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 gets messy.​

On this episode we talk about:

When to repair, replace, or go down to one car after a breakdown

How to negotiate surprise medical bills and when to just pay them

A $5,000 family loan request: help, enable, or say no?

Whether to ever take a “dream job” that pays 30% less than you currently earn

How a surprise baby would (and wouldn’t) change Travis’ budget

Funding a child’s gap year vs. making them pay their own way

Using an emergency fund when your home floods and insurance denies the claim

Evaluating “sure thing” investment tips from strangers

Turning down paid speaking gigs or opportunities that could damage your brand

Top 3 Takeaways

Decide your rules before the curveball hits. Knowing in advance how you handle cars, medical bills, loans, and emergencies keeps you from making emotional, expensive decisions in the moment.

Help without enabling. Supporting family or kids financially is generous, but repeatedly rescuing adults from the consequences of bad decisions only keeps them stuck.

Protect brand and autonomy over short-term cash. Whether it is a lower-paying dream job or a shady speaking lineup, long-term reputation and control usually matter more than the immediate paycheck.

Notable Quotes

“With medical bills, always negotiate first—those numbers are almost never the real numbers.”

“I’ll take care of what needs to be taken care of. Anything extra you want, you need to learn how to earn.”

“Brand is everything. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”

Connect with Travis Chappell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell​

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell​

Website: https://travischappell.com​

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