You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.
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You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.
In this episode, Travis and his producer tackle a common question: what should a young person do with their first $10,000—put it into stocks, real estate, or a business? They use that prompt to unpack why there is no real “easy button,” why business and skill-building usually beat passive investing early on, and how to think about risk, regret, and investing in yourself over the long term.
On this episode we talk about:
Why, if “invest in yourself” is temporarily off the table, Travis would still choose investing in a business over stocks or real estate for a young person with $10k
The realities of real estate beyond HGTV—hidden costs, thin margins, contractor issues, and why most successful investors built deep, specialized knowledge first
How to think about risk on a 10–30 year life horizon instead of obsessing over what happens to your money in the next 90 days
The mindset shift from hoarding cash to using money as energy that has to flow out (into skills, deals, and experiments) in order to flow back in
Practical first steps for “investing in yourself” the right way: books, free content, then targeted coaching once you have clarity on your path
Top 3 Takeaways
For most ambitious young people, betting on a business or income-producing skill will build wealth much faster than passively drip-feeding small amounts into the market and hoping compound interest saves them.
There is no legitimate get-rich-quick path; every real success story involves tests, failed bets, and money lost along the way, so plan for the rule (steady action and learning) rather than the rare exceptions.
Start small and cheap with self-investment (books, podcasts, YouTube), use that to gain clarity, and then don’t be afraid to spend meaningfully on coaching or education that directly improves your ability to earn.
Notable Quotes
“The inability to make a decision will always cost you more money than making the bad decision.”
“Money is energy—it has to flow out in order to flow in.”
“You can’t plan your life around being the exception; plan for the rule, and if you end up the exception, great.”
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Travis Makes Money
You can't save your way to your dream life anymore. The truth is, you’re gonna need to learn to make more money. The Travis Makes Money Podcast is not your typical personal finance show. Rather than shaming you for buying a Starbucks coffee or pressuring you to become a billionaire, we focus on empowering you to make more money so you can enjoy life today while preparing for your future. You don’t have to cut back so much that you miss out on the present, and you don’t need to become the next Jeff Bezos either. Hosted by veteran podcaster Travis Chappell, each daily episode features interviews with regular people just like you – yes, you – who have learned how to make more money in unique and unconventional ways. From turning side hustles into an extra six figures to building massive business empires, these conversations dive into the mindset shifts, hard-earned lessons, and simple strategies that helped these individuals succeed. With over 1,000 podcast episodes under his belt, Travis has developed a unique ability to pull out inspiring stories and practical advice you can apply to your own financial journey that you just won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you’re looking for strategies on side hustles, skill building, investing, building generational wealth, or just motivation to take your next steps, this podcast is your resource. Tune in daily for insights, actionable tips, and inspiration from some of the most successful and interesting money-makers on the planet.