Build Your Network

In this snippet from Travis Chappell's appearance on the How'd They Do That? podcast, Travis breaks down how investing in himself, seeking mentorship, and starting a podcast transformed his network and business. He shares how he went from knowing virtually no high-level entrepreneurs to building relationships with people like John Maxwell, Tilman Fertitta, and Shaquille O'Neal. Travis also explains why podcasting can be a powerful networking tool, how he used cold outreach and persistence to land high-profile guests, and why rejection is simply part of the process of building something meaningful. On this episode we talk about: Why investing in coaching, masterminds, and mentorship can dramatically shorten your learning curve How starting a podcast became Travis's most powerful networking tool Using a podcast as a way to create genuine relationships and get your foot in the door with high-level people How cold DMs, persistence, and the law of averages can help you land opportunities Building credibility by leveraging relationships with people your prospective guests already know and trust Why rejection is an unavoidable part of entrepreneurship and networking How consistency creates a snowball effect that makes future opportunities easier to create Why Travis believes podcasting remains a relatively untapped opportunity despite perceptions that the space is oversaturated The origin of Guestio and how it helps podcasters connect with guests and shows How podcasting can serve as a forcing function for learning, communication, and personal growth Top 3 Takeaways Invest in yourself before you have assets to invest in. When you're starting from scratch, you are your primary asset. Coaching, mentorship, and proximity to people who have already accomplished what you want can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes and accelerate your learning curve. Create a reason to reach out. Travis discovered that his podcast gave him a natural, mutually beneficial reason to contact people he wanted to know. Instead of simply asking for someone's time, he could invite them into a conversation where he could learn from them while also giving them a platform. Keep asking and let your credibility compound. Rejection is part of the process. The more people you reach out to, the more opportunities you create, and every successful connection makes the next one easier. Over time, persistence, consistency, and social proof can turn cold outreach into a powerful network. Notable Quotes "When you don't have any assets, you are your only asset." "The podcast became like this perfect next step and the perfect foot in the door because it's just an innocent ask." "No is just a not yet." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: @TravisChappell Website: TravisChappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Mazza and Victoria Sivrais are serial entrepreneurs, business partners, and the co-founders of Female Mavericks. Together, they have built and exited two successful professional services firms that advised S&P 500 leaders through high-stakes decisions. Now, as mothers of nine collectively, they're using everything they've learned to help more women build and scale seven-figure businesses. In this episode, they share how their partnership began, how they identified opportunities in underserved markets, why mentorship and proximity to smart people matter, and how they're now helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses without sacrificing the lives they want to live. On this episode we talk about: How Beth and Victoria went from corporate careers to building and exiting successful professional services firms Why identifying gaps in an established market can create opportunities for new businesses The importance of learning from mentors and spending time around people who have the results you want How Beth and Victoria built a highly complementary business partnership based on different skill sets, shared values, and mutual trust Why they're now focused on helping 10,000 women build seven-figure businesses while balancing entrepreneurship and family Top 3 Takeaways Prioritize learning over earning early in your career. Find the smartest person you can, get close to them, and absorb how they think, communicate, make decisions, and operate—not just what they know. Look for opportunities where others aren't willing to compete. Beth identified an underserved market, offered a better-priced service, and challenged CEOs' thinking to win clients despite competing against much larger firms. Choose business partners based on complementary strengths and shared values. Beth and Victoria's partnership worked because one naturally leaned toward strategy and vision while the other excelled at execution, while both shared the same ambition, purpose, and commitment to supporting each other. Notable Quotes "You get to decide if you're the person to build a business around the disruptive thing and if it's the right timing." "I think my career would have been so different if I was at home fifty to seventy-five percent of the time." "As long as you're not making a profit, you are not making money." Connect with Beth Mazza & Victoria Sivrais: Website: ⁠FemaleMavericks.com⁠ — female entrepreneurs can visit the site and connect with Beth and Victoria about their mentorship programs. Book: ⁠Entrepreneur Like a Mother⁠, releasing September 22 **use code Maverick25 code, so listeners can get the bundle. A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit ⁠Upwork.com⁠ right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this clip from Travis Chappell's appearance on the Optimal Self Conversations podcast, Travis breaks down how entrepreneurs can become more productive by focusing their time on the things they do disproportionately well. He shares how his competitive nature shaped his approach to business, why he believes success comes from constantly improving rather than simply being “talented,” and how mentorship helped him accelerate his learning. Travis also explains how setting boundaries, delegating effectively, and prioritizing his family have allowed him to spend more time in his zone of genius while building a business and raising a family. On this episode we talk about Where Travis's competitive drive comes from and how it has evolved over time The difference between competing against others and competing against who you were yesterday Why a little bit of competition can be a useful source of motivation How Travis learned to prioritize the highest-leverage activities in his life Why entrepreneurs need to learn when to say yes and when to say no What a “zone of genius” is and how to identify yours Why doing everything yourself can prevent a business from scaling How hiring and delegating allowed Travis to focus on his highest-value work Building clear boundaries around work, family, and personal time Why productivity is about being productive, not simply being busy The importance of identifying your “big three” priorities each day Why your zone of genius isn't necessarily something you're born knowing How taking on different jobs and responsibilities can help you discover what you're good at The relationship between talent, hard work, and developing a skill Why mentorship can dramatically shorten your learning curve How books, podcasts, and relationships can serve as forms of mentorship Why time is more valuable than money when it comes to learning How discipline, habit stacking, and identity work together Creating the identity you want through consistent action Top 3 Takeaways Find your zone of genius and spend more time there.Your zone of genius is the work you're disproportionately good at and enjoy to some degree. Once you identify those activities, your goal should be to spend the majority of your time on them while finding other people who are better suited to handle the tasks outside your strengths. You discover your strengths by doing the work.Travis doesn't believe your zone of genius simply appears out of nowhere. You have to try things, work hard, develop skills, and pay attention to what you're naturally good at and enjoy. His experience in sales showed him that an initial advantage only becomes valuable when it's paired with continuous learning and effort. Use discipline to build habits that become your identity.Rather than relying on willpower every day, Travis recommends creating habits and systems that reduce the number of decisions you have to make. Over time, those habits become part of your identity, making the behaviors you once had to force yourself to do feel like a natural part of who you are. Notable Quotes “Happiness and fulfillment have little to do with your status compared to other people and a lot more to do with your status compared to who you were yesterday.” “You should not be spending a ton of time outside of your zone of genius.” “Figure out the thing that you are disproportionately good at and spend the majority of your time doing that thing.” “You don't have to reinvent the wheel. I think too many people discount themselves mentally if they don't figure it out.” “Time is the ultimate asset that we have in life. Money is by definition replenishable. Time is not.” “Discipline is freedom.” “Once your habits become your identity, then that's formed in you.” “The life that you want to live is on the other side of discipline.” Connect with Travis Chappell Website: TravisChappell.com Social Media: Available through TravisChappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kyle Vowinkel is a decorated former FBI senior executive, West Point graduate, keynote speaker, and author of the forthcoming book Shaping Chaos. During more than 24 years with the FBI, Kyle served on both the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and Crisis Negotiation Unit, making him one of only five agents to serve on both. He has negotiated with kidnappers, pirates, and terrorists and deployed alongside U.S. Special Operations Forces. Today, he helps leaders assess risk, make better decisions under uncertainty, influence others, and act decisively when the stakes are high. On this episode we talk about: Why Kyle decided to serve his country and ultimately pursue a career with the FBI How earning money from a paper route at 11 taught him the value of saving and investing early The financial lessons Kyle learned from his father and through government service How Kyle built nearly 32 years of government service and incorporated his military time into his federal retirement Launching his business, Inner Perimeter, after retiring from the FBI How professional connections helped create opportunities for Kyle after leaving the FBI Why nurturing relationships over the long term is one of the most valuable things you can do for your career The radically different approaches Kyle learned from serving on both the Hostage Rescue Team and Crisis Negotiation Unit How lessons from high-stakes FBI operations translate directly into sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship The four-step “path to influence”: framing, empathy, rapport, and giving people choices How Kyle used genuine connection and empathy during the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt Why “control can extract compliance, but choice creates commitment” How giving people agency can make them more committed to a decision Why empathy doesn't require agreeing with someone The importance of seeing a situation from another person's perspective before trying to influence them What entrepreneurs and leaders can learn from crisis-response decision-making Why leaders should establish decision-making triggers before a crisis happens How businesses can prepare for uncertainty by planning for best-case, most likely, and worst-case scenarios Kyle's forthcoming book, Shaping Chaos, and the lessons he drew from his FBI career Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Make the hard decisions before the pressure hits.Kyle explains that emotions tend to rise while rational thinking declines as a crisis intensifies. One way to counter that is to establish decision-making triggers in advance. Whether you're responding to a kidnapping or preparing a business for a major market event, knowing ahead of time what circumstances will trigger specific actions can help teams respond decisively rather than emotionally. 2. Influence starts with understanding, not coercion.Kyle's experience as a crisis negotiator taught him that people are more receptive when they feel seen, valued, and heard. Framing the conversation from the other person's perspective, demonstrating empathy, building genuine rapport, and giving people choices can create a much stronger path to influence than simply trying to force compliance. 3. Relationships remain a competitive advantage.Kyle emphasizes that professional relationships need to be nurtured over time rather than activated only when you need something. Checking in, helping others, and building genuine connections creates a network that can support you throughout different seasons of your career. As Kyle puts it, AI may change how we work, but it can't replace the one-on-one relationships that help people succeed. Notable Quotes: “I've been working since I'm eleven.” “You can let chaos shape you, or you can try to shape the chaos.” “Control can extract compliance, but choice creates commitment.” “When people feel that they are seen, valued, and heard, that's the kind of three trifecta.” “Empathy is not judgment.” “You don't just want them to go along because they have to go along. You want them choosing to.” “You make the hard decisions in advance.” Connect with Kyle Vowinkel: Website: https://www.kylevowinkel.com/ Book: Shaping Chaos, available for pre-order ahead of its November release A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this clip from Travis Chappell's appearance on the Truth About Addiction Podcast, Travis explores how changing your identity can create lasting changes in your habits, health, and life. He shares his own journey from identifying as someone who hated reading to becoming a consistent reader, and from thinking of himself as an athlete to adopting the broader identity of someone who prioritizes a healthy lifestyle. The conversation also dives into nutrition, sustainable weight loss, calorie tracking, discipline, and the importance of building habits that can actually last. On this episode we talk about Why lasting behavior change starts with changing the way you see yourself How taking action can reinforce and strengthen a new identity Travis's journey from hating reading to becoming a consistent reader Moving from an “athlete” identity to an identity centered around overall health and longevity Why short-term fitness and diet challenges often lead to unsustainable results Using calorie awareness and energy balance to understand weight management How Travis approaches food, travel, indulgence, and nutrition without unnecessary restriction The role of sleep, hydration, walking, nutrition, and other foundational health habits Why community and positive influences can help reinforce lasting change The difference between using structure as a helpful tool and becoming overly rigid How grief, addiction, and emotional pain can affect someone's relationship with food and their body The importance of worthiness, faith, and taking a leap of faith when creating a new identity Recognizing when healthy habits may become obsessive or counterproductive Why sustainable health is ultimately a journey rather than a short-term challenge Top 3 Takeaways Your identity influences your actions.Travis explains that once you begin identifying as the person you want to become, your actions can start reinforcing that identity. Taking action—even when it feels unnatural at first—creates a feedback loop that makes the new identity increasingly real. Sustainable change requires a long-term mindset.After years of losing and regaining weight through short-term challenges, Travis realized that another 30- or 60-day program wasn't the answer. Instead, he focused on understanding the fundamentals of nutrition and building habits he could maintain indefinitely. Structure should serve your life, not control it.Travis and the host discuss the tension between using tools like calorie tracking to create awareness and becoming overly rigid around food and body image. The goal isn't perfection—it's finding an approach that supports your health, relationships, and overall quality of life. Notable Quotes “Your identity will not completely—your new identity will not be completely adopted without any action.” “It's okay to adopt this new identity.” “Because you identify as this thing, you want to engage in this activity more. And because you engage in that activity more, it further solidifies your identity.” “It has to be something that I can do long term.” “It's just the recognition that it's gonna be a journey. It's not gonna happen overnight.” “All things in moderation, including moderation.” Connect with Travis Chappell Website: TravisChappell.com Social: @TravisChappell A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Frankel is an inventor, entrepreneur, business owner, networking host, and podcaster who has built a career around sales, innovation, and solving problems. From starting as a teenage dishwasher to becoming a top-performing sales leader, opening his own offices, and eventually inventing the Perky Collar, David has continually reinvented himself throughout his career. His Perky Collar product has sold more than 35,000 units, reached over 366 stores, and generated $1.8 million in lifetime sales. Today, David balances a full-time career in RV sales with his product business, custom clothing, networking groups, and podcasting. On this episode we talk about: How David's first jobs taught him the value of earning his own money and independence Why he initially studied pharmacy and wanted to find cures for diseases How his grandfather helped him recognize that his strengths were better suited to business, sales, and relationship-building Turning a sales job into an entrepreneurial opportunity by opening and managing his own locations How David took a struggling sales office and helped transform it into a top-performing location Why businesses sometimes need to pivot when the market itself is shrinking The everyday problem that inspired David to invent the Perky Collar How he turned a simple idea into a prototype, patented product, and retail business The importance of finding trustworthy professionals when bringing an invention to market The lessons David learned from opening a photography studio, franchising his business, and eventually closing his retail store Why entrepreneurship doesn't have to mean working for yourself full-time Building a life around the season you're in rather than forcing yourself into one definition of success The sacrifices entrepreneurship can create for marriage, family, and personal life Why having the right support system can make a major difference for entrepreneurs Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Look for problems you can solve.The Perky Collar started with a simple problem David experienced himself: his dress-shirt collar wouldn't stay up. Instead of simply accepting the problem, he experimented with a solution, validated the concept, and eventually turned it into a product that generated millions in sales. 2. Your career doesn't have to follow a straight line.David moved from pharmacy to photography sales, management, entrepreneurship, product development, retail, and eventually RV sales and custom clothing. Each experience gave him skills and knowledge that he was able to carry into the next chapter. 3. Build the life that fits your current season.David ultimately chose stability and a steady paycheck over continuing to operate a retail store full-time, while keeping Perky as a supplemental income stream. As Travis points out, there isn't one correct way to make money or build a career. Sometimes entrepreneurship is the right move, and sometimes a job plus a side business creates the life you actually want. Notable Quotes: “I've always been motivated by money and having my own freedom and independence.” “I've always had kind of had that innovative problem-solving mindset. I just had to figure out how to use it.” “You can't do it all yourself. You have to find someone to help you.” “It's a tough juggling act.” “It's all feathers for your hat. You learn things, you help other people.” “It's that constant reinvention and constant seeking of the vision that you have for your life.” Connect with David Frankel: Website: PerkyLLC.com Social Media: @PerkyLLC on Facebook, Instagram, etc A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Travis Makes Money, we're sharing a powerful clip from Travis Chappell's appearance on the Modern Warrior podcast with Gavin Minin. Travis opens up about how facing a cancer diagnosis forced him to step back and reconsider his perspective on struggle, purpose, work, family, and relationships. He explains why a problem-free life isn't necessarily the goal, how hardship can create a fresh perspective, and why finding meaning in your work can be just as important as finding meaning in your relationships. Travis also gets candid about the difficulty of allowing other people to support him through challenges and discusses the growing problem of loneliness, particularly among men. On this episode we talk about: How facing a major health scare can put everyday problems into perspective Why a life without problems may not actually be the life we want The idea that the goal isn't to eliminate problems, but to keep moving forward in spite of them How major challenges can force you to step back and look at your life differently Why Travis came away from his experience with a renewed sense of purpose behind his work Balancing family, business, podcasting, and the challenges of everyday life How success can sometimes hide the personal struggles happening behind the scenes Why Travis has struggled with allowing other people to support him The importance of letting friends and family see you struggle instead of trying to maintain an impenetrable exterior How expectations around masculinity can make it harder for men to be vulnerable The difference between genuine connection and the appearance of connection on social media Why loneliness among men is a problem that extends beyond social media The importance of having healthy examples of friendship, vulnerability, and masculinity Why being able to express who you really are is essential to building genuine relationships Top 3 Takeaways The goal isn't a problem-free life.Travis argues that problems are an inevitable—and even valuable—part of being human. Solving one problem simply creates another, and rather than pursuing a life without challenges, we should focus on developing the ability to move forward when those challenges inevitably arise. Hardship can clarify what actually matters.Travis describes his cancer diagnosis as a massive problem that temporarily overshadowed all the smaller problems in his life. Coming through that experience gave him a fresh perspective on the things he wanted to accomplish, particularly the importance of finding purpose and meaning in his work and setting an example for his children. Let people be there for you.One of Travis's biggest reflections is that he has historically been much better at supporting other people than allowing others to support him. He realized that keeping struggles hidden out of fear of appearing weak or becoming a burden can actually prevent us from experiencing the relationships and connection we need most. Notable Quotes “The goal is to be able to move forward in the face of problems, not to just not have them.” “Cancer is like somebody dropped a hippopotamus on the table.” “It gave me a fresh perspective on the importance of finding purpose and meaning in your work.” “I do struggle with allowing people to be there for me.” “I think I've been a selfish friend—that I haven't allowed people to see me struggle.” “We don't want to be a burden to those around us, so we keep our struggles inside. But that's the worst place for them to be.” “If you don't feel the freedom to express who you truly are, you'll always be lonely.” A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cornelia Choe is an international leadership expert, global keynote speaker, and Thinkers50 Radar honoree who has advised hundreds of CEOs and senior leaders across five continents. A Georgetown University and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, Cornelia has worked in private equity at Morgan Stanley and other institutions, supporting leadership teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Fluent in three languages and having lived in 11 different places, she brings a uniquely global perspective to leadership, decision-making, relationships, and navigating complex, high-stakes environments. Her TEDx talk has been viewed more than two million times. On this episode we talk about: How moving from Minnesota to South Korea at age 10 taught Cornelia to question her assumptions and adapt to new environments The importance of being willing to rewrite your mental “map” when entering a new culture, industry, or situation How Cornelia's early efforts to help women start businesses shaped her perspective on using your efforts to create meaningful change Why embracing uncertainty and constant change can help you develop resilience and better decision-making skills How talking to people with different perspectives can help leaders see a bigger picture and make better decisions Cornelia's approach to personal finance, including the importance of timing, flexibility, savings, and having “dry powder” for unpredictable opportunities Why strong relationships and trust are essential infrastructure for building businesses, leading people, and accessing accurate information Top 3 Takeaways Question the map in your head. The assumptions and mental models that work in one environment may not work in another. When circumstances change, be willing to gather new information, challenge your assumptions, and build a new understanding of how to succeed. Seek perspectives you don't already have. Leaders can easily surround themselves with people who think similarly or tell them what they want to hear. Talking with customers, suppliers, employees, and people who see situations differently can reveal angles you wouldn't see on your own. Build relationships based on trust. Strong relationships aren't just valuable socially—they can become the infrastructure for better leadership, better information, and greater opportunities. Leaders need to create enough trust that people feel safe telling them difficult truths rather than simply telling them what they want to hear. Notable Quotes "We can't just expect to coast through life and do nothing, yet at the same time empowering people so that they can realize their dreams." "Any person in a world of constant change is only able to see a certain part of the puzzle or the certain part of the landscape." "Our relationship network and the relationships that we have in our lives are the infrastructure and the backbone of our ability to create money." Connect with Cornelia Choe: Website: Cornelia Choe Instagram: @corneliachoe_author A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Travis Makes Money, we're sharing a clip from Travis Chappell's appearance on the Vegas Voices podcast, where he breaks down how he has landed interviews with high-profile guests like Shaquille O'Neal, John Maxwell, Michael Hyatt, Grant Cardone, and Rob Dyrdek—even before his podcast had a massive audience. Travis explains why consistent outreach, starting with attainable guests, and building credibility within a specific industry can open doors to people you never thought would say yes. He also shares how treating a small audience like a massive one helped him build a better podcast, and how listening to his audience ultimately led him from sponsorships to profitable products and services. On this episode we talk about: Why sending a high volume of outreach is one of the keys to landing podcast guests How starting with more attainable guests can create momentum and credibility Why staying within one industry when reaching out can make it easier to land increasingly influential guests The real question high-profile guests are asking before agreeing to an interview How Travis landed Shaquille O'Neal despite having a relatively small podcast audience Why you should treat an audience of one, three, or 100 people with the same level of attention as an audience of 100,000 How podcasts compete for attention with everything from other shows to music and streaming services Why Travis initially expected sponsorships to be the primary way he would monetize his podcast How audience growth led him to develop products and services instead The power of using audience conversations as market research How Travis made his first $200 from a product he hadn't even created yet How a $1,000 mastermind became an early profitable offer Why continually asking your audience what they want can lead to better products, services, and revenue Top 3 Takeaways You don't need a massive audience to get influential people's attention.Travis explains that audience size is only one factor. The bigger question is whether the person believes spending their time with you will be worthwhile. Building credibility, creating a valuable experience, and demonstrating that you can make the conversation worthwhile can matter just as much. Treat your smallest audience like your biggest audience.Travis shares a mindset he adopted early on: one person listening is better than zero. If you create a great product for the people who are actually paying attention instead of obsessing over the people who aren't, you give yourself a better foundation for growth. Let your audience tell you what to sell.Instead of starting with a product and trying to convince people to buy it, Travis built an audience around networking and relationships, talked directly with more than 100 listeners, identified their recurring problems, and created offers around those needs. His products and services evolved as he learned more about what his audience actually wanted. Notable Quotes “It's just the belief that if I send enough of these, somebody will say yes.” “The question that you have to answer for them is not, ‘How big is my audience?' It's, ‘Are you going to waste time by spending that time with me on my show?'” “If you don't treat the audience at that size the way that you would treat your audience if 100,000 people were listening, then you're never going to get to the 100,000 people.” “You build an audience and then you ask that audience what they want.” “What are people consistently asking me for that I can build a product or service that helps solve those problems?” A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bradley Jacobs is the founder and CEO of MyLance, an AI-powered LinkedIn content platform helping B2B founders, fractional executives, and independent consultants win customers through authentic content. Before founding MyLance, Bradley spent four years as an early operator at Uber, working across Rides, Eats, and Freight and helping launch Uber Eats in Miami and Milan. After Uber, he built a $25K-per-month part-time fractional COO practice while experimenting with multiple business ideas. Along the way, he grew a 25,000+ person LinkedIn following by posting nearly every day for six years, eventually turning his experience into MyLance. On this episode we talk about: How Bradley landed his first consulting client after leaving Uber and negotiated a $250/hour consulting deal Why finding the right client can dramatically increase the value of your expertise Bradley's process of experimenting with different businesses before discovering the opportunity that became MyLance How consistently posting on LinkedIn helped Bradley build credibility, trust, and a steady stream of business opportunities What types of LinkedIn content are working in 2026 and why authentic personal experiences outperform generic AI-generated content How consultants and founders can use podcasts as a content engine for LinkedIn, newsletters, blogs, and short-form video Why you don't need highly produced video or complicated content strategies to start building an audience Top 3 Takeaways Sell the solution to an expensive problem. Bradley's first consulting client had a problem worth millions of dollars to solve, making his expertise significantly more valuable than it would have been in a generic consulting engagement. The right customer and context can dramatically change what your knowledge is worth. Take action before you have perfect clarity. Bradley experimented with consulting, e-commerce, recruiting, a travel company, coaching, bookkeeping, and software before landing on MyLance. Instead of waiting for the perfect business idea, he learned by trying things and paying attention to what people actually needed. Your experience is your best content. Rather than relying on generic advice, share your specific stories, wins, mistakes, and lessons. Authentic first-person content builds credibility and trust while naturally demonstrating your expertise without having to constantly sell yourself. Notable Quotes "In the absence of clarity, take action." "If you find the right customers or the right clients, the value that you can offer to them will be significantly worth more." "You are actually self-promoting by genuinely sharing your experience." Connect with Bradley Jacobs: LinkedIn: Bradley Jacobs  Other: MyLance A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Travis Makes Money, producer Eric shares a snippet from Travis Chappell's appearance on the Digital Social Hour podcast. Travis opens up about growing up in an extremely insular, fundamentalist religious environment and what it was like to leave the only community he had ever known. He explains how he navigated the difficult process of discovering his own identity, building a new network from scratch, and finding his path through door-to-door sales and entrepreneurship. Travis also shares how those experiences ultimately led him to start his podcast, build relationships with successful entrepreneurs, and turn years of consistent effort and repetition into a successful business. On this episode we talk about: Travis's upbringing in a highly insular religious community and school system What it was like spending virtually his entire childhood and early adulthood within the same church ecosystem Why leaving that environment was more of a discovery process than an act of rebellion How Travis learned to question his beliefs while avoiding resentment toward the people and environment he grew up around The importance of recognizing that people are often doing the best they can with the information they have How Travis and his wife navigated the transition out of their shared religious environment together Travis's evolving perspective on religion, certainty, and the limits of what anyone can truly know Why being willing to admit you could be wrong is essential to having productive conversations The communication skills Travis developed from preaching, speaking, and performing from a young age How door-to-door sales gave Travis a path to making significant money without relying on his college degree Why he eventually wanted to find a way to make money online and gain more freedom and flexibility How Travis started his podcast without knowing how to monetize it or turn it into a business Why it took two to three years before Travis felt like the podcast had real traction The hundreds of interviews Travis conducted before the podcast began gaining momentum How email, social media, events, conferences, and masterminds helped Travis build his network How listening to what people were asking him for revealed opportunities to create podcast coaching and mastermind offers Why consistency, time, and reps are critical when building something from scratch How Travis turned his lack of an established network into an opportunity to meet successful entrepreneurs and learn from them Top 3 Takeaways: 1. You can build a new network from scratch.Leaving an environment where you know everyone can make starting over feel overwhelming. Travis's experience shows that relationships can be built one conversation, event, DM, or introduction at a time. His podcast became a vehicle for meeting people he otherwise would never have known. 2. You don't need to have everything figured out before you start.Travis didn't start his podcast with a business model, a massive network, or even a clear understanding of how to monetize it. He started because he wanted to have conversations with interesting entrepreneurs and learn from them. The business opportunities came later as people began asking him for help. 3. Success often comes down to time and reps.Travis interviewed roughly three people a week for two years before the podcast gained significant traction. Rather than treating the lack of immediate results as a reason to quit, he continued putting in the work. The same persistence that helped him build the podcast also helped him transition from door-to-door sales into entrepreneurship. Notable Quotes: "It's less rebelling as much as it was just a discovery process of who I was." "Most people are just doing the best that they can with the information that they have." "I try not to hold grudges or look back with spite or hatred." "Nobody 100% knows." "If you're not willing to at least be like, 'Yeah, I could be wrong,' then I don't get into the conversation." "The podcast was kind of my foray into learning how to make money in any other way than the way I already knew how to make money." "I just want to have good conversations with interesting people in entrepreneurship." "It was a while." "I was interviewing three people a week for two years before I gained any real traction." "Time. A lot of time and reps." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: @TravisChappell Podcast: Travis Makes Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Wing is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, where she teaches and researches leadership and family enterprise. She created the popular MBA course Demystifying the Family Enterprise and chairs the executive education program Families in Business. She is also the founder of Wingspan Legacy Partners and author of Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them. In this episode, Christina shares why relationships and trust can be more valuable than knowledge alone, how difficult conversations can make or break a business, and why leaders need to get comfortable addressing the elephants in the room. On this episode we talk about: The surprising first dollar Christina ever made after pulling a struggling swimmer from a deep-water pool Growing up in an entrepreneurial family and moving 18 times before business school How Christina went from Wall Street to Harvard Business School What Harvard's case method is and why it focuses on practical problem-solving rather than textbooks What "family enterprise" means and why it encompasses everything from mom-and-pop businesses to family offices and major family-owned companies Why businesses often fail because of poor communication rather than poor business decisions The relationship between competence, networking, and trust Why "what you know" gets you ready for the room, but "who you know" can get you into the room How relationships create the trust necessary to turn knowledge into action Why Christina wrote Unspeakable and why the list of topics people avoid discussing keeps growing How avoiding conversations about money, politics, religion, promotions, and other sensitive topics can create bigger problems The difference between a difficult moment and a difficult conversation How to approach uncomfortable conversations without becoming "pre-pissed" Why context, timing, neutrality, and setting matter when discussing sensitive subjects How Wingspan Legacy Partners helps families and businesses navigate major challenges and execute solutions Why Christina believes you can't effectively advise global businesses without understanding their culture firsthand The professional and personal benefits of traveling and experiencing different cultures Christina's favorite places to visit and the destinations she hopes to explore next Top 3 Takeaways: 1. Relationships turn competence into opportunity.Knowing your stuff matters, but knowledge alone doesn't necessarily get you into the room. Christina argues that relationships create access, trust, and ultimately the ability to put your capabilities into action. Building a strong network isn't separate from developing expertise—it helps your expertise actually create opportunities. 2. The conversations you avoid can become the problems you can't solve.Christina has seen businesses struggle not because they made bad business decisions, but because people failed to communicate about the issues that mattered most. Addressing the "elephant in the room" may be uncomfortable, but avoiding it can prevent organizations and relationships from moving forward. 3. Difficult conversations require preparation, neutrality, and a common goal.Before jumping into a sensitive conversation, take time to think through what you want to accomplish—but don't overthink it to the point where you become "pre-pissed." Choose a neutral setting, establish expectations, listen without interrupting, and remind everyone involved of the shared goal you're trying to accomplish. Notable Quotes: "What you know demonstrates capability. Who you know gets you in the room to use that capability." "Competency isn't the only thing that's gonna build trust." "Trust comes through relationships." "Very rarely do the businesses I work with fail because of poor business decisions. They fail because of poor communication." "If you can get in the room, unearth the elephant and talk about it, you're more likely to survive." "Context is everything." "When you think too long, you get what I call pre-pissed." "You have to be able to talk." "You can't solve that without understanding cultural differences." Connect with Christina Wing: Website: ChristinaWing.com Book: Pre-Order Unspeakable: The Taboo Topics We Avoid and How to Talk About Them (available Oct 20) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell joins DeAndre Woodson on the Double Down podcast for a conversation about reinventing yourself, taking calculated risks, and staying consistent long enough to see your efforts compound. Travis shares how he went from door-to-door sales to podcasting, navigated failed businesses and major pivots, and eventually decided to go all-in on podcast sponsorships. He also explains how he decides when it's time to move on from something, why freedom and autonomy are worth more to him than maximizing income, and how nearly a decade of consistency has made podcasting the most successful thing he's ever done. On this episode we talk about: Why Travis took a massive pay cut to leave door-to-door sales and pursue podcasting How failed businesses, COVID, and changing circumstances forced Travis to reinvent himself The decision to go all-in on podcast sponsorships instead of starting another business Why Travis uses the “deathbed frame” when making major life and business decisions How to recognize when it's time to reinvent yourself versus simply pushing through a difficult season The danger of the sunk-cost fallacy and staying committed to something simply because you've invested years into it Why Travis values freedom and autonomy more than maximizing his income How connection became the central theme behind Build Your Network, Travis Makes Friends, and Dinner Party Why building meaningful relationships can have a greater impact on happiness than material success The role relentless action and consistency played in Travis's nearly decade-long podcasting journey Why people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year but underestimate what they can accomplish in a decade How small wins compound when you stick with something long enough Why Travis believes podcasting remains an under-saturated opportunity despite what people say How being willing to play the long game can give you an advantage over competitors who quit Why Travis is willing to spend years building something even if it doesn't become successful immediately Top 3 Takeaways 1. Know when to pivot—and know when to persevere.Reinvention isn't about quitting every time something gets difficult. Travis looks at whether he's experiencing temporary pain from an obstacle or whether he's facing a fundamental problem that continued effort isn't solving. 2. Consistency compounds.Travis has started and shut down numerous businesses, but podcasting is the one thing he has consistently done for nearly a decade. That consistency has ultimately made it his most successful endeavor. 3. Define success beyond money.Travis could potentially make more money by returning to sales, but he values freedom, autonomy, family time, and meaningful relationships more than maximizing his income. The right opportunity isn't always the one that pays the most. Notable Quotes “It's just relentless action against a desired result, even in the face of obstacles.” “People tend to overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in a decade.” “The only thing I've ever done consistently for a decade is the podcast, and it is, ironically, the most successful thing I've done.” “I'm okay with the trade-off of giving up money in exchange for a high volume of freedom and autonomy.” “Only good things can come from that, you know what I mean? Even if it's not directly monetizable.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Website: https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Fraser is America's top psychic medium, a New York Times bestselling author, and star of the hit television series Meet the Frasiers. In this episode, Matt shares how he went from working as an EMT to building a career around his ability to connect with people and help them through loss. He explains why fear and self-doubt are often the biggest obstacles to making more money, how to identify your natural talents, and why taking small steps toward the things that fulfill you can open doors you never expected. On this episode we talk about: Matt's first job at Abercrombie & Fitch and the lessons it taught him about earning money How Matt discovered and eventually embraced his abilities as a psychic medium Why fear, self-doubt, and a lack of confidence keep people from pursuing their talents How to get unstuck by changing your environment, making time for what fulfills you, and taking baby steps How to distinguish your genuine talents from expectations placed on you by family or society Why following your own path can lead to both greater success and fulfillment How Matt turned individual readings into live events, television, books, podcasts, and a full-time career Why focusing on helping people and enjoying the journey can be more valuable than obsessing over money How to recognize signs and synchronicities from loved ones who have passed away The importance of finding your tribe and surrounding yourself with people who encourage your growth Top 3 Takeaways Fear is often the biggest obstacle. You may already have the talent, idea, or ability you need, but self-doubt can prevent you from ever putting it into the world. Start with baby steps. You don't need to know exactly where your path will lead. Start talking about your idea, get feedback, and take small actions that move you forward. Follow what fulfills you. Develop your talents, help people, build something meaningful, and enjoy the journey. The money can follow when you're creating real value. Notable Quotes “The number one thing that stops people from making money is really that they're afraid.” “All it takes is one reason. One reason on why it will work for you, and you will get there.” “You can't be focused on, you know, making the money, making the money, making the money. You're gonna be focused on helping as many people as you can, enjoying what you're doing, building something great, and the money will come.” Connect with Matt Fraser: Website: meetmattfraser.com Instagram: @meetmattfraser Live Tour: Tour dates are available through Matt's website A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Gatto is a comedian, writer, producer, and one of the stars of Impractical Jokers, the hit comedy series he helped create with his longtime friends. What started with four friends practicing improv in Joe's mom's basement eventually became a decade-long television phenomenon spanning more than 300 episodes. In this episode, Joe takes us behind the scenes of how the show came together, why the group's friendship was so important to its success, and how he developed his career as a creative force both in front of and behind the camera. He also opens up about balancing ambition with family and learning to be fully present for the people who matter most. On this episode we talk about: How Impractical Jokers began with four friends doing improv together in Joe's mom's basement Why the group spent nearly a decade developing their comedy before Impractical Jokers became a reality How studying great improvisers helped Joe and his friends develop their craft Why the Impractical Jokers format came from finding the group's own unique version of a prank show The importance of giving people the ability to say "no" and keeping comedy from crossing the line How the show's punishments, recurring jokes, and spontaneous moments were developed Joe's evolution from performer to writer, director, and producer Why starting small and continuing to create can eventually lead to something much bigger The challenge of balancing career ambition with being present for your children Why being mentally present can matter more than the amount of time you spend with your kids Top 3 Takeaways Great things can start incredibly small. Impractical Jokers began with four friends practicing improv in a basement simply because they enjoyed making each other laugh. Joe's story is a reminder that you don't need a massive platform or budget to start developing something worthwhile. Find your own version of what's already working. The group was initially asked to create a prank show, but instead of copying what was already popular, they asked what a prank show would look like if it played to their particular strengths. That unique perspective ultimately became the foundation of Impractical Jokers. Be present for the moments that matter. Joe emphasizes that there isn't necessarily a perfect "balance" between career and family. Instead, you have to be present wherever you are. Even five focused minutes of playing with your kids can create a meaningful memory when you're completely engaged rather than distracted by your phone or work. Notable Quotes "If you pay attention and treat them as professors—and you learn. It's like, you know, you study comedy." "You have to be where you are." "Because at the end of the day, we're nice guys, we're friends." A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Larry Weidel has spent more than 50 years studying, building, and coaching high achievers. A founding member of the organization that became Primerica, Larry helped build one of the industry's largest sales organizations, recruiting more than 24,000 people in just 39 months. Today, he is the bestselling author of Serial Winner: Five Actions to Create Your Cycle of Success, founder of Big Hitters International, and host of the Big Hitters podcast. In this episode, Larry shares the lessons he learned from building massive organizations, developing people, leveraging teams, and staying challenged well into his 70s. On this episode we talk about: How Larry made his first money at eight years old selling TV Guides The early experiences that shaped his drive for financial independence How building houses taught Larry project management, delegation, and how to get things done through other people Why choosing the right industry and market is critical to building a large business How Larry helped recruit more than 24,000 people in just 39 months Why allowing people to start part-time created a different recruiting model The power of friend-to-friend recruiting and having a product people genuinely need Why integrity and transparency are essential when building a sales organization How to manage your expectations and recognize your team's wins during periods of rapid growth Why staying challenged is essential to continued growth and avoiding complacency The difference between amateurs and professionals—and why dreams have to be funded Top 3 Takeaways Get into a market with unlimited potential. Larry believes part of his success came from being in an industry with a massive, continually renewing market. The right opportunity gives you room to grow rather than forcing you to fight for a shrinking piece of the pie. Build leverage through people and systems. Larry's experience building houses taught him how to manage projects, delegate, coordinate people, and get results through others. Those skills later became the foundation for recruiting, training, and scaling a massive organization. Stop being an amateur and develop valuable skills. Larry makes a distinction between knowing what to do and being able to do it at a consistently high level. If you want to fund your dreams, you need to develop skills that allow you to generate income above your basic survival needs. Notable Quotes "You never want to have good things happen that you don't notice because good things only happen because somebody makes an effort." "When you give yourself hard things to do... you get a chance to keep growing. And when you make things easy on yourself, you go soft." "Dreams have to be funded, folks. Somebody's got to put the money in to make those." Connect with Larry Weidel: LinkedIn: Larry Weidel on LinkedIn Instagram: Larry Weidel on Instagram Website: Larry Weidel's Website Other: Big Hitters Newsletter A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Van Vliet is a four-time Emmy Award-winning TV host, entertainment reporter, YouTuber, and the host of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, one of the most recognizable wrestling interview shows. Chris built a devoted audience by spotting an underserved niche in pro wrestling, bringing genuine fandom and sharp interviewing to conversations with major talent, and then turning years of behind-the-scenes work into a full-time media business. On this episode we talk about: How Chris went from red-carpet entertainment reporting to building a dedicated wrestling audience Identifying “white space” in a crowded market and choosing a niche worth owning Why content needs to deliver real value instead of being published simply for consistency The shift from traditional TV to YouTube, podcasting, and creator-led media businesses How a highly targeted audience can be more valuable to sponsors than a much larger broad audience The difference between YouTube AdSense revenue and direct podcast sponsorship sales Why creators should treat their show like a business, not an occasional hobby The long-term skill-building, consistency, and persistence required to make content work Why in-person interviews and going the extra mile helped Chris land standout conversations Top 3 Takeaways A well-defined niche can create more opportunity than chasing a broad audience. Chris built momentum by leaning into wrestling at a time when few interviewers had access to in-depth conversations with wrestlers, rather than trying to appeal equally to every entertainment audience Small, specific audiences can be exceptionally valuable to advertisers. A focused show can command meaningful sponsorship revenue when it reaches people who are genuinely invested in a high-intent category, even without massive download numbers. Consistency and commitment are non-negotiable. Publishing a couple of episodes and disappearing will not build an audience; creators need a dependable cadence and must be willing to develop interviewing, outreach, preparation, production, and business skills over time. Notable Quotes “If you treat podcasting like a hobby, it will be a hobby. Pays you like a hobby. If you treat podcasting like a business, it will start to pay you like a business.” “The best thing about podcasting is anybody can do it. The worst thing about podcasting is anybody can do it.” “You don't have to go to the super broad audience and become the next Joe Rogan to be able to make enough money.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Website: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Hardik Chodavadia—better known as Dr. C—is the co-founder and CFO of Enamel Dentistry, a growing network of comfort-first dental studios across Texas. A dentist, entrepreneur, and co-host of the Day Ones podcast, Dr. C shares how he and a college roommate went from fresh dental-school graduates with student loans and no patients to building a repeatable multi-location business. He also breaks down the financial lessons he has learned through expansion, calculated risk-taking, investing, and building wealth early. On this episode we talk about: How repairing and reselling Xbox consoles in high school sparked Dr. C's first excitement around making money Why he moved from biomedical engineering and a potential medical-school path into dentistry The surprising financing decision that led Enamel Dentistry to launch its first practice from scratch instead of acquiring an established office The operational challenges of scaling beyond being great clinicians, including hiring, leadership, training, and documented systems How Enamel Dentistry evaluates new locations, uses real estate availability as a growth driver, and built a major head start in a high-growth Texas development The difference between investing in unfamiliar “home run” opportunities and reinvesting in a business you understand deeply Why young entrepreneurs should live below their means, save consistently, and use compound interest to create the security needed to take smart risks Top 3 Takeaways Being skilled at your craft is not the same as being skilled at business. Great patient care helped Enamel Dentistry earn trust, but long-term scale required Dr. C and his co-founder to develop leadership, hiring, training, financial, and systems-building capabilities. Focus capital where you have an edge. A high-upside investment outside Dr. C's core expertise failed despite strong signals and experienced backers, while a carefully chosen dental-office location succeeded because the team understood the market, demand, and operating model. Build financial security before chasing bigger opportunities. Living beneath your means and investing early can create the stability entrepreneurs need to make clearer decisions, weather setbacks, and take risks without putting their entire future on the line. Notable Quotes “Don't put too much into something because you just never know. Even if everything is written all that's, like, guaranteed, nothing is guaranteed.” “When you have security, you just move differently.” “You're doing really well and making money doing this one thing, so just do more of it.” Connect with Dr. Hardik Chodavadia: LinkedIn: Dr. Hardik Chodavadia Instagram: @drharcho Enamel Dentistry: enameldentistry.com Podcast: Day Ones Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis is an entrepreneur, podcast host, and media operator who built a profitable podcast business by treating every listener as valuable, listening closely to audience problems, and creating products that solved them. Rather than waiting for sponsorship revenue or chasing download numbers alone, Travis used free one-on-one calls to understand his audience, launched a mastermind based on their feedback, and eventually expanded into premium podcast coaching and other services. In this unique conversation were he trades places and sits in the guest chair, Travis shares his practical framework for monetizing a show from the ground up, why audience trust matters more than vanity metrics, and how creators can use consistency, experimentation, and continuous improvement to build a podcast that lasts. On this episode we talk about: Why “one is greater than zero” is the mindset creators need when building an audience from scratch Treating a small audience with the same care and quality you would give a large one How podcasts compete for attention with music, streaming platforms, social media, and every other form of entertainment Why sponsorships are not the only—or necessarily the best—way to monetize a podcast Using free audience calls as market research to identify the most valuable products and services to create The Ask Method: building an audience, asking what they need, and creating a solution around their real problems How Travis made his first sales before building a course or mastermind Why batching episodes protects your release schedule and helps creators avoid “podfade” The difference between being consistent and consistently improving Why long-form content, video podcasts, and YouTube can continue expanding the podcast opportunity Top 3 Takeaways Build for the audience you have, not the audience you wish you had. One engaged listener is more valuable than no listeners. If you create a great experience for the first few people who trust you with their attention, you create the foundation needed to reach thousands more. Monetize by solving verified problems. Do not start with a product you want to sell and force it onto an audience. Start with conversations, identify recurring challenges, and build the exact service, offer, community, or resource people are asking for. Consistency gets you in the game; improvement creates growth. Publishing on schedule matters, but it is not enough by itself. Improve your conversations, guest selection, format, audience feedback loops, distribution, and experiments with every new episode. Notable Quotes “If I have one person listening to my content, that is far better than zero people listening to my content.” “It's the people who treat the audience of three like it's a massive global audience that end up doing really well.” “Media is a product. The podcast is a product.” “You don't have to be the expert to start a podcast about something. You just have to be curious about it.” “You build an audience and then you ask that audience what they want.” “Staying in the game is the metric that people need to optimize for.” “Consistency is the name of the game, but it's also just the barrier to entry.” “It's not just about releasing another episode next week. It's about releasing another episode next week that's a little bit better than the episode that you released this week.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sanaa Abourezk is a Syrian-born chef, cookbook author, and owner of Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A 2023 James Beard Award finalist, Sanaa has spent more than two decades sharing the food and traditions of her Syrian heritage while championing healthy, plant-forward cooking. She has authored five cookbooks and built a thriving restaurant by staying true to her food, her values, and her community. In this episode, Sanaa shares the lessons she learned from surviving the early years of her restaurant, managing cash flow, retaining great employees, and deliberately choosing a business model that gives her both financial stability and a fulfilling life. On this episode we talk about: How Sanaa went from an agricultural engineering degree in Syria to becoming a chef and restaurant owner in South Dakota Why she refused to compromise her food by adding burgers, fries, or other items just because customers suggested them The importance of cash flow and why entrepreneurs should build more financial runway than they think they'll need How Sanaa managed every aspect of her business in the early days, from cooking and accounting to cleaning floors Why treating employees well and making them feel valued can dramatically improve retention and customer experience How she self-published cookbooks when traditional publishers told her there wasn't a market for her ideas Why Sanaa has intentionally chosen not to franchise or open additional restaurants How to design your business around the lifestyle you actually want Top 3 Takeaways Cash flow can make or break a business. Revenue and profitability aren't enough if you don't have enough cash to cover payroll, rent, insurance, supplies, and unexpected disruptions. Build enough runway to survive the slow periods before assuming your business will become cash-flow positive. Don't compromise what makes you different. Sanaa was repeatedly told to add familiar American foods to her menu, but she stayed committed to her Mediterranean concept. That consistency helped her build a loyal customer base that valued what she uniquely offered. Success doesn't have to mean constant expansion. Sanaa could have opened additional locations or franchised her restaurant, but she chose to build a profitable business that gives her employees stability, allows her to take vacations, and lets her continue doing what she loves. The best business model is the one that supports the life you want. Notable Quotes "If you think your business needs two hundred thousand dollars to build, you ask for four hundred thousand." "If you believe in something, you just stick with it." "I would never serve something I don't eat. Period. That's it." Connect with Sanaa Abourezk: Instagram: @SanaaCooks27 Cookbooks: Sanaa's five published cookbooks A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, Travis is in the guest seat for another show, where he challenges conventional expectations. After stepping away from the belief system and environment he grew up in, Travis learned to tolerate disapproval, think independently, and create a life aligned with his own values—not other people's expectations. He also shares the practical origins of his podcasting career: starting with no meaningful network, learning from established podcasters, investing in mentorship and small-group events, and using a podcast as a powerful reason to connect with people he otherwise would not have had access to. Along the way, those relationships helped create opportunities to interview leaders including Shaquille O'Neal, Rob Dyrdek, Dean Graziosi, Ed Mylett, Alex Banayan, and more. On this episode we talk about: Why living in alignment with what is true for you can require accepting other people's disapproval Learning to think independently instead of following inherited expectations, beliefs, or definitions of success Finding the “third option” beyond the false choice between following a prescribed path or destroying your life How curiosity can expose gaps in an inherited worldview and lead to meaningful personal growth Why a podcast is one of the most effective tools for building relationship capital from scratch Choosing a specific industry to become connected in before attempting to build a broad network Using mentors, paid masterminds, and intimate events to build relationships with key people in your field The difference between paying for information and investing in proximity, access, and long-term relationships Top 3 Takeaways You do not need everyone's approval to build a fulfilling life. Doing what is true for you may disappoint people who are attached to an older version of you, but trying to live according to everyone else's expectations can eventually create resentment, anger, and disconnection from yourself. Build a network around a clear direction. Start by identifying the industry or community in which you want to be known. One meaningful relationship with a well-connected person can create introductions and opportunities that make future connections significantly easier. Use a podcast to create legitimate access. You do not have to be the leading expert to host a valuable show. Be genuinely curious, invite people to share what they know, apply what you learn, and let the conversations help you—and your audience—move toward the destination together. Notable Quotes “Doing and honoring what's true for you is an act of rebellion in a world that tells you to be like everybody else.” “You have to be okay with people's disapproval if you want to do anything big.” “You have to give up the need to be liked by everybody so that you can be loved by the people who really do know you.” “Don't make the mistake of thinking that the only way to be happy or the only way to find fulfillment is this one path.” “You don't have to be the expert to start a podcast about something. You just have to be curious about it.” “My number one networking tip is: start a freaking podcast.” “The relationship with him was more important than the information that he could give me.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trixy Castro is a first-generation Latina entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor who built Genesis Capital and Genesis Auctions from the ground up before selling both companies to Fortune 500 firms Goldman Sachs and Fidelity National Title within nine months of each other. She has facilitated more than $20 billion in real estate transactions across debt and equity and continues to invest in real estate, fintech, AI, and sustainability. In this episode, Trixy shares how she went from tutoring elementary school students as a teenager to building billion-dollar businesses—and why focusing on the resources you already have can be the key to creating opportunities. On this episode we talk about: How Trixy started her first business at 14 with nothing more than time, creativity, and a stack of homemade business cards Why you should focus on the resources you have instead of getting stuck on what you lack How Trixy taught herself the real estate lending business while working at Wells Fargo and living in a college dorm The importance of understanding your customers' businesses and solving problems they may not even realize they have How listening to clients led Trixy to create Genesis Auctions and bridge the gap between banks with distressed assets and investors looking to buy them Why staying committed to your mission and vision can help you push through rejection and long sales cycles How Trixy's experiences with failure ultimately led to Success Unlocked, a free community designed to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and build businesses Top 3 Takeaways Work with what you have. You don't need capital, connections, or expertise to get started. Your time, curiosity, willingness to learn, and ability to solve problems can be valuable resources—and they can help you earn your way into bigger opportunities. Understand the entire problem, not just your customer's request. Trixy built her businesses by getting deeply involved in her clients' operations and understanding where they were struggling. When you understand the challenges on both sides of a transaction, you can find opportunities to become the bridge. Keep your eyes on the North Star. Sales will fall through, prospects will say no, and progress will sometimes feel painfully slow. Having a clear mission and vision allows you to treat those setbacks as part of the process instead of evidence that your idea won't work. Notable Quotes "You can't get stuck with what you don't have." "When you help people make more money, they're like, 'Yeah, sure, come on over.'" "I learned more through failing than through winning." Connect with Trixy Castro: Social Media: Trixy Castro (@TrixyCastro) Website: SuccessUnlocked.com Community: Success Unlocked A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building a meaningful network is not about paying for access—it's about becoming someone who consistently creates value for others. In this special episode featuring Travis in the guest seat, he shares how he invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into coaching, masterminds, events, and relationships; used a zero-percent credit card to make an early bet on his business; and built connections that led to new opportunities, partnerships, speaking engagements, and interviews with icons such as Shaquille O'Neal. He also offers a more grounded perspective on ambition: define the life you want, stay flexible about the path, make time to be alone with your thoughts, and learn to see difficult seasons as part of the story rather than proof that you are failing. On this episode we talk about: Investing in coaching, masterminds, events, and personal development to expand your opportunities Why entering high-level rooms with a “How can I add value?” mindset matters more than extracting value Taking calculated risks early in your entrepreneurial journey without wasting money on status purchases or unnecessary equipment How one relationship, introduction, or event can create a chain reaction of career-changing opportunities Creating a five-year vision for your ideal life while remaining adaptable as circumstances change Why solitude, self-awareness, and keeping promises to yourself are essential to building self-trust Reframing burnout, setbacks, and slow seasons as a normal part of pursuing extraordinary goals Top 3 Takeaways Invest in becoming more valuable, not just looking more successful. Prioritize relationships, skills, mentorship, experiences, and rooms that can expand your perspective over expensive equipment or purchases that do not materially move your business forward. Approach every room as a contributor. The strongest networks are built by being helpful, thoughtful, and generous—not by showing up with a list of things you expect to receive. As your value grows, your ability to create opportunities for others grows with it. Get clear on the mountain you actually want to climb. If you are exhausted, discouraged, or questioning your path, pause long enough to assess whether you are pursuing your own definition of success. Hard seasons are inevitable, but they are easier to navigate when you know why you are doing the work. Notable Quotes “Your network will always increase in direct proportion to the amount of value that you can add to others.” “You can only connect the dots looking backwards.” “Sometimes you might just be climbing the wrong mountain.” “If you don't like spending time with you, how do you expect anybody else to actually want to spend time with you?” “This is gonna make a really cool part of my story someday.” “You have permission to take the day off.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Other: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pamela Meyer is an internationally recognized expert in deception detection, social observation, and human behavior. She is the bestselling author of Lie Spotting and her new book, How to Read the Room. Pam has trained executives, organizations, government agencies, investigators, and leaders around the world to recognize behavioral signals, navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, and build trust. In this episode, she explains why observation is one of the most overlooked skills in business—and how learning to read people and understand a room can make you more effective at influencing, negotiating, and building relationships. On this episode we talk about: How Pamela turned a natural ability to read people into a career in deception detection and behavioral observation Why successful businesses solve problems people already know they have—and how timing and luck factor into success Why teams often fail socially before they fail intellectually How to read a room by pausing, observing, and paying attention to who has influence The different ways you can build influence without forcing your ideas on people How to recognize inconsistencies between someone's words, body language, and behavior Why intuition can be a valuable signal—and how to distinguish it from unsupported assumptions Top 3 Takeaways Pause before you speak. When you enter a room, resist the urge to immediately contribute. Observe who's talking, who's being listened to, who has influence, and how people are responding to one another. You can learn a tremendous amount simply by paying attention. Influence is a long-term game. You don't need to make your impact in the middle of a meeting. Build relationships, understand the chain of influence, use back channels strategically, and recognize when waiting for the right moment will be more effective than forcing an immediate outcome. Pay attention to inconsistencies. When someone's words don't match their body language, facial expressions, or timing, your intuition may be picking up on a genuine signal. Learning to identify those inconsistencies can help you make better decisions about whom to trust. Notable Quotes "Teams fail first socially before they fail intellectually." "You would be amazed at how many unbelievably talented, well-off CEOs I've worked with that cannot do it." "When you instinctively trust somebody or you're instinctively repelled by them, what you're really doing is you're seeing an inconsistency between their words, their body language, their messaging." Connect with Pamela Meyer: Website: PamelaMeyer.com Books: Lie Spotting and How to Read the Room A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final installment of this five-part series, Travis Chappell and producer Eric Skwarczynski discuss why product-market fit matters more than purity, preference, or appearances. From Panda Express's unapologetically American Chinese positioning to the debate over meat substitutes and alternative foods, they explore how businesses win when they meet real demand, communicate honestly, and avoid forcing customers into products they do not genuinely want. On this episode we talk about: Why people's food preferences are often shaped by taste, texture, preparation, and familiarity The difference between disliking an ingredient and refusing to try a food prepared well How expanding your palate can create new experiences and opportunities Why great preparation can change people's minds about foods such as sushi, oysters, escargot, frog legs, and alligator The value of product positioning that is clear, honest, and aligned with customer expectations Panda Express's broader lesson: businesses do not get to dictate what customers value Why consumers may prefer familiar, satisfying products over healthier alternatives that feel like compromises How brands can avoid disappointment by creating a distinct category rather than trying to imitate a product customers already know and love A producer's lawsuit involving the hit film Obsession and the importance of clear compensation agreements Why creative collaborators should define profit participation, credit, responsibilities, and decision-making authority before a project succeeds The new extended-format experiment across Travis Makes Friends and Travis Makes Money Top 3 Takeaways Make products customers genuinely want—not products you think they should want. Demand is proven through real behavior: purchases, repeat customers, recommendations, and willingness to choose your product over alternatives. Clear agreements matter most when success is uncertain. Before creative work begins, document who owns what, who receives credit, what each person is responsible for, and how profits or upside will be shared if the project exceeds expectations. Stay open-minded, but be honest about the experience you offer. People can discover they enjoy unfamiliar things when they are prepared well, but a brand should not overpromise that a substitute will be exactly the same as the original. Notable Quotes “All food can be good if it's prepared the right way.” “I like anything that's good.” “If it's truly what happened, then she deserves 33 and a third percent of that money.” “People decide.” “People have lost a lot of money creating things that people should want.” “Money only solves your money problems, and it's easier to solve the rest of your problems with money in the bank.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Website: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Leatherman is the inventor of the iconic Leatherman multi-tool and the co-founder, owner, and chairman of Leatherman Tool Group. What started as a simple idea during a nine-month road trip through Europe took eight years to become a reality, including three years of building prototypes by hand, countless rejections, and a decision to manufacture the product himself. Today, more than 90 million Leatherman tools have been sold in over 70 countries. In this episode, Tim shares the lessons he learned from building a product from scratch, persevering through rejection, creating his own manufacturing operation, and using the wealth he created to build a life he loves. On this episode we talk about: How a nine-month trip through Europe inspired the idea for the original Leatherman tool Why entrepreneurs should build their own prototypes and learn the skills they need along the way The eight-year journey from initial idea to the first customer How rejection from knife and tool manufacturers forced Tim to start his own company The importance of finding the right business partner and combining complementary skills How listening to customers helped simplify the product and make it more marketable How Leatherman went from hoping to sell 4,000 tools in its first year to selling 30,000 Building and scaling manufacturing operations from a garage to a major facility Why perseverance and learning as you go are essential to entrepreneurship Using money as a tool to create an enjoyable and meaningful life Top 3 Takeaways Build the prototype yourself. Tim believes that if you have a creative idea, especially for a physical product, you should do the work yourself. Building his own prototypes helped him understand the product and develop the skills necessary to bring it to life. Persevere, but be willing to change. Tim spent years pursuing his original vision, but ultimately had to simplify the tool after listening to feedback from potential customers. Persistence doesn't mean refusing to adapt. Money is a means, not the end. Tim has maintained a modest lifestyle while using the success of Leatherman to create jobs, spend time with family, and pursue experiences and activities he enjoys. Notable Quotes “If you have an idea for anything creative, that you do the work yourself.” “Start with a goal and then persevere and especially learn what you need to know as you go along.” “My philosophy on money is that I don't deny myself any needs, but my needs are very modest.” Connect with Tim Leatherman: Book: The Leatherman Book, launching October 6 and available wherever books are sold Company: Leatherman Tool Group A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part four of this five-part series, Travis Chappell and Eric Skwarczynski use Panda Express, vegan tacos, and protein-food substitutes to unpack a practical business truth: customers—not founders—ultimately decide what wins. The conversation explores why Panda Express embraced “American Chinese” food rather than chasing a narrow definition of authenticity, and why businesses often struggle when they try to sell people what they should want instead of delivering an experience they genuinely enjoy. On this episode we talk about: Panda Express's position as an American Chinese food brand rather than a traditional Chinese restaurant Why “authenticity” can be a less useful business metric than customer demand and satisfaction The origin and popularity of Panda Express orange chicken How Panda Express built a category-defining quick-service restaurant brand Why consumers sometimes view brands such as Panda Express, Taco Bell, and In-N-Out as unique food categories—not merely substitutes for a broader cuisine The danger of opening a business around what customers “should” want instead of what they repeatedly choose to buy Why health-focused concepts can struggle when the taste, value, or overall experience does not meet customer expectations The difference between creating a distinct product and imitating an established product category Why some protein and plant-based alternatives work while others feel like an unsatisfying compromise The importance of honest positioning: make something good on its own terms rather than pretending it is identical to something else Top 3 Takeaways Let the market decide. Businesses can have a strong point of view, but customers ultimately determine whether a product has demand through their attention, repeat purchases, and willingness to recommend it. Build a category people want to return to. Panda Express succeeds not because everyone considers it traditional Chinese cuisine, but because it has a recognizable taste, convenient format, and a product people actively crave. Do not rely on imitation when differentiation is possible. If a plant-based, protein-focused, or health-conscious product cannot satisfy the expectations created by a familiar category, position it honestly and create an experience customers value for itself. Notable Quotes “I don't know what authenticity is because there's so many cuisines out there.” “We don't make that decision. Our guests make that decision.” “Panda is a genre of food all to itself.” “People have lost a lot of money creating things that people should want.” “Just make your own stuff. Don't try to compete in the same categories.” “I don't cut my steak into the shape of broccoli.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Website: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Bildner is the CEO of Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK), one of the world's largest venture philanthropy firms. With experience across the private sector, government, and philanthropy, Jim has spent his career helping mission-driven organizations create meaningful change. In this episode, he explains how venture capital principles can be applied to philanthropy, why financial discipline is essential for nonprofits, and how purpose—not money—can be the foundation for a fulfilling life. He also shares the deeply personal experience that changed the direction of his life and inspired his new book, A Matter of Hope. On this episode we talk about: What venture philanthropy is and how DRK applies venture capital principles to the social sector Why nonprofits need strong financial controls and business fundamentals just like for-profit companies How the loss of Jim's son became a pivotal moment that led him to pursue a greater purpose Why Jim believes hope is a verb and something we actively do rather than simply feel The importance of purpose and why chasing money for its own sake can be an empty pursuit How to build a deep, meaningful network based on trust rather than simply collecting contacts What Jim looks for when evaluating entrepreneurs, including coachability, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the problem Why successful entrepreneurs need to fall in love with solving the problem—not their initial solution How DRK identifies and supports organizations working to address inequity in health, education, housing, employment, and social justice Jim's new book, A Matter of Hope, and the stories of entrepreneurs creating meaningful change Top 3 Takeaways Purpose is more powerful than money. Jim argues that money itself is not the ticket to happiness or success. The happiest people he knows are driven by a meaningful purpose and use their resources to improve the lives of others. Fall in love with the problem, not the solution. Jim says the initial solution is wrong 90% of the time. The best entrepreneurs listen to feedback, remain coachable, and constantly adapt their approach based on what their customers and beneficiaries need. Hope requires action. Jim defines hope as a verb rather than a noun. Having hope means believing that a different future is possible and then taking action to create it. Notable Quotes "Hope is a verb. It's not a noun." "You have to be intellectually honest." "If you have a purpose in your life, that's the ticket to happiness." Connect with Jim Bildner: Foundation: https://www.drkfoundation.org/team-member/jim-bildner/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-bildner Other: A Matter of Hope is available now A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part three of this five-part series, Travis Chappell and Eric Skwarczynski expand on a key creator-economy principle: follower count is not financial security. Through examples ranging from a pizza-maker creator who embraces his day job to Surreal's clever low-budget celebrity marketing, they explore why meaningful work, owned audiences, repeatable customer acquisition, and resourceful creativity matter more than hype. On this episode we talk about: Why no honest work should be dismissed as “not a real job” The value of maintaining work you enjoy while building toward larger goals How creators can use a day job as stability rather than seeing it as a limitation Why follower count alone does not make a creator business sustainable The importance of moving an audience from social platforms to assets you control, such as an email list, text list, or community How platform algorithm shifts and monetization changes can abruptly disrupt creator income Why traditional businesses also need a proven, repeatable customer-acquisition channel before going full time Surreal's marketing campaign featuring ordinary people with celebrity names, including Ronaldo, Dwayne Johnson, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan How a clever idea can earn attention without an expensive celebrity endorsement The tradeoff between healthier high-protein alternatives and food people genuinely enjoy Top 3 Takeaways Respect work that creates value and moves you toward your goals. A job title, social status, or perceived prestige does not determine whether someone's work is meaningful; consistent effort and how people treat others matter more. Build a business around controllable distribution and repeatable demand. Creators should develop owned channels—such as email, SMS, or a community—while businesses need a reliable acquisition method that is not limited to friends, referrals, or a single algorithm. Creativity can outperform budget. Surreal's “official cereal of Ronaldo” concept demonstrates how a strong insight, precise wording, and a well-executed joke can generate attention that expensive celebrity marketing might otherwise buy. Notable Quotes “You should never feel embarrassed about working hard for something. A title and a description doesn't make you who you are.” “If you're making money and working towards your goals, that's all that matters.” “Follower count just does not matter at all.” “If it's not up to you, you should be trying to move the audience over to something that you control.” “The brand didn't buy attention, it earned it. A clever idea beat a celebrity-sized budget.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Website: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jared Dillian is a former Lehman Brothers trader, author of seven books, and the founder of Jared Dillian Money. He spent seven years at Lehman, where he was head of ETF trading, before building a successful market commentary and newsletter business. In this episode, Jared shares lessons from launching a newsletter during the 2008 financial crisis, explains why he believes bonds may offer one of the biggest investment opportunities today, and discusses the importance of having a strong voice and maintaining intellectual honesty when building an audience. On this episode we talk about: Why Jared believes bonds may be a better opportunity than stocks in today's market How bonds work and why interest rates can create significant opportunities for investors Jared's experience trading at Lehman Brothers and starting a newsletter during the 2008 financial crisis What makes a successful newsletter, including the importance of having a compelling voice The dangers of confirmation bias and why creators should remain intellectually honest Why Jared avoids consuming other financial newsletters so he can maintain his own independent thinking The challenges and benefits of building an infinitely scalable newsletter business Jared's concerns about lofty valuations and expectations surrounding major IPOs like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI His new book, The Awesome Portfolio, and his approach to creating a lower-volatility investment portfolio Top 3 Takeaways Your voice can matter more than your accuracy. Jared believes that having a compelling perspective and making convincing arguments can be more important for a content business than simply being right all the time. Think independently and be willing to change your mind. Jared emphasizes intellectual honesty and warns against becoming so attached to a particular viewpoint that you ignore evidence that contradicts it. Look beyond what everyone else is doing. Jared's contrarian approach has led him to see bonds as a potentially attractive opportunity while much of the market focuses on stocks, inflation, and government deficits. Notable Quotes "You have to have something to say. You have to have a voice." "You have to be intellectually honest." "I don't want to bet against him. I want to bet on him. It's just the wrong price." Connect with Jared Dillian: Website: https://www.jareddillian.com/ Newsletters: The Daily Dirtnap and more Other: The Awesome Portfolio is available wherever books are sold A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of this five-part series, Travis Chappell and producer Eric Skwarczynski dig deeper into the creator economy, using Markiplier's GoPro investment and Jordan “The Stallion” Howlett's path from a pizza job to full-time creator as jumping-off points. Their core message: starting a creative business does not require reckless leaps—build momentum early, protect your downside, and leave your job only when the opportunity has enough stability to support you. On this episode we talk about: Why Markiplier's GoPro stake sparked speculation around creator influence, stock-price movement, and long-term product conviction The difference between investing in a company because you use its product and investing because you expect a quick return How smartphones have made high-quality photo and video production dramatically more accessible Why carrying extra camera gear can be difficult to justify when modern phones are already capable production tools Jordan “The Stallion” Howlett's decision to keep working at a pizza shop despite having millions of TikTok followers Why a reliable paycheck can feel safer than volatile creator income—even when a creator's audience is rapidly growing The risk of abandoning a job too early for platform-dependent income How creator funds, platform monetization programs, and distribution algorithms can change without warning The difference between waiting too long to start creating and waiting too long to quit a stable job How viral content can trap creators into making outrage-driven, negative, or misaligned content Top 3 Takeaways Start before you feel fully ready, but do not confuse starting with quitting. You can publish consistently, build an audience, develop skills, and validate demand while keeping a stable income source. Treat creator income as volatile until it is diversified and repeatable. Brand deals, creator-fund payouts, and algorithm-driven reach can shift quickly, so build runway and avoid making one platform your only financial foundation. Protect your creative freedom. When financial pressure becomes too high, creators can feel forced to chase viral formats, controversy, or negativity rather than making the work they actually want to create. Notable Quotes “There's a difference between waiting too long to leave and waiting too long to start.” “If you are in a platform-dependent business and you have no control, or limited control, over the volume of impressions that you can serve to advertisers or brands, then that's something that you need to hedge against.” “You also don't want to be in a position where the new thing now becomes the stressful way that you're trying to make money.” “You get pulled down these rabbit holes that are unproductive and… just sort of lazy.” “It's gonna look different for everybody.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Website: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Mest is a data scientist turned entrepreneur, CEO of both ChatRank and Just Reach Out, and a builder focused on helping companies get discovered in an AI-first world. After early roles in Wall Street and data analytics, Jon learned how enterprises buy, how to turn customer problems into products, and why bootstrapping can create more ownership and long-term flexibility. Today, he helps brands improve their visibility across AI answer engines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI while earning the third-party credibility that drives both rankings and revenue. On this episode we talk about: How Jon went from umpiring youth baseball games to Wall Street, enterprise data, sales, and entrepreneurship The sales lessons hidden inside customer data—and why the best product does not always win the deal Why Jon prefers bootstrapping businesses instead of relying on venture capital How ChatRank helps businesses understand and improve their visibility in AI-driven search results Why AI referrals can convert at a higher rate than traditional website traffic The growing connection between digital PR, external brand mentions, trust, and AI search visibility How businesses can become clearer and more authentic rather than trying to “hack” AI platforms Top 3 Takeaways Solve the customer's real problem—not the problem you assume they have. Even a product that can save a company millions will not sell if it creates political risk, conflicts with company culture, or fails to make the buyer look good internally. Bootstrapping creates pressure to build a sustainable business from day one. When revenue, customer retention, and product quality directly determine whether the company survives, founders often develop sharper sales discipline and retain more ownership at exit. AI search rewards clarity, proof, and brand credibility. Rather than hunting for temporary loopholes, businesses should clearly communicate what they do best, publish useful supporting content, and earn credible third-party mentions that validate their positioning. Notable Quotes “Are you solving a real pain of theirs? Are you giving them something they don't have that they actually need?” “When you're selling something, you have to be realistic and thoughtful about what is the other person on the other side of the room thinking in that moment and how are you going to make their life better.” “You can't cheat the system here… What you can do is be really intentional about your brand.” Connect with Jon Mest: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonathanmest ChatRank: chatrank.ai Just Reach Out: justreachout.io A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell and producer Eric Skwarczynski kick off the first episode of this five-part series with a funny, unfiltered conversation about sales, creator-led businesses, and the strange psychology of billionaires. From a brilliantly simple door-to-door pitch to Markiplier's reported GoPro investment, Travis and Eric explore how creativity, attention, and conviction can turn unusual ideas into real business opportunities. On this episode we talk about: Why a “no soliciting sign” can be one of the smartest—and funniest—door-to-door sales products The sales lesson behind matching a product to an immediate customer pain point The difference between being genuinely resilient and manufacturing hardship for status A new potential segment: “Billionaire: Badass or Batshit” Why creators are increasingly becoming investors, operators, and business owners Markiplier's reported GoPro stake and what it could signal about creator-led investing How action cameras, smartphones, and creator tools have changed the video-production landscape Potential recurring show segments, including “Great Knockers,” “Billionaire: Badass or Batshit,” and “Creator Economy” Top 3 Takeaways Great sales often start with an obvious, immediate problem. The no-soliciting-sign pitch works because it gives homeowners a simple solution to something actively bothering them: unexpected people knocking on their door. Don't confuse unnecessary suffering with real resilience. Pushing through pain may make for a dramatic story, but meaningful adversity usually has real stakes, consequences, and a purpose beyond proving toughness. Creators can build wealth beyond content revenue by investing in the products, platforms, and companies that support their work. Understanding the tools you use can create opportunities to become more than just a customer. Notable Quotes “If you have a double opening front door… they have money, and they have stacks of cash they just reach in and phew.” “I got something for everybody.” “He has to manufacture fear and pain in his own life because he's insulated himself from reality.” “Creators [are] making some money moves.” “Markiplier isn't just using the tools. He's betting on the company making them.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ Website: https://travischappell.com/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Storey is an acclaimed author, speaker, executive coach, and the host of the Miracle Mentality podcast. Known as the “Original Comeback Coach,” Tim has spent more than four decades helping entrepreneurs, athletes, executives, celebrities, and people facing difficult circumstances turn adversity into forward momentum. His work centers on building the mindset, relationships, preparation, and practical support systems that allow people to move from being stuck to creating a meaningful comeback. On this episode we talk about: How Tim developed his “setback to comeback” message and why it remains relevant for personal growth, career challenges, and finances The difference between being temporarily knocked down and becoming mentally “locked back” by a setback How Tim went from serving inner-city youth to working with NFL players, executives, and Hollywood talent Why every coach, consultant, and leader still needs wise mentors and coaches of their own Tim's relationship with Robert Downey Jr. and the role preparation, accountability, and a strong support system play in a comeback Why purpose-led work can create financial opportunity without becoming purely money-driven How Tim began building wealth through real estate, private-company ownership, and strategic partnerships His upcoming “Walking Miracle” footwear collaboration with Syntilay Top 3 Takeaways A setback does not have to become your identity. Tim defines a setback as becoming “locked back” in an old mindset, financial problem, family challenge, or limiting belief; the first step toward a comeback is refusing to settle there. Get help from people who have wisdom beyond your current experience. Tim credits longtime mentors and financial advisors with helping him strengthen his coaching framework, make better money decisions, and grow into new opportunities. Lead with service and build competence before chasing income. Tim's career grew because he focused first on helping people, studying consistently, and producing real results; over time, speaking fees, equity opportunities, real estate, and business investments followed. Notable Quotes “When most people have a setback, they usually sit in it or settle in it.” “Everybody needs a coach. I think it's true.” “I always was wise enough to put people around me who knew things that I did not know.” “When I started off in this thing, I used to do so many things for free. I still do a lot of things for free.” Connect with Tim Storey: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timstoreyofficial Instagram: @timstoreyofficial Website: timstorey.com Podcast: Miracle Mentality with Tim Storey A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell and producer Eric discuss how creators are changing the entertainment industry by bypassing traditional gatekeepers and building audiences directly online. Using the faith-based comedy series The Promised Land as an example, they explore how a show that started on YouTube grew to millions of views and ultimately landed a global distribution deal with Lionsgate. The conversation highlights the opportunities available to creators today, the importance of making content good enough to stand out, and why the barriers to entry have never been lower. On this episode we talk about: How YouTube is becoming increasingly comparable to traditional television and film distribution The story behind The Promised Land and its success on YouTube How a niche audience can become a powerful business opportunity Why the barriers to entry for creators are lower than ever How creators can build audiences independently and attract major industry opportunities Top 3 Takeaways You don't need traditional gatekeepers to get started. Platforms like YouTube give creators the ability to develop, publish, and distribute their ideas without waiting for a studio or network to give them permission. Being great can help you break through a crowded market. In an environment filled with content, creating something genuinely good and distinctive can help you stand out—even within a highly specific niche. Build the audience first, and opportunities can follow. The Promised Land demonstrates how creating an audience independently can eventually lead to larger distribution and traditional industry opportunities. Notable Quotes "The barrier to entry is lower than it's ever been." "You need to be so good they can't ignore you." "The idea that you can just execute against an idea that you have and it can actually turn into something real now." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gina London is an Emmy-winning former CNN correspondent, executive communication advisor, and CEO of Language of Leadership. Having coached leaders and high-performing teams across nearly 60 countries, Gina helps professionals communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and influence. In her book, Amplify You: How to Connect More Powerfully in an AI World, she shares a practical framework for strengthening your voice, presence, and human connection—skills that become even more valuable as AI transforms the workplace. On this episode we talk about: Why human-to-human communication remains a competitive advantage in an AI-driven world Gina's “Say It, Look It, Be It” framework for improving communication, executive presence, and connection How to make stronger first impressions in interviews, pitches, fundraising meetings, and high-stakes presentations Using the Audience–Intent–Message framework to tailor your communication to the person in front of you Why small talk matters, how curiosity creates connection, and how introverts can become exceptional networkers The communication habits people overrate, including overly scripted and artificial AI-generated conversation advice Top 3 Takeaways AI can help with writing, research, marketing, and preparation, but it cannot replace authentic human presence. The people who can create trust, warmth, and real connection will stand out professionally. Strong communication starts with preparation. Before an important interaction, identify your audience, decide the action you want them to take, and shape your message around their needs, concerns, and communication style. Stop trying so hard to be interesting and become more interested instead. Ask thoughtful follow-up questions, notice meaningful details, and keep the conversational “tennis ball” in the other person's court. Notable Quotes “It is even more important because it might be replacing some of those technical skills that are gonna help you with your business… but it isn't gonna replace you.” “Don't let your initial, ‘I don't like small talk,' be a stop sign to your growth or your connections.” “It is important to be more interested than it is to try to be interesting.” Connect with Gina London: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginalondon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheGinaLondon Website: https://www.ginalondon.com/ Language of Leadership: https://languageofleadership.ginalondon.com/ Book: Amplify You: How to Connect More Powerfully in an AI World A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell and producer Eric break down a simple but powerful financial concept: how small daily spending decisions can add up to thousands of dollars over time. Inspired by a clip from Mel Robbins, they discuss the reality behind spending $27.40 a day, the power of compound interest, and why “paying your future self first” can be one of the simplest ways to build wealth. They also explore the tension between saving and enjoying your money, from expensive movie nights to family activities and everyday purchases. On this episode we talk about: How spending just $27.40 a day adds up to $10,000 over the course of a year How investing small amounts consistently can grow into significant wealth through compound interest Why financial advice can be simple without being easy The importance of “paying your future self first” and automating your savings How to balance financial discipline with spending money on experiences and the things you enjoy Top 3 Takeaways Small daily expenses add up quickly. $27.40 might not feel like a huge amount in isolation, but spending that amount every day adds up to $10,000 over a year. Pay your future self first. Automating money into investments or savings before you have a chance to spend it makes building wealth a priority rather than something you hope to accomplish with whatever money is left over. Simple doesn't mean easy. The math behind saving and investing is straightforward, but actually choosing to delay gratification and consistently prioritize your future can be difficult. Notable Quotes "Sometimes things in life are simple but not easy." "You pay your future self first." "It's not fun. But it'll also make you think twice about spending money that you know you shouldn't be spending." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Huber is an accomplished entrepreneur and real estate investor based in Athens, Georgia. Best known for building a $30M+ annual revenue portfolio that includes 68 self-storage properties, Nick also owns companies like somewhere.com, Bolt Storage, and RE Cost Seg. He's recognized for his no-nonsense advice on entrepreneurship, his book The Sweaty Startup, and his focus on building wealth through practical, “boring” businesses rather than chasing flashy startup trends. Nick's unique perspective comes from real-world experience, not just theory, making him a sought-after voice for aspiring business owners. On this episode we talk about: – How Nick made his first and most recent dollar – The importance of picking the right business “vehicle” – Why cash is king in real estate investing – The realities of self-storage and why it's not truly “passive income” – Building businesses that solve real problems (like RE Cost Seg and somewhere.com) Top 3 Takeaways 1. Pick the right business vehicle: Success isn't just about working hard-it's about working smart in industries where you can win, even if you're “average.” 2. Cash matters in real estate: Contrary to popular advice, Nick argues you need capital to succeed in real estate; “no money down” deals are risky and rare. 3. Business is a long game: Building wealth takes years, often generations. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and focus on boring, proven businesses. Connect with Nick Huber: Website: sweatystartup.com ⁠http://www.nickhuber.com/⁠⁠ https://x.com/sweatystartup ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sweatystartup/#⁠⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup/ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/sweatystartup⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@sweatystartup⁠⁠ https://www.threads.com/@sweatystartup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell and producer Eric take a lighthearted look at celebrity sightings, theme-park spending, and the surprising relationship between money and happiness. After sharing stories from a trip to Universal Studios—including celebrity encounters with Josh Duhamel and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy actress Kasey Brooks—they dive into research discussed by Arthur C. Brooks about how increasing income can reduce money-related unhappiness without necessarily creating lasting happiness. The conversation explores why making more money can make other problems easier to solve, while still recognizing that money alone can't fix every area of your life. On this episode we talk about: The unexpected experience of spotting celebrities at Universal Studios Why money can reduce unhappiness without necessarily creating happiness The concept of diminishing marginal utility as income increases How financial security makes it easier to address other problems in life Why solving your money problems should come before expecting money to solve all your problems Top 3 Takeaways Money can reduce certain sources of unhappiness, but it isn't a substitute for happiness. Having enough money can eliminate stress surrounding necessities and financial insecurity, but earning more won't automatically create fulfillment. Solving your financial problems can make other problems easier to solve. Once you're no longer consumed by paying rent, buying food, or covering medical bills, you have more resources and mental bandwidth to focus on your health, relationships, and personal growth. Don't make money the solution to every problem. Building wealth is important, but once your financial foundation is strong, you still need to intentionally work on the other areas of your life that contribute to happiness. Notable Quotes "A little money will relieve unhappiness. No amount of money will make you truly happy." "Money solves money problems." "If you solve the money problem first, it tends to make solving some of your other problems a little bit easier." Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vinny Brusco is an insight and perspective coach, community builder, and podcast host who helps men cultivate clarity, connection, and purpose. After 16 years in the car business, he walked away from a lucrative but misaligned career to build a life and business rooted in what matters most to him: authentic brotherhood, mental and spiritual health, and intentional living. As the founder of Agora Social Club and host of The Council of Dudes podcast (with over 500 episodes), Vinny creates spaces where men can drop the performative self-help act and actually live in alignment instead of autopilot. On this episode we talk about: Leaving a high-income, misaligned career for a more meaningful path How sales skills become a “break glass in case of emergency” safety net Why fulfillment in the pursuit matters more than status or titles The loneliness epidemic among men and entrepreneurs Building real, local community through Agora Social Club and long-form conversation Top 3 Takeaways You can be making great money and still be completely out of alignment—and no number in your bank account will fix that internal mismatch. Learning to sell is one of the most valuable “forever skills” you can develop, giving you the confidence to take bigger risks in pursuit of a life you actually want. Deep, in-person community and long-form conversation are antidotes to modern male loneliness, especially for entrepreneurial men who often feel isolated at the top. Notable Quotes “This isn't a weekend hobby; it's a heart-and-soul project that needs a life force behind it.” “If you'd still do it even if you never became ‘the best' at it, you're probably on the right path.” “The transaction is just an energetic byproduct of a real, authentic conversation.” Connect with Vinny Brusco: Instagram (personal): @vinnybrusco Agora Social Club website: ⁠agorasocialclub.com⁠ Instagram (club): @agora_westchester Podcast: ⁠The Council of Dudes A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Cobello is the CEO and founder of Leverage with Media PR, a boutique public relations agency that helps authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders use media strategically to build authority, credibility, and growth. Before launching her agency, she spent nearly two decades building her own personal brand as a personal finance expert, becoming a three-time author and regular national TV personality on shows like The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, and Rachael Ray. After scaling her personal brand to seven figures, she sold that company and bootstrapped Leverage with Media PR from zero to a million-dollar agency in just 10 months. On this episode we talk about: How Lauren paid off 40,000 dollars in debt and built a personal finance brand from a couponing blog. How national TV appearances became top-of-funnel “ads” that fueled her seven-figure business. Why she sold her first company, downsized her lifestyle, and went all-in on starting a PR agency debt free. The truth about the PR industry, including low-quality agencies, profit-first models, and why so many founders feel burned. How traditional media, podcasts, and social platforms now work together to build authority in 2026. Why relationships and senior-level publicists are the real differentiators for landing meaningful TV and podcast placements. The realities of getting on top podcasts like Joe Rogan and why most entrepreneurs need a more strategic, ego-free media plan. Top 3 Takeaways Media is a multiplier: When used strategically, every TV appearance, podcast, or feature should act as top of funnel that drives people into a sales ecosystem and builds trust before you ever enter the room. Not all PR is created equal: Most agencies optimize for profit, staffing junior or outsourced teams, while the firms that actually move the needle rely on senior publicists with deep relationships and clear KPIs. Traditional media isn't dead—it's leveraged: In 2026, the strongest brands blend traditional TV, podcasts, social, and newsletters, using prestigious earned media (like major TV shows) for credibility and association that makes everything else easier. Notable Quotes "Every single TV appearance that I did became top of funnel—an ad that went into my sales funnel and got people to trust me before I even walked in the room." "PR is not marketing, and most PR agencies are full of it because they sell promises junior teams can't fulfill." "You probably aren't going on the top five podcasts you're dreaming about, but the right ‘smaller' shows can move the needle more than the ones with fake followers and vanity metrics." Connect with Lauren Cobello: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leveragewithmediapr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leveragewithmedia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello Other: ⁠Leverage with Media PR⁠  A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Travis wraps up his deep dive into context and clip culture by focusing on practical strategies to retrain your brain and think more clearly. He explains how intentional long-form consumption, better questioning, and curating high-quality information sources can dramatically improve your judgment, relationships, and decision-making. Drawing on real-world examples and personal experiences, Travis shows how developing context awareness can become a powerful competitive advantage in today's attention economy. On this episode we talk about: Why balancing short-form and long-form content is critical for mental performance How to retrain your brain using intentional long-form consumption habits The “three context questions” that improve critical thinking and decision-making How to curate better information sources and avoid low-context content traps Why context awareness is a major competitive advantage in business and life Top 3 Takeaways Treat your content consumption like a diet—too much “junk” content weakens your thinking, while long-form builds mental strength. Asking simple questions like “What's missing?” and “Who benefits?” can instantly improve your judgment. Developing context awareness puts you ahead of the majority who react emotionally instead of thinking critically. Notable Quotes "Clips are like candy—long-form content is protein for your brain." "If you're going to form a strong opinion, you owe it to yourself to get more context." "If you can think clearly when others are triggered, you gain a massive advantage." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Cindra Kamphoff is a confidence researcher, award-winning keynote speaker, and performance psychology expert who helps elite athletes, executives, and leaders perform under pressure. With a PhD in sport and performance psychology, she has worked with Minnesota Vikings players and USA Track & Field athletes at the Tokyo Olympics. She also founded the Mentally Strong Institute and is the author of The Confidence Habit, a research-backed toolkit designed to help people train their minds, build lasting confidence, and become mentally stronger. On this episode we talk about: Why confidence isn't something you're born with, but a skill and habit you can continue to develop The seven research-backed "C" strategies for growing confidence How your identity and inner dialogue influence what you believe is possible for yourself Why mistakes, rejection, and failure don't have to diminish your confidence The growing confidence crisis and how social media and smartphone use can contribute to feelings of inadequacy Top 3 Takeaways Confidence is a skill you can train. Confidence naturally fluctuates, but you can strengthen it through practice, intentional self-talk, goal setting, and consistently challenging yourself. Your interpretation of failure matters more than the failure itself. A setback doesn't automatically withdraw from your "confidence bank account." It's the story you tell yourself about that setback that determines its impact. Pay attention to the identity you're building. The words you put behind "I am" shape how you see yourself and what's possible for you. Changing your internal dialogue can help expand your confidence and your goals. Notable Quotes "Confidence is a feeling that comes and goes. It's a decision that you get to make in the moment. It's a skill you get to keep growing." "It's not the actual events that happen in our life, it's the story we create around it." "Your identity is how you talk to yourself about yourself." Connect with Dr. Cindra Kamphoff: LinkedIn: Dr. Cindra Kamphoff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindrakamphoff/ Website: https://cindrakamphoff.com/ Book: ConfidenceTools.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Travis explores how neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to rewire itself—can either become your greatest advantage or your biggest liability in a world dominated by distraction. He breaks down how constant multitasking, short-form content, and emotional reactivity are reshaping our thinking, relationships, and even reputations. More importantly, he shares practical strategies to help you regain control, think critically, and operate with clarity in a culture that rewards extremes. On this episode we talk about: How neuroplasticity shapes your brain based on your daily habits and attention patterns The hidden cost of multitasking and “half attention” on thinking and comprehension Why clip culture erodes trust, nuance, and meaningful conversations How out-of-context content can damage reputations and relationships Practical strategies like the “full clip rule” to regain control of your thinking Top 3 Takeaways Your brain is constantly being trained—if you practice distraction and shallow thinking, those become your default. Living in a world of clips weakens your ability to think deeply, form opinions, and engage in nuanced conversations. Simple habits like seeking full context before reacting can dramatically improve your judgment and decision-making. Notable Quotes "If you train your brain to jump from thing to thing, it gets worse at doing the opposite." "If you don't control context, someone else controls your conclusions." "The little habit of living on clips isn't neutral—it reshapes how you think over time." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keith Wyche is a veteran Fortune 500 executive with four decades of senior leadership experience at companies including AT&T, IBM, Pitney Bowes, and Walmart. He currently serves as an independent director on the boards of Brinks and Internet Sciences and is the bestselling author of Uncommon Leadership, a blueprint for restoring integrity, trust, and people-centered leadership. In this episode, Keith shares lessons from his corporate career, explains what it really takes to climb the corporate ladder, and breaks down why performance alone isn't enough to succeed. On this episode we talk about: The sales and mentorship lessons Keith learned early in his career Why performance is only 50% of the equation for career advancement—and why exposure and perception matter How to intentionally build a personal brand and become known for adding value The importance of networking, relationships, and having people who can advocate for you Keith's leadership philosophy of competency, character, and consistency Top 3 Takeaways Your performance isn't the whole career equation. Keith explains that performance accounts for roughly 50% of professional success, while exposure and perception make up the other half. You need people to know who you are, what you bring to the table, and what you are known for. You already have a personal brand—build it intentionally. Whether you realize it or not, people have associations with you. Decide what you want to be known for and consistently reinforce that reputation through your actions and relationships. Trust is built through competency, character, and consistency. Keith's formula for earning trust requires all three. Being charismatic isn't enough; effective leaders create followership by consistently demonstrating competence and character. Notable Quotes "We all have a brand whether we realize it or not." "The equation to develop and earn trust from people is three things: competency times character times consistency." "Nobody, Travis, breaks through that glass ceiling on their own. Somebody who's already on the other side has to see you, recognize your value, and pull you through." Connect with Keith Wyche: LinkedIn: Keith Wyche Instagram: @therealkeithwyche Substack: Keith R. Wyche Other: KeithWyche.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Travis breaks down the hidden cognitive costs of living in a short-form, scroll-heavy world. Building on the idea of context, he explores how constant “context switching” from rapid-fire clips is quietly eroding memory, focus, and decision-making. Backed by emerging research and real-life examples, Travis explains why this isn't just about distraction—it's about protecting your brain, your judgment, and ultimately your ability to make money. On this episode we talk about: How rapid “context switching” from short-form content damages your brain The link between scrolling habits and declining memory, focus, and productivity Why out-of-context content is one of the most powerful forms of misinformation How false ideas stick in your brain—and why corrections often fail to fix them The real-world consequences of poor context on money, relationships, and decision-making Top 3 Takeaways Constant scrolling and context switching weaken your memory, focus, and ability to follow through on intentions. Out-of-context clips aren't harmless—they're one of the most effective ways misinformation spreads and sticks. Your ability to focus and think deeply is becoming a rare (and highly valuable) advantage in today's economy. Notable Quotes "Your brain isn't built to jump between 15-second stories all day—it comes at a cost." "The lie gets a head start, and the truth shows up late and out of context." "Focus is the superpower of this decade—and distraction is the enemy of success." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special co-host episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis and Eric are joined by Jackie, Travis's wife. Jackie is the owner-operator of an Everbowl franchise and a first-time business owner navigating the realities of running a brick-and-mortar food business. With a strong background in operations and systems, she shares what entrepreneurship has taught her about hiring, staffing, financial management, margins, and building something that feels truly her own. On this episode we talk about: What changes when you go from working for someone else to owning a business The unexpected anxiety of being responsible for an open store every day Why hiring and employee turnover are among the toughest parts of operating a small business How one- to two-minute video submissions help screen job applicants and encourage self-selection The steep learning curve of P&Ls, payroll-related reporting, taxes, insurance, and state-specific compliance Why embracing turnover and overhiring can make staffing more manageable The importance of protecting margins—and why drinks can be more profitable than prepared food What Jackie would look for in her next business, including higher-margin service-based opportunities Top 3 Takeaways Owning a business offers freedom, but it also means the responsibility never completely turns off. Build systems and staffing plans that keep the business from depending on you for every shift. Require a simple video submission early in the hiring process. It filters out low-intent applicants and gives you a faster sense of a candidate's communication skills and energy. Great employees may eventually outgrow entry-level roles. Rather than trying to hold them back, create flexible schedules for strong team members and plan for consistent turnover. Notable Quotes “It's been the first thing that has been mine that I feel like I'm proud of—that I've taken ownership of.” “The hiring process is just the most draining part.” “If you're doing life right, you're not working for me long term.” “When you said… embrace the turnover, that's the biggest thing I've tried to do.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: @travischappell  Other: Everbowl A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kourtney Moore is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, mother of four, advocate, and community builder working at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and human connection. She is the co-founder and CEO of the Missing Piece App, a resource directory and EHR platform helping families with children on the autism spectrum find diagnosis, treatment, and community resources. Kourtney is also a doctoral engineering student specializing in AI and machine learning and hosts the Warrior Her podcast. Her entrepreneurial journey has taken her from working multiple jobs and learning sales in an unexpected environment to building businesses, working in tech sales, and ultimately creating a mission-driven technology company. On this episode we talk about: How Kourtney's first experience with sales and entrepreneurship came from working as a shot girl and learning how to sell, market, and understand profit Why experimenting with different jobs and career paths can help you discover your strengths and build a unique skill stack What Kourtney learned from her failed $30,000 CrossFit gym and how those mistakes shaped her approach to business and partnerships How her experiences in healthcare, ABA, sales, and technology eventually led to the creation of the Missing Peace App Why building a mission-driven business makes it easier to navigate challenges, rejection, and the uncertainty of entrepreneurship Top 3 Takeaways You don't have to have your entire career figured out. Trying different jobs, industries, and experiences can help you identify the skills and interests you want to carry forward. Build a skill stack from your experiences. Kourtney's background in sales, marketing, staffing, leadership, healthcare, and technology all eventually became valuable pieces of her entrepreneurial journey. Find something you genuinely care about. Kourtney learned that making money isn't enough to keep her committed to a business. When the mission is personal, she's much more willing to push through the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship. Notable Quotes "I really never thought of it because I wasn't really exposed to anybody that was an entrepreneur." "I fully immerse myself and then when I realize this is not for me, it's like let's pivot to the next thing." "It doesn't matter how much money is possibly gonna be made if I don't actually care about it." Connect with Kourtney Moore: LinkedIn: Kourtney Moore Other: The Missing Piece App A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Travis dives deep into a topic he's been reflecting on for years: the importance of context in a world dominated by short-form, out-of-context content. Drawing from personal notes, observations, and research, he breaks down how “clip culture” is shaping the way we think, judge, and remember—and why developing a discipline around context might be one of the most valuable skills you can build today. On this episode we talk about: What “context” really means and why it's essential for understanding information How short-form content and “clip culture” distort meaning and fuel misinformation The way your brain fills in missing context—and why that can lead to false conclusions How context influences memory, perception, and decision-making Practical ways to build “context discipline” in a fast-paced digital world Top 3 Takeaways Your brain is wired to crave context—when it's missing, it automatically fills in the gaps, often with bias. Short-form, out-of-context content can distort reality, leading to misinterpretation, poor judgment, and false memories. Developing a habit of seeking full context before forming opinions gives you a major edge in a world driven by quick reactions. Notable Quotes "If you don't control context, somebody else is going to control the conclusions that you come to." "Your brain doesn't just accept missing context—it fills it in, and that's where the trouble starts." "We live in a world that runs on 10-second clips, but your brain was built for full stories." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis Chappell and producer Eric dive into a lesson that applies to entrepreneurship, content creation, and virtually any other craft: master the fundamentals before trying to reinvent the game. Inspired by a discussion about writer David Sedaris, they explore why success often comes from consistency, learning from others, consuming great work, and staying in the game long enough for momentum to compound. They also discuss examples from podcasting and content creation, including Zach Justice and John Lee Dumas, and emphasize the importance of understanding the rules before you try to break them. On this episode we talk about: Why you should master the fundamentals of your craft before trying to do things differently How studying and consuming great work can make you better at creating your own Why you don't need to be a trailblazer to become an outlier How consistency and longevity can create the "hockey stick" effect in business and content creation Why learning the rules first gives you more freedom to eventually break them Top 3 Takeaways Master the fundamentals before trying to innovate. If you're just starting out, spend most of your time learning the language, rules, and skills of your chosen field before attempting to reinvent it. Consistency can be more powerful than novelty. Many successful people don't constantly chase the next big idea—they stay in the game, continue doing the work, and eventually benefit from years of accumulated momentum. Consume what you want to create. Reading, watching, and studying excellent work helps you understand what works and identify opportunities to create something you wish already existed. Notable Quotes "You don't know how to do it the way they do it." "You gotta learn the fundamentals and master the basics before you can start playing with it." "Once that boulder starts rolling, it's a lot harder to stop it than it is to get it going." Connect with Travis Chappell: Website: travischappell.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Somers is the founder of Marketplace Superheroes, an online education company that has helped more than 10,000 people build side incomes by selling on Amazon and Whatnot. After starting his career as a data processor in Dublin, Ireland, Stephen built a multi-seven-figure Amazon business alongside his sister and CEO, Lisa Summers. Today, he has sold more than $40 million worth of products, coaching, software, and services and has recently helped his team generate nearly $500,000 in trading card sales on Whatnot. In this episode, Stephen shares how he escaped the traditional 9-to-5 path, built a successful online business, and found new opportunities in live-commerce marketplaces. On this episode we talk about: Why Stephen chose entrepreneurship after realizing the traditional career path wasn't for him How he got his start selling physical products on eBay and Amazon with almost no startup capital Why you don't need to invent a groundbreaking idea to build a successful business How entrepreneurs can find opportunities by getting better at one specific part of an established business model How Whatnot's live-shopping and auction model works and how Stephen's team is making money selling Pokémon trading cards Top 3 Takeaways You don't need a revolutionary idea to make money. Some of the best businesses are built around simple, established products or services with one part of the process executed exceptionally well. Marketplaces can eliminate some of the hardest parts of starting a business. Selling through platforms like Amazon and Whatnot gives entrepreneurs access to customers who are already looking to buy, allowing them to focus on sourcing products and selling effectively. Entrepreneurship is ultimately about buying yourself more choice. Stephen views financial success less as accumulating money and more as creating the freedom to decide how he spends his time, works, and lives. Notable Quotes "The best businesses are actually like just really obvious crap that you just do it a bit better." "We're trying to buy choice as well. And we're trying to trade so we can get choices." "You don't have to go out and reinvent the wheel. You just have to, you know, put a different spoke on it." Connect with Stephen Somers: Website: MarketplaceSuperHeroes.com YouTube: Marketplace Superheroes Instagram: @StephenJSomers A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices