

Travis Makes Money
Travis Chappell
You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 14, 2025 • 30min
Make Money with Options Trading | Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini
Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini is a lifestyle mentor, accomplished options trader, and CEO of Lush Enterprises LLC. Rising from humble roots as an orphan, Sun Yong became a millionaire by combining relentless discipline with smart trading—transforming her husband’s $164,000 account into $604,000 in under a year. She now inspires and teaches everyday people how to build skills for real, leveraged wealth through options, mindset, and self-belief.
On this episode we talk about:
The pivot from medical assistant to self-taught options trader after retirement
How Sun Yong learned and practiced trading for over a year before risking any real money
The power of discipline, schedule, and goal-setting for consistent financial growth
Handling risk and loss with a positive mindset (including her own $50,000 loss—and six-fold gain)
Why the barrier to entry is not knowledge, but the willingness to put in consistent work
Top 3 Takeaways
True financial change demands building new skills, setting daily routines, and investing in personal education.
Consistent, disciplined trading with defined weekly/monthly goals creates sustainable results—not lottery wins.
Mindset matters as much as strategy; treat money as a tool, not an end, to avoid unhealthy cycles and emotional traps.
Notable Quotes
“Most people take the freedom of retirement and avoid the work. I chose to create freedom by building new skills.”
“If I gave up after losing $50,000, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Money, used as a tool for opportunity, completely changes your life’s trajectory.”
Connect with Sun Yong Kim-Manzolini:
https://www.instagram.com/author_sun_yong/
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🚀 Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.
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Oct 13, 2025 • 13min
Make Money by Growing Into a Visionary CEO | John Baird and Edward Sullivan
John Baird and Edward Sullivan are world-class executive coaches, best known for their work with Apple’s leadership team and top innovators at companies like Nike. Together, they’ve coached founders and Fortune 10 executives, helping leaders grow from “Chief-Everything-Officer” to visionary CEO. In this episode, they break down the mindsets and tactical shifts needed to scale—whether running a scrappy startup or a global powerhouse.
On this episode we talk about:
How the best leaders delegate and coach their teams for sustainable growth
Shifting from doing it all to long-term strategy (and why it’s so hard to let go)
The three priorities of a high-functioning CEO: cash, talent, and vision
Practical tactics for transitioning out of daily tasks as the business scales
Mentorship, coaching, and the difference between advisor and leader mindset
Top 3 Takeaways
Scaling requires pushing major decisions down into the org—not hoarding them at the top.
World-class CEOs invest in talent and vision as much as product or operations.
Great leadership isn’t just delegation—it’s developing decision-makers at every level.
Notable Quotes
“As quickly as possible, push strategic decisions down into the organization.”
“Your best value is spent on cash, talent, and vision—not clinging to every daily detail.”
“Coaching your team to see through your lens is how real scale happens.”
Connect with John Baird & Edward Sullivan:
Website: VelocityCoaching.com
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🚀 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

Oct 12, 2025 • 17min
Make Money with YouTube Advertising | Aleric Heck
Aleric Heck is one of the world’s top YouTube advertising experts. He’s spent millions driving results for his clients and teaches entrepreneurs how to use YouTube ads to grow brands and generate real leads. As the founder of AdOutreach and YouTube Ads Academy, Aleric combines paid and organic strategies to help creators boost their YouTube presence—without sabotaging the algorithm or resorting to fake engagement.
On this episode we talk about:
How paid traffic really affects your YouTube channel (and when it actually harms it)
The difference between in-stream and in-feed ads—and which one drives authentic growth
Using YouTube’s new Boost feature wisely for channel growth
Why “buying subscribers” wrecks your watch time and channel authority
How to test and amplify top-performing videos for smart channel scaling
Top 3 Takeaways
Boosting videos is powerful—when you use in-feed ads, not skippable in-stream ads.
YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes real watch time and retention—not fake views or subscriber spikes.
Paid advertising should amplify content that’s already performing, not cover up weak videos or content gaps.
Notable Quotes
“The problem isn’t running ads—it’s using them the wrong way.”
“If your content is weak, no amount of paid exposure will make it last—it actually kills your watch time.”
“YouTube’s Boost feature just validates what we’ve known: authentic promotion supports real growth.”
Connect with Aleric Heck:
Website: AdOutreach.com
Instagram: @alericheck
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 11, 2025 • 10min
Make Money by AVOIDING Traditional Publishing | Dan Martell
Dan Martell is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author of Buy Back Your Time, a blueprint for entrepreneurs who want to scale their business without losing their life in the process. After building and exiting multiple software companies, Dan shifted into teaching founders how to grow, systemize, and hire effectively—creating more freedom and profitability. His book, traditionally published with Penguin Random House, became an instant bestseller and sparked conversations about entrepreneurship, publishing, and building evergreen content.
On this episode we talk about:
Why Dan chose traditional publishing for his first book—and why he’d never do it again
The realities of book advances, royalties, and creative control in traditional publishing
The pros and cons of self-publishing vs going with a major house
What it takes to create a perennial seller book that stands the test of time
How Buy Back Your Time became an evergreen global bestseller beyond the business niche
Top 3 Takeaways
Traditional publishers offer credibility—but give away control over how you use your book as an asset.
Self-publishing today allows creators to own their IP, control marketing, and build long-term ROI.
The best books aren’t funnels; they expand their category’s body of knowledge and last for decades.
Notable Quotes
“I didn’t need the advance. I just wanted to learn—and, honestly, a little ego.”
“Traditional publishing feels great for credibility, but you lose control of your own product.”
“I wrote Buy Back Your Time to create something evergreen—something that actually adds to the body of knowledge.”
Connect with Dan Martell:
Website: DanMartell.com
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 10, 2025 • 25min
Make Money by Turning Adversity into Impact | Brenda Snow
Brenda Snow is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author who founded Snow Companies, the first-of-its-kind global patient engagement agency. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly 30 years ago, she turned her personal struggles into a mission to give patients a voice, empower them through education, and improve their treatment experiences. Starting with no funding, she grew the company from just herself and one employee to over 425 staff, nine figures in revenue, and recognition as the gold standard for patient storytelling and support.
On this episode we talk about:
How Brenda’s MS diagnosis inspired the creation of Snow Companies
The power of storytelling in patient advocacy and engagement
Navigating highly regulated industries while innovating solutions
Growing from a one-client consultancy to a 400+ person global agency
Why perseverance and hard work—not overnight virality—are the keys to lasting success
Top 3 Takeaways
Personal challenges can reveal massive gaps and opportunities for impactful businesses.
Patient-first storytelling builds trust, connection, and long-term engagement like no marketing campaign can.
Scaling from startup to nine-figure success requires years of hard work, culture-building, and strategic hiring.
Notable Quotes
“To be successful at anything, you have to work damn hard.”
“Don’t give up on yourself—entrepreneurship is hard, but it’s super rewarding.”
“The business plan presented itself because I saw so many unmet needs for people with life-changing illnesses.”
Connect with Brenda Snow:
Website: https://brendasnow.com/
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 9, 2025 • 29min
Make Money through Podcasting, Speaking, and Content Creation | Ron Story, Jr.
Ron Story Jr. is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and the new owner of Guestio. He’s also the founder of SpeakerHub, a global booking platform connecting speakers, podcasts, and event organizers. In the past year alone, Ron has done 125 podcast interviews, 31 speaking gigs, 205 daily webcasts, and written 138 articles—all while adding over $1 million in revenue to his businesses by using speaking and podcasting as growth engines.
On this episode we talk about:
How Ron generated $1M through podcasting, speaking, and content creation
Using lifetime deals to solve churn problems in recurring SaaS models
The smartest way to turn software buyers into loyal, long-term customers
The mindset shift from selling lottery tickets to selling true business investments
Why public speaking and podcast guesting are the fastest trust builders for any entrepreneur
Top 3 Takeaways
Churn—not customer acquisition—is what kills recurring revenue businesses.
Treat your product as an investment in your customer’s future, not as a cheap lottery ticket.
Speaking and podcasting aren’t just about visibility—they create pre-sold leads who already trust you.
Notable Quotes
“After you sell it, you’ve got to keep it—that’s where the real cost begins.”
“People invest in what they understand. The more they engage, the longer they stay.”
“Most great speakers speak for free—the money’s made when the audience becomes your clients.”
Connect with Ron Story Jr.:
Website: https://wwv.speakerhub.com/guestio
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 8, 2025 • 23min
Make Money by Making People Laugh | Joe Gatto from the Impractical Jokers
In this clip, Joe Gatto takes us back to the very beginning of Impractical Jokers—long before the show became a worldwide hit. He shares the surprising story of how the idea was first sparked in a basement with a group of lifelong friends, and how those early moments of creativity turned into one of the most popular comedy series on TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 7, 2025 • 35min
Make Money by Building Trust and Team Intelligence | Jon Levy
Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist specializing in trust, leadership, and human connection. He’s the author of the New York Times bestseller You’re Invited and his latest book Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius. Over the last fifteen years, Jon has helped thousands of leaders—from Nobel laureates to Olympians—understand how to create meaningful relationships, build trust faster, and foster cultures where teams thrive together.
On this episode we talk about:
Why relationships and trust are the ultimate currency in business and life
The psychology of connection and why small acts build deep trust
How to avoid manipulation while using behavioral science for good
The difference between status and likability—and why likability always wins long-term
How emotionally intelligent teams unlock “collective genius” and outperform talent alone
Top 3 Takeaways
Trust isn’t gained by giving—it’s built when others invest effort in you.
True connection comes from benevolent intent, not manipulation—use psychology to serve, not to scheme.
High-performing teams succeed not because they have the smartest people, but because they have the most emotionally intelligent dynamics.
Notable Quotes
“We can’t buy relationships. The real question is—how do we get people to invest effort into us?”
“If I told people how I designed my events, would they feel manipulated or cared for? That’s the test.”
“The reason we follow someone is simple—they make us believe tomorrow will be better than today.”
Connect with Jon Levy:
Website: https://www.jonlevy.com/
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 6, 2025 • 36min
Make Money by Caring for Your People Like Family | Bob Chapman
Bob Chapman is the CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, a $4 billion global capital equipment company and author of Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. Over his 50-year leadership journey, Bob transformed a struggling $20 million family business into a multibillion-dollar enterprise using a blend of sound business design, creative acquisitions, and a culture of truly human leadership. His work proves that success and compassion aren’t opposites—they’re partners.
On this episode we talk about:
How Bob turned a near-bankrupt family company into a $4 billion global organization
The nine-month period of surviving day-to-day on cash and what it taught him about resilience
Why your business model—not metrics alone—is the true engine of wealth creation
The strategy behind 150+ acquisitions and how he found value others missed
The power of combining common sense, creativity, and positivity in leadership
Top 3 Takeaways
Cash is the oxygen of business—understanding its flow is fundamental to growth and survival.
True leadership requires calm under crisis; your team follows your attitude more than your words.
A great business model is your engine, but a caring culture is the premium fuel that makes it perform.
Notable Quotes
“Cash is the foundation of your ability to be a good steward of your business.”
“There’s no relationship between what something costs and what it’s worth.”
“Our business model is the engine, but our culture is the premium fuel.”
Connect with Bob Chapman:
Website: BarryWehmiller.com
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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

Oct 5, 2025 • 27min
Make Money by Avoiding Speculation | Mark Matson
Mark Matson is the bestselling author of Experiencing the American Dream: How to Invest Your Time, Energy, and Money to Create an Extraordinary Life, and founder of Matson Money, a firm managing over $12 billion in assets. Known for making Nobel Prize–winning investment science accessible to everyday families, Mark has spent decades teaching people how to invest prudently, avoid speculation, and build wealth that serves a greater purpose.
On this episode we talk about:
Why most financial advice is based on false promises of predicting the market
The dangers of stock picking, market timing, and chasing performance
How modern portfolio theory and academic research can guide smart investing
Practical asset allocation and the discipline of rebalancing
Why having a purpose for your money matters more than money itself
Top 3 Takeaways
The market can’t be reliably predicted—success comes from disciplined asset allocation and rebalancing, not gambling.
Emotional decisions in down markets often lock in losses; sticking to your plan yields far greater long-term returns.
Money alone won’t make you happy—invest with purpose, aligning your finances to your values and life goals.
Notable Quotes
“All the knowable information about the future is already in the stock price today.”
“Leave your money in the market and rebalance—don’t pull it out during downturns.”
“Money for money’s sake never works; it has to serve a purpose greater than itself.”
Connect with Mark Matson:
Website: MatsonMoney.com
Instagram: @MarkMatson1
✖️✖️✖️✖️
🚀 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


