Travis Makes Money

Jeff Seder, a Harvard-trained innovator and founder of EQB, transforms horse racing with a science-backed approach. He shares his journey from law to scouting champions through groundbreaking techniques like heart scans and biomechanics. Investing in racehorses can be lucrative for non-billionaires if guided by expertise, debunking traditional pedigree myths. He also discusses the evolving industry, emphasizing safety, new regulations, and the potential for community involvement in horse ownership. Success hinges on data and smart management, not just big budgets.

This Q&A episode features Travis and his producer Eric, digging into modern realities around wages and the importance (and possibilities) of side hustles in 2025. Drawing on real-world examples and listener questions, Travis breaks down practical steps for anyone—whether stuck at minimum wage, looking to upskill, or considering taking a side gig full time. The conversation debunks common myths, highlights actionable pathways, and injects a healthy dose of tough love and encouragement. On this episode we talk about: Why minimum wage jobs alone aren’t enough to thrive in today’s economy How to pick a side hustle that fits your schedule, skills, and goals Building skills that pay: sales, arbitrage, creative freelancing, and more When (and if) to turn your side gig into your full-time work The mindset shifts required to get out of the “employee only” mentality Top 3 Takeaways Skills are the ultimate wealth-building lever—don’t just trade time for dollars, constantly invest in learning and improving high-value abilities. Action brings clarity: Try several small side hustles or projects, analyze the results, and double down on what works and what you enjoy. You don’t have to quit your job unless you want to—side hustles can supplement income, fund investments, or become your main gig if they outpace your current job. Notable Quotes "Stop thinking like a 1980s employee and start thinking like a 2025 gig economy expert." "Work on building a skill stack that gives you an unfair advantage in the marketplace." "You have to be willing to do things without making money at first—work so much it becomes unreasonable for you to not be successful." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@traviscchappell Website: https://www.travischappell.com/podcast/ ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another preview episode of Travis Makes Friends! This time, I’m diving deeper into my friendship with the hilarious Nikki Howard. We’re talking comedy, storytelling, and the wild world of content creation—from her love for sketch comedy to her big-picture goals of crafting long-form narratives on screen. Nikki shares updates on her latest projects, including her web series and a new movie, Hollywood Grit, hitting AMC theaters on August 22nd. We also get into the changing landscape of media, her thoughts on AI in storytelling, and some fun personal stories, like parent-trapping her mom into a love story at 80! Plus, we rank Adam Sandler movies and geek out over shows like Severance. Hit subscribe, like, and comment to join the convo—let’s make friends and laugh together! Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/rGZ7uqqSdhM ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Student Loan Horror Story: A viral video highlights a 26-year-old with $90,000 in student debt paying a staggering 17% interest rate—and after years of $1,500/month payments, she owes more than the original amount. Student loan debt in the U.S. has exploded, rising from $187 billion to $1.4 trillion since 1990, while college costs are up 420%, but starting wages for graduates have only risen about 10% in the same timeframe—barely keeping up with inflation. College: Value, Costs & Alternatives: While college can still offer social, networking, and life-skill advantages, its economic ROI is often questionable unless required for a licensed profession (medicine, law, etc). Travis advocates for apprenticeships, gap years, internships, and real-world experience as superior options for most young people—letting them earn, learn, and avoid or minimize debt. He notes how much of the “go to college” push comes from outdated beliefs, social status games, and pressure from parents seeking legacy or community standing—not just from what’s actually best for the student in today’s economy. Why “Predatory Lending” Applies: Most 17-year-olds can’t get a credit card, but can sign up for tens of thousands in college debt—often without understanding interest or repayment terms. Student debt is uniquely punishing: it cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, and high rates or compound interest can quickly balloon balances, trapping young adults for decades. Practical Advice for Young People & Parents: Parents should help teens be ruthlessly honest about risk, debt, and career clarity before co-signing on massive loans. Young people should: Take a gap year to try different jobs or internships Only consider college if a) the cost is manageable or b) a clear career path requires a degree Use tools like ChatGPT or simple calculators to run interest/amortization scenarios—understand full cost of loans. Seek real-world exposure in target fields before committing—many adults end up not using their major, making huge debts even less justifiable. Big Takeaway: The “American college pathway” is no longer one-size-fits-all. Life is long—choosing work experience, entrepreneurship, trades, or even pausing before college are often smarter risk/reward bets than saddling yourself with unpayable debt. Recommended Actions: Don’t take college-for-college’s-sake advice—research outcomes, run the numbers, and weigh costs. Talk openly with teens about status, debt, and future regrets. Use this episode and viral cautionary tales as starting points for family conversations before borrowing. 🚀 Travis Makes Money is brought to you by High Level — all-in-one sales & marketing software for agencies and creators.🎁 Get your extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Alex Smereczniak— Serial entrepreneur, former CEO of 2ULaundry & Laundry Lab (over $100M valuation, 118 franchises sold), founder of Franzy (30,000+ monthly users, $3M+ raised to help people buy “cash-flowing” businesses). Early Hustles & First Big Win: Started with classic entrepreneurial pursuits: trading cards, washing cars as a kid, and then running a laundry delivery business (“Wake Wash”) in college, which he bought for $30,000 and sold for nearly $300,000 after systematizing and scaling it. Learned about discounted cash flow, buy/sell agreements, and the real value of recurring cash flow and business structure early on. Scaling, Strategy, and Differentiation: Moved from a student business to working for a Big Four consulting firm (Ernst & Young), but quickly realized he needed to build businesses—not just advise them. Launched 2ULaundry in 2016: delivered laundry/dry cleaning to homes and businesses, quickly scaling through tech and operations, later vertically integrating by building brick-and-mortar laundromats with Electrolux, and ultimately franchising the model for rapid growth. Grew Laundry Lab to 118 franchise awards and 30 locations open as of 2025. Laundromats as a Business Model: Low failure rate due to essential, “recession proof” services—people always need clean clothes—combined with cash-flow and passive income advantages. The “Power Play”: Buy from retiring owners, retool equipment over time, tap into durable local demand. Challenges, Automation & Venture Backing: Success meant more than cash-flow: his companies required operational discipline, vertical integration, and large capital outlays (laundromat builds exceed $1M). Venture capital was attracted by the “Uber for Laundry” home-delivery angle, but Alex’s model matured into a blend of tech, local infrastructure, and scalable franchising. Why Franchising Needs Disruption — Enter Franzy: Traditional franchise placement is “Wild West,” with brokers sometimes pocketing up to 60% of franchise fees, influencing which opportunities new entrepreneurs see. Franzy’s mission: Take a “Zillow for Franchising” approach—leverage AI for franchise matching (across 4000+ brands), standardized fees, and transparency to empower more everyday people to buy real businesses. Focuses on each buyer’s risk profile, lifestyle, and goals; not just “make the most money,” but “fit the best business to the person.” Franchise Trends & Business Models to Watch: Still bullish on laundromats for certain profiles (cash-flow, de-risked, lifestyle), but now sees huge growth in health & wellness, home services, and viral consumer brands (e.g. PopUp Bagels, HRT clinics, anything innovating with AI or “cult” followings). Anticipates continued “displacement” of white-collar jobs by AI; business ownership, franchising, and “betting on yourself” are the safest long-term play for income and autonomy. Connect with Alex & Learn More: https://franzy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alexfromfranzy/ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is brought to you by High Level — all-in-one sales & marketing software for agencies and creators.🎁 Get your extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joseph Shalaby, founder and CEO of e-mortgage capital, joins Travis Chappell to share his journey in the mortgage industry. With over 20 years of experience, Joseph is known for his innovative lending solutions and personal branding strategies. His unique approach to the mortgage business and his commitment to transparency make him a standout figure in the industry. Connect with Joseph: https://www.instagram.com/josephshalaby/ ✖️✖️✖️✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Travis as he sits down with Neil Ghosh, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in launching and scaling both nonprofit and for-profit ventures. Neil shares his journey from his early days in India to becoming a successful leader in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of passion, mentorship, and reinvention. Neil Ghosh's Website: https://www.neilghosh.org/ ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this episode, Travis Chappell sits down with Robin Dreeke, a former FBI special agent, to explore the art of communication. Robin shares his journey from spy recruitment to sales, emphasizing the importance of trust, empathy, and empowering others with choice. Discover actionable strategies to enhance your communication skills and build lasting relationships in both personal and professional settings. Visit Robin's website at robindreeke.com for more insights and resources on communication and leadership. ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description: Join Travis Chappell on the Travis Makes Money podcast as he sits down with Jace Graham, CEO of Rising Phoenix Capital. In this insightful episode, Jace shares his expertise on alternative investments, focusing on the lucrative opportunities in oil, gas, and real estate. Discover how to leverage mineral rights, non-operated working interests, and 1031 exchanges to diversify your investment portfolio and generate passive income. Key Takeaways: Jace Graham's journey as a fourth-generation oilman and his insights into the oil and gas industry. The benefits of investing in mineral rights and how they can provide steady cash flow. Understanding the process and advantages of 1031 exchanges in real estate and oil investments. Tips for real estate investors looking to transition into oil and gas investments. Guest Information: Jace Graham: CEO of Rising Phoenix Capital, specializing in acquisition, investment, and asset management in the oil and gas sector. Resources Mentioned: Rising Phoenix Capital: rising-phoenix.com/guide ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ ✖️ 🚀 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Rafa Conde — Founder & CEO of Man of War, former DEA/Narcotics/SWAT officer, best-selling author, host of the Men of War podcast (35M+ downloads), elite leadership coach, and multimillion-dollar entrepreneur. Early Hustle & Lessons: Rafa’s first money came washing cars at age 11, developing a bias for action, self-reliance, and learning to execute before overthinking or overplanning. Early entrepreneurship shaped his long-term drive to “just do it” — a theme he now instills in men seeking discipline and legacy. Wall Street to Law Enforcement: Spent 12 years on Wall Street, managing nearly $1B in assets, establishing himself as a high-producer and eventually running his own branch. Left for a greater sense of purpose, becoming a police officer at age 32 in one of the nation’s most violent cities, later working narcotics, SWAT, and ultimately as a DEA task force officer. Rafa describes giving up material wealth and status and embracing “starting from scratch” as crucial for true growth and reinvention. Law Enforcement, Humility, & Adversity: Made his mark through work ethic and results—leading felony arrests and serving in specialized units (including undercover work and federal task force roles). Learned from major setbacks: lost home, cars, and income in the transition, but rebuilt through tactical training contracts and martial arts instruction, showing lasting resilience and adaptability. Reinvention: Founding Man of War: Later transitioned to building Man of War—a movement and business designed to restore “the warrior mindset” and healthy masculinity through high-impact events, masterminds, and coaching. His podcast "Men of War" surpassed 35 million downloads by championing direct, honest conversations about discipline, code, and male brotherhood in today’s world. Philosophy on Masculinity & Leadership: Key problem: Modern men have grown soft, seeking comfort and avoiding adversity; true growth requires struggle, competition, and camaraderie. Emphasizes leading by example—“If you can’t lead yourself, don’t expect to lead anyone else.” Rejects “false leadership” based on rank—respect must be earned by character, resilience, and the courage to do hard things. Recommends men start with competition (e.g., martial arts) and purposely place themselves in uncomfortable situations to develop confidence, grit, and self-mastery. Programs, Reach, & What’s Next: Man of War now provides elite events (“Crucible”), global masterminds (“House of Kings”), and a fast-growing father-son program (“Odyssey”), expanding across the US, Latin America, Europe, and beyond. Rafa continues to consult for top companies and help men build modern legacies based on strength, discipline, and honor. Connect with Rafa Conde & Man of War: Website: https://www.rafajconde.com/ 🚀 Travis Makes Money is brought to you by High Level — all-in-one sales & marketing software for agencies and creators.🎁 Get your extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices