Travis Makes Money

In this episode, Travis is joined by producer Eric for a conversation inspired by branding expert Chris Do and his breakdown of personal branding. They explore the idea that building a memorable personal brand isn't just about what you stand for, but also what you stand against. Using longevity influencer Bryan Johnson as an example, Travis and Eric unpack how identifying an enemy, developing a clear message, and creating a rallying cry can help shape your content, business, and overall identity. They also take a detour into the future of longevity, the importance of living in the present, and how personal beliefs can influence the legacy you build. On this episode we talk about: How Chris Do's personal branding framework uses three elements: what you stand for, what you stand against, and your rallying cry Why identifying an enemy can help clarify your personal brand, content strategy, and message What Bryan Johnson's fight against death and aging can teach us about building a recognizable brand The tension between extending your lifespan and actually making the most of the time you have How identifying what you're against can help you create more meaningful content and define the legacy you want to leave Top 3 Takeaways A strong personal brand needs a clear point of view. It's not enough to know what you stand for. Identifying what you're against can make your message more memorable and help people understand what drives you. Create a rallying cry that connects your message. A simple tagline or central idea can bring together what you believe in and what you're fighting against, giving your audience something to rally around. Don't get so caught up in extending your life that you forget to live it. Longevity and health matter, but constantly focusing on avoiding death can take away from experiencing everything life has to offer right now. Notable Quotes "You have what you stand for, you have what you stand against, and you have a line, a rallying cry, a tagline, something that unites these two things." "The biggest sadness for me is like in the pursuit of living forever, you're losing your life now." "If you are only ever in pursuit of not dying, then you do forget to live, which is also a problem." Connect with Travis: Website: https://travischappell.com Instagram: @travischappell  A Word from Our Sponsors: - Join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's #1 choice for banking! Head to Chime.com/travis to sign up now. It only takes a few minutes! - Quick money tip for the holidays. The gift exchange is where budgets go to die. This year, run it on Elfster. It’s a free gift exchange app. You set the budget up front, Elfster draws names, and everyone makes a wish list. No guessing, no overspending, no wasted money on stuff nobody wanted. Go to travischappell.com/elfster and use code "Travis" to get started with your own gift exchange! -Glean connects enterprise knowledge, people, decisions, and workflows across systems—giving employees and AI agents the context they need to move their most important work forward, while preserving your existing permissions and security boundaries. Visit Glean.com/tmm to unlock an exclusive offer just for listeners of Travis Makes Money! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ariela Weston is an entrepreneur and entertainment strategist with more than two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Growing up at the intersection of Hollywood, journalism, and multicultural media, Ariela developed an entrepreneurial mindset early on and a deep curiosity about money and success. Now, she's bringing those conversations to the forefront with Pretty Money, a podcast featuring entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes, and business leaders who share their experiences with earning, building wealth, navigating setbacks, and defining success on their own terms. In this episode, Ariela discusses the emotional side of money, overcoming financial insecurities, and why we need to make conversations about money less taboo. On this episode we talk about: How Ariela's upbringing around wealth shaped her relationship with money and her drive for financial independence Why there's no single right path to building a successful career and the importance of trusting your instincts The emotional and psychological side of money, including how childhood experiences can influence financial decisions later in life Why giving, generosity, and having an open mindset can change the way you approach wealth How Ariela's new podcast, Pretty Money, is breaking down the stigma around money conversations and helping people learn from successful individuals Top 3 Takeaways Your relationship with money starts long before you earn it. Childhood experiences, family dynamics, and the way money is discussed at home can shape your financial mindset well into adulthood. Understanding those patterns is the first step toward changing them. There isn't one right path to success. Don't feel pressured to have everything figured out early in life. Experiment, explore different opportunities, and learn from the experiences along the way. Money is about more than what's in your bank account. Wealth also includes your health, family, peace of mind, and the joy you find in everyday life. Learning to let go of fear and embrace generosity can help you develop a healthier relationship with money. Notable Quotes "There really isn't one right path." "Money is not something to be ashamed about." "Money is a lot like water. It comes and goes. It's very circular." Connect with Ariela Weston: Instagram: @prettymoney.podcast | @arielaweston Other: linkedin.com/in/arielaweston A Word from Our Sponsors: - Join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's #1 choice for banking! Head to Chime.com/travis to sign up now. It only takes a few minutes! - Quick money tip for the holidays. The gift exchange is where budgets go to die. This year, run it on Elfster. It’s a free gift exchange app. You set the budget up front, Elfster draws names, and everyone makes a wish list. No guessing, no overspending, no wasted money on stuff nobody wanted. Go to travischappell.com/elfster and use code "Travis" to get started with your own gift exchange! -Glean connects enterprise knowledge, people, decisions, and workflows across systems—giving employees and AI agents the context they need to move their most important work forward, while preserving your existing permissions and security boundaries. Visit Glean.com/tmm to unlock an exclusive offer just for listeners of Travis Makes Money! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting from zero is the hardest way to own a business. In this Money Mashup, three guests make the case for skipping the startup phase. Mike Swigunski helped grow Empire Flippers, the largest curated marketplace for established online businesses, where he worked on more than $120 million in deals. He's now building Dividends, a platform that buys and scales profitable online businesses and turns them into portfolios people can invest in for monthly cash flow. Matt Raad and his wife Liz have spent decades buying, renovating, and selling small websites as "digital real estate," and they teach the method through the eBusiness Institute. Alex Smereczniak co-founded the VC-backed laundry delivery company 2ULaundry and its laundromat franchise, LaundroLab, which sold 118 locations in its first 14 months. Today he runs Franzy, a platform built to make franchise research and buying more transparent, the way Zillow did for real estate. On this episode we talk about: How Empire Flippers screens out 70–80% of the online businesses submitted to it, and how Dividends turns profitable online businesses into investable portfolios Mike's buy box: American technical founders, 80–90% margins, $10K+ MRR, low churn, and why recurring revenue and software act as moats What first-time buyers should know before they put in a lot of money or take on debt to buy a business How Matt and Liz Raad turned a knitting e-book website into $5–10K a month, and why micro-niches work online Laundromats: what the "92% success rate" really means, why they hold up in recessions, and how Alex went from 2ULaundry to LaundroLab to Franzy Top 3 Takeaways Buying gets you revenue, customers, and systems on day one. Many owners with a good product but weak sales are stuck on flat revenue, so improving conversion, pricing, and checkout can grow a business without needing more traffic. You can renovate an existing business like a house, but practice first. Learn how websites make money, learn due diligence, and start with a small site under $1,000 on a marketplace like Flippa before you buy anything bigger. Don't do it alone: work with someone who has done it before. A franchise comes with a playbook already written, so your job is to execute it. Decide first whether you want extra income or a full replacement for your salary. For a laundromat, look for a used one from an owner who is retiring, in an area where the customer base is still strong. Notable Quotes "Private equity is kind of what we're doing here, but it's private equity for the public now." (Mike Swigunski) "If you're breaking even already, that means you're near the tipping point." (Matt Raad, sharing advice a mentor gave Liz) "Business ownership, while being one of the most fulfilling, empowering, purpose-filled things I've ever done, it's also terrifying and scary and stressful." (Alex Smereczniak) Connect with Mike Swigunski: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeswigunski Instagram: @mikeswigunski Other: Dividends Capital | mikeswigunski.com Connect with Matt Raad: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matt-raad Instagram: @mattraad Other: eBusiness Institute | Free Masterclass: How to Buy & Renovate Websites Connect with Alex Smereczniak: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfromfranzy/ Other: Franzy | LaundroLab on Franzy A Word from Our Sponsors: - Join the millions who are already banking fee free with America's #1 choice for banking! Head to Chime.com/travis to sign up now. It only takes a few minutes! - Quick money tip for the holidays. The gift exchange is where budgets go to die. This year, run it on Elfster. It’s a free gift exchange app. You set the budget up front, Elfster draws names, and everyone makes a wish list. No guessing, no overspending, no wasted money on stuff nobody wanted. Go to travischappell.com/elfster and use code "Travis" to get started with your own gift exchange! -Glean connects enterprise knowledge, people, decisions, and workflows across systems—giving employees and AI agents the context they need to move their most important work forward, while preserving your existing permissions and security boundaries. Visit Glean.com/tmm to unlock an exclusive offer just for listeners of Travis Makes Money! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcasting is at a crossroads as Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon chase celebrity-driven shows. Travis Chappell and Eric explore why overproduced acquisitions may miss the medium’s appeal, how YouTube and Instagram are reshaping discovery, and why platforms could benefit from backing independent creators. They also discuss building a high-value guest network, protecting relationships, and earning trust through integrity.

Jay Campbell, a health optimization entrepreneur and seven-time bestselling author, shares his journey from corporate marketing to building multimillion-dollar health companies. He discusses selling a business, creating BioLongevity Labs, and using personal branding to build trust. Discover how micro-influencers, affiliate marketing, and alternative growth strategies fueled success despite social media restrictions.

Shane Barker, a digital marketing and e-commerce growth consultant, Fred Marshall, a business strategist, and Matt Putra, an e-commerce finance advisor, explore what really keeps companies alive. They unpack unit economics, customer lifetime value, financial metrics, and 13-week cash-flow forecasts. They also reveal how fraudulent Amazon reviews can quietly damage listings and revenue.

Podcasting is being reshaped by Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, and Instagram. The discussion explores why celebrity acquisitions and glossy production may miss the medium’s appeal, while independent creators, authentic conversations, and smarter funding could unlock the next wave of breakout shows.

Graham Stephan, a real estate investor and personal finance YouTube creator, shares his journey from modest commissions to online millionaire status. He discusses Craigslist leads, buying foreclosures, and why rental properties beat flipping for him. Graham also recalls launching YouTube after years of hesitation, expanding into investing and lifestyle content, and building wealth through frugality and consistent investing.

Rebecca Minkoff, fashion designer behind her namesake brand, shares how she pushed through credit card debt before a handbag breakthrough. Shawn Nelson, founder of LoveSac, reflects on surviving bankruptcy and rebuilding. Brandon Steiner, sports entrepreneur and memorabilia expert, explores customer value, relationships, margins, cash flow, and the small experiments that can uncover major opportunities.

Rising costs are driving more people back to an underused money-saving resource: the public library. Discover how libraries can replace paid reading and streaming subscriptions, plus offer podcast studios, Wi-Fi hotspots, camping gear, creative spaces, and community groups. Learn how families can make books, hobbies, entertainment, and technology more affordable without giving up what they love.