Travis Makes Money

By Travis ChappellBusiness Entrepreneurship Education Self-Improvement Investing Careers

Travis Makes Money episodes

April 24SOLO | Make Money By Using Interviews To Get In Any Room, part 1
On this solo episode, host Travis Chappell breaks down how he’s used his podcast—and now broader interview content—as an “access machine” to land invitations into high-level rooms he once felt wildly underqualified to be in. He shares real stories, including a private dinner in Las Vegas with a near–billionaire founder and a team interviewing Tom Brady, to illustrate how consistent interviewing builds relationships, opens doors, and compounds over years. If you’re an entrepreneur, side hustler, or creator who feels overlooked despite your skill set, this episode shows you how to use interviews strategically to connect with anyone.
On this episode we talk about:
How a simple podcast interview in 2018 led to years of events, dinners, and high-level introductions in Las Vegas and beyond.

Why your show—podcast, YouTube series, or short-form interview format—is an excuse to initiate conversations that would otherwise never happen.

The difference between a “media company” podcast and a “business development” podcast and why most entrepreneurs should choose the latter.

The guest ladder strategy: moving from tier one contacts at your level to progressively higher-profile guests using social proof and introductions.

How to prepare for big-name interviews so you earn referrals, intros, and deeper friendships instead of wasting a rare opportunity.
Top 3 Takeaways
Your show is an access tool, not just a content machine. When you treat your podcast or interview series as a way to build relationships, it becomes a vehicle for entering rooms, deals, and networks you’d never reach through cold outreach alone.

Climb the guest ladder with courage and volume. Start with people at or just above your level, ask them for introductions, then leverage those names as social proof when reaching up to bigger guests—sending 100 thoughtful DMs beats quitting after three.

Earning repeat access requires real preparation. High-level guests introduce you to their network only if your interview feels thoughtful, relationship-driven, and respectful of their time, not like a surface-level clip grab.
Notable Quotes
“Your podcast is not just a content machine—it’s an access machine if you can use it correctly.”

“We don’t want to solve for luck; we want to solve for what will work over a long period of time and then cross our fingers and hope we get lucky along the way.”

“The courage to send the first message is often the only thing standing between you and conversations with high-quality people.”
Connect with Travis Chappell:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell

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

Other: https://travischappell.com
Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 min
April 23 CO-HOST | Make Money Exposing Financial Mismanagement, part 3
During this special collaboration series, Travis and his producer, Eric, who hosts his own podcast, Preacher Boys, discuss the alleged mismanagement of funds in a case in North Carolina.

The overlap of ministry and business is broken down in this heavy but much needed conversation.

Check out Eric's show shining light on more issues like this:
https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoys

Connect with Travis:
- IG: https://instagram.com/travischappell
- Website: https://travischappell.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 min
April 23INTERVIEW | Make Money by Mastering Adaptability (AQ) with Liz Tran
Liz Tran is an executive coach, entrepreneur, and author dedicated to helping people unlock their highest potential. After building a successful career in venture capital—where her clients collectively raised over $1B and created $10B+ in enterprise value—Liz made the bold decision to leave it all behind in pursuit of more aligned work. Now the founder of Inner Genius and author of AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That’s Always Changing, she teaches leaders how to thrive in uncertainty by mastering adaptability.
On this episode we talk about:
Liz’s early lessons about money, leverage, and growing up with scarcity

The transition from high-paying VC career to entrepreneurship—and the $300K mistake

Why mindset, gratitude, and “energy flow” are critical to making money sustainably

How Liz rebuilt her income doing work aligned with her strengths

The concept of AQ (Adaptability Quotient) and why it matters more than IQ or EQ today
Top 3 Takeaways
Hard work alone isn’t enough—alignment, leverage, and adaptability are what truly drive wealth.

Your mindset around money (scarcity vs. abundance) directly impacts the opportunities you attract.

In today’s rapidly changing world, your ability to adapt (AQ) is more valuable than intelligence or experience alone.
Notable Quotes
"A dollar is not just a dollar—if you leverage it, you can make more."

"I thought success meant killing myself working, but it was actually about flow."

"When you believe you have nothing, you reinforce that reality—but when you believe you have everything, opportunities appear."
Connect with Liz Tran:
Website: https://liz-tran.com/

Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/heyliztran/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liztranwrites/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liztran1/

Other: AQ Quiz – https://aqquiz.com

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.
Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
33 min
April 23SOLO | Make Money By Doing The Simple, Science-Backed Stuff
On this solo episode, host Travis Chappell breaks down five self-help practices that are actually backed by data instead of wishful thinking and prosperity-gospel fluff. He pulls from research in psychology, public health, and longevity science to separate simple, high-ROI habits from trendy hacks that barely move the needle. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by morning routines, supplements, and cold plunges, this conversation will help you refocus on what truly improves your mental, physical, and financial decision-making capacity.
On this episode we talk about:
Why regular physical activity is one of the highest-ROI levers for mood, resilience, and long-term brain and body health.

How mindfulness and meditation (in many different forms) reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms while pulling you back into the present.

The role of high-quality, restorative sleep as a performance enhancer and mood stabilizer—not a luxury.

Why strengthening social connections is as critical as nutrition and exercise for both mental and physical health.

How gratitude and cognitive reframing act as low-cost, repeatable “mental workouts” that buffer you against stress and negativity.
Top 3 Takeaways
Simple behaviors beat complex hacks. Regular movement, decent sleep, basic mindfulness, social connection, and gratitude are the science-backed foundations that drive most of your long-term health and happiness—not exotic routines or supplement stacks.

Modality doesn’t matter as much as consistency. Whether it’s walking, golf, pickleball, journaling, or silent reflection, the key is finding sustainable ways to move your body, be present, connect with people, and notice what’s good in your life.

Your emotional state is often a lifestyle signal. Before you make big decisions or react in anger, check the basics—are you sleep deprived, isolated, inactive, or fixated only on problems instead of also on what’s working?
Notable Quotes
“If exercise were a pill, it would be the blockbuster of the century.”

“Ultimately, the only thing that’s actually real is the present moment—the future doesn’t exist yet and the past doesn’t exist anymore.”

“You can’t expect to live a great life when you’re getting poor quality sleep all the time.”
Connect with Travis Chappell:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell

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

Other: https://travischappell.com
Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22 min
April 22 CO-HOST | Make Money by Exposing Financial Mismanagement , part 2
During this special collaboration series, Travis and his producer, Eric, who hosts his own podcast, Preacher Boys, discuss the alleged mismanagement of funds in a case in North Carolina.

The overlap of ministry and business is broken down in this heavy but much needed conversation.

Check out Eric's show shining light on more issues like this:
https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoys

Connect with Travis:
- IG: https://instagram.com/travischappell
- Website: https://travischappell.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min
April 22INTERVIEW | Make Money by Mastering Finance Skills with Tim Vipond
In this episode, Travis sits down with Tim Vipond, co-founder and CEO of Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), a global leader in online financial education and certification. With a background spanning investment banking, wealth management, and corporate strategy, Tim has built a platform that has helped millions of professionals level up their finance careers. After over a decade in the corporate world, Tim leveraged his diverse experience to create a scalable, global education business that’s raised over $48 million and continues to grow rapidly.
On this episode we talk about:
Tim’s early career journey through investment banking, wealth management, and corporate roles

Why impatience can actually be a superpower in entrepreneurship

How Corporate Finance Institute scaled to millions of users worldwide

The power of simplicity in building and scaling an online education business

Content marketing, SEO, and YouTube as core growth drivers
Top 3 Takeaways
Diverse experience can feel scattered in the moment—but can become your biggest advantage later when building something unique.

Simplicity scales—focusing on one core product and doing it exceptionally well can outperform trying to do everything.

Content marketing is a long-term game, but when done right, it becomes a powerful and sustainable growth engine.
Notable Quotes
"Going through it, there were times where I felt a little bit lost—but it ended up being the perfect background for what I’m doing now."

"Impatience actually helped me as an entrepreneur—we just needed to get stuff done."

"We don’t want to be everything to everyone—we just want to be amazing at a few things."
Connect with Tim Vipond:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timvipond/

Website: https://vipond.com/about/tim-vipond/

Other: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.
Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26 min
April 22SOLO | Make Money with Podcasting: Q1 2026 Income Report & Risk Strategy
In this episode, Travis sits down with his CFO, Pam Jordan, to break down the financial performance of the podcast business in Q1 of 2026. Pam brings deep financial expertise working with hundreds of businesses, offering a behind-the-scenes look at revenue, profit margins, and cash flow strategy. Together, they explore what it really takes to build a profitable content-driven business—and the calculated risks required to scale it.
On this episode we talk about:
Breaking down $140K in Q1 podcast revenue and where it came from

Why podcast advertising is the primary (and most profitable) revenue stream

The impact of cash flow timing and delayed payments on financial reporting

Balancing high-margin content businesses with long-term scalability

How entrepreneurs should evaluate risk using data, goals, and scenario planning
Top 3 Takeaways
High-margin businesses like podcasting can be extremely profitable—but often lack predictability without reinvestment into growth.

Cash flow timing matters just as much as revenue—what looks like a “down” month may just be delayed payments.

The best investment decisions align with your long-term goals and pass both best-case and worst-case scenario tests.
Notable Quotes
"It’s not just what you make—it’s what you keep."

"If your content can pay for itself and put money in your pocket, it’s worth doing."

"Take the risk—but make it an educated one."
Connect with Travis:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell

Website: https://travischappell.com

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.
Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 min
April 21 CO-HOST | Make Money by Exposing Financial Mismanagement, part 1
During this special collaboration series, Travis and his producer, Eric, who hosts his own podcast, Preacher Boys, discuss the alleged mismanagement of funds in a case in North Carolina.

The overlap of ministry and business is broken down in this heavy but much needed conversation.

Check out Eric's show shining light on more issues like this:
https://www.youtube.com/@PreacherBoys

Connect with Travis:
- IG: https://instagram.com/travischappell
- Website: https://travischappell.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
33 min
April 21INTERVIEW | Make Money Building Wealth, Legacy & Impact with Sara Morell
Sara D. Morell is a visionary founder, global speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to redefining wealth, legacy, and community. From overcoming extreme hardship as a single mom on food stamps to speaking in front of massive global audiences, Sara has built multiple ventures including Sanctuary—an eco-luxury, self-sustaining community—and Deal Make Hers, a platform empowering women in business and investing. Her work blends entrepreneurship, purpose, and impact, helping others create wealth while staying aligned with their values.
On this episode we talk about:
Sara’s journey from financial hardship to becoming a highly paid speaker

Building Sanctuary and the vision behind self-sustaining communities

The importance of intuition and resilience in entrepreneurship

How to choose the right business partners and avoid costly mistakes

Balancing motherhood, business, and building a meaningful legacy
Top 3 Takeaways
Your starting point doesn’t define your ceiling—consistent action and belief can radically change your trajectory.

Intuition and value alignment are critical when choosing partners and making big business decisions.

Wealth isn’t just financial—it’s about legacy, relationships, and creating a life that feels aligned and fulfilling.
Notable Quotes
"I could do what I love to do and actually get paid for it."

"If your body is closing down, don’t ignore it—that’s your intuition speaking."

"You don’t have to choose—you can build a life where both family and business thrive together."
Connect with Sara D. Morell:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saradmorrell

Other: Sanctuary & Deal Make Hers (via Instagram links)

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.
Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22 min
April 21SOLO | Make Money by Avoiding Life’s Biggest Regrets, part 2
In this follow-up solo episode, Travis continues his breakdown of the top regrets of the dying—focusing on relationships, happiness, and the hidden cost of inaction. Building on the first three regrets, he dives into why friendships fade, how loneliness impacts both health and fulfillment, and why choosing happiness is more within your control than you think. This episode connects the dots between life decisions, emotional well-being, and building a version of success that actually feels worth it.
On this episode we talk about:
Why losing touch with friends is one of the biggest regrets people have

The long-term impact of loneliness on health, happiness, and fulfillment

How to intentionally maintain and build meaningful friendships as life gets busy

Why happiness is a choice—and how perspective shapes your experience of life

The science behind regret and why inaction weighs heavier than failure
Top 3 Takeaways
Strong relationships are the #1 driver of happiness—don’t let friendships fall to the bottom of your priority list.

You will regret the risks you didn’t take far more than the ones you did—inaction compounds over time.

Happiness isn’t something you find—it’s something you allow, often through gratitude and perspective.
Notable Quotes
"Don’t let people who won’t be in your life in five years control your decisions today."

"You don’t need more stuff—you need more people to share your life with."

"If the worst case scenario isn’t death, then you can handle it."
Connect with Travis:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell

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

Other: https://travischappell.com

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.
Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min

About Travis Makes Money

From the publisher's feed

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…