Podcast Summary: Travis Makes Money

Episode: Make Money by Doing In Person Podcast Interviews

Host: Travis Chappell
Date: January 3, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the advantages and business opportunities of conducting podcast interviews in person rather than virtually. Travis Chappell, joined by a co-host, shares practical advice and real-world experiences on why in-person interviews lead to better podcast content, deeper connections, a stronger brand presence, and even ways to monetize the experience. The discussion covers logistical considerations, potential downsides, and actionable tips for podcasters aiming to grow their audiences and income.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why In-Person Podcast Interviews Are Superior

• Connection and Content Quality:
  • In-person interviews create a stronger personal connection and naturally lead to richer, more dynamic conversations.
  • Zoom or Riverside interviews often suffer from technical glitches and restricted conversational flow because only one person can be clearly recorded at a time.
    • Travis: “If the question that you’re asking yourself at home...is it worth recording in person versus doing it over Zoom? And the answer is a resounding hell yes.” (02:00)
  • Spontaneity and overlapping dialogue—a hallmark of real-life conversations—are lost online.
• Social Media Performance:
  • In-person content looks and feels more engaging on social platforms; viewers can immediately tell the difference in energy and authenticity.
  • Only shows with significant fame “face recognition” can get away with purely virtual formats without hurting engagement (e.g., “The Kelsey Brothers”, “SmartLess”).
• Flexibility and Flow:
  • Longer, more flexible interviews are easier in person; online, they tend to feel like rigid Zoom meetings with strict cut-offs.
    • “With virtual...Sometimes you have that feeling of, like, it’s a Zoom meeting. It’s done at 11:59.” (13:49, Co-host)

2. Logistical and Financial Challenges

• Studio Fees and Travel:
  • Booking studios for every in-person interview is expensive and can quickly add up (e.g., $7,000/month for frequent use).
  • Time and effort are required for travel and logistics, which doesn’t always balance with the return unless managed carefully.
    • Travis: “They booked an hour. It’s 27 minutes there, 27 minutes back, some banter before, some after...this just took up my entire afternoon.” (08:53)
• Cost/Benefit Analysis:
  • Sometimes, even if the studio cost is covered by the guest, the time investment isn’t worth it for the podcaster unless there’s additional compensation or value.
  • Travis mentions beginning to charge guests who specifically request in-person interviews to make it worth his while, recognizing the additional value provided (e.g., extra video content).
    • “That’s why now we charge for some of the ‘Travis Makes Money’ interviews in person...if you want me to do extra stuff for you, then we’re gonna charge for this and we’ll make it better.” (10:02)

3. Hybrid Strategies & Real Examples

• Hybrid Approach for Volume:
  • For large-scale content like ‘Travis Makes Money’ (TMM), it’s practically impossible to do everything in-person due to volume—up to 30 interviews per month.
  • Standard workflow: Do an initial virtual (e.g., “snack-size”) interview, then, if synergy is strong, schedule a longer, deeper in-person session when feasible.
• Upgrading Virtual to In-Person:
  • Virtual interviews can serve as a stepping stone, allowing for a future, more extensive in-person conversation if mutual interest exists.
    • Example: Travis interviewed John Levy virtually, then followed up with a comprehensive in-person session when Levy visited Las Vegas.
      • “We had a great conversation on the 25-minute virtual. So I was just like, hey, when you come to Vegas...we recorded like a 90-minute in-person interview.” (11:26)
• In-Person Studio Dynamics:
  • Studios rarely offer behind-the-scenes (“BTS”) or green room footage, but this could be a valuable service to differentiate content.

4. Monetizing In-Person Interviews

• Charging for Premium Experiences:
  • If a guest wants the higher-quality, in-person treatment, adding fees is fair—especially if it includes extras like content clipping and social-ready video assets.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On In-Person Energy:

  • “As much as ‘vibes’ is a buzzword that everybody uses all the time now, it is a real thing in person...you get a little bit better energy in the room, a little more creativity, better flow, better questions, better answers.” (14:05, Travis)

• About Managing Expectations:

  • “Just because they were willing to pay for the studio does not mean that it was worth the time it took...in the future, if somebody wants...we’re gonna charge for this.” (09:53, Travis)

• On City Choice for Networking:

  • “There’s so many people that come through Las Vegas, so I can catch them when they’re in transit rather than being in Lancaster, which is a place that nobody comes through ever.” (15:17, Travis)

• Rating the Vibes:

  • [Co-host asks:] “On a scale from 1 to 10, what do you rate the vibes of this conversation?”
  • [Travis:] “Vibes are solid. Seven? Six, six, six, three.” (16:30)
  • [Co-host:] “The vibes just dropped like a four, so let’s go ahead and close out.” (16:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:00 – Why in-person is much better than Zoom or Riverside: connection, content quality, and technical/flow limitations of virtual interviews.
• 04:45 – The challenge of social media “split screen” content and its lower performance vs. in-person clips for small brands or shows.
• 05:37 – Logistical hurdles of going fully in-person for high-volume shows; cost and feasibility.
• 08:34 – Real talk: Regret over investing in some in-person interviews due to hidden time/effort cost.
• 10:02 – Introducing paid in-person interviews for guests who specifically want them, and added value (e.g., video packages).
• 11:26 – Example of upgrading virtual conversation to full-fledged in-person session (with John Levy).
• 13:49 – The “Zoom meeting” problem—virtual is, by default, less personal and more rigid.
• 14:05 – The importance of “vibes,” energy, and natural conversational flow in person.
• 15:17 – Why Travis moved to Vegas for in-person guest opportunities.

Takeaways & Actionable Advice

• If possible, prioritize in-person interviews for better content and stronger relationships.
• Weigh the financial and time costs of doing everything in person; hybrid approaches can work for high-volume podcasters.
• Don’t be afraid to charge for “premium” in-person interview experiences, especially when providing extra value.
• Use virtual interviews as networking footholds for deeper in-person connections down the line.
• Physical location matters—choose a city where guests naturally transit (e.g., Las Vegas) to maximize in-person opportunities.

Final Thought:
Travis closes by reminding listeners: “Money only solves your money problems. But it’s easier to solve the rest of your problems when you got money in the bank. So let’s solve that one first here on the Travis Makes Money podcast.” (16:47)