Travis Makes Money

Latest Episodes:

CO-HOST | Make Money Without Falling for Predatory Tipping, Buy Now Pay Later, and Financial Manipulation Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Travis Chappell is joined by producer Eric for an unfiltered conversation about money, consumer culture, and the ways businesses and organizations pressure people to spend. From a viral Shake Shack kiosk video that appears to raise prices when a customer declines to tip to the growing use of buy now, pay later services, Travis and Eric discuss where convenience crosses the line into manipulation. They also explore the ethics of religious fundraising, questionable claims of faith healing, and why transparency and accountability matter whenever money is involved.

On this episode we talk about:

How buy now, pay later services like Klarna and Affirm influence purchasing decisions, and why interest-free financing changes the equation.
A viral Shake Shack kiosk video that appears to increase item prices after a customer declines to tip, sparking a debate about tipping culture and hidden costs.
Why tipping should be about exceptional service rather than an automatic expectation at every checkout screen.
The ethics of religious fundraising, including donation kiosks, financial pressure on congregations, and the potential harm of manipulative fundraising practices.
Why extraordinary faith-healing claims deserve scrutiny, especially when vulnerable people facing serious illnesses may be led to expect miracles.

Top 3 Takeaways

Understand the true cost of borrowing. Before using a buy now, pay later service, consider whether you're paying interest or fees and whether the purchase fits your budget. Interest-free financing can be useful, but it shouldn't encourage spending money you don't have.
Question fees and tipping expectations. Customers deserve transparent pricing. A tip should feel like a voluntary reward for good service, not an unexpected charge or a requirement imposed by a checkout system.
Be skeptical when money and vulnerability intersect. Whether it's a business using confusing pricing or an organization soliciting donations through emotional appeals, take a closer look at where the money goes and whether the claims being made are supported.

Notable Quotes

"I just think that they existed for a reason and now they're like their own independent category of taxes."
"If you start just giving it away for everything, then it then it becomes an entitlement thing instead of extra money for exceptional service thing."
"Why aren't you going to every hospital and cancer ward and kids chemo place?"

Connect with Travis Chappell:

Instagram: @travischappell
Other: https://travischappell.com

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INTERVIEW | Make Money by Leading Under Pressure: Andrea Petrone on Leadership Identity and Reinvention Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Andrea Petrone is an executive coach who has spent more than two decades working with senior leaders at companies including Shell, Unilever, Takeda, EssilorLuxottica, and PwC. After coaching more than 250 CEOs and C-suite executives, he recognized a common challenge: leaders often lose touch with their identity when the pressure rises. In his new book, Reinvention at the Top: The Playbook for CEOs to Lead Under Pressure, Andrea introduces his “Through Line” methodology to help leaders define who they are, communicate what they stand for, and adapt their leadership style to changing circumstances.

On this episode we talk about:

How Andrea went from working in the oil and gas industry to becoming a CEO at just 35 years old.
Why earning a higher salary and achieving career success don't necessarily translate into happiness or fulfillment.
Why leaders struggle under pressure when they rely on the same leadership playbook in every situation.
The dangers of command-and-control leadership and how it can lead to disengaged employees and poor organizational results.
How Andrea turned years of executive coaching and daily writing into his book and a methodology designed to help leaders reinvent themselves.

Top 3 Takeaways

Your leadership style must evolve with your circumstances. The approach that helped you reach the top might not be the approach you need to succeed there. Recognize when your environment changes and adapt accordingly.
Leading under pressure is a skill you can develop. Natural temperament and emotional control can help, but they don't guarantee success. Leaders must learn to recognize changing expectations, understand their impact, and adjust their behavior.
Understand your identity before trying to change your performance. Effective leadership goes beyond learning communication techniques or running better meetings. It requires clarity about who you are, what you stand for, and what your organization needs from you.

Notable Quotes

"When the waters are calm, it's to some extent it's easy to lead."
"They have one single playbook, that's their version of leadership and they apply every single time everywhere."
"The point is having the methodology bringing to life because my perspective is there is no really conversation happening at that level. That the level of an introspection about your own identity, how to lead."

Connect with Andrea Petrone:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreapetrone/
Other: Reinvention at the Top (book)

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CO-HOST | Make Money Saving Consumers Millions by Making Subscriptions Easier to Cancel Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and producer Eric sit down for a conversation about subscription fatigue, frustrating customer experiences, and a new policy in New York City designed to make canceling subscriptions easier. They discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new click-to-cancel rule, share their own experiences trying to escape unwanted gym memberships and activity-tracking subscriptions, and explore why businesses that make it easy for customers to leave may actually be better positioned to earn their business again in the future. Along the way, they also talk about technology overload, the appeal of analog tools, and why sometimes simpler really is better.

On this episode we talk about:

New York City's click-to-cancel rule and how it aims to protect consumers from deceptive subscription practices
Personal experiences with difficult cancellation processes at Planet Fitness and WHOOP
Why forcing customers through surveys, retention offers, and unnecessary steps creates a poor customer experience
How making subscriptions easy to cancel can build trust and increase the likelihood that customers return
Subscription fatigue, technology overload, and the growing appeal of books, notebooks, journaling, and other analog alternatives

Top 3 Takeaways

Make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. If customers can subscribe with one click, they shouldn't have to navigate a maze of phone calls, surveys, and retention offers to leave. A straightforward cancellation process respects their time and autonomy.
A frustrating customer experience can cost you future business. Making it difficult for customers to cancel may keep them paying temporarily, but it can leave them so frustrated that they refuse to return—even if they previously liked the product.
Not every problem needs more technology. Subscriptions, apps, notifications, and connected devices can add unnecessary complexity. Sometimes simpler, more tactile alternatives like paper notebooks and journaling offer a welcome break from digital overload.

Notable Quotes

"No one should need 45 minutes of hold music to stop paying for something they never wanted." — Quoted by Eric from Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement
"If a company can take your money with one click, you should be able to get your money back with one click." — Quoted by Eric from Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement
"When I'm forced through all these hoops, I just go like, I'm never doing this again." — Travis, on frustrating subscription cancellation experiences

Connect with Travis Chappell:

Instagram: @travischappell
Other: https://travischappell.com

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INTERVIEW | Make Money Understanding the Chip Industry, AI’s Future, and the Coming Quantum Computing Revolution with Rakesh Kumar Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

Rakesh Kumar is a professor and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar in computer engineering at the University of Illinois and a renowned expert on semiconductors. His research has helped shape the chips powering the phones, tablets, and computers we use every day, and he has advised chip companies, startups, governments, and intelligence firms. In this episode, Rakesh breaks down the fascinating history of computer chips, explains how advances in chip technology have fueled the AI boom, and explores how quantum computing could transform everything from scientific discovery to cybersecurity. He is also the author of the upcoming book The Chip Age: How Semiconductors Became the World's Most Powerful Resource.

On this episode we talk about:

How computer chips work, why they're so revolutionary, and the history behind their invention
Moore's Law and how the semiconductor industry has continually doubled the number of transistors on a chip
The relationship between AI's growth, computing power, and the billions of dollars being invested in chip technology
How quantum computing differs from traditional computing and when it could become commercially useful
The potential impact of quantum computing on encryption, weather forecasting, drug discovery, and material science

Top 3 Takeaways

Technology advances when people turn ambitious goals into industry-wide priorities. Moore's Law began as an observation about transistor growth, but the semiconductor industry adopted it as a goal and worked collectively to keep pushing the limits of computing power.
AI and semiconductors depend on each other. More powerful chips made modern AI possible, while AI's growing commercial potential is driving further investment in chip development. However, this feedback loop also raises the stakes if either industry fails to deliver.
Quantum computing could unlock solutions to problems traditional computers struggle to solve. From discovering new drugs and materials to improving weather predictions, quantum computers could make complex scientific problems more tractable. But building useful, cost-effective systems remains a major engineering challenge.

Notable Quotes

"Think of a chip as essentially an electronic tiny brain."
"Moore's Law, it was no law at all. It was just an observation that somebody made."
"Science continues to be very hard."

Connect with Rakesh Kumar:

Other: Check out his book, The Chip Age: How Semiconductors Became the World's Most Powerful Resource.

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CO-HOST REPOST | Make Money by Redefining Traditional Gender Roles, part 2 Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

In this two-part conversation, Travis Chappell dives into the nuanced decisions couples face around career, parenting, and societal expectations. Picking up from part one, Travis explores what it means to support a partner, balance personal ambition, and navigate cultural pressures around stay-at-home roles, both for women and men. This episode blends practical advice, personal anecdotes, and cultural commentary to help listeners rethink traditional expectations.

On this episode we talk about:

How couples can decide who stays home without feeling societal pressure
The psychological dynamics and respect factors in modern household roles
Lessons from Travis’s own family experience and experimentation over a decade
The influence of feminism, tradition, and societal messaging on career and parenting choices
Strategies for testing and adapting your life choices as circumstances evolve

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:
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- When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to ⁠LegalZoom.com⁠ to get started!⁠⁠⁠

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INTERVIEW | Make Money by Turning Initiative into Opportunity with Celeste Durve Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Celeste Durve is a founder, writer, and speaker exploring the intersection of emotional intelligence, personal development, and modern success. She is the founder and CEO of Viper, a national staffing, talent, and experiential advisory firm, and the creator of Smart is Sexy, a rapidly growing media platform and Substack community with more than 300,000 readers. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Celeste built her business without a college degree or an entrepreneurial background, starting with unpaid internships and small event-staffing opportunities before growing into a multi-market company. In this episode, she shares how to create opportunities for yourself, validate business ideas, and build a life through execution rather than excuses.

On this episode we talk about:

How Celeste turned unpaid work into a business opportunity, starting with a $100 payment for her early event-staffing services.
Why you don't necessarily need a college degree to succeed—and how to evaluate whether higher education makes sense for your goals.
Why testing an idea with paying customers is more valuable than relying on surveys, assumptions, or AI-generated encouragement.
How Celeste rebuilt her business after COVID and grew Viper into multiple markets while developing new experiential marketing programs.
How Smart is Sexy grew to more than 300,000 readers by sharing honest, practical advice about personal responsibility, self-development, and execution.

Top 3 Takeaways

Create opportunities instead of waiting for permission. Celeste started by offering her services for free to gain experience and prove her concept. When an employer rejected her idea, she tested it independently with people in her network. You don't need someone else's approval to take the first step.
Validate ideas through actual sales. Positive feedback doesn't necessarily mean people will pay for your product or service. Start small, find someone willing to buy, and use real customer feedback to refine your offering. Execution—not the idea itself—is what determines whether a business has potential.
Build stability by taking ownership of your future. Celeste's desire for stability came from her upbringing and led her to build a business she could control. Entrepreneurship comes with uncertainty, but developing valuable skills, adapting to setbacks, and managing your finances can help you navigate the ups and downs.

Notable Quotes

“If nobody's offering you opportunity, it's up to you to create it.”
“You're the only success is in execution and actually making a sale.”
“I was always a big believer in not being just a victim to my circumstances.”

Connect with Celeste Durve:

Website: https://celestedurve.com/
Instagram: Celeste Durve, Smart is Sexy, Viper
Other: Smart is Sexy on Substack

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CO-HOST REPOST | Make Money by Redefining Traditional Gender Roles, part 1 Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis sits down with his in-house producer to unpack how modern couples can navigate money, marriage, and identity when traditional gender roles are flipped or blurred. Drawing on Travis’s own journey with his wife Jackie—from dual incomes to traditional roles and back again—they explore what actually works for a relationship financially and emotionally, beyond cultural or religious expectations.

On this episode we talk about:

Growing up in patriarchal, religious environments and how that shapes money and marriage expectations
How Travis and Jackie experimented with dual-income dynamics and evolving career goals
The emotional impact on men when their partner earns more—and what that does to their sense of masculinity
Why Travis and Jackie ultimately decided to return to more traditional roles and how it affected their finances and happiness
How high-earning couples can creatively structure childcare, lifestyle, and work (nannies, travel, homeschooling, etc.)

Top 3 Takeaways

You cannot copy-paste “ideal” gender roles from culture or religion; you have to design a structure that actually works for your specific relationship and be brutally honest about it.
Financial contribution is not the only measure of value in a relationship—clear communication about expectations, roles, and respect matters more than who brings in the bigger paycheck.
Traditional roles often work well for many couples, but they should be a conscious, strategic choice based on strengths, earning power, and personal fulfillment—not just “the way it’s always been done.”

Notable Quotes

"We were doing this almost for the sake of combating traditional gender roles, but at the detriment of our own financial success and happiness."
"My ability to earn so far outweighs her ability to earn with our current skill sets that it just doesn’t make sense for me to spend my time cleaning the house or worrying about dinner."
"You have to be willing to say some of the quiet parts out loud if you want to find what’s really going to work for your relationship."

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!

- When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started!

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INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building AI Tools That Cut Costs with Marko Mandaric Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Marko Mandaric is a technology entrepreneur and former visual effects artist whose work has appeared in major Hollywood productions, including The Avengers. A self-taught computer enthusiast who built his first computer at nine and sold his first website at eleven, Marko has spent his career turning technical skills into business opportunities. After working in VFX and co-founding a consumer automotive hardware company that shipped products to nine countries, he's now building Sense, a company focused on making AI accessible without expensive subscriptions or reliance on third-party services. In this episode, Marko shares his unconventional career journey and explains how personal computing could be entering its next major evolution.

On this episode we talk about:

How Marko turned a self-taught skill into a $600 website sale at age eleven and landed a $50-per-hour VFX job at eighteen.
What it was like working on The Avengers and creating movie-quality visual effects under intense deadlines.
Why Marko left traditional employment for contracting and eventually transitioned from visual effects into hardware entrepreneurship.
How his new company, Sense, aims to make AI accessible at home and for businesses without recurring subscription fees or third-party service dependencies.
Why leveraging the computing power people already own could change how businesses use AI and dramatically reduce operating costs.

Top 3 Takeaways

You don't always need a degree to monetize a valuable skill. Marko taught himself website development and visual effects, then found people willing to pay for what he could deliver. Identify a skill you can develop independently, solve a real problem, and let the results speak for themselves.
Don't be afraid to experiment with unconventional career paths. Marko moved from self-taught VFX work to major Hollywood projects, automotive CGI, contracting, and hardware entrepreneurship. Skills developed in one industry can translate into unexpected opportunities in another.
Look for expensive problems that technology can solve. Marko sees an opportunity to reduce AI costs by using computing resources people already have rather than relying entirely on paid services. For entrepreneurs, identifying a recurring expense and finding a more efficient way to handle it can create significant value.

Notable Quotes

“I don't need formal training for this. I can just go do good work and go make money.”
“Computers are semi-ambient, they sit around us, they do nothing most of the time. We should leverage them, turn them into machines that actually do stuff for us.”
“Personal intelligence I think is about to be the next huge wave that changes things.”

Connect with Marko Mandaric:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markomandaric/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkomandaric/
Other: Sense — Learn more about Marko's work to make AI more accessible and affordable.

A Word from Our Sponsors:

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CO-HOST | Make Money with or without a TEDx Talk Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

In this co-hosted episode, Travis and Eric riff on TED vs. TEDx, the evolution of “thought leadership,” and why people love to critique things that have genuinely helped millions. They also dig into how ideas spread today, the difference between real credibility and checkbox credentials, and why simple, boring actions still beat fancy labels when it comes to actually making money.

On this episode we talk about:

* Whether TED and TEDx talks still matter for credibility in 2026 * Why not all “bestselling author” or “TEDx speaker” titles are created equal * How great ideas rise above the noise regardless of the label on them * Why people love to criticize helpful platforms instead of doing the work themselves * When a TEDx talk or self-published book is actually worth doing for your brand

Top 3 Takeaways

1. There’s a massive difference between a TED talk and a TEDx talk—one is a global, highly curated stage, the other is much more accessible and variable in quality. 2. Labels like “TEDx speaker” or “bestselling author” can help, but only if the underlying work is excellent; the best ideas and books win because they’re good, not because of the stamp. 3. Time spent tearing down platforms that help millions is usually better spent creating something great yourself and letting the market decide its value.

Notable Quotes

* “If you don’t like it, just don’t watch it—you don’t need a Reddit thesis about why something that helps people is dumb.”

* “It’s the difference between an Amazon bestseller and a New York Times bestseller—same label, wildly different signal.”

* “You have to earn the right not to do the things you don’t like to do.”

Connect with Travis:

* Travis on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠

* Travis on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠

* Podcast: Travis Makes Money on all major podcast platforms - leave a review and we'll love you forever!

* Website: https://travischappell.com

- When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started!

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INTERVIEW | Make Money by Aligning Your Values, Building Trust, and Leading with Integrity with Julian Blair Baldwin Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

Julian Blair Baldwin is an author, leadership thinker, and founder of Cohere Leadership Group who helps leaders bridge the gap between their values and their actions. After more than 20 years in corporate leadership, including serving as a senior vice president at a $34 billion company, Julian has developed a framework for building trust, navigating personal growth, and leading with consistency. His book, To Zuri, written as a series of letters to his daughter, explores the lessons he has learned through grief, struggle, and self-discovery—and how those lessons can help others build a meaningful legacy.

On this episode we talk about:

Why Julian wrote To Zuri for his daughter and the importance of passing down life lessons, not just memories and accomplishments.
How to question inherited beliefs, challenge assumptions, and develop principles based on your own experiences.
Why personal growth often requires unlearning behaviors that once helped you survive but no longer serve you.
How leaders can build trust by aligning their personal values with their professional actions.
The connection between trust, employee engagement, productivity, and long-term business performance.

Top 3 Takeaways

Examine the beliefs you inherit. The values and assumptions passed down by family, culture, and life experiences can shape your decisions without you realizing it. Take the time to question them, understand where they came from, and decide which principles you genuinely want to live by.
Let your principles evolve as you grow. Behaviors that help you navigate one stage of life may hold you back in another. Stay open to new information, learn from difficult experiences, and have the courage to update your perspective when reality challenges what you once believed.
Build trust by living consistently. Your values shouldn't change depending on whether you're at work, at home, or around different people. As Julian puts it, “You have one life, so you should have one set of standards.” Consistency between your words and actions strengthens relationships, leadership, and organizational culture.

Notable Quotes

“I didn't want my daughter to just inherit a highlight reel of my career and a resume and keepsakes. I wanted her to have my interpretation and what my life meant to me.”
“What worked in one setting didn't work in another setting.”
“You have one life, so you should have one set of standards.”

Connect with Julian Baldwin:

Website: https://julianblairbaldwin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baldwinjulian1
Other: Look for To Zuri on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Julian is also the founder of Cohere Leadership Group.

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- When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started!

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