In this fun and fast-paced episode of the Travis Makes Money podcast, Travis Chappell and producer Eric break down and rank some of the most popular side hustles in today’s economy—from freelance copywriting and media buying to dropshipping, reselling, and drone businesses. Along the way, they swap hilarious gym stories, debate hustle culture, and dive deep into which side hustles actually build valuable long-term skills versus which ones are becoming obsolete. Travis also shares why drones may ...
May 22, 2026•29 min
Buddy Clay is the founder and CEO of New Hope Healthcare Institute, a behavioral health and addiction recovery facility based in Knoxville, Tennessee. After being diagnosed with stage three melanoma at 32 and then facing a stage four recurrence just a few years later, Buddy chose a holistic healing journey while continuing to lead and grow his company. He shares the lessons he learned about leadership, purpose, community, and resilience in his book Built in the Fire: Two Battles at Once . In thi...
May 22, 2026•24 min
In this solo episode, Travis Chappell reflects on some of the most impactful lessons he’s learned after interviewing more than 1,000 guests over nearly a decade of podcasting. Drawing insights from conversations with thought leaders like Ed Mylett, James Clear, Mark Manson, and Nicole LePera, Travis shares the mindset shifts and personal breakthroughs that have shaped his own life and career. From endurance challenges and habit formation to self-awareness and relationships, this episode is packe...
May 22, 2026•24 min
In this episode of the Travis Makes Money podcast, Travis Chappell and producer Eric play a fast-paced game of “This or That,” diving into some of the biggest debates in entrepreneurship, investing, and wealth-building. From buying vs. renting and high-ticket offers to personal branding and business partnerships, Travis shares nuanced takes shaped by interviewing over 1,000 successful entrepreneurs. Along the way, the conversation mixes practical business wisdom with hilarious tangents about HOA...
May 21, 2026•24 min
Attorney Ryan is a workers’ rights lawyer, former firefighter, and author of Get It in Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Your Rights at Work . Known online for his practical legal advice and relatable approach, Ryan has built a massive following by helping everyday workers understand labor laws, negotiate better outcomes, and avoid getting taken advantage of at work. In this episode, he shares hard-earned lessons from both the fire service and the courtroom, breaks down common workplace misconcepti...
May 21, 2026•29 min
In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down the current state of podcast guesting and whether it’s still worth your time as a marketing strategy in 2026. Drawing from his experience hosting more than 1,700 podcast episodes, appearing on 500+ shows himself, and building a multi-million dollar podcast booking agency and software company, Travis shares the real pros and cons of podcast guesting today. He explains why the strategy has evolved, how entrepreneurs can use podcast appearances to b...
May 21, 2026•19 min
On this episode of Travis Makes Money , Travis and producer Eric dive into the surprising $2 billion sale of Nothing Bundt Cakes and unpack what it says about franchising, private equity, branding, and scaling a simple business model into a nationwide empire. Along the way, they debate whether private equity ruins beloved brands, swap stories about junk food cravings, cake shakes, and Vegas dessert spots, and explore why some businesses become cultural staples while others disappear overnight. I...
May 20, 2026•23 min
What if the fastest way to get a “yes”… is to stop asking for it? In this preview episode of Travis Makes Friends , Travis sits down with legendary FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss to challenge one of the most ingrained habits in communication: chasing agreement. Instead, Chris introduces a counterintuitive approach— go for “no” —and explains why it actually builds trust faster, lowers resistance, and leads to better outcomes in both business and everyday life. Chris breaks down how “yes” has b...
May 20, 2026•25 min
Host Travis walks through how to follow up like a pro, respect your guest’s time, and turn a 30‑day DM challenge into real relationships and opportunities. Drawing on over a thousand interviews, he breaks down the mindset, cadence, and etiquette that separate annoying outreach from respected professional persistence. On this episode we talk about: Setting a smart follow‑up cadence instead of DMing people every day The difference between professional persistence and pushy persistence Respecting t...
May 20, 2026•19 min
In this episode, Travis Chappell and producer Eric dive into the business behind entertainment franchises, streaming rights, and why intellectual property can become one of the most valuable assets in media. Using The Walking Dead as the centerpiece of the conversation, they break down how legacy TV shows continue generating hundreds of millions of dollars long after their original run, the economics behind licensing content to streaming platforms like Netflix, and why some media companies strug...
May 19, 2026•23 min
Forbes Riley is a globally recognized communication expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author known as the “Queen of Pitch.” With more than $2.5 billion in product sales across live television, home shopping, and infomercials, Forbes has built an extraordinary career helping people sharpen their message, boost confidence, and sell more effectively. In this episode, she shares the incredible journey from struggling actress to world-class pitch expert, the lessons she learned from building the ...
May 19, 2026•44 min
Travis is a podcast host, interviewer, and creator who’s running a 30-day interview challenge and sharing practical outreach, scheduling, and interview-prep tactics from his experience booking guests and growing a show. On this episode we talk about: How to structure DM outreach to get podcast interview yeses Why short video messages beat long written pitches in DMs Scheduling and reducing friction (Calendly tips and what not to ask) Ten to fifteen high-leverage interview questions to use repeat...
May 19, 2026•18 min
In this special episode, host Travis sits down with producer Eric to rank some of the biggest names in financial advice. From real estate moguls to personal finance gurus, they debate who deserves S-tier status and who falls short. The conversation reveals what makes financial advice trustworthy, the importance of balanced perspectives, and why conflicts of interest matter when following money influencers. On this episode we talk about: The tier system for ranking financial influencers (S-tier t...
May 18, 2026•29 min
Jon Gordon is a bestselling author, speaker, and leadership expert known for his work with Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and organizations around the world. With over 30 books—including The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership —Jon has helped millions improve their mindset, leadership, and performance. His latest book, The Power of Positive Habits , is a collection of proven strategies designed to help people elevate their lives through simple, consistent actions. ...
May 18, 2026•26 min
On this solo episode, host Travis shares a personal, behind-the-scenes look at how strategically reaching out to people you admire can transform your career and expand your sense of what is possible. Drawing from his own experiences in podcasting and entrepreneurship, he walks through how he went from dreaming about conversations with icons like Shaquille O’Neal and Joe Gatto to building real relationships with them over time. On this episode we talk about: How a “dream guest” list turned into r...
May 18, 2026•19 min
Travis and his producer Eric break down the idea of a personal “Mount Rushmore” of high‑value influences and why picking the right people to follow can make you more successful and less susceptible to the spammy, scammy side of self‑help and business content. They use a viral clip about “the most attractive man in America” as a humorous jumping‑off point to talk about substance over style in the online influencer world. On this episode we talk about: Why the phrase “high value man” has become a ...
May 17, 2026•22 min
Whitney Johnson is one of the world’s leading management thinkers, recognized by Thinkers50 and Inc. Magazine. She began her career as a secretary on Wall Street before reinventing herself into an award-winning equity analyst and later co-founding an investment fund with Clayton Christensen, the father of disruptive innovation. A Wall Street Journal bestselling author and host of the Disrupt Yourself podcast, Whitney now helps individuals and organizations navigate change, growth, and high perfo...
May 17, 2026•23 min
On this solo episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis breaks down why your life is limited by the conversations you refuse to have and issues a challenge that can literally change your trajectory. Drawing from both his own experience and recent research on networking self‑efficacy, he shows how intentionally interviewing high‑level people can build confidence, expand your opportunities, and collapse years of trial and error into a handful of powerful conversations. On this episode we talk about: Wh...
May 17, 2026•17 min
In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric break down Kevin Hart’s media company, Heartbeat, and what entrepreneurs can learn from its rise, expansion, and struggles. Eric walks through how Hart bundled his ventures, built a multi-platform comedy brand, and chased a massive valuation, while Travis provides perspective on what happens when a business stretches too far beyond its founder’s personal brand. On this episode we talk about: How Kevin Hart built Heartbeat into a multi-platform comedy...
May 16, 2026•22 min
Chris Sain is an entrepreneur, investor, and content creator who has built a multi-million dollar digital education business helping people achieve financial freedom. With over a million followers online, Chris has generated more than $10 million in revenue and retired himself and his wife before 40. Known for his transparent, no-excuses approach, he teaches everyday people how to build wealth through disciplined investing and consistent action. On this episode we talk about: How Chris built a l...
May 16, 2026•23 min
In this solo episode, Travis breaks down how getting in the best shape of your life becomes a force multiplier for everything else: your confidence, your relationships, and your ability to make more money. He shares his own journey from being clinically obese to getting lean, consistent, and disciplined, and explains how fitness, nutrition, and long-term habits translate directly into better business performance and financial results. On this episode we talk about: Why you can’t “silo” fitness f...
May 16, 2026•23 min
In this episode, Travis and his producer Eric riff on one of the hottest debates in modern city life: are reservations and curated nights out killing “real” experiences, or are they the only sane way to survive places like Las Vegas? Using a viral Subway Takes clip as a jumping-off point, they break down why lines get engineered, why chaos is overrated, and how to actually plan a great Vegas trip without burning cash (or patience) on bad clubs and hour-long waits. On this episode we talk about: ...
May 15, 2026•25 min
Cheryl Strauss Einhorn is the creator of the AREA Method, a structured decision-making system used by individuals, companies, and nonprofits to solve complex problems. She’s the founder of Decisive, an adjunct professor at Cornell and the University of Miami, and the author of multiple books on decision-making, including Problem Solved and her latest, The Human Edge . Cheryl combines deep research expertise with practical frameworks to help people think more clearly and make smarter choices—espe...
May 15, 2026•29 min
This solo episode features Travis continuing his deep dive on failure, following up on his “failure resume” from the previous show. He shares a practical three-part framework—debrief, connect, and act—for processing big setbacks, protecting your mindset, and getting back into motion after deals go bad, investments flop, or businesses collapse. On this episode we talk about: Why most of Travis’s 17–18 ventures didn’t meet his expectations, even when they technically “worked” The Grant Cardone ide...
May 15, 2026•15 min
This is a conversation between Travis and his producer Eric, who brings a mix of comedy, real-world consumer insight, and behind-the-scenes perspective from the show itself. Eric’s storytelling about fitness, Starbucks chai, and Panera “hacks” sets up a broader conversation with Travis about pricing, perceived value, and how brands like Starbucks, Chipotle, and Everbowl think about experience versus cost. Together, they break down what “premium experience” really means at the register and in the...
May 14, 2026•26 min
Mark Divine is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL commander, entrepreneur, and founder of SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind. After 20 years leading elite special operations teams, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, building multiple businesses and training top executives in leadership, resilience, and peak performance. A New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Mark blends military discipline with mindfulness practices to help others unlock their full potential. On this episode we talk abo...
May 14, 2026•29 min
On this solo episode, Travis shares candid stories from his own entrepreneurial journey, walking through more than a dozen ventures that didn’t work out the way he hoped before his podcasting business took off. From childhood side hustles and landscaping to MLMs, door-to-door sales, and water purification, he breaks down how repeated “failures” created the skills, resilience, and opportunities that ultimately built his income today. On this episode we talk about: Why fear of failure and fear of ...
May 14, 2026•16 min
Host Travis and producer Eric dive into an in-depth discussion about Tony Hawk's legendary decision to turn down a $500,000 buyout from Activision in favor of royalties on the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game franchise. They explore the financial wisdom behind knowing when to bet on yourself versus taking guaranteed money, and how keeping your lifestyle expenses low creates the flexibility to take calculated risks. On this episode we talk about: Tony Hawk's decision to reject a $500,000 buyout fr...
May 13, 2026•22 min
Owen Barrett is the founder of a solar company that has generated over $50 million in revenue in just three years. Before building his solar empire, Owen spent a decade in the energy efficiency space, eventually discovering a massive gap in the multifamily real estate market: operators were ignoring solar as a value-add strategy. After trying and failing to convince syndicators to adopt solar, Owen bought his own apartment buildings, proved the model worked, built proprietary software to elimina...
May 13, 2026•27 min
This episode features an in-studio conversation with Travis's producer, who brings a unique perspective on financial decisions and lifestyle choices. The producer shares personal stories about weight loss, childhood experiences with "husky" uniforms, and honeymoon budgeting, creating an authentic dialogue about money management at different life stages. On this episode we talk about: The trade-off between buying luxury items versus investing in appreciating assets like real estate How frugal par...
May 12, 2026•25 min
