Moneywise

Latest Episodes:

From Startup to $40M Exit – And We’re Still Just Brothers Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Most founders feel isolated after selling their company. Chris and David Sinkinson didn’t—because they had each other.

The brothers built and sold their startup, AppArmor, for $40 million. But unlike many founders who struggle with identity and purpose post-exit, they had a built-in support system: each other. With a 10-year age gap and complementary skills, they navigated the highs and lows of entrepreneurship as a team. And when they suddenly found themselves financially free, their brotherhood kept them from making reckless decisions—or jumping into the next venture too soon.

In this episode, Chris and David share how selling their company impacted their relationship, their investments, and their sense of purpose. We dive into:

Why going through a major exit alone can feel isolating—but they never did.
How their brotherly dynamic kept them from making bad financial decisions.
The identity crisis that followed the sale—and how they leaned on each other to navigate it.
Why they’re already thinking about their next venture, but with new priorities.

🔗 Check out their book and podcast at startupdifferent.com.

This is Moneywise, a podcast where host Sam Parr is joined by high-net-worth guests to explore exclusive insights into personal finance and lifestyle tailored for other high-net-worth people, or those on their way. They'll get radically transparent about the numbers, revealing things like their burn rates, portfolios, and spending habits.

Who is Harry Morton?

Harry Morton is the CEO of Lower Street, a company specializing in premium podcast production that he founded to transform brand narratives through audio storytelling. His expertise has made Lower Street a leader in the podcast industry, working with diverse clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies to enhance their market presence and audience engagement.

Who is Sam Parr?

Sam is a serial entrepreneur and the co-founder of The Hustle, which he sold to HubSpot in 2021. He's also the co-host of one of the world's top podcasts for entrepreneurs, My First Million. Known for his insightful business acumen and candid communication style, Sam Parr continues to be a prominent figure in the world of media and entrepreneurship. Sam's newest and biggest venture yet is Hampton, which he co-founded in 2022.

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

The Big Exit: Details and Figures (01:38)

Managing Wealth Post-Exit (04:17)

Life Changes and Big Purchases (08:15)

Reflecting on the Exit and Future Plans (14:05)

Early Days and Starting a Business (17:39)

The Beginning of a Partnership (18:57)

David's Early Business Ventures (19:37)

The Birth of AppArmor (22:05)

Bootstrapping and Side Hustles (22:27)

Financial Strategies and Dividends (24:16)

Balancing Business and Personal Life (28:42)

Future Plans and Reflections (32:16)

Final Thoughts and Takeaways (38:07)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

Elon Musk's Acquisition Made Me $50M, But Fatherhood Redefined My Life Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

What if the key to success wasn’t grinding harder—but learning to let go?

Chris Bakke made 10s of millions selling two companies, including one to Elon Musk’s Twitter. But after years of chasing big wins, something changed: he had kids. And suddenly, the drive that once defined him wasn’t as important as being present for his family.

Chris started as a scrappy startup founder, building and selling multiple companies for over $50 million each. He worked directly with Elon, made bold investments, and built a net worth of $25 million (or 50 depending on how you value Twitter stock). But fatherhood led him to reevaluate everything—including his ambition in the tech world.

In this episode, Chris opens up about how becoming a dad reshaped his perspective on work, money, and happiness. We dive into:

Why having kids made him rethink the endless pursuit of success.
How he balances financial security with personal fulfillment.
The trade-offs of working with Elon Musk—and why he ultimately walked away.
Why he believes the multiple cashflowing agencies he runs make him better off than a highly valued illiquid tech company anyway.

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Chris Bakke's Financial Breakdown (02:18)

Early Career and First Startup (08:16)

The Success of Lasky and Acquisition by Elon Musk (13:43)

Working with Elon Musk (18:16)

Family Life and Career Transition (20:24)

Balancing Family and High-Stakes Career (20:52)

Shifting Focus to Smaller Projects (22:29)

The Trade-Offs of Ambition (23:34)

Finding Joy in Simple Ventures (26:26)

Parenthood and Professional Ambition (27:54)

Lessons from Working with Elon (29:58)

The Impact of Wealth and Parenthood (36:49)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

$500M and Still Asking "What’s Next?": Peter Wokwicz’s Guide to Curiosity-Driven Success Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

What if chasing curiosity, not cash, was the key to a richer, more fulfilling life?

Peter Wokwicz turned his relentless curiosity into a $500 million fortune—and found happiness along the way.

Peter didn’t build his wealth by following the typical playbook. Instead of just chasing cash, he let his curiosity lead the way—and it’s resulted in over 40 successful exits, groundbreaking innovations, and a life that’s anything but boring. Now, with a thriving family office and a long list of projects, Peter spends his time doing what excites him most and making an impact in the process.

In this episode, Peter reveals how leaning into curiosity can create more fulfillment than any paycheck. We dive into:

Why passion, not profit, is his ultimate driver—and why chasing money alone will leave you empty.
How he uses his wealth to create a playground for innovation and exploration.
Why staying curious has helped him avoid burnout and find happiness in both work and life.
His take on “failing fast,” embracing risk, and why speed is his secret weapon.

This interview was done by show-correspondant Andrew Namanny. You can listen to his podcast Permission to Shine here.

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Peter's Financial Overview (03:16)

Peter's Early Curiosity and Career (05:04)

The Value of Equity Over Cash (07:33)

Peter's Investment Strategy (10:10)

The Role of Velocity in Success (13:21)

Peter's First Big Exit (14:50)

Creating a Playground for Innovation (16:38)

The Family Office and Its Philosophy (19:21)

Embracing Failure and Innovation (20:52)

AI and Music Preferences (22:19)

Venom Labs: Medical Breakthroughs (23:21)

Team Structure and Incentives (24:38)

Blending Business with Personal Life (26:36)

Philosophy on Inheritance and Happiness (31:29)

Final Thoughts and Encouragement (34:42)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

MiniWise: Why Checking Your Portfolio Every Day Might Be Ruining Your Life Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

Are you obsessively checking your portfolio—or avoiding it entirely? What’s the right approach to managing your money post-exit?

In this Mini-Wise episode, Sam Parr breaks down how three ultra-wealthy entrepreneurs—Chuck (net worth: hundreds of millions), Travis (net worth: $50M), and Anne Mahlum (net worth: $100M+)—handle the mental rollercoaster of market fluctuations. Each shares their unique strategy, from completely logging off to obsessively staying informed, and how these choices impact their peace of mind and financial outcomes.

Chuck sold his company for $2.5 billion but realized his daily portfolio check-ins were ruining his mood, so he outsourced entirely. Travis stopped compulsively tracking his investments and focused on growing his next business instead. Meanwhile, Anne Mahlum embraces daily oversight, crediting her disciplined research and comfort with market dips as key to her 20%+ portfolio growth.

In this episode:

The emotional toll of tracking massive portfolios.
Why "logging off" works for some investors—but not all.
Anne Mahlum’s take on how staying informed helps her make bigger, smarter bets.

Learn how to match your investing strategy with your personality—and find the tools and habits that bring you both peace and success.

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Introduction to Mini Wise (0:00)

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Portfolio Tracking (00:33)

Chuck's Story: Emotional Detachment from Investments (01:11)

Travis's Approach: Logging Off for Peace of Mind (02:36)

Anne's Strategy: Daily Monitoring and Research (05:05)

Conclusion and Final Thoughts (08:29)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

The $300 Million Exit That’s Funding Humanity’s Future with Bryan Johnson Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Most people think Bryan Johnson just wants to live forever.

They’re wrong.

Bryan’s real goal is to leave a legacy that will last centuries.

In this episode, we uncover the extraordinary vision of Bryan Johnson, an entrepreneur driven by the audacious mission to earn the respect of people living in the year 2500.

Bryan isn’t just the man who sold Braintree (the parent company of Venmo) for $300 million—he’s an innovator investing every resource he has into shaping humanity’s future. From building a brain-interface company to launching Blueprint, a scientific health initiative, Bryan’s focus isn’t on today’s accolades. It’s on creating a legacy that will stand the test of time.

In this episode:

Discover how Bryan’s financial success stemmed from his quest for eternal relevance.
Learn how he allocates his wealth, including the risks he’s taken and the investments he regrets.
Hear about his frugal lifestyle, his thoughts on the true purpose of money, and why his mission shapes every financial decision he makes.

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

The Genesis of Braintree and Its Success (02:19)

Brian's Post-Exit Life and Investments (06:48)

The Quest for a Lasting Legacy (13:13)

Reflections on Time, Legacy, and Impact (18:23)

The 'Don't Die' Philosophy (24:28)

Financial Priorities and Frugality (26:02)

Blueprint and Health Achievements (27:20)

Reflections on Investments (29:45)

Historical Inspirations and Philosophies (35:46)

Final Thoughts and Legacy (41:01)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

When the Numbers Define You: Life After a $50M Exit Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

Why do we let numbers define us—and what happens when they finally stop moving?

Fred’s journey from corporate finance to a multi-million-dollar exit reveals the emotional rollercoaster behind financial success and the unexpected lessons that follow.

Fred, an introspective entrepreneur, sold his company for a mid-eight-figure sum. His story isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the sacrifices, anxieties, and the emotional toll of tying your self-worth to success. From his immigrant family upbringing to navigating early career expectations, Fred shares how he eventually took the leap into entrepreneurship, built a company, and endured years of uncertainty before his eventual success.

In this episode, Fred opens up about:

The raw highs and lows of selling his business and what “freedom” really looks like.
Why his biggest post-exit splurge wasn’t about luxury but about creating the right lifestyle for his family.
The mental toll of entrepreneurship—and how he’s finding balance today.

Join us to explore not just the “how” of making money, but the “why” of spending it in ways that matter most.

Who is Harry Morton?

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Fred's Early Life and Career (03:11)

The Challenges of Entrepreneurship (05:19

The Financial Struggles (13:29)

The Emotional Impact of an Exit (18:25)

The Decision to Sell (20:56)

The Final Stages and Closing the Deal (24:54)

Life After the Sale: Financial and Emotional Adjustments (27:34)

Relocating and Lifestyle Changes (31:42)

Spending and Financial Philosophy (33:10)

Future Ventures and Investment Strategies (38:52)

The True Value of Entrepreneurship (42:13)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

Is a 24,000 sq ft Home Worth It? Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

RE-RUN

If you have the money to put anything you could possibly want in your home, should you do it?

This episode’s guest, “Hank” did, and as a result, his home ended up being 24,000 square feet.

But with 24,000 square feet, there is a lot to go wrong. So are the upkeep, repairs, and bills worth the square footage? Can a home with all the fancy features you can imagine actually bring more joy to your life?

Building (or buying) a house this size is no small feat, and there are numerous things to consider before pulling the trigger, such as your stage in life, your family situation, and how much you enjoy your free time.

In this episode we explore the mega house. We’ll learn about who this type of home is for, the pros, the cons, and all the caveats to be aware of. And this is Moneywise, so we’ll get into all the nitty gritty numbers to learn how “Hank” can afford a home this massive and all of the expenses associated with it. He’ll also share if he ever plans on moving.

We even speak with Ryan Thewes, an architect who designs private residences in the Nashville area. He shares the most commonly requested features, the type of clients he typically gets, and the coolest things he’s ever designed. And we have him answer the question: Would you ever move into one of these mega mansions yourself?

By the end of the episode, if you are convinced that a mega mansion is right for you, we’ll leave you with some advice on how you should go about making your dream home a reality.

Who is Sam Parr?

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

How Hank made his money (3:05)

How Hank ended up in a mega mansion (5:02)

Building costs (7:47)

Hank’s house’s coolest features (14:08)

The coolest features Ryan has designed (17:14)

Who this kind of house is best for (18:26)

Advice for prospective mega mansion owners (28:47)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

How Neil Patel Spends $200K a Month Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

RE-RUN

There was a time when Neil Patel said a $15k/month burn rate was all he needed. But now his monthly burn is $200k. Roughly. He’s not completely certain… because he doesn’t budget. So what changed in his life to make his burn rate increase nearly 14 fold? That’s what this episode is going to find out.

Neil Patel is a household name (for marketers). He’s an entrepreneur and blogger known for his expertise in digital marketing and SEO. He co-founded companies like Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics, but his biggest company is his namesake, Neil Patel Digital.

In this episode, Neil not only explains how and why his spending has evolved to the point where he’s burning $2.4 million a year, he’ll also break down where that money is going, how it compares to his income, investments, and savings, and why he doesn’t feel the need to set a budget.

He’ll also get candid about how he uses his money to bring joy to his life, and he’ll share how soon he plans on being a billionaire.

This is MoneyWise, a podcast where host Sam Parr is joined by high-net-worth guests to explore exclusive insights into personal finance and lifestyle tailored for other high-net-worth people, or those on their way. They'll get radically transparent about the numbers, revealing things like their burn rates, portfolios, and spending habits.

Who is Sam Parr?

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

How rich Neil actually is and how he made it (1:58)

When he said $15k/month was enough (4:12)

What changed (6:34)

Extravagant living in Las Vegas (7:57)

How he spends his money quickfire (10:51)

Why he doesn’t budget (14:40)

How kids changed his spending (18:22)

What he won’t give up (20:12)

Neil’s friends that spend more (23:44)

What a $50k/month budget would look like (26:39)

His billionaire goal (27:56)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Streetand distributed by Morning Brew.

$1B and Counting: Steve Houghton’s Five Pillars for Living a Truly Wealthy Life Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

What’s the real cost of building wealth—and how do you stay grounded after achieving it?

Steve Houghton, a billionaire entrepreneur, has a life philosophy that’s as intentional as his business strategies. From self-made success to crafting a fulfilling personal life, Steve shares the five pillars that help him stay healthy, happy, and wealthy.

Steve’s journey started with selling books as a teenager, earning the equivalent of $100,000 today, and grew to building successful ventures in real estate and oil and gas. But what really sets Steve apart is how he uses his wealth—never selling his best assets and focusing on the compounding power of capital to achieve long-term financial stability.

In this episode, Steve explains how he grew from a frugal Utah upbringing to managing a fortune. He breaks down his five-pillar framework for a wealthy life: financial, emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health. Steve shares how he avoids ego traps, maintains meaningful relationships, stays curious, prioritizes fitness, and finds joy in helping others.

Who is Sam Parr?

Check out Sam’s Companies:

Hampton

Sam’s List

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Steve Houghton's Early Life and Career Beginnings (02:57)

The Journey to Financial Wealth (05:37)

The Power of Compounding and Investment Strategies (09:06)

Emotional Wealth: Relationships and Family (20:26)

Mental Wealth: Continuous Learning and Optimism (24:32)

Physical Wealth: Health and Fitness (30:13)

Spiritual Wealth: Living for Something Bigger (32:14)

Conclusion and Reflections (32:49)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.

Re-Run: Why Someone Worth $150M Liquid Only Spends $5K Monthly Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

RE-RUN

Imagine being worth $150 million. Liquid.

Now imagine being worth that much, and only spending $5,000 a month.

That’s the reality for this episode’s guest.

“Cam” is going to share a lot of financial details with us, so he’s asked to remain anonymous. What we can tell you, is that he made most of his money when a business he started went public at a valuation of around a billion dollars. That happened in his late 30s.

In his early 30s, Cam was still only worth a couple grand. There’re a lot of crazy stories in between that we’ll hear about in this episode. Including how his first million was almost accidental.

We’ll also explore why Cam’s monthly spend is so low, how his value of privacy and the impact money has on relationships plays into that, and where that $5k goes every month.

On top of that, we’ll get into the nitty gritty about how he’s saving and investing the rest of his money, as well as the kind of spending that brings Cam genuine joy.

Who is Sam Parr?

This podcast was made for the Hampton community, a private, highly-vetted, peer membership community for founders and CEOs of fast-growing, tech-enabled startups.

Chapters:

Cam’s early family life (2:28)

Moving to LA and “city camping” (4:23)

Pissing off casting companies (6:14)

His accidental first million (8:37)

Net worth timeline breakdown and investments (10:04)

Why he doesn’t tell his family or friends his net worth (20:09)

Cam’s favorite way to spend his money (28:04)

The story of his dog (34:03)

Making his money later in life (36:44)

This podcast was produced in partnership with Lower Street and distributed by Morning Brew.