Podcast Summary: Travis Makes Money

Episode: INTERVIEW | Make Money by Turning Podcast Skills Into a Profitable Agency
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Seth Silvers, Founder & CEO of StoryOn
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on how podcasting skills can be transformed into a consistent, profitable business. Travis interviews Seth Silvers, founder and CEO of StoryOn, a podcast agency that works with top business names like Alex and Leila Hormozi and Patrick Lencioni. The discussion dives into Seth’s journey from generalist marketing work to building a niche podcast agency, key lessons on offer creation, pricing, and the shifting landscape of podcasting as a business tool.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Generalist to Niche Podcast Agency

• Early Business Days:

  • Seth started StoryOn to help businesses market through authentic storytelling—first via blogs, social media, and videos before narrowing focus to podcasting.
  • [02:31] Seth: "Pretty much. Honestly, I've kind of told people, like, I felt like I was kind of prostituting myself in some ways...I was doing almost anything that somebody would ask me related even tangentially to like storytelling and marketing for money."

• Discovering Podcasting’s Potential:

  • Seth launched a podcast to tell local business stories, accidentally discovering how it built his reputation and business pipeline.
  • [04:21] Seth: "It was this weird, like, transfer of trust...when people see you show up in a quality way, they transfer that trust...how you do anything is how you do everything."

2. The Hidden Value of Having a Podcast

• Even with a small audience, a well-executed podcast can elevate the creator’s credibility and open business doors, independent of direct advertising revenue.
  • [05:14] Travis: "Regardless of the size of your audience, it still boosts your credibility just to have it there."
• The lagging effect of podcasting—opportunities arise from being seen as a competent creator, not just audience size.

3. Monetization for Creators Beyond Sponsorships

• Monetization is Tough for Most:
  • Many aim to moneytize via sponsorships but the top 0.1% capture most ad revenues.
  • [08:46] Travis: "It’s not that easy...the top 0.1% of podcasts are making 95 of total revenue going into the podcasting space in terms of sponsors anyway."
• Offering Services as a Producer:
  • Skill in producing/editing a podcast is itself valuable. Many podcasters need technical support.
  • Network outreach and offering editing/production to others is often the fastest path to income.

4. Turning Skills Into an Agency: The Breakthrough Moment

• Seth’s Make-or-Break Pivot:
  • Crisis point: Business was $30,000 in debt, only handled by ignoring it—until it wrecked his credit.
  • [11:26] Seth: "I was ignorant enough that I didn't know that business debt impacted personal credit...So my wife saw it, and she was like, what the heck is this?"
  • Seth’s solution: Four months of total focus, letting go of unrelated clients, networking hard, and clarifying the exact business problem he solved.
  • [12:45] Seth: “Just being willing to have those conversations…was a game changer.”

5. Pricing Services & Structuring Offers

• Profit First Approach:

  • Implementing the financial strategy in "Profit First" was key to escaping debt and creating sustainable pricing.
  • [13:53] Seth: "The number one reason that I don't have more money in my bank account...has been pricing and either being insecure around pricing or ignorant around pricing...Reading [Profit First] and actually implementing it…immediately…got me out of debt and making more money within six months.”

• Tiered Offers for Access:

  • A premium, done-for-you service is justified by offering scalable, lower-priced content or resources for others.
  • [15:53] Seth: "...now, like, we are, like, we're in kind of the upper echelon in the industry of, like, pricing per episode, it's definitely not $30 an episode anymore...if that's not the right fit for you, here's some other content and resources to help you out."

• Justifying Pricing with Clear Structure:

  • Providing reasoning for rates makes sales easier and positions the agency as service-oriented.
  • [16:38] Travis: "If you can just give the reason, give the justification, then a lot of times people will be like, okay, sure, that makes sense. All right, let's do it."

• Involving the Team in Pricing:

  • As teams grow, it’s crucial to consult them on the time/effort required for delivery, avoiding undervaluation.
  • [17:25] Seth: "...if the pricing stays in my head alone and the workload stays in my head, I'm usually going to be off somewhere."

6. Serving High-Value Clients & Rejecting a “Race to the Bottom”

• Competing only on price doesn't work—focus on premium service for premium clients, who value quality and reliability.

  • [19:13] Travis: "You want more money. Solve rich people problems because they pay better...Go find people who have more money to throw at the problem...actually be good at what you do."

• [20:29] Seth: "We really don't have an interest in like, trying to, trying to play the, like, race to the bottom game...our team...being like, what do we want to do for them? What's the value that we want to give?"

• Product Ladder Model:

  • Done-for-you at a premium for high-level clients.
  • Consulting for smaller companies to "do it with you."
  • Free/low-ticket content for "do it yourselfers."

7. Podcasting Industry Trends & Where to Focus

• Video is the Default:

  • Any podcast should default to video unless there’s a strong reason not to.
  • [22:50] Seth: "You need to have a reason to not do video as opposed to a reason to do video."

• Clarify Your Podcast’s Role:

  • Podcasts fall into three types: hobby, business (advertising driven), or business-supporting (marketing/authority tool). Confusion leads to misplaced expectations.
  • [23:16] Seth: "We have a lot of people that have hobby podcasts that are treating...their expectations are that their podcast is a business when it's not and it shouldn't be."

• Brand Building vs. Direct Monetization:

  • Most client podcasts support broader business goals, with podcasts functioning as middle-of-funnel brand and trust builders.
  • [24:07] Seth: "...we are not positioning podcasting as a tool as a way to get more customers. That's a byproduct...We're positioning a podcast as like a multi channel brand that builds reputation and trust around your business over the next two to three years."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:21] Seth Silvers: "When people see you show up in a quality way, they transfer that trust."
• [05:14] Travis: "Regardless of the size of your audience, it still boosts your credibility just to have it there."
• [11:26] Seth Silvers: "I was ignorant enough that I didn't know that business debt impacted personal credit...my wife saw it...so we kind of had this moment where we realized, like, at this point, I just have a job that's not...I might as well just go work for somebody else."
• [13:53] Seth Silvers: “The number one reason that I don't have more money in my bank account...has been pricing and either being insecure around pricing or ignorant around pricing."
• [15:53] Seth Silvers: "For me and how I want to help everybody, I've needed that lower tier stuff that people can say yes to, so that then I feel more justified and more comfortable being like, if you want us to actually do it for you, it's going to be like a premium amount."
• [19:13] Travis: "You want more money. Solve rich people problems because they pay better."
• [22:50] Seth Silvers: "...you need to have a reason to not do video as opposed to a reason to do video."
• [24:07] Seth Silvers: "We're positioning a podcast as like a multi channel brand that builds reputation and trust around your business over the next two to three years."

Important Timestamps

• [02:31–04:15] — Seth’s entry into storytelling & transition to podcasting
• [08:46–13:04] — Strategies for turning a podcast skill into a side hustle/agency
• [11:26–13:45] — Seth’s debt crisis and business pivot
• [13:53–16:38] — Pricing, "Profit First" insights, and tiered service structure
• [19:13–22:10] — Race to the bottom vs. premium clients and service
• [22:50–24:07] — Industry trends: video-first and brands using podcasts as marketing tools

Connect with Seth & Learn More

• LinkedIn: Seth Silvers ([25:28])
• Website: storyon.co

This episode delivers actionable advice and illuminating personal stories for creators looking to monetize their podcasting skills—whether as a side hustle, agency offering, or as an extension of their business. Seth and Travis keep it authentic, candid, and grounded in real results, offering a premium playbook for service providers in the ever-evolving podcast economy.