Travis Makes Money

Ashley Grace is the Founding CMO of Igniton, a groundbreaking quantum wellness company merging subatomic particle science with integrative health. With a background spanning finance, marketing ROI modeling, ad tech, and big pharma—and as the former founding CMO of Charlotte’s Web—Ashley brings decades of experience at the intersection of innovation and persuasion. On this episode, he breaks down how to market complex, cutting-edge products, why message beats media every time, and what skills will actually make you money in the future of advertising.

On this episode we talk about:

How Igniton is pioneering “quantum supplementation” and validating it through university studies

The challenge of marketing complex or unfamiliar innovations

Why your message is 4x more important than your media buying strategy

Emotional differentiation vs. feature-based marketing

The future of AI in ad creative and what skills marketers should focus on now

Top 3 Takeaways

What you say matters more than how you say it. The creative message is significantly more impactful than targeting, delivery, or frequency. Emotional resonance wins.

Emotional differentiation beats feature differentiation. Customers buy based on emotional outcomes first—then justify with logic.

Creative skills will outlast media buying. As AI automates targeting and ad delivery, persuasive messaging and human psychology will become even more valuable.

Notable Quotes

"What you say is four times more important than how you say it or how often you say it."

"Persuasion is real—and there are tools and techniques to use language and visuals to make it more powerful."

"Focus on the emotional benefit. The feature just explains why you can deliver it."

Connect with Ashley Grace:

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

Website: https://igniton.com

Podcast: https://ashleyon.com

Discount Code: Use code ASHLEY for 15% off your first order

 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

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In this solo episode, Travis Chappell gets personal. Instead of interviewing a guest, Travis shares one of the most embarrassing moments of his teenage years—completely missing a handspring in front of his entire summer camp—and uses it to unpack a powerful lesson about fear, failure, and the stories we tell ourselves. With honesty, humor, and perspective, he challenges listeners to stop sacrificing their dream lives to avoid short-term embarrassment.

On this episode we talk about:

A hilariously painful teenage camp story that felt world-ending at the time

Why embarrassment feels permanent—but rarely is

How fear of public failure stops people from pursuing their goals

The “day in the life” exercise for clarifying your dream lifestyle

Reframing risk: small moments of embarrassment vs. long-term fulfillment

Top 3 Takeaways

Most embarrassing moments feel huge in the moment—but are quickly forgotten by everyone else. Don’t overestimate how much people are thinking about you.

The fear of public failure keeps more people broke than lack of skill ever will.

If the reward is your dream life, it’s worth risking a few days of discomfort or embarrassment.

Notable Quotes

"The stupid stuff that you're worried about right now will not matter."

"The people who care don’t matter, and the people who matter don’t care."

"Stop letting the fear of embarrassment run your life."

Connect with Travis Chappell:

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

In this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis Chappell and producer Eric go from questionable breakfast choices to a surprisingly deep breakdown of housing prices, crypto volatility, inflation, and what actually drives wealth over time.

What starts as a lighthearted conversation about gas station hot dogs and Tostino’s pizza turns into a real discussion about reacting to headlines, investing during downturns, and recent housing comments from Donald Trump.

The throughline? If you want to make money, you have to think in decades—not days.

On This Episode We Talk About:

Why emotional reactions hurt your investing returns

Whether rising housing prices are actually good for homeowners

Institutional investors buying single-family homes

The real reason housing prices stay elevated: inventory shortages

Crypto downturns and how to think about volatility

Inflation, dollar weakness, and protecting purchasing power

Why over-leveraging—not price drops—causes financial disasters

Top 3 Takeaways

You don’t need your house or crypto to be up tomorrow. You need it to be up 20–25 years from now. Wealth compounds for those who can hold.

Housing prices won’t meaningfully drop until inventory increases. With only 1–3 months of inventory in many markets, upward pressure remains regardless of policy changes.

If inflation weakens the dollar over time, idle cash erodes. Even small investments—done consistently—can protect purchasing power better than letting money sit still.

Notable Quotes

“I don’t need my house to be worth more tomorrow. I need it to be worth more in 25 years.”

“Once you put your first dollar in, you want it to go to the moon.”

“Cash sitting in your bank account is getting destroyed by inflation.”

“The housing crash wasn’t about prices falling—it was about people not being able to hold.”

Connect with Travis Chappell:

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

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

Website: https://travischappell.com

 Travis Makes Money is made possible by HighLevel – the all-in-one sales & marketing platform built for agencies.

 Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis

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

Nelson Nigel is the founder and CEO of Kidmoto, a tech-enabled transportation company that provides safe airport transfers with properly installed child car seats. What started in 2016 as a frustrating observation while driving for Uber turned into a seven-figure business operating in 80+ cities globally.

After losing everything in real estate during the 2008 crash, driving a New York City yellow cab, and grinding through years of failed ventures, Nelson bootstrapped Kidmoto with just a few hundred dollars and two car seats. Today, the company has completed over 40,000 rides and reached a $25M valuation—without raising outside capital.

On this episode we talk about:

Identifying a gap Uber and Lyft ignored

Bootstrapping a tech company with no outside funding

Expanding from one city to 80+ global markets

Recruiting drivers in a niche no one believed in

Building a profitable, purpose-driven business

Top 3 Takeaways

Your Best Business Idea Might Come From Your Day Job.
Nelson spotted the problem while driving Uber full-time. Instead of complaining, he built the solution.

Relentless Work Ethic Wins Early.
4:15 a.m. to midnight. Seven days a week. Years of grind before traction. There’s no shortcut for showing up consistently.

Solve a Real Pain Point.
Traveling with kids is stressful. Kidmoto eliminates one major headache—safe airport transportation with car seats—making it a service parents gladly pay a premium for.

Notable Quotes

“You just have to be relentless.”

“When you’re happy and you love what you’re doing, that’s what it’s about.”

“Shoot for the stars—because if you land on the moon, it’s not a bad place to be.”

Connect with Nelson Nigel:

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

Other: https://kidmoto.taxi

 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

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down one of the most underrated money-making skills in business and life: reaction management. Drawing inspiration from Stoic philosophy and real-world negotiation experience, Travis explains why staying calm under pressure can dramatically increase your income, improve your leadership, and protect your investments.

From closing a $150,000 wire with a steady poker face to navigating market crashes without panic-selling, this episode explores how emotional control creates leverage—and how overreaction quietly costs you money.

On this episode we talk about:

Why calm is a trainable skill—not just a personality trait

The Stoic principle of controlling your reaction, not external events

How emotional leakage hurts you in negotiations

The psychology behind signaling desperation (even accidentally)

Why investors lose money by reacting instead of holding

How to separate perception from reality in “good” or “bad” news

Top 3 Takeaways

Reaction management creates leverage. The less emotional data you give away, the stronger your negotiating position becomes.

There are no inherently good or bad events—only perception. Your response determines the outcome more than the event itself.

Calm compounds. Chaos compounds faster. Whether in investing, leadership, or relationships, steady decision-making wins long term.

Notable Quotes

“Calm is a skill, chaos is a choice.”

“It’s not a loss until you sell.”

“Your reaction is not what makes information good or bad. What you do with it does.”

“The calm people are the ones who win long term.”

Connect with Travis Chappell:

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

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis Chappell sits down with his producer Eric for a candid, philosophical conversation about success, ambition, and the hidden drivers behind hustle culture. Sparked by a clip from Arthur Brooks on the Modern Wisdom, the conversation explores whether workaholism is a virtue—or a pathology rooted in childhood validation.

They unpack the difference between building success from purpose versus insecurity, debate the long-term costs of extreme ambition, and ask a powerful question: Are you climbing the right mountain?

On this episode we talk about:

The difference between healthy ambition and addiction to achievement

Whether workaholism is driven by purpose—or by unresolved insecurity

How success can become a substitute for love, validation, or identity

Why you should regularly “audit” your life and goals

Reverse-engineering your ideal lifestyle instead of blindly chasing bigger numbers

Top 3 Takeaways

Examine your driver. Are you being pulled by purpose—or pushed by a hole you’re trying to fill?

Climb the right mountain. Success requires sacrifice, so make sure it’s aimed at a life you actually want.

Money solves money problems—not fulfillment. Financial freedom matters, but it won’t fix broken priorities or relationships.

Notable Quotes

"Is it something good in you that’s pulling you forward—or something broken that’s pushing you?"

"It takes a lot of effort to climb a mountain, so you better make sure you're climbing the right one."

"Money only solves your money problems."

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

Ready to master the art of influence, sales, and identity-driven persuasion? In this high-impact preview from Travis Makes Friends, Travis sits down with sales performance expert Jeremy Miner and entrepreneur Paul Allen for a deep dive into the psychology behind decision-making, framing, and unlocking human potential.

Jeremy unpacks the power of identity framing—a concept rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud—and explains why people don’t just buy products… they buy in alignment with who they believe they are. He reveals tactical examples of how to shift a prospect’s self-perception in real time, neutralize objections before they surface, and build someone into the identity of a decisive buyer, leader, or high performer. From handling self-belief objections to preventing the classic “I need to talk to my spouse” stall, Jeremy breaks down how subtle language shifts can completely transform conversations in sales, leadership, and even personal relationships.

Paul then shares a powerful mindset reframe from his own entrepreneurial journey—how changing the words he used about investor meetings transformed his energy, confidence, and results, ultimately helping him raise over $15 million. He introduces the philosophy behind Soar AI Studio, inspired by the groundbreaking strengths-based psychology of Donald O. Clifton, and explains why most people have untapped talents they were never taught to recognize. Instead of focusing on what’s “wrong” with people, Paul explores what happens when you build systems—powered by AI—to amplify what’s already right.

You’ll hear insights on:

How to use identity framing to guide decisions without manipulation

Why objections often stem from self-perception, not logic

The language shifts that reshape workplace culture and leadership

Reframing sales conversations from pressure to opportunity

The future of AI as a tool for unlocking human strengths

If you want to sell more effectively, lead more powerfully, and communicate in a way that reshapes how people see themselves, this preview gives you a front-row seat to a conversation that blends behavioral psychology, high-level sales strategy, and visionary thinking about human potential.

Hit play and get ready to rethink how influence really works.
Full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZlKEGaec3M&t=2014s

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In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down a powerful mindset shift that can change the trajectory of your life and business: the person you’re becoming matters more than what you’re building. Drawing from over 1,500 podcast episodes, 1,000+ interviews with top performers, and more than 200 books read in recent years, Travis shares why identity-based goals consistently outperform outcome-based goals—and how focusing on who you become leads to lasting success, fulfillment, and integrity.

On this episode we talk about:

Why identity-based goals are more powerful than outcome-based goals

The danger of chasing success without becoming capable of sustaining it

How short-term goal setting (like New Year’s resolutions) keeps people stuck

Real-life examples of integrity failures from chasing outcomes at any cost

How to build habits that transform you into the person your goals require

Top 3 Takeaways

Identity over outcome. If you become the type of person capable of achieving your goals, the results will follow—and they’ll last.

Success without integrity always sends a bill. Shortcuts may bring temporary wins, but long-term character determines sustainable success.

What you build can be lost. Who you become cannot. Develop the skills, habits, and mindset that make rebuilding possible no matter what happens.

Notable Quotes

"The person that you're becoming matters more than what you're building."

"Success without integrity always sends a bill—and it's probably a bill you don't want to pay."

"Instead of asking what do I want to accomplish, ask who do I need to become?"

Connect with Travis Chappell:

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/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

Travis Chappell is the creator and host of the Travis Makes Money podcast and a veteran interviewer who has produced over a thousand episodes across his shows. In this episode, Travis sits down in-studio with his producer Eric, a longtime content creator and podcaster himself, to unpack how technology, social media, and on-demand convenience are quietly reshaping our relationships, loneliness, and real-world social skills—and what to do about it.

On this episode we talk about:

Why Rainn Wilson says he’d be “screwed” if he were in his 20s today with phones, porn, and endless content

How social media and AI chatbots create the illusion of connection while deepening loneliness

The loss of shared, in-person experiences (like Blockbuster nights) in an on-demand, delivery-app world

How convenience culture and online dating let you avoid discomfort—but also real growth and real relationships

Practical ways to rebuild a real social life in 2026: analog habits, micro “resistance” moves, and saying “one more thing” in person

Top 3 Takeaways

Social media is media consumption, not a replacement for your social life; scrolling and DMing don’t count as real-world connection.

Technology makes it easy to optimize for comfort (delivery apps, online dating, AI chats), but the most effective path to deep relationships is still in-person, uncomfortable reps.

Simple habits—working from a coffee shop, talking to baristas, skipping self-checkout, carrying a book, and being okay with “not knowing everything”—can dramatically reduce isolation over time.

Notable Quotes

“Stop treating social media as your social life—it’s media, not connection.”

“People are optimizing for the easiest path, not the most effective one.”

“Be okay being the person who doesn’t know every headline; you don’t need a fully formed opinion on 14 current events to have a real life.”

Connect with Travis Chappell:

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/traviscchappell​

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

Other: https://travischappell.com

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

Doug Evans is the founder and CEO of The Sprouting Company, an early pioneer in the natural foods industry, former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and author of the national bestseller The Sprout Book.

From building a multimillion-dollar graphic design firm in his early 20s to exiting Organic Avenue in an eight-figure deal, to raising $120M for Juicero—and losing it all publicly—Doug’s entrepreneurial journey has been anything but linear. Now, he’s on a mission to revolutionize home food production by teaching people how to grow ultra-nutritious sprouts right on their kitchen counter.

On this episode we talk about:

Why being willing to do what nobody else wants to do creates opportunity

Charging what you’re actually worth—and how one $25K invoice changed everything

The hard lessons of raising venture capital and losing control of your company

Turning public failure (Juicero) into personal reinvention

Why sprouts may be the most underrated business (and health) opportunity of the decade

The discipline required to override laziness, addiction, and self-sabotage

Top 3 Takeaways

Value your time—and price accordingly. Doug went from charging $200/hour to confidently asking for $25,000 for a single engagement. That shift in self-perception changed his earning ceiling overnight.

VC money comes with strings. Raising $120M for Juicero created scale—but also invited control shifts that ultimately pushed Doug out of his own company.

Solve your own problem first. The Sprouting Company was born from Doug asking, “What will I eat in the desert?” The best businesses often start as deeply personal solutions.

Notable Quotes

“If you’re willing to do what nobody else wants to do, you’ll get the opportunity.”

“You can have anything you want—if you’re willing to do the work and be patient.”

“Something as small as a seed can grow into a multibillion-dollar company.”

“Money is there to be made—but you have to create value first.”

Doug’s Entrepreneurial Timeline (The Good, The Bad, The Ugly)

Built a multimillion-dollar graphic design company in his early 20s

Walked away from a bad partnership to protect his freedom

Scaled Organic Avenue to 10 NYC stores and achieved an eight-figure exit

Founded Juicero, raised $120M+ from top-tier investors—and experienced a high-profile shutdown

Reinvented himself in Wonder Valley and launched The Sprouting Company, now generating millions in revenue

Connect with Doug Evans:

Instagram: @dougevans

LinkedIn: Doug Evans

Company: The Sprouting Company

Book: The Sprout Book

 Travis Makes Money is made possible by HighLevel – the all-in-one sales & marketing platform built for agencies.

 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