Episodes

David Royce is a four-time founder and serial entrepreneur who has quietly built an empire in “unsexy” home services. Starting as a broke college kid who was terrible at sales, he turned door-to-door pest control into a personal masterclass—eventually founding and exiting multiple companies for a combined enterprise value approaching $200 million in his 30s, and later scaling Aptiv Environmental to over $500 million in annual revenue and 6,500 employees across 5,000 cities. He’s an expert at cre...

In this solo episode, host Travis Chappell answers a listener question from Amber about how to set boundaries with clients who become friends—and how to build genuine friendships in entrepreneurship. Drawing from his own experiences in masterminds, coaching, and community-building, Travis breaks down the tension between “being helpful” and “being a doormat,” and offers a healthier, more sustainable way to think about fees, friendships, and long-term relationships in business. He also shares real...

In this co-hosted episode, Travis Chappell sits down with his producer Eric for a candid, humorous, and thought-provoking conversation about the modern job market. Using insights sparked by commentary from Mike Rowe, they break down why traditional career paths may no longer be the smartest route—and why skilled trades and alternative learning paths are becoming increasingly valuable in today’s economy. On this episode we talk about: The growing demand for skilled trades and the massive shortag...

Jake Polino is a content creator turned entrepreneur who built an audience through sneaker content and leveraged it into a scalable brand. Starting with viral TikToks and DIY sneaker customization, Jake learned firsthand that views don’t always equal income—leading him to co-found Kizo, a sneaker company built on the back of his audience and creative expertise. On this episode we talk about: Why going viral doesn’t mean you’re making money—and the reality of creator income How Jake transitione...

Aristotle, one of history’s greatest thinkers, explored the nature of friendship thousands of years ago—and his insights are more relevant today than ever. In this solo episode, Travis breaks down Aristotle’s three types of friendships and connects them to modern life, success, and even income. By understanding how your relationships shape your decisions, opportunities, and mindset, you can intentionally build a network—and a life—that actually moves you forward. On this episode we talk about: ...

In this candid co-host episode, Travis Chappell dives into one of the most difficult balancing acts in life—building a successful career while being a present parent. Sparked by a powerful clip from performance coach Tim Grover, Travis reflects on the tension between ambition and family, sharing personal stories, hard truths, and the mental frameworks he uses to navigate work, fatherhood, and long-term fulfillment. On this episode we talk about: The emotional trade-offs between building a caree...

Brynn MacLennan is a serial entrepreneur and product designer who’s been building businesses since she was just 13 years old. With a background in product design and experience working alongside the dental industry, Brynn co-founded an innovative electric flosser designed to make oral care easier, more effective, and actually enjoyable. Her journey spans everything from launching a bounce house company as a teenager to buying and scaling a dental practice—and now disrupting a legacy industry wit...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell shares hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade in podcasting, thousands of interviews, and deep personal reflection. Drawing from both his own experiences and insights gathered from top performers, Travis breaks down why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. He opens up about the internal struggles that come with ambition and offers practical ways to build a healthier relationship with yourself so you can show up better in business and in life. On this ep...

Ready to rethink how—and when—to make the ask in your relationships? In this powerful preview from Travis Makes Friends, Travis Chappell sits down with entrepreneur and recovery advocate Darren Prince to break down one of the most misunderstood aspects of networking: how to ask for help without damaging trust. Darren pulls back the curtain on what it really means to build “relationship capital” with high-level people—and why most people get it completely wrong. While the common advice is to alw...

In this two-part conversation, Travis Chappell dives into the nuanced decisions couples face around career, parenting, and societal expectations. Picking up from part one, Travis explores what it means to support a partner, balance personal ambition, and navigate cultural pressures around stay-at-home roles, both for women and men. This episode blends practical advice, personal anecdotes, and cultural commentary to help listeners rethink traditional expectations. On this episode we talk about: ...

If you’ve ever felt stuck, second-guessed yourself, or wondered why confidence seems to come so easily to others, this episode breaks it all down. In this solo episode, Travis Chappell pulls back the curtain on what actually creates real confidence—not surface-level affirmations or fake-it-til-you-make-it energy, but earned, sustainable belief in yourself. Drawing from years of interviews with top performers, personal experience, and hard-won lessons, Travis introduces a powerful framework: trea...

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis sits down with his in-house producer to unpack how modern couples can navigate money, marriage, and identity when traditional gender roles are flipped or blurred. Drawing on Travis’s own journey with his wife Jackie—from dual incomes to traditional roles and back again—they explore what actually works for a relationship financially and emotionally, beyond cultural or religious expectations. On this episode we talk about: Growing up in patriarchal, ...

Alan Stein Jr. is a seasoned performance coach, keynote speaker, and author who has spent over 15 years working with some of the highest-performing basketball players in the world, including Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant. Known for blending elite athletic principles with business performance, Alan now helps leaders and organizations improve mindset, leadership, and team dynamics. His journey from basketball performance coach to top keynote speaker offers powerful lessons on discip...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell shares hard-earned insights from years of studying personal development, interviewing top performers, and consuming hundreds of books and podcasts. Rather than focusing on external success, Travis dives into a deeper internal challenge—loneliness—and unpacks why the true solution isn’t more social activity, but a stronger relationship with yourself. On this episode we talk about: The difference between loneliness (internal) and social isolation (external) ...

In this episode, Travis is joined in studio by his producer Eric for a fun, fast-paced conversation about what everyday earners can learn from pro athletes’ best and worst money decisions. Using quotes from icons like Magic Johnson, Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, and others, they break down how to think about saving, lifestyle creep, family pressure, and building businesses so you don’t end up as another “made millions, lost millions” cautionary tale. On this episode we talk about: Why “save a...

Tom Szaky is the founder and CEO of TerraCycle, a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste and building innovative circular economy solutions. Starting the company from a college dorm at Princeton University, Tom transformed a simple idea—turning worm waste into fertilizer—into a nearly $100 million international business. His approach combines profit with purpose, proving that entrepreneurs can solve massive environmental problems while building highly scalable companies. On this episod...

In this solo episode, Travis Chapel shares his personal playbook for feeling better so you can show up stronger in life and business. Drawing from years in the personal development space, he breaks down why so many of us feel worse than ever in the best time in history to be alive and what to actually do about it. Travis offers simple, practical mindset and lifestyle shifts that any entrepreneur or high-achiever can use to improve their mood, energy, and outlook. On this episode we talk about: ...

Travis and his producer Eric dive into the intersection of faith, money, and manipulation in modern church culture. In this conversation, they dissect a viral Instagram post from a pastor’s wife describing how her family “lived in tents” all summer to give more to their church — and what this kind of messaging reveals about financial guilt, obedience, and influence inside religious communities. On this episode we talk about: The viral story of a pastor’s family living in tents to “obey God” T...

Guy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley legend, bestselling author of 19 books, Chief Evangelist at Canva, and former Chief Evangelist at Apple. From being in the room for Apple’s iconic “Think Different” campaign to helping scale Canva into a global powerhouse, Guy has built a career defined by timing, trust, and an uncanny ability to attach himself to winning ideas. In this episode, he shares lessons on privacy, startups, content creation, and what really drives long-term success. On this episode we...

In this solo episode, Travis tells the story of his brief 9–5 corporate stint, why it pushed him to rethink everything, and how you can decide what really needs to change in your own life—your environment, your goals, your expectations, or your attitude. On this episode we talk about: Travis’s journey from Bible college and ministry track into door-to-door solar sales. How a short corporate job and one Home Depot incident exposed the frustrations of traditional corporate culture. Why “life d...

In this episode, host Travis Chappell and producer Eric dive into a viral headline about Gen Z getting fired at record rates and unpack what’s really going on beneath the clickbait. Between jokes about McDonald’s new Big Arch burger and “feeders,” they get practical about how younger workers, leaders, and companies can actually win together in a changing job market. On this episode we talk about: Why “60% of companies fired Gen Z employees” might be more about headlines than hopelessness How ...

Diana Romanov is a San Francisco-based family law attorney, certified specialist, and former prosecutor in Berlin who took a massive leap of faith—leaving Germany just days after passing one of the world’s toughest bar exams to start over in the United States. Now the founder of her own successful law firm, Diana has built a thriving practice focused on divorce and prenups, fueled largely by her YouTube channel “Divorce Like a Boss,” where she educates and attracts clients at scale through consi...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down the U.S. Surgeon General’s six-pillar framework for advancing human connection and adds his own entrepreneurial, personal-responsibility spin on each one. Drawing from national health guidance and his own experiences, Travis explores where government and institutions can help, where they fall short, and how individuals can practically respond to the loneliness epidemic in their own lives. On this episode we talk about: The Surgeon General’s six...

In this co-hosted episode, Travis is joined in studio by his producer Eric for a rapid-fire breakdown of famous pastors’ and Christian leaders’ quotes about money, generosity, and prosperity. Together, they react in real time, call out bad theology, laugh their way through some wild one-liners, and use the conversation to unpack how faith, finances, and common sense should actually intersect in real life. On this episode we talk about: Why “money is a bad master, good servant” still holds up—a...