Travis Makes Money

In this episode, Travis is joined in-studio by his producer Eric for what might be one of the most immediately actionable conversations on the show. Instead of theory or strategy, they uncover a real, overlooked way to find money that may already belong to you. From live searches to calling family members on-air, this episode walks through how unclaimed property works—and how you could have cash waiting for you right now. On this episode we talk about: What “unclaimed property” is and how it works across all 50 states How to search for money that may already belong to you or your family Real examples of found money (from a few dollars to thousands) Why billions of dollars are sitting unclaimed in government accounts How this could turn into a simple side hustle or even a scalable business Top 3 Takeaways There is potentially free money sitting in your name right now—searching your state’s unclaimed property database takes just minutes. Small amounts add up, and even finding money for friends and family can create real value (or a side income). Simple, overlooked opportunities—like this—often get ignored because they sound “too good to be true,” but are completely legitimate. Notable Quotes "I guarantee you—I’m going to make you and your family money today." "This is literally free money sitting there with no catch." "The money isn’t in finding money—it’s in finding people who don’t know they have it." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shane Sams is a speaker, entrepreneur, and master storyteller who's helped generate more than $25 million in sales through storytelling, webinars, and organic content marketing. He's the founder of The Great Men Project — a community focused on helping men redefine success, reclaim purpose, and build great lives on their own terms. Shane’s journey from high school teacher to multimillion‑dollar entrepreneur is a masterclass in self‑reinvention and the power of owning your story. On this episode we talk about: How Shane left teaching to pursue entrepreneurship and financial freedom Why “controlling your income” is the key to total life freedom The illusion of job security and how embracing uncertainty fuels growth How to avoid chasing dreams that aren’t really yours Why midlife isn’t a crisis but a turning point — and how The Great Men Project helps Top 3 Takeaways Control equals freedom. When you control how, when, and where you earn, you take back power over your life. Growth is clarity, not just scale. Bigger numbers don’t always mean better living — focus on personal expansion, not just business revenue. Reinvention is survival. Every season of life calls for a fresh version of you; embrace the reboot rather than fear it. Notable Quotes “Income equals freedom. If you control how you make money, when you make money, where you make money, that’s how you build the life you want.” “You can fail at what you don’t want, so why not take a chance on what you love?” “When you destroy the old way, something new can be created from the pieces — you’re not catching lightning in a bottle, you are the lightning.” Connect with Shane Sams: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-sams-03199136/ Twitter/X: twitter.com/shane_sams Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanesamscreates/ Website: greatmen.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this solo episode, Travis breaks down his personal framework for deciding which side hustles are actually worth your time, energy, and attention. Using real-world examples and mindset shifts, he shows you how to stop numbing out with Netflix and impulse buys and start using your “5-to-9” to escape a job you hate and build something you actually enjoy. On this episode we talk about: Why “burn the boats” advice is dangerous for most people with families, mortgages, and real responsibilities The mindset trap of tolerating a job you dislike and using money and free time to self-soothe instead of change your situation How to reallocate your free time and extra cash toward skills, side businesses, and opportunities that create leverage The four key qualifications of a good side hustle: fun, worth your time, scalable, and low cost to start Examples of side hustles that cap your income (like rideshare) versus ones that can grow into full-time businesses Top 3 Takeaways If you’re stuck in a job you don’t like, your free time and extra money must stop being used for escape and start being used for skills, leverage, and new opportunities. A great side hustle is enjoyable enough to stick with, pays you a meaningful hourly rate (or builds valuable skills/connections), and has the potential to scale beyond trading time for dollars. Start with low-cost experiments instead of high-risk plays; prove the model, learn the game, then scale into bigger bets once you know you actually like the work. Notable Quotes “You can’t have everything you want without having sacrificed to get it. At some point, a sacrifice will be required.” “Money’s like a relationship, man. You’ve got to treat it well, treat it with respect…you want money to love spending time with you.” “Just because you can make some money doing something doesn’t mean it’s worth the time it takes to make that money.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Travis is joined in-studio by his producer Eric for a candid, unscripted conversation reacting to viral clips, popular financial advice, and real-life experiences. Instead of a traditional guest interview, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Travis thinks about money, relationships, and long-term success—blending humor, disagreement, and practical wisdom along the way. On this episode we talk about: Whether getting married helps or hurts your ability to build wealth The dangers of following cultural expectations around marriage and success Why building wealth the “right way” often beats building it fast Breaking down viral business advice and whether it actually holds up The simple (but not easy) fundamentals of building long-term wealth Top 3 Takeaways The biggest life decisions—like marriage—should never be made based on external pressure; timing and alignment matter more than arbitrary rules. Building wealth is simple but not easy: consistency, discipline, and long-term thinking beat get-rich-quick strategies every time. The “fastest” way to success is often the least sustainable—building a strong foundation early leads to bigger outcomes over time. Notable Quotes "Don’t make the biggest decision of your life just because you think it’s what you’re supposed to do." "The boring, unsexy way is usually the way that actually works." "Your spouse marries two people—the person you are and the person you want to become." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Kim is a three-time bestselling author, speaker, and strategic advisor who helps thought leaders, coaches, and authors turn what they do best into intellectual property that actually scales. He’s generated over $5M in revenue from his expertise, wrote the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller You Are the Brand, and has worked with New York Times bestselling authors and experts featured on PBS, TED, CNN, and Fox. In addition to speaking at events like South by Southwest, Social Media Marketing World, and Podcast Movement, he hosts the top-rated Brand U podcast, giving him a unique vantage point on where personal branding and AI are headed next. On this episode we talk about: Shutting down a successful marketing agency to build a lean, lifestyle-friendly business around coaching, communities, and IP How AI is reshaping creative work and why deep expertise and lived experience still command a premium The “time, money, or skills” framework for building offers that people will always pay for Turning one core set of ideas into multiple streams of income by niching your IP into specific industries Why building an audience now is non‑negotiable, even if you don’t yet know what you’ll sell Top 3 Takeaways You can intentionally downsize from an overextended agency into a lean business built on coaching, communities, and IP—and often make more while enjoying life more. In an AI world, the most defensible asset is your combination of deep expertise, clarity of thinking, and ability to apply principles to specific people and markets. If you help people make or save time, money, or skills—and you pair that with an owned audience—you’ll always have a path to six or seven figures. Notable Quotes “If your business helps people make money, make time, or gain a skill—or saves them from any of those—you will make money no matter what.” “AI can pull the levers, but it can’t replace years of insight, wisdom, and lived experience in a specific domain.” “Don’t wait to build an audience until you know what to sell. Build the audience now—future you will know exactly how to serve them.” Connect with Mike Kim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekim X: https://x.com/mikekimtv Other: https://mikekim.com  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this solo episode, Travis breaks down why he still believes buying a home is worth it, even in a high-price, high-interest-rate environment. Drawing from his own journey of buying, selling, and renting in different markets, he walks through the numbers, the mindset, and the long-term strategy that make homeownership a powerful wealth-building tool—not just a “nice to have.” On this episode we talk about: Why some finance voices say “don’t buy a house” and where Travis lands after years of going back and forth How owning a home creates a deeper sense of community, belonging, and personal responsibility Why your primary residence acts as a forced savings plan for people who struggle to keep excess cash in the bank The math behind rent vs. mortgage over 30 years, including appreciation, inflation, and total cash outlay When it actually makes sense to prioritize flexibility and renting—and how to still get into real estate if you love the renter lifestyle Top 3 Takeaways Even if your primary home isn’t a classic “cash-flowing asset,” it still forces you to save, build equity, and hedge against inflation in a way rent never will. Over a 30-year period, locking in a fixed mortgage can save you hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars versus renting a similar home as rents rise with inflation. If you value flexibility, you can still rent where you live—but you should be looking for ways to own real estate somewhere so you’re not stuck paying ever-increasing rent forever. Notable Quotes “If you buy a house, just freaking keep that thing, man. If it’s at all possible for your finances, keep the damn home.” “Your rental expense will never go away. It will never be zero. One of these options helps hedge against inflation; the other makes you lose money for the rest of your life.” “Over 30 years, I basically get paid to live in this house, while the renter in the same place is out two million dollars with nothing to show for it.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Travis sits down with his friend and recurring co-host Eric to unpack what it actually means to be “overpaid” and why most entrepreneurs are dramatically undercharging for the value they create. Through personal stories, client examples, and a few well-placed quotes from Alex Hormozi and The Alchemist, they break down how to think about pricing from your ideal client’s perspective instead of your own bank account. On this episode we talk about: Why being called “overpaid” can be a sign you’re finally monetizing your skill set correctly How blue‑collar beliefs about “real work” can sabotage modern knowledge workers and creators Pricing from your client’s lens: why an extra $1,500 a month means nothing to an eight‑figure business if you deliver The danger of projecting your own budget onto high‑net‑worth clients and how it limits your earning power Why charging more often lets you overdeliver: better support, better tools, and a better overall client experience Top 3 Takeaways If no one has ever thought or said you’re “overpaid,” you’re probably under‑monetizing your skills and anchoring your prices to your own finances instead of your client’s value. Your job is not to decide whether your pricing is “too much”; your buyer decides based on the size of their problem, their resources, and the results you deliver. When you charge enough, you can overdeliver—hire support, use better software, and create a premium experience that makes higher prices feel like a no‑brainer to the right clients. Notable Quotes “You cannot price the things that you are selling based on your ability to pay for those things.” “Is it overpriced, or is it undervalued? The only person that gets to decide that is the person who’s paying you.” “Never ask the universe for less, because if you do, it might hear you and give you less next time.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Alvarez is the founder of SoundShed Studios, a rapidly growing turnkey design and build company specializing in high-end podcast studios and custom creative spaces. Starting with a background in music, AV, and IT, Matt’s entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly during the pandemic—when he landed his first major client: Joe Rogan. Since then, he’s scaled SoundShed into a multi-million dollar business serving top-tier creators, comedians, and brands, becoming a go-to name for fully automated, production-ready studio environments. On this episode we talk about: How Matt went from musician and IT worker to founder of a multi-million dollar company Landing Joe Rogan as his very first client—and delivering under extreme pressure Why podcast studios became a booming (and previously non-existent) industry Building a turnkey, “one-button” content production system for creators Expanding beyond studios into luxury gyms, saunas, and custom lifestyle spaces Top 3 Takeaways You don’t need a perfect plan—just say yes to the right opportunity and figure it out as you go. Simplicity scales: the easier you make your product for the end user, the more valuable it becomes. Your first big break can define your trajectory—if you deliver उत्कृष्ट results under pressure. Notable Quotes "It wasn’t this grand plan—I just said yes and figured it out." "Most people don’t want complexity—they want to press one button and create." "Right place, right time—but you still have to be the right person to execute." Connect with Matt Alvarez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-alvarez-0955179a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundshedstudios Other: https://soundshedav.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though this is a solo episode, Travis steps in as your guide through one of the most underrated money-making skills: managing your reactions in a world engineered to keep you emotionally hijacked. Drawing from personal stories, psychology, and stoic philosophy, he walks through his BASS Method—Breathe, Ask, Solve, Share—to help you turn everyday frustrations into opportunities for growth, better relationships, and ultimately better decision-making in life and business. On this episode we talk about: How media and marketing are designed to make you feel lonely and “not enough” Why negativity bias makes certain ads and headlines so effective The Victoria’s Secret body positivity example and what it reveals about identity and marketing The BASS Method: Breathe, Ask, Solve, Share (Travis’s reaction management framework) How to reframe “bad days” and emotional triggers into opportunities for connection and growth Top 3 Takeaways Your environment is saturated with negative messaging, but you can reclaim control by intentionally managing your reactions instead of letting emotions run your day. The BASS Method—take three deep breaths, ask better questions about your feelings, solve from a calm, third-party perspective, and share the win with someone close—helps you build a stronger identity as someone who handles problems with composure. Most events are neutral; your perception creates the story. Learning to interrogate your feelings in the middle of an emotional spike gives you more power, better relationships, and less unnecessary suffering. Notable Quotes “We have to become proficient at distracting ourselves from the distractions.” “Most events are just events. We have the ability to control whether or not we perceive it to be a good or bad event.” “Ultimately, nobody else has power over my emotional state except for me.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this co-hosted episode, Travis is joined in studio by his producer Eric for a fun, fast-paced conversation about wealth-building, viral money clips, and what most people get wrong about “getting rich.” They react to Kevin O’Leary’s story about his mom quietly becoming wealthy by putting 20% of every paycheck into dividend-paying stocks and bonds for decades, riff on the clickbait culture around money advice, and then bring it back to Travis’s core philosophy: build wealth slowly and predictably, but don’t postpone your entire life until retirement. Along the way, they veer into Oscars memes, Macaulay Culkin’s ridiculous legal name change, and a hilarious thought experiment involving Kevin O’Leary, a ping pong paddle, and “how much would it take?” On this episode we talk about: Kevin O’Leary’s mom’s simple investing rules and how she quietly built serious wealth over 60+ years Why “a little bit of money over a long period of time” is the boring but reliable path to getting rich The danger of panic-selling during market crashes and why Travis treats long-term investments as “gone” The tension between saving aggressively for the future and actually enjoying your life in the present How to think about increasing your income so 20% investing doesn’t mean 0% joy Clickbait money culture, viral Diary of a CEO clips, and Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin A ridiculous (and very on-brand) segment about what it would take to let Mr. Wonderful spank you with a ping pong paddle Top 3 Takeaways Consistency beats complexity: Automatically investing a fixed percentage of your income into broad, dividend-paying markets and not touching the principal over decades is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth. Your biggest enemy is usually your own behavior; panic-selling in downturns destroys long-term gains, which is why Travis mentally treats invested money as off-limits instead of “available cash.” Don’t sacrifice your entire present for a hypothetical future—if 20% investing leaves you with nothing for experiences you care about, the real assignment is to raise your income so you can fund both your future and your current life. Notable Quotes “Once I invest the money, it’s gone. I shipped it overseas to go fight my war for me.” “You’re purposefully choosing a worse life now for a better one later, which is usually good—but if you only ever do that, you never really enjoy the present.” “If you think there’s no number, you’re lying to yourself. There’s always a number.” Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices