they don’t even like. Using Travis’s own journey—from upgrading houses and stuffing the biggest U‑Haul available, to downsizing into an 800 sq ft apartment with his brother‑in‑law so he could rebuild—this episode shows how controlling lifestyle and expenses can buy the freedom to switch careers, start a business, and actually enjoy the process. On this episode we talk about: How innocently “j...
Dec 09, 2025•21 min
Travis sits down with entrepreneur and “CEO Whisperer” Charles Gaudet, founder and CEO of Predictable Profits, to unpack how real momentum—not just ideas—creates lasting success. From launching his first “business” at four years old to building a multimillion‑dollar company in his twenties and helping clients add over $100M in revenue, Charles explains why most owners cap out on hard work, how to think about setbacks, and why—if he started over today—he’d buy a business instead of starting from ...
Dec 09, 2025•30 min
Travis and Eric sit down for a candid conversation about how beginners should actually get started in real estate—without overthinking strategy or blindly trusting gurus. Drawing on Travis’s own “real estate dabbler” experience and recent insights from billion‑dollar multifamily operator Veena Jetti, they break down mindset, risk, education, and why doing a small, imperfect first deal usually beats sitting on the sidelines. On this episode we talk about: Why there’s so much conflicting advice on...
Dec 08, 2025•30 min
Travis sits down with actor‑turned‑entrepreneur Ryan Rottman, cofounder of AthleteAgent.com, an IMDb‑style database for the sports world. From training as a business major and actor at Texas Tech to navigating constant rejection in Hollywood, Ryan shares how thick skin, relationships, and a love of sports led him to build the most extensive searchable sports database online, alongside partners like Aaron Rodgers and Nate Robb. On this episode we talk about: How Ryan’s early trading and acting wo...
Dec 08, 2025•31 min
Travis catches up with his old friend Todd Lamb, founder of Pure Life Organics, a wellness brand that has generated over $100 million in gross revenue through direct response and DTC e‑commerce. Coming from nearly 20 years in policing—including K‑9, undercover surveillance, and leading a tactical team—Todd shares how a backyard “redneck margarita maker” on eBay pulled him into the online world, and how he navigated the evolution from info products and VSLs to a durable, compliant brand with repe...
Dec 08, 2025•30 min
Travis sits down with blockchain VC and founder Harvey Liu, a China-born computer science grad turned global investor who has backed and built in crypto since the early 2010s. Harvey shares how early bets on Apple, Google, Tesla, and Bitcoin shaped his philosophy, why he now builds long-term in his own exchange, and how everyday investors can navigate crypto volatility with less emotion and more strategy. On this episode we talk about: Harvey’s journey from gaming-obsessed kid in China to comput...
Dec 07, 2025•31 min
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 about starting. On this episode we talk about: Why Travis doesn’t care what people call themselves—...
Dec 06, 2025•17 min
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 platforms across hiring, fraud detection, customer communications, and real estate lending—all while trans...
Dec 05, 2025•26 min
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: Why “charge what you’re worth” is useless advice without understanding perceived value, buyer outc...
Dec 05, 2025•22 min
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 ship a real SaaS product for his own industry. On this episode we talk about: Growing up in a mini...
Dec 04, 2025•30 min
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 someone others are genuinely glad to meet and be introduced to. On this episode we talk about: Why basic...
Dec 04, 2025•24 min
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. Jimmy is known for his relentless work ethic, his willingness to say what others won’t, and his ability ...
Dec 03, 2025•36 min
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 this episode we talk about: Whether speaking at events is a vanity play or a real growth lever for you...
Dec 03, 2025•31 min
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 syndicator, philanthropist, and Forbes Council Member, her story stands out for its hard-earned lesson...
Dec 02, 2025•37 min
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 business and life. On this episode we talk about: How the “rocking chair test” helps you see your c...
Dec 02, 2025•20 min
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-financed structures—while spending most of the year living abroad. On this episode we talk about: Fernando...
Dec 01, 2025•35 min
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 connection and drive results in an AI-driven world. On this episode we talk about: Michelle’s first “real...
Dec 01, 2025•31 min
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 would hate to see leaked. Under‑$50 buys (like “The Almanack of Naval Ravikant”) that genuinely impro...
Nov 30, 2025•26 min
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 we talk about: The one professional contact Travis would keep if he had to delete everyone else from...
Nov 29, 2025•24 min
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 using short-form content. On this episode we talk about: How Jesse went from teen restaurant jobs t...
Nov 29, 2025•30 min
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 including hospitality, insurance, and technology. His extensive experience and visionary leadership ...
Nov 28, 2025•26 min
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 financing into a full-time business, and recently distilled her approach into her book, “The Build-to-...
Nov 28, 2025•29 min
