Travis Makes Money

CO-HOST | Make Money with Nothing Bundt Cakes

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis and producer Eric dive into the surprising $2 billion sale of Nothing Bundt Cakes and unpack what it says about franchising, private equity, branding, and scaling a simple business model into a nationwide empire. Along the way, they debate whether private equity ruins beloved brands, swap stories about junk food cravings, cake shakes, and Vegas dessert spots, and explore why some businesses become cultural staples while others disappear overnight. It’s a fun conversation filled with business lessons hiding inside frosting and franchise fees. On this episode we talk about: The $2 billion acquisition of Nothing Bundt Cakes and why the valuation shocked Travis and Eric How private equity firms evaluate food and franchise businesses Why simple restaurant concepts often scale better than complicated menus The economics behind franchise royalties, marketing fees, and expansion Whether acquisitions actually ruin product quality — or if consumers just assume they do The psychology of dieting, cravings, and moderation when it comes to junk food Why businesses like Chipotle, Raising Cane's, and Dave's Hot Chicken scale so efficiently How attention, branding, and operational simplicity create massive enterprise value The surprising size and reach of the Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise network Travis and Eric’s favorite cakes, desserts, and Vegas food spots Connect with Travis: Instagram: @TravisChappell Other: travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com today and launch your career! To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney 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

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TMF PREVIEW | Make Friends with Chris Voss

Yesterday00:24:32Summary ready

What if the fastest way to get a “yes”… is to stop asking for it? In this preview episode of Travis Makes Friends, Travis sits down with legendary FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss to challenge one of the most ingrained habits in communication: chasing agreement. Instead, Chris introduces a counterintuitive approach—go for “no”—and explains why it actually builds trust faster, lowers resistance, and leads to better outcomes in both business and everyday life. Chris breaks down how “yes” has been overused—and even weaponized—leaving people guarded and skeptical. On the flip side, saying “no” makes people feel safe and in control. That subtle psychological shift can completely change the tone of a conversation. You’ll hear practical examples of how to reframe common questions, like swapping “Do you have a minute?” for “Is now a bad time?”—a small tweak that can instantly make people more open and engaged. The conversation also dives into the power of lowering expectations before making an ask. By “labeling” a request as inconvenient or even ridiculous upfront, you trigger a sense of relief when the actual ask turns out to be reasonable. Chris explains how this taps into natural human wiring—and why, when used ethically, it can strengthen collaboration rather than manipulate it. Travis and Chris explore how these techniques apply far beyond high-stakes negotiations—from customer service interactions to romantic relationships to everyday moments like ordering dinner or asking for help in a grocery store. At its core, this approach isn’t about winning at someone else’s expense—it’s about creating outcomes where both sides feel understood, respected, and satisfied. You’ll also hear why preparation matters more than talent in negotiation, how focusing too narrowly on a specific outcome can cause you to miss better opportunities, and why the best negotiators stay flexible across multiple “levers” of value—not just price. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with traditional sales tactics, struggled to ask for what you want, or wondered how to communicate more effectively without coming across as pushy, this preview will give you a completely new lens on influence and connection. Hit play to learn why the word “no” might be the most powerful tool you’re not using—and how a simple shift in language can transform the way you negotiate, connect, and build relationships.**Join the Black Swan Community with Chris Today!** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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SOLO | Make Money by Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 4

Yesterday00:19:23Summary ready

Host Travis walks through how to follow up like a pro, respect your guest’s time, and turn a 30‑day DM challenge into real relationships and opportunities. Drawing on over a thousand interviews, he breaks down the mindset, cadence, and etiquette that separate annoying outreach from respected professional persistence. On this episode we talk about: Setting a smart follow‑up cadence instead of DMing people every day The difference between professional persistence and pushy persistence Respecting time: sticking to the agreed‑upon interview length Why you should never pitch, sell, or auto‑subscribe guests without permission How to track outreach, spot patterns, and leverage niche credibility over 30 days Top 3 Takeaways Professional persistence wins long term: follow up on a widening cadence so you stay on people’s radar without becoming the annoying person in their inbox. Honor what you asked for — the time, the purpose, and the boundaries of the conversation — or you’ll lose trust, referrals, and future access to their network. Focus on inputs you control: five DMs a day for 30 days builds confidence, communication skills, and a real network, even if many people say no or never respond. Notable Quotes "Professional persistence wins over time. Pushy persistence wins a little bit, but will piss people off more than it wins." "You're already asking in your favor. It doesn’t do them much benefit to say yes to you — it does you a lot of benefit." "You can't control how many people say yes at first, but you can control how many people you reach out to." Connect with Travis: Instagram: @TravisChappell Other: travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit www.fanvue.com today and launch your career! To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney 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

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CO-HOST | Make Money with Media IP, Streaming Rights & The Walking Dead

2d ago00:22:51Summary ready

In this episode, Travis Chappell and producer Eric dive into the business behind entertainment franchises, streaming rights, and why intellectual property can become one of the most valuable assets in media. Using The Walking Dead as the centerpiece of the conversation, they break down how legacy TV shows continue generating hundreds of millions of dollars long after their original run, the economics behind licensing content to streaming platforms like Netflix, and why some media companies struggle even with iconic brands. The conversation also explores storytelling, bingeability, and what creators can learn from both hit and failed entertainment properties. On this episode we talk about: Why AMC is exploring new licensing deals for The Walking Dead The economics of intellectual property and streaming rights Why some TV shows become timeless rewatchable hits while others fade away The differences between bingeable sitcoms and serialized dramas What creators and entrepreneurs can learn from the unpredictable nature of hit media Top 3 Takeaways Intellectual property becomes exponentially more valuable when it gains cultural relevance and long-term audience loyalty. Even massive production budgets and star actors cannot guarantee success — timing, audience connection, and luck still play major roles. Companies grow faster when they focus on their core strengths instead of trying to control every piece of distribution themselves. Notable Quotes “The currency is attention.” “You can’t just decide that something’s going to end up like Seinfeld.” “Having a plan does not mean it’s going to be successful.” Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: @travischappell Website: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit Fanvue today and launch your career! To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to Mode Mobile Investor Community Travis Makes Money is made possible by HighLevel – 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 today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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INTERVIEW | Make Money with the Queen of Pitch, Forbes Riley

2d ago00:44:07Summary ready

Forbes Riley is a globally recognized communication expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author known as the “Queen of Pitch.” With more than $2.5 billion in product sales across live television, home shopping, and infomercials, Forbes has built an extraordinary career helping people sharpen their message, boost confidence, and sell more effectively. In this episode, she shares the incredible journey from struggling actress to world-class pitch expert, the lessons she learned from building the iconic SpinGym brand, and how her daughter helped turn her pitching expertise into a multimillion-dollar education company. On this episode we talk about: How Forbes Riley accidentally became one of the most successful TV sales personalities of all time The story behind building and scaling the SpinGym brand Why pitching is the most important business skill anyone can develop How Forbes and her daughter built a million-dollar business through webinars and online education Why live social shopping and TikTok Shop represent the future of selling online Top 3 Takeaways Selling is really about communication and storytelling — the best pitches connect emotionally before they persuade logically. If you want to become a better entrepreneur, start by selling someone else’s product first to build real sales skills without emotional attachment. Live commerce and social shopping platforms like TikTok Shop are creating massive opportunities for creators and entrepreneurs who know how to pitch effectively on camera. Notable Quotes “A pen like this can touch somebody’s heart.” “Life happens for you, not to you.” “If you don’t focus, you don’t scale.” Connect with Forbes Riley: Instagram: @ForbesRiley LinkedIn: Forbes Riley Website: https://forbesriley.com/ Training: Pitch Secrets Training A Word from Our Sponsors: Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit Fanvue today and launch your career! To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to Mode Mobile Investor Community Travis Makes Money is made possible by HighLevel – 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 today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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SOLO | Make Money by Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 3

2d ago00:17:43Summary ready

Travis is a podcast host, interviewer, and creator who’s running a 30-day interview challenge and sharing practical outreach, scheduling, and interview-prep tactics from his experience booking guests and growing a show. On this episode we talk about: How to structure DM outreach to get podcast interview yeses Why short video messages beat long written pitches in DMs Scheduling and reducing friction (Calendly tips and what not to ask) Ten to fifteen high-leverage interview questions to use repeatedly How to use informational interviews to build confidence and get warm intros Top 3 Takeaways Use short personalized video DMs and a one-sentence link to your about page to prove legitimacy and avoid wasting the recipient’s time Don’t over-prepare or wait for a perfect script — send lots of messages, iterate quickly, and systematize what works for you Make scheduling frictionless (Calendly + minimal form fields), avoid asking guests to do your prep work, and always ask for introductions to scale bookings Notable Quotes "The only real question you have to answer in these reach-outs is are you going to waste my time?" "You can't think your way into becoming the kind of person who reaches out to people who are seemingly out of your league. You reach out your way into becoming that person." "Don't wait — start doing it. By day seven when you've sent 30 of these things, you will feel wildly more confident." Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: Are you ready to start your own creator journey and make it big? Visit [www.fanvue.com] today and launch your career! To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to [https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney] 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

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CO-HOST | Make Money with a Tier List: Ranking Financial Influencers

3d ago00:28:43Summary ready

In this special episode, host Travis sits down with producer Eric to rank some of the biggest names in financial advice. From real estate moguls to personal finance gurus, they debate who deserves S-tier status and who falls short. The conversation reveals what makes financial advice trustworthy, the importance of balanced perspectives, and why conflicts of interest matter when following money influencers. On this episode we talk about: The tier system for ranking financial influencers (S-tier to D-tier) Graham Stephan's balanced approach to real estate and stock market investing The Ramsey personalities and their debt-free philosophy Robert Kiyosaki and Grant Cardone's polarizing investment strategies How to evaluate financial advice when influencers have products to sell Top 3 Takeaways Follow financial advisors who have tested multiple wealth-building vehicles (real estate, stocks, business) rather than those who only promote one investment type, as they provide more balanced and objective advice. Be skeptical when financial influencers sell products or services directly related to their advice—their recommendations may serve their financial interests more than yours, so interrogate the advice more carefully. Personal finance advice isn't one-size-fits-all; strategies like avoiding all debt and credit cards may work for some people but aren't necessarily optimal for everyone with financial discipline. Notable Quotes "Just because somebody is gaining something financially from their advice does not mean that their advice is incorrect. It does mean that you should interrogate the advice a little bit more and ask a couple more questions." "Do not treat men like gods. Do not look at anybody as they are the ultimate source of truth or you'll find yourself hurting for that decision." "Money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems if you got money in the bank." Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go tohttps://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney-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

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INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building Positive Habits That Compound Over Time with Jon Gordon

3d ago00:25:53Summary ready

Jon Gordon is a bestselling author, speaker, and leadership expert known for his work with Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and organizations around the world. With over 30 books—including The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive Leadership—Jon has helped millions improve their mindset, leadership, and performance. His latest book, The Power of Positive Habits, is a collection of proven strategies designed to help people elevate their lives through simple, consistent actions. On this episode we talk about: Why small, consistent habits have the biggest long-term impact on success The concept of the “habit before the habit” to reduce friction and build consistency How gratitude practices like the “thank you walk” can rewire your mindset The difference between building habits vs. building a better life Why focusing on just 1–3 habits is more effective than trying to change everything at once Top 3 Takeaways You don’t need dozens of habits—just one or two consistently applied habits can change your life. Reducing friction (the “habit before the habit”) makes it much easier to follow through. Your daily habits ultimately determine your success—good habits create a good life, great habits create a great life. Notable Quotes "One habit can literally change the course of your life." "Don’t listen to yourself—talk to yourself." "Bad habits create a bad life, good habits create a good life, great habits create a great life." Connect with Jon Gordon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongordonenergy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jongordon11/ Other: https://powerofpositivehabitsbook.com A Word from Our Sponsor: Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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SOLO | Make Money By Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 2

3d ago00:19:00Summary ready

On this solo episode, host Travis shares a personal, behind-the-scenes look at how strategically reaching out to people you admire can transform your career and expand your sense of what is possible. Drawing from his own experiences in podcasting and entrepreneurship, he walks through how he went from dreaming about conversations with icons like Shaquille O’Neal and Joe Gatto to building real relationships with them over time. On this episode we talk about: How a “dream guest” list turned into real conversations with Shaquille O’Neal and Joe Gatto Why proximity, rejection therapy, and exposure change your sense of what’s possible A 30-day outreach challenge to build relationships through cold DMs How to structure short interviews and reuse the same core questions for different guests What to say in a DM (and what to absolutely avoid, including AI-written outreach) Top 3 Takeaways Your sense of what’s possible expands as you consistently put yourself in proximity to people you once thought were unreachable, even if it starts with a simple DM. Focus on inputs you can control—like sending five personalized cold DMs per day for 30 days—instead of obsessing over outputs you can’t guarantee, such as who says yes. Lead with genuine value and specificity in your outreach: personalize your message, keep it short, make a clear ask, and reduce friction so busy people can easily say yes. Notable Quotes “Every real conversation removes a little bit of the intimidation tax that you’ve been paying your whole life leading up to this point.” “The point is not that every successful person becomes your mentor; the point is that your sense of what’s possible continues to expand.” “For the love of God, please do not have AI write your DMs for you—if you don’t know how to write a 50-word outreach, that’s exactly what you should be working on.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go tohttps://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney-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

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CO-HOST | Make Money by Building Your Mount Rushmore of Mentors

4d ago00:21:54Summary ready

Travis and his producer Eric break down the idea of a personal “Mount Rushmore” of high‑value influences and why picking the right people to follow can make you more successful and less susceptible to the spammy, scammy side of self‑help and business content. They use a viral clip about “the most attractive man in America” as a humorous jumping‑off point to talk about substance over style in the online influencer world. On this episode we talk about: Why the phrase “high value man” has become a cringe trigger and what people really mean when they say it. Using a funny viral clip to pivot into a serious conversation about who actually influences your thinking and behavior. Travis’s Mount Rushmore of mentors: Naval Ravikant, Adam Grant, Mark Manson, and Gary Vaynerchuk, and why each one made the cut. How Adam Grant’s “Give and Take” reshaped Travis’s philosophy on relationships, giving, and long‑term success. Naval’s concept of unique value and building a skill stack that creates a “market of one,” plus how that ties wealth creation to genuine happiness. Top 3 Takeaways Curate your influences with intention: the people you follow most closely should be data‑driven, non‑reactionary, and focused on truth over polarization or cheap virality. The most successful people tend to be strategic givers, not takers or strict matchers, and adopting a give‑first mindset can fundamentally change your relationships and opportunities. Long‑term leverage comes from stacking skills into a unique value proposition so you become a “market of one,” doing work that feels like play to you but looks like work to everyone else. Notable Quotes “You’re basically just calling him hot, but you want to say it in a masculine way, so you’re like, ‘he’s just so high value.’ You wanted to say sexy.” “Give and Take fundamentally shifted the way that I view relationships and the value that’s given in relationships because of the givers, takers, matchers thing.” “It’s not just about creating one skill set that’s marketable… it’s about the ultimate skill stack you create over a long enough period of time so you can create a market of one.” Connect with Travis: Instagram: https://instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer! - To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go tohttps://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney -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

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All episodes

CO-HOST | Make Money with Nothing Bundt Cakes

TMF PREVIEW | Make Friends with Chris Voss

SOLO | Make Money by Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 4

CO-HOST | Make Money with Media IP, Streaming Rights & The Walking Dead

INTERVIEW | Make Money with the Queen of Pitch, Forbes Riley

SOLO | Make Money by Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 3

CO-HOST | Make Money with a Tier List: Ranking Financial Influencers

INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building Positive Habits That Compound Over Time with Jon Gordon

SOLO | Make Money By Having the Conversations You've Been Avoiding, part 2

CO-HOST | Make Money by Building Your Mount Rushmore of Mentors