Podcast Summary:
Travis Makes Money
Host: Travis Chappell
Episode: SOLO | Make Money by Buying Back Your Time
Date: February 13, 2026
Episode Overview
In this solo episode, host Travis Chappell explores one of his core beliefs: time is more valuable than money. He discusses how this mindset shifted his approach to success and finances, emphasizing that learning to make (and use) money wisely is essential—not just for financial freedom, but for reclaiming the most finite resource we all have. Travis shares personal stories about investing in himself, reframing self-education and coaching as a way to buy back time, and ultimately encourages listeners to rethink how they allocate both time and money.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The True Hierarchy: Time Over Money
- Travis introduces the episode by challenging the conventional pursuit of wealth at the expense of time, positing:
“Time is the most valuable asset that we have. And ultimately, time is more important than money.”
[00:17] - He notes that while many people agree with this superficially, their actions suggest otherwise.
2. Investing in Yourself as a "Time Shortcut"
- Travis recalls his first major self-investment—a personal podcast coach when launching his show:
“It was the reframe I needed to convince myself that investing into me was probably the number one thing I could do.”
[01:40] - He details his initial scarcity mindset, struggling to justify the cost, but ultimately realizing the coach helped speed up his success—getting sponsorships and growth more quickly than if he’d gone it alone.
Notable anecdote:
- The story of collaborating with Castbox (podcast platform) came directly from a coach’s advice, leading to a significant audience spike.
“That one relationship was probably responsible for more growth in my show than any other single thing.”
[04:50] - Investing in masterminds opened the door to coaching referrals, boosting his business and enabling him to move from door-to-door sales into full-time podcasting, even while downsizing his personal lifestyle for financial focus.
[06:35]
3. The Logic: Buying Back Your Time
- Travis defines money as merely a means of exchange:
“Money is simply the means of exchange. That’s it. ... The best use of exchanging that money is typically going to be something that will either make you more money or something that gives you back time.”
[11:50] - He recounts investing over $400k into coaching, education, and masterminds over 7-8 years, choosing personal growth over status items (he drove the same “crappy 2015 Camry”):
[12:00]
4. Three Reasons Why Time > Money
-
(1) Time is Nonrenewable:
“Money is renewable. You can make more of it. … Time is absolutely not renewable.”
[13:20]- Travis shares a thought experiment: if you’re 90 and win the lottery, you’d trade all the money to be 20 again.
“Warren Buffett said the same thing…even they in their mid-90s would say, ‘yeah, I’d give up every single penny that I have just to go back and again, because time is the only thing that is non renewable.’”
[15:19] -
(2) Money’s Value Depends on Time:
- The urgency and value of money only exist because life is finite.
“The very reason that money has any value whatsoever is because it exists within the framework of a time, like an expiration date.”
[16:10] -
(3) Time Determines a Good Life:
“Show me somebody who spent their time doing something they love… and I’ll show you somebody who’s probably happy, fulfilled, lived life mostly regret free.”
[17:01]- The biggest regrets of dying people, he notes, are about misused time, not missed money.
5. Actionable Perspective on Money and Time
- Travis advocates for periods of disciplined, hard, and smart work to generate surplus money early, then using it to buy back time and create freedom.
“It’s not just work harder. There’s plenty of people who work 100 hours a week and are still dead broke. And it’s not just a work smarter thing… [You need] working smarter and harder for 5 to 10 years, then you can sort of have this optionality...”
[18:20] - Happiness, in his view, comes from creating the option to spend time meaningfully—not from pursuing “retirement on the beach.”
6. Call to Action & Challenge
- Travis invites listener debate and engagement:
“Time is more valuable than money. Convince me I’m wrong, and I’ll buy you a steak dinner.”
[20:57]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- [01:40] “If you don’t have a lot of money to invest, then probably the best thing that you can invest in is yourself. It’s the only investment that always has a return.”
- [04:50] “That one relationship [with Castbox] was probably responsible for more growth in my show than any other single thing that I had done up to that point.”
- [13:20] “Money is renewable. You can make more of it. … Time is absolutely not renewable.”
- [15:19] “Warren Buffett said the same thing... I’d give up every single penny that I have just to go back [in time].”
- [17:01] “Show me somebody who spent their time doing something they love… and I’ll show you somebody who’s probably happy, fulfilled, lived life mostly regret free.”
- [20:57] “Time is more valuable than money. Convince me I’m wrong, and I’ll buy you a steak dinner.”
Important Timestamps
- 00:17: The value of time over money—core theme introduced
- 01:40 – 08:00: Travis’ transformational journey through self-investment and coaching
- 11:50: Money as a means to buy time, not the end goal
- 13:20 – 17:01: The “three reasons” time trumps money, with stories and analogies
- 18:20: The case for short-term hustle to buy long-term time freedom
- 20:57: Closing challenge and call for listener engagement
Tone & Language Notes
Travis speaks with conviction and relatability—sharing honest financial struggles, offering practical advice, and maintaining a conversational, motivating tone designed to empower ordinary listeners as “money-makers.” He’s direct, occasionally humorous, and challenges typical personal finance shaming, instead advocating for positive, proactive steps.
Summary Takeaway
Travis Chappell’s episode is a compelling case for putting time first. His message: don’t just aim to make more money—use that money strategically to reclaim your time, invest in yourself, and build a meaningful, regret-free life. The sooner you learn to make money work for you, the sooner you can buy back your most precious asset.