Episodes

Ashley Brock is the founder and CEO of Paid Ads Academy, a leading cross-platform advertising training program that helps entrepreneurs keep ads in-house and scale sustainably. With over a decade of experience managing more than $200M in ad spend for brands like Dollar Tree, Revlon, and Thumbtack, Ashley has built a seven-figure company and recently crossed the eight-figure mark in total sales. In this episode, she breaks down what’s actually working in paid advertising today—and how business ow...

In this solo episode, Travis Chappell breaks down why most people aren’t actually lost — they’re just distracted. Drawing from over 1,500 podcast episodes, hundreds of guest appearances, and years of studying high performers, Travis shares hard-earned lessons on focus, responsibility, and building momentum in a noisy world. This episode is a straight-talk deep dive into why focus is the new superpower — and how simplifying your path can radically change your results. On this episode we talk abo...

Travis Chappell and producer Eric break down YouTuber Markiplier's self-financed horror film Iron Lung, which grossed over $20M (7x its $3M budget) and topped box office charts—without Hollywood backing. Their casual chat celebrates indie success while roasting studio "slop," low actor pay, and why creators with audiences have a massive edge. On this episode we talk about: Iron Lung's unicorn success: $3M self-funded, zero marketing budget, #1 at box office vs. big studio flops Hollywood's sh...

Neil Patel is the co-founder of NP Digital, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most influential marketers in the world. Recognized by The Wall Street Journal as a top web influencer and named a Top 100 Entrepreneur by President Obama and the United Nations, Neil has spent decades building software companies, agencies, and media brands. In this episode, Neil shares how he made his first $20K/month at age 16, why he chose the “boring” agency path over venture-backed startups, and ...

Travis Chappell breaks down why time is the most valuable asset you have and how treating it that way can radically change your income and lifestyle. In this solo episode, he shares the mindset shifts and investments that helped him go from door-to-door sales to full-time online entrepreneur and podcaster.​ On this episode we talk about: Why time is more important than money (and how your actions reveal what you really value)​ How investing in coaching and education can massively shortcut you...

Eric, producer of the Travis Makes Money podcast, joins Travis in studio to break down how creator-led films are disrupting Hollywood’s old guard. He shares firsthand impressions from seeing YouTuber Markiplier’s horror film Iron Lung, highlighting why this low-budget, creator-driven project is such a big win for filmmakers, investors, and content creators looking to turn attention into real revenue. Eric’s enthusiasm and eye for story, audience behavior, and distribution make this conversation ...

Anne Cocquyt is a Silicon Valley operator, educator, and bestselling startup author who helps founders turn ideas into real businesses—fast. She’s the Founder & CEO of The Guild and The Guild Studio, an award-winning instructor at UC Berkeley, and a trusted advisor to accelerators around the world. In this episode, Anne breaks down how “vibe coding” and AI-powered tools are radically changing entrepreneurship—making it possible for anyone (even non-technical founders) to build MVPs, validate ide...

This episode is a solo deep dive with Travis, host of Travis Makes Money, breaking down how motivational interviewing—a communication method created by psychologists William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick—can become a powerful tool for persuasion in business, sales, leadership, and personal growth. He shares personal stories, research-backed examples, and practical scripts that show how shifting from “convincing” to “uncovering” dramatically improves outcomes. On this episode we talk about: Wh...

On this episode, Travis and his producer Eric riff through classic quotes from figures like Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Jim Rohn, Epictetus, and even the Joker’s mom, using each line as a launchpad to talk about money, time, self-education, and what opportunity really looks like in real life. They blend humor, movie references, and personal stories to challenge conventional wisdom and show why rethinking your relationship with learning, work, and wealth is essential if you want to build a life ...

Ian Stanley is a veteran online entrepreneur and one of the most respected email copywriters in the game. He built his reputation writing copy that has generated millions in sales, then used that skill to create a lifestyle business that funds his love for travel and stand-up comedy. In this episode, Ian breaks down how he went from broke college kid clicking on sketchy “make money online” offers to becoming the go-to guy for email copy—and how that one decision to master a single skill changed ...

In this solo episode, Travis shares hard-won lessons from Paulo Coelho’s classic book The Alchemist and connects them to entrepreneurship, parenting, and the journey of building a meaningful life and business. He distills years of publishing over 1,500 podcast episodes, reading 200+ books, and countless hours of listening into a focused breakdown of why the adventure—not the outcome—is what truly matters. On this episode we talk about: What The Alchemist is really about and why it resonates wi...

Travis Chappell and producer Eric dive into whether "being good with money" can actually trap you in poverty by over-prioritizing frugality over life enjoyment. They debate Dave Ramsey-style saving vs. smart risks, using real stories like driving cars into the ground and delaying dream purchases until it's too late. On this episode we talk about: Trading mental health for frugality—driving 260k-mile cars as a "badge of honor" that backfires The Porsche 911 regret story: Waiting until 70 to bu...

Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method, former Head of HR North America at McKinsey & Company, national keynote speaker, top 10 business podcast host, and a LinkedIn Top Voice who has trained over 250,000 managers. With a background that spans law, HR, and corporate leadership across global companies like McKinsey and Yum! Brands, Ashley brings a rare blend of practical wisdom and real-world empathy. Her new book, The Manager Method, provides a simple, powerful framework—Pause, Consider, A...

Travis Chappell delivers a solo masterclass on gaining influence—the essential skill for entrepreneurs, networkers, and anyone looking to close more deals or build authority. Drawing from Robert Cialdini's Influence, his podcast booking agency that hit $1M in 8 months, and years of relationship-building, Travis shares three proven paths to become undeniably influential without gimmicks or scams. On this episode we talk about: Why "be interested, not interesting" is half the networking equation...

Travis Chappell teams up with his longtime friend and collaborator Eric for a fun, unfiltered episode of the Travis Makes Money podcast. Eric reads provocative quotes from thinkers like Naval Ravikant and Benjamin Franklin, challenging Travis to agree or disagree with context from his own life and business journey. Packed with laughs, banter, and real talk on fame, education, saving vs. earning, and designing your own life path.​ On this episode we talk about: Travis's massive nicotine stash a...

Mikey Margolin is the founder of Etho Wellness Club, a social platform that's thrown 33 wellness events in Las Vegas in just eight months, drawing thousands with cold plunges, saunas, movement, music, and brand partners like Ever Bowl. Growing up in Vegas' party culture, he left a sports betting job to build healthier social spaces after battling drugs, alcohol, and gambling personally. Now he's creating the "third space" locals crave—fun without vices—while turning community demand into a scala...

In this solo episode, Travis breaks down how to “cut the line” in life and business using the same principle behind amusement park fast passes. Drawing from his own journey—from hating long lines to hacking his way into faster growth—he explains the mindset and identity shifts that let you skip years of unnecessary waiting. If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or like success is taking too long, this episode lays out a practical roadmap to move quicker toward the life and income you actually want....

Travis and producer Eric break down a viral tweet questioning Dave Ramsey's $200M net worth and "no debt" advice, revealing why he's likely worth over a billion and how he built a debt-free empire preaching timeless financial basics. On this episode we talk about: A tweet claiming Dave Ramsey got rich selling "no credit card" advice he never followed himself. Ramsey Solutions' massive scale: 10M EveryDollar app users, $300M+ annual revenue, $300-400M in paid-off real estate. Why similar apps...

Charles Steel spent two decades at top-tier firms like Goldman Sachs, The Carlyle Group, and Ares Management, working closely with management teams to build companies and deploy capital at scale. He later advised Tony Blair in Jerusalem, chaired Save the Children UK, and most recently authored The Curious Mind of Elon Musk: Nine Ways He Thinks Differently, where he dissects how the world’s most driven entrepreneur approaches risk, purpose, and problem-solving. Across finance, policy, and philant...

Travis delivers a solo masterclass on the "Credibility Code," sharing the top five proven ways he's used to build massive trust in his personal brand and business, even when he wasn't the "best" at what he did. Drawing from his own journey, he explains why the most successful people often win through perception and proof rather than just skill alone.​ On this episode we talk about: The "celebrity effect" and why credibility often trumps raw talent in getting business.​ Why PR and publications...

Travis is joined in the studio by his producer Eric for a fun but honest conversation about body image, fitness culture, and what it really means to optimize your life for long‑term health and happiness instead of just aesthetics. Together they unpack a viral Arthur Brooks clip about why the “happiest men over 40 are 25 pounds overweight,” and connect it to money, family, and the pressure to perform. On this episode we talk about: How a viral Arthur Brooks clip reframes what “healthy” and “hap...

Cameron Herold is the mastermind behind the exponential growth of hundreds of companies worldwide and is often called the CEO Whisperer. He’s the founder of the COO Alliance and the Invest In Your Leaders training program, and the former COO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, where he helped scale revenue from 2 million to 106 million in just six years. He’s also the author of several influential business books, including Vivid Vision and Free PR, and hosts The Second in Command podcast. On this episode we ta...

On this solo episode of Travis Makes Money, host Travis Chappell shares strategies from his "Explode Your Network" course on crafting balanced networks across success levels—basement (beginners), first-story (peers), second-story (slightly ahead), and cloud-level (ultra-successful). He explains how unbalanced networks breed complacency or ego traps, and reveals how to design "houses" of relationships for health, finance, and fulfillment. On this episode we talk about: Building a well-rounded n...

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis and his producer Eric break down a wild new headline: top TikTok creator, Khaby Lame, reportedly selling his company and full AI likeness rights—face, voice, and behavior—for a staggering $900 million. They riff on what that means for creators, the ethics and upside of licensing your digital twin, and how AI is reshaping content, Hollywood, and the value of attention. Along the way, they veer into everything from Japanese conglomerates that make both...