Podcast Summary: Travis Makes Money

Episode: INTERVIEW | Make Money Redefining Vegas Nightlife: Wellness Events with Mikey Margolin
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Mikey Margolin, Founder of Etho Wellness Club
Date: February 9, 2026

Main Theme

This episode explores how Mikey Margolin is innovating the Las Vegas social scene by redefining nightlife through wellness-driven events. Moving away from the city's hedonistic reputation, Mikey and Etho Wellness Club curate healthy, community-centered gatherings that appeal to locals seeking connection without the typical Vegas vices. The conversation delves into Mikey’s personal motivations, the business’s grassroots growth, overcoming entrepreneurial challenges, and visions for a sustainable, flourishing third-space in Vegas and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Genesis of Etho Wellness Club

• Vegas Culture and the Wellness Void:
  • Growing up in Vegas, Mikey witnessed firsthand the unsustainable nature of the city's party lifestyle (01:43).
  • Mikey: "As you get older, like, this is just not a sustainable lifestyle... I wanted to start to curate an environment that fostered wellness."
• Personal Motivation:
  • Mikey’s realization stemmed from battling his own cycles with drugs, alcohol, and gambling, prompting him to create spaces for healthy fun (02:59).
  • Mikey: "Why does it always have to be...the people that want to be healthy have to be the ones that sacrifice?" (03:32)
• Professional Background:
  • Transitioned from finance, cryptocurrency, and sports betting after having a "wake up call" about his own lifestyle and values (03:57–04:22).

2. The Highs and Lows of Building a New Social Paradigm

• Highs:
  • Mikey finds community reaction and support incredibly rewarding—“the amount of support is unbelievable” (05:07).
  • The journey gives him "goosebumps" seeing the impact and growth of wellness in Vegas.
• Lows:
  • The business model of events is labor-intensive, with thin margins and high burnout potential (05:30).
  • Mikey: “Margins, you know, aren’t great at all...We’re doing just enough to continue to push this forward.”

3. Secrets of Event Execution and Community Growth

• Building Community First:
  • 33+ events in just eight months reflects organic momentum and grassroots strategy (06:20).
  • Secret Sauce:
    • A committed team passionate about the vision ("phenomenal team") (07:07).
    • Keep it simple—initial marketing relied on face-to-face flyer distribution at gyms and businesses, not just digital ads (07:07–07:50).
    • Word of mouth led to inbound interest and partnerships post-first event.
    • Mikey: "After [the] very first event...it was all inbound inquiries, companies reaching out, being like, we want to be a part of this." (08:35)
• Growth in Community Demand:
  • The influx of new residents post-COVID brought mindsets favoring holistic lifestyles, fuelling Etho's momentum (09:49–10:52).
  • Vegas is shifting, with local demand rising while traditional vices show slowing trends.

4. Navigating Doubts and Embracing Uncertainty

• Response to Naysayers:
  • Some questioned how wellness events could be sustainable, financially (11:33–11:49).
  • Mikey attributes his trust in the mission’s power to "The Surrender Experiment" philosophy—embracing serendipity and opportunity as they come (11:49).
    • Mikey: “I truly believe that what this mission is...is so powerful that things will fall into place to allow this to continue to grow.” (12:12)
  • Many unexpected doors have opened: partnerships with Puma, Lululemon, hosting at major locales, and collaborations with schools and nonprofits (12:35).
• Letting Go of Security for Opportunity:
  • Travis uses the "closed fist vs. open hand" analogy to reflect the risk in letting go of a steady job in favor of uncertain, purpose-driven work (13:14–13:32).
    • Travis: "It's really, really difficult to catch any opportunities that are coming your way if your hand is constantly tightened around holding the things that you currently have."

5. Vision for the Future: The Third Space

• Short-term:
  • Opening a dedicated brick-and-mortar wellness club—a "home base" for their community, featuring amenities like saunas, cold plunges, movement spaces, and social hangouts (15:32–16:46).
    • Mikey: "The main goal is to create that third space that everyone is seeking...Another place to go and maybe you just want to get out of the house."
• Long-term:
  • Potential to expand to other cities, but focus remains on Vegas until the core model is perfected (17:31–19:00).
    • Inspired to create accessible, non-exclusive wellness clubs, unlike Soho House or Equinox.
    • Mikey: “We want to build a space that anyone can go to that wants to be a part of it....This is about making people feel better by being together.” (17:52)
• Iterative, Community-driven Development:
  • Continuous event feedback informs club design; community needs determine amenities and offerings (18:24–19:00).

6. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

• Creating Space and Taking Action:
  • Mikey encourages carving out tangible time for ideation and early steps, even while working a regular job (19:40).
    • Mikey: “Open space, to allow yourself to pursue something new...Maybe on a Saturday or Sunday…put nothing on the calendar except just spending time with yourself and thinking through what you want to do.” (19:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:43] Mikey Margolin:
  "Going out partying, drinking, gambling, drugs, all of it that Vegas is known to have...as you get older, like this is just not a sustainable lifestyle."
• [03:32] Mikey Margolin:
  "Why does the people that want to be healthy have to be the ones that sacrifice? Why can't we create the environments where the healthy ones are being celebrated?"
• [07:07] Mikey Margolin:
  "Having a phenomenal team. You have to have people that believe in this vision...And that team continues to grow because people believe in what we're doing."
• [08:35] Mikey Margolin:
  "After the very first event...it was all inbound inquiries, companies reaching out, being like, we want to be a part of this."
• [12:12] Mikey Margolin:
  “I truly believe that what this mission is and what we're trying to do for the city is so powerful that things will fall into place to allow this to continue to grow.”
• [13:14] Travis Chappell:
  "It's really, really difficult to catch any opportunities that are coming your way if your hand is constantly tightened around holding the things that you currently have."
• [17:52] Mikey Margolin:
  "We want to build a space that anyone can go to that wants to be a part of it...This is about making people feel better by being together."
• [19:40] Mikey Margolin:
  "The best advice...is to open space, to allow yourself to pursue something new...block it off on a calendar to take a step forward."

Important Timestamps

• 01:43: Mikey’s motivations for wellness-based social alternatives in Vegas
• 02:59: Personal experience fueling lifestyle change
• 05:07: Highs and lows of the event business
• 07:07: Event execution strategy—team and grassroots marketing
• 09:49: Local demographic shift fueling demand
• 11:49: Facing skepticism and trusting in the mission
• 15:32: Brick-and-mortar vision and third-space solution
• 17:31: Possibility of scaling to other cities, focus on accessibility
• 19:40: Advice for early-stage entrepreneurs

Takeaways for Listeners

• Innovating in saturated markets is possible with a clear, authentic mission and grassroots tactics.
• Wellness and nightlife aren’t mutually exclusive—community and healthy living are in demand, even in Vegas.
• Building a business without a rigid plan can work if you trust your core vision and adapt to community feedback.
• Real community engagement and simplicity in execution can outperform over-engineered marketing strategies.
• Letting go of security is scary but may be necessary for genuine opportunity and impact.
• Accessible 'third spaces' fill a growing need for connection and healthy socializing.

Connect with Etho Wellness Club:

• Instagram: @ethoclub
• Website: ethoclub.com