Travis Makes Money

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 your business

How your goals (professional speaker vs business owner vs personal brand builder) change the calculus on saying yes to a stage

The tradeoffs between local, niche rooms and big stages with thousands of people

Hidden costs of speaking—travel, lost work time, opportunity cost—and how to factor them in

When it can actually make sense to pay to be on stage and how to evaluate those offers like ad spend

Top 3 Takeaways

Speaking is almost always valuable if it aligns with a clear goal—professional speaking, lead gen, or brand building—but not every stage is worth your time.

Quality of the room (who’s in the audience, who’s hosting, who’s backstage) beats quantity of people; a small room of serious buyers can outperform a crowd of thousands.

Paying to be on stage isn’t inherently a scam—it’s a marketing decision; you need clear numbers, clear expectations, and a plan to work the room and follow up afterward.

Notable Quotes

"It depends on your goal—if you want to be a professional speaker, you should be on any stage that’ll have you."

"Sometimes 22 multi-millionaires in a small room are a better use of time than 2,000 random people in an arena."

"Once you’re paying to speak, it’s not magic anymore—it’s just ad spend, and you’ve got to treat it like a marketing channel."

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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 lessons, focus on abundance, and drive to create financial independence—especially for women.​​

On this episode we talk about:

How Veena transitioned from single-family to multifamily real estate

Mindset shifts required for successful investing

The importance of joining networks and communities for growth

Building wealth with limited capital and practical entry points

Empowering women to build financial independence and legacy​​

Top 3 Takeaways

Community and mentorship are the "easy button" for real estate success—being in the right rooms saves money and accelerates growth.​​

Mindset is the most significant barrier; overcoming analysis paralysis lets you take action and build wealth.

Multifamily real estate is accessible to non-billionaires—start somewhere, build the right network, and leverage free educational resources.​​

Notable Quotes

“The biggest problem with getting started in multifamily isn’t money or knowledge—it’s mindset. Overcoming overwhelm is key.”​

“Multifamily is a team sport. You need a community; doing deals alone is just riskier and slower.”​

“My focus for 2026 is teaching women how to achieve financial independence—money as power, not the end goal.”​

Connect with Veena Jetti:

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/veenajetti​

Instagram: https://instagram.com/veenajetti​

Website: https://vivefunds.com​

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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 current life from the perspective of your 88–108-year-old self

Why most people regret what they didn’t do more than what they did “wrong”

Travis’s tendency to downplay wins, fixate on failures, and how that has held him back

How his upbringing and internalized beliefs still shape his self-talk and response to criticism

The story of building a 7-figure business, losing it, and struggling to own his successes afterward

Why podcasting is the thing he’s most proud he stuck with, despite years of low direct financial return

The tension between chasing novelty and doubling down on what you’re genuinely great at

Using your future self as a filter to judge fears about embarrassment, judgment, and starting over

How meditating on death and limited time can create urgency to take bigger swings now

Top 3 Takeaways

Your future self will almost always regret the risks you never took more than the attempts that didn’t work out.

Fixating on failures while dismissing your wins can quietly cap your potential, even when you’ve built real results.

Doubling down on your core strengths for income, while using side projects to satisfy curiosity and novelty, is a powerful way to build both wealth and fulfillment.

Notable Quotes

"I tend to significantly downplay the successes I’ve had and highlight the failures I’ve had, and that’s held me back in a lot of ways."

"People on their deathbed usually regret the things they didn’t do far more than the things they did that didn’t work out."

"Life is short, and in 200 years none of this will matter—so why not just go for it and take another big swing?"

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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’s journey from immigrant parents and a Fortune 50 corporate job to full-time real estate investor

How he used 60 credit cards and $97K in high-interest debt to launch his flipping business (and why he doesn’t recommend it)

Why he pivoted from flipping and rentals into self storage and what makes the asset class so attractive

How to wholesale self-storage deals step-by-step, from building lists to skip tracing to talking with owners

The key underwriting metrics he uses (supply index, price per square foot, occupancy, and competition)

How he structures creative seller-financed deals (multiple offer structures, master lease options, and more)

The importance of reps, rejection, accountability, and public goals in getting your first deal done

Top 3 Takeaways

Self storage is a powerful, scalable niche. With roughly two-thirds of facilities owned by mom-and-pop operators, there’s a massive opportunity to buy under-managed properties, modernize operations (web presence, pricing, tech), and quickly increase NOI.

Wholesaling self storage is a low-capital way to start. By buying data, skip tracing owners, building relationships, and assigning contracts, you can generate large fees without taking title or raising huge amounts of capital—while learning the business from inside the deal flow.

Creative financing unlocks deals banks won’t touch. By really listening to an owner’s “why” (retirement income, grandkids’ tuition, travel), you can craft seller-financed structures, second-position notes, and master leases that solve their problem and allow you to acquire cash-flowing assets with minimal money down.

Notable Quotes

“Once you get comfortable with people saying no and failure, then you just realize it’s reps. That’s all you gotta do—reps.”

“If you’re always 100% full, that’s not a good thing in self storage. It means your rents are too low.”

“Too many people rush to get a contract. Slow down and find the why behind the why—then structure the deal around that.”

Connect with Fernando Angelucci:

Website / Investing: https://ssse.com​​

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

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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” dollar, early jobs at Fuddruckers and a cookie shop, and what they taught her about people and money

Why high-volume, people-facing jobs (restaurants, sales, customer service) are underrated training grounds for success

The core ideas behind The Seismic Shift in Leadership and The Seismic Shift in You

How AI and digital overload are changing leadership—and why “productivity without connection equals emptiness”

The loneliness epidemic, why entrepreneurs (especially men) are so isolated, and how to intentionally build community

Practical ways leaders can rewire meetings, calendars, and priorities around connection

The concept of “connection dinners” and why entrepreneurs should curate rooms where people actually get real

Top 3 Takeaways

Connection is the new competitive advantage. Old-school command-and-control leadership no longer works; leaders who build cultures of connection outperform by creating trust, psychological safety, and real loyalty.​

You must connect with yourself first. If your own cup is empty—no self-care, no boundaries, no time on your calendar for what matters—you won’t have the energy or presence to build meaningful relationships at work or at home.​

Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely. By intentionally building community—through curated spaces, small-group dinners, and regular in-person connection—entrepreneurs can combat isolation and create the kind of support that fuels both impact and income.​

Notable Quotes

"Productivity without connection equals emptiness."

"You’re not good at connecting with anybody unless you first prioritize yourself."

"If your most important relationships aren’t on your calendar, they’re not really your priorities."

Connect with Dr. Michelle Johnston:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b​

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

Website: https://michellekjohnston.com​

Podcast: The Seismic Shift with Michelle K. Johnston – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-seismic-shift-with-michelle-k-johnston/id1625361801​

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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 improved his life.​

The pricey Vegas group dinner he barely ate at and instantly regretted.

Subscriptions and trials (sports, streaming, live TV) that keep renewing long after they’re useful.​

“Boring” purchases like chargers, docks, and phone accessories that quietly deliver value every day.

Early‑20s mistakes like buying a brand‑new car versus a lightly used one.

How much money Travis has ultimately spent with past podcast guests through masterminds, investments, and franchises.​

Top 3 Takeaways

Paying for experiences or group status you do not actually enjoy (like a late‑night Vegas dinner you barely touch) is one of the fastest ways to waste money and energy.

The best purchases are often unsexy: books that change how you think, tech that reduces daily friction, and used cars that avoid the steepest depreciation curve.​

Recurring subscriptions and “free trials” can quietly drain thousands over time, so using reminders, assistants, or apps to cancel aggressively is a simple but powerful money move.​

Notable Quotes

"It felt like I paid $100 a bite for that dinner—and I still left hungry."

"I used to think eating out was a splurge; now the real flex is not wasting cash on stuff that doesn’t move the needle."

"Money only solves your money problems, but it is a lot easier to solve everything else when you actually have some in the bank."​

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🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.​

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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 his phone

Who he’d bet $1,000 will pick up the phone every time he calls

Which friend he hasn’t talked to in years but knows would still show up if he needed help

The first “celebrity” and first true household-name contact that made his network feel different

Who he’d choose as his only coach if he had to start a new business tomorrow

The worst “client” call of his career and the red flags it revealed

The best call he’s ever received and how it turned into a defining podcast interview moment

Why your network multiplies your ability to solve problems, Henry Ford–style

Top 3 Takeaways

A contact is only as valuable as their willingness to respond; reliability and generosity matter more than fame or follower count.

Strong relationships built over years—even with long gaps in communication—can still be some of the most dependable when life or business goes sideways.

Your network is a force multiplier: like Henry Ford and modern ultra-learners, you do not need to know everything yourself if you can quickly reach people who are true experts in their domains.

Notable Quotes

"Your contacts are only as good as the people who actually text back and pick up when it counts."

"You can solve bigger and more complex problems when you know who to call, not just what to do."

"Your contact list will largely dictate how successful and how helpful you are in life—so don’t neglect the work of building real relationships."

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🚀 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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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 to real estate, loans, a sports gaming startup, and ultimately a brutal acquisition that wiped out his stock and forced bankruptcy

What it was like for Gabi to be pregnant with their third child, unable to practice acupuncture in a new state, and staring down six-figure student loans while deciding to jump into social selling

How they rebuilt from absolute zero to over $140K/month in combined income by focusing on liquid wealth, real estate, and avoiding flashy lifestyle creep

The content strategies behind “Jesse ON FIRE” and Gabi’s Instagram/TikTok growth: niche selection, volume, repelling to attract, and showing up as an amplified version of yourself on camera

Why most creators fail because they underestimate the time horizon (at least a year) and posting volume required before platforms reward them with real reach

Top 3 Takeaways

Rebuilding from zero is possible if you’re willing to kill your ego, take the “soul-sucking” job when necessary, and then methodically build leverage through content and business again.

Platforms reward consistency and volume; think in terms of posting multiple times per day for months, not a few posts per month, and commit to at least a year before expecting meaningful traction.

The fastest way to stand out is to be specific: know your avatar, be willing to repel the wrong audience to attract the right one, and tell your story like you’re talking to close friends—just slightly amplified for the camera.

Notable Quotes

"You have to repel to attract; if no one is a little mad, no one is truly magnetized to you."

"The platforms are testing if you’re going to be a consistent creator before they give you reach."

"Content is just building relationships at scale—one story, one reaction, one video at a time."

Connect with Jesse & Gabi Merl:

YouTube (Jesse): https://www.youtube.com/@RealJesseONFIRE​

Twitter/X (Jesse): https://twitter.com/realjesseonfire​

Instagram (Jesse): https://www.instagram.com/realjesseonfire​

Instagram (Gabi): https://www.instagram.com/gabriellecarolyn​

TikTok (Gabi): https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriellecarolyn​

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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 in real estate have made him a popular podcast host and he is frequently called upon as a contributor, speaker, and consultant, sharing his wealth of knowledge and insights with others in the industry.

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🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.

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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-Rent Strategy: A Guide to a Successful Rental Property Construction.”​

On this episode we talk about:

How Natalie and Rob built their first home and basement rental suite with essentially $0 down using sweat equity and construction financing

The mechanics of build-to-rent/“BRRR 2.0”: Build, Rent, Refinance, Repeat—and how it differs from the traditional BRRR strategy

What work they took on themselves vs. what they always hired out (electrical, drywall, finishes vs. structural, foundation, and plumbing)

Why they prefer smaller infill projects like six-plexes instead of large, high-risk developments with heavy permitting costs

How they manage leverage, cash flow targets per door, and why they’re choosing to pause, de-stress, and reassess what “enough” looks like after a decade of grinding

Top 3 Takeaways

You do not always need 20% down to get into real estate—using construction-to-perm style loans, sweat equity, and smart design, you can create deals by building rather than competing for existing inventory.

Staying intentionally underleveraged and focusing on real cash flow per unit is often safer than chasing maximum refinancing or unit count, especially in volatile interest-rate environments.

Your portfolio should support your life, not the other way around; periodically pausing to evaluate stress, health, and family priorities is just as important as growing doors or equity.

Notable Quotes

"We didn’t have money, so instead of buying someone else’s house, we built our own and used our work as the down payment."

"BRRR 2.0 is the same idea as BRRR, but instead of ‘Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat,’ it’s ‘Build, Rent, Refinance, Repeat.’"

"It’s not about how many units you own; it’s about how much money those properties actually make and whether the grind is worth it for your life."

Connect with Natalie Cloutier:

linktr.ee/thenewbuildcouple

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