Episodes

Scott Harrison is the founder of Charity: Water, one of the most impactful nonprofit organizations in the world focused on solving the global clean water crisis. Over the last 20 years, charity: water has raised more than a billion dollars and helped bring clean drinking water to more than 20 million people around the globe. But before becoming one of the most respected voices in philanthropy, Scott spent a decade as a top nightclub promoter in New York City living a life fueled by status, exces...

In this episode, Travis and producer Eric pull back the curtain on the realities of podcasting after thousands of interviews and hundreds of episodes. From nightmare guest appearances and awkward interviews to lessons on professionalism, preparation, and setting boundaries, this conversation is packed with honest insights about what separates great podcasters from everyone else. Travis also shares the standards he now uses before agreeing to appear on other shows and why consistency is the true ...

Eric Corey Freed is an award-winning architect, author, global speaker, and the Principal and Director of Sustainability for CanonDesign, where he helps lead healthcare, education, and commercial teams toward low-carbon, regenerative buildings across more than 30 million square feet annually. In this episode, Eric shares lessons from decades of entrepreneurship, architecture, and innovation while diving into the ideas behind his new book, Frictionless. The conversation explores fear, innovation,...

In this solo episode, Travis breaks down some of the biggest lessons from his conversation with Josh Peck — actor, creator, author, and former Nickelodeon star best known for Drake & Josh. Travis dives into Josh’s journey from child stardom to reinventing himself as a modern creator, including the struggles, rejection, ego death, and vulnerability that helped him stay relevant in Hollywood and online. The episode explores how authenticity, resilience, and embracing uncertainty can open the door ...

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 ...

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 this...

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...

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...

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 misconceptio...

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...

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. It...

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 be...

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 Respectin...

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...

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 ...

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 r...

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 ...

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. O...

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...

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 ...

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...

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: ...

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 come...

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...