CO-HOST REPOST | Make Money by Redefining Traditional Gender Roles, part 2

In this episode of the Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and producer Eric sit down for a conversation about subscription fatigue, frustrating customer experiences, and a new policy in New York City designed to make canceling subscriptions easier. They discuss Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new click-to-cancel rule, share their own experiences trying to escape unwanted gym memberships and activity-tracking subscriptions, and explore why businesses that make it easy for customers to leave may actually be better positioned to earn their business again in the future. Along the way, they also talk about technology overload, the appeal of analog tools, and why sometimes simpler really is better. On this episode we talk about: New York City's click-to-cancel rule and how it aims to protect consumers from deceptive subscription practices Personal experiences with difficult cancellation processes at Planet Fitness and WHOOP Why forcing customers through surveys, retention offers, and unnecessary steps creates a poor customer experience How making subscriptions easy to cancel can build trust and increase the likelihood that customers return Subscription fatigue, technology overload, and the growing appeal of books, notebooks, journaling, and other analog alternatives Top 3 Takeaways Make it as easy to cancel as it is to sign up. If customers can subscribe with one click, they shouldn't have to navigate a maze of phone calls, surveys, and retention offers to leave. A straightforward cancellation process respects their time and autonomy. A frustrating customer experience can cost you future business. Making it difficult for customers to cancel may keep them paying temporarily, but it can leave them so frustrated that they refuse to return—even if they previously liked the product. Not every problem needs more technology. Subscriptions, apps, notifications, and connected devices can add unnecessary complexity. Sometimes simpler, more tactile alternatives like paper notebooks and journaling offer a welcome break from digital overload. Notable Quotes "No one should need 45 minutes of hold music to stop paying for something they never wanted." — Quoted by Eric from Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement "If a company can take your money with one click, you should be able to get your money back with one click." — Quoted by Eric from Mayor Zohran Mamdani's announcement "When I'm forced through all these hoops, I just go like, I'm never doing this again." — Travis, on frustrating subscription cancellation experiences Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: @travischappell   Other: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rakesh Kumar is a professor and John Bardeen Faculty Scholar in computer engineering at the University of Illinois and a renowned expert on semiconductors. His research has helped shape the chips powering the phones, tablets, and computers we use every day, and he has advised chip companies, startups, governments, and intelligence firms. In this episode, Rakesh breaks down the fascinating history of computer chips, explains how advances in chip technology have fueled the AI boom, and explores how quantum computing could transform everything from scientific discovery to cybersecurity. He is also the author of the upcoming book The Chip Age: How Semiconductors Became the World's Most Powerful Resource. On this episode we talk about: How computer chips work, why they're so revolutionary, and the history behind their invention Moore's Law and how the semiconductor industry has continually doubled the number of transistors on a chip The relationship between AI's growth, computing power, and the billions of dollars being invested in chip technology How quantum computing differs from traditional computing and when it could become commercially useful The potential impact of quantum computing on encryption, weather forecasting, drug discovery, and material science Top 3 Takeaways Technology advances when people turn ambitious goals into industry-wide priorities. Moore's Law began as an observation about transistor growth, but the semiconductor industry adopted it as a goal and worked collectively to keep pushing the limits of computing power. AI and semiconductors depend on each other. More powerful chips made modern AI possible, while AI's growing commercial potential is driving further investment in chip development. However, this feedback loop also raises the stakes if either industry fails to deliver. Quantum computing could unlock solutions to problems traditional computers struggle to solve. From discovering new drugs and materials to improving weather predictions, quantum computers could make complex scientific problems more tractable. But building useful, cost-effective systems remains a major engineering challenge. Notable Quotes "Think of a chip as essentially an electronic tiny brain." "Moore's Law, it was no law at all. It was just an observation that somebody made." "Science continues to be very hard." Connect with Rakesh Kumar: Other: Check out his book, The Chip Age: How Semiconductors Became the World's Most Powerful Resource. A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this two-part conversation, Travis Chappell dives into the nuanced decisions couples face around career, parenting, and societal expectations. Picking up from part one, Travis explores what it means to support a partner, balance personal ambition, and navigate cultural pressures around stay-at-home roles, both for women and men. This episode blends practical advice, personal anecdotes, and cultural commentary to help listeners rethink traditional expectations. On this episode we talk about: How couples can decide who stays home without feeling societal pressure The psychological dynamics and respect factors in modern household roles Lessons from Travis’s own family experience and experimentation over a decade The influence of feminism, tradition, and societal messaging on career and parenting choices Strategies for testing and adapting your life choices as circumstances evolve Connect with Travis Chappell: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com⁠ A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to ⁠LegalZoom.com⁠ to get started!⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celeste Durve is a founder, writer, and speaker exploring the intersection of emotional intelligence, personal development, and modern success. She is the founder and CEO of Viper, a national staffing, talent, and experiential advisory firm, and the creator of Smart is Sexy, a rapidly growing media platform and Substack community with more than 300,000 readers. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Celeste built her business without a college degree or an entrepreneurial background, starting with unpaid internships and small event-staffing opportunities before growing into a multi-market company. In this episode, she shares how to create opportunities for yourself, validate business ideas, and build a life through execution rather than excuses. On this episode we talk about: How Celeste turned unpaid work into a business opportunity, starting with a $100 payment for her early event-staffing services. Why you don't necessarily need a college degree to succeed—and how to evaluate whether higher education makes sense for your goals. Why testing an idea with paying customers is more valuable than relying on surveys, assumptions, or AI-generated encouragement. How Celeste rebuilt her business after COVID and grew Viper into multiple markets while developing new experiential marketing programs. How Smart is Sexy grew to more than 300,000 readers by sharing honest, practical advice about personal responsibility, self-development, and execution. Top 3 Takeaways Create opportunities instead of waiting for permission. Celeste started by offering her services for free to gain experience and prove her concept. When an employer rejected her idea, she tested it independently with people in her network. You don't need someone else's approval to take the first step. Validate ideas through actual sales. Positive feedback doesn't necessarily mean people will pay for your product or service. Start small, find someone willing to buy, and use real customer feedback to refine your offering. Execution—not the idea itself—is what determines whether a business has potential. Build stability by taking ownership of your future. Celeste's desire for stability came from her upbringing and led her to build a business she could control. Entrepreneurship comes with uncertainty, but developing valuable skills, adapting to setbacks, and managing your finances can help you navigate the ups and downs. Notable Quotes “If nobody's offering you opportunity, it's up to you to create it.” “You're the only success is in execution and actually making a sale.” “I was always a big believer in not being just a victim to my circumstances.” Connect with Celeste Durve: Website: https://celestedurve.com/ Instagram: Celeste Durve, Smart is Sexy, Viper Other: Smart is Sexy on Substack  A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis sits down with his in-house producer to unpack how modern couples can navigate money, marriage, and identity when traditional gender roles are flipped or blurred. Drawing on Travis’s own journey with his wife Jackie—from dual incomes to traditional roles and back again—they explore what actually works for a relationship financially and emotionally, beyond cultural or religious expectations. On this episode we talk about: Growing up in patriarchal, religious environments and how that shapes money and marriage expectations How Travis and Jackie experimented with dual-income dynamics and evolving career goals The emotional impact on men when their partner earns more—and what that does to their sense of masculinity Why Travis and Jackie ultimately decided to return to more traditional roles and how it affected their finances and happiness How high-earning couples can creatively structure childcare, lifestyle, and work (nannies, travel, homeschooling, etc.) Top 3 Takeaways You cannot copy-paste “ideal” gender roles from culture or religion; you have to design a structure that actually works for your specific relationship and be brutally honest about it. Financial contribution is not the only measure of value in a relationship—clear communication about expectations, roles, and respect matters more than who brings in the bigger paycheck. Traditional roles often work well for many couples, but they should be a conscious, strategic choice based on strengths, earning power, and personal fulfillment—not just “the way it’s always been done.” Notable Quotes "We were doing this almost for the sake of combating traditional gender roles, but at the detriment of our own financial success and happiness." "My ability to earn so far outweighs her ability to earn with our current skill sets that it just doesn’t make sense for me to spend my time cleaning the house or worrying about dinner." "You have to be willing to say some of the quiet parts out loud if you want to find what’s really going to work for your relationship." Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ Other: ⁠https://travischappell.com⁠ A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marko Mandaric is a technology entrepreneur and former visual effects artist whose work has appeared in major Hollywood productions, including The Avengers. A self-taught computer enthusiast who built his first computer at nine and sold his first website at eleven, Marko has spent his career turning technical skills into business opportunities. After working in VFX and co-founding a consumer automotive hardware company that shipped products to nine countries, he's now building Sense, a company focused on making AI accessible without expensive subscriptions or reliance on third-party services. In this episode, Marko shares his unconventional career journey and explains how personal computing could be entering its next major evolution. On this episode we talk about: How Marko turned a self-taught skill into a $600 website sale at age eleven and landed a $50-per-hour VFX job at eighteen. What it was like working on The Avengers and creating movie-quality visual effects under intense deadlines. Why Marko left traditional employment for contracting and eventually transitioned from visual effects into hardware entrepreneurship. How his new company, Sense, aims to make AI accessible at home and for businesses without recurring subscription fees or third-party service dependencies. Why leveraging the computing power people already own could change how businesses use AI and dramatically reduce operating costs. Top 3 Takeaways You don't always need a degree to monetize a valuable skill. Marko taught himself website development and visual effects, then found people willing to pay for what he could deliver. Identify a skill you can develop independently, solve a real problem, and let the results speak for themselves. Don't be afraid to experiment with unconventional career paths. Marko moved from self-taught VFX work to major Hollywood projects, automotive CGI, contracting, and hardware entrepreneurship. Skills developed in one industry can translate into unexpected opportunities in another. Look for expensive problems that technology can solve. Marko sees an opportunity to reduce AI costs by using computing resources people already have rather than relying entirely on paid services. For entrepreneurs, identifying a recurring expense and finding a more efficient way to handle it can create significant value. Notable Quotes “I don't need formal training for this. I can just go do good work and go make money.” “Computers are semi-ambient, they sit around us, they do nothing most of the time. We should leverage them, turn them into machines that actually do stuff for us.” “Personal intelligence I think is about to be the next huge wave that changes things.” Connect with Marko Mandaric: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markomandaric/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarkomandaric/ Other: Sense — Learn more about Marko's work to make AI more accessible and affordable. A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this co-hosted episode, Travis and Eric riff on TED vs. TEDx, the evolution of “thought leadership,” and why people love to critique things that have genuinely helped millions. They also dig into how ideas spread today, the difference between real credibility and checkbox credentials, and why simple, boring actions still beat fancy labels when it comes to actually making money. On this episode we talk about: *  Whether TED and TEDx talks still matter for credibility in 2026 *  Why not all “bestselling author” or “TEDx speaker” titles are created equal *  How great ideas rise above the noise regardless of the label on them *  Why people love to criticize helpful platforms instead of doing the work themselves *  When a TEDx talk or self-published book is actually worth doing for your brand Top 3 Takeaways 1.  There’s a massive difference between a TED talk and a TEDx talk—one is a global, highly curated stage, the other is much more accessible and variable in quality. 2.  Labels like “TEDx speaker” or “bestselling author” can help, but only if the underlying work is excellent; the best ideas and books win because they’re good, not because of the stamp. 3.  Time spent tearing down platforms that help millions is usually better spent creating something great yourself and letting the market decide its value. Notable Quotes *  “If you don’t like it, just don’t watch it—you don’t need a Reddit thesis about why something that helps people is dumb.” *  “It’s the difference between an Amazon bestseller and a New York Times bestseller—same label, wildly different signal.” *  “You have to earn the right not to do the things you don’t like to do.” Connect with Travis: *  Travis on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/travischappell⁠ *  Travis on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell⁠ *  Podcast: Travis Makes Money on all major podcast platforms - leave a review and we'll love you forever! *  Website: https://travischappell.com A Word from Our Sponsors:- The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julian Blair Baldwin is an author, leadership thinker, and founder of Cohere Leadership Group who helps leaders bridge the gap between their values and their actions. After more than 20 years in corporate leadership, including serving as a senior vice president at a $34 billion company, Julian has developed a framework for building trust, navigating personal growth, and leading with consistency. His book, To Zuri, written as a series of letters to his daughter, explores the lessons he has learned through grief, struggle, and self-discovery—and how those lessons can help others build a meaningful legacy. On this episode we talk about: Why Julian wrote To Zuri for his daughter and the importance of passing down life lessons, not just memories and accomplishments. How to question inherited beliefs, challenge assumptions, and develop principles based on your own experiences. Why personal growth often requires unlearning behaviors that once helped you survive but no longer serve you. How leaders can build trust by aligning their personal values with their professional actions. The connection between trust, employee engagement, productivity, and long-term business performance. Top 3 Takeaways Examine the beliefs you inherit. The values and assumptions passed down by family, culture, and life experiences can shape your decisions without you realizing it. Take the time to question them, understand where they came from, and decide which principles you genuinely want to live by. Let your principles evolve as you grow. Behaviors that help you navigate one stage of life may hold you back in another. Stay open to new information, learn from difficult experiences, and have the courage to update your perspective when reality challenges what you once believed. Build trust by living consistently. Your values shouldn't change depending on whether you're at work, at home, or around different people. As Julian puts it, “You have one life, so you should have one set of standards.” Consistency between your words and actions strengthens relationships, leadership, and organizational culture. Notable Quotes “I didn't want my daughter to just inherit a highlight reel of my career and a resume and keepsakes. I wanted her to have my interpretation and what my life meant to me.” “What worked in one setting didn't work in another setting.” “You have one life, so you should have one set of standards.” Connect with Julian Baldwin: Website: https://julianblairbaldwin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baldwinjulian1 Other: Look for To Zuri on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Julian is also the founder of Cohere Leadership Group. A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travis Chappell and producer Eric sit down for a conversation about spending money on the things that bring you genuine joy. From vintage James Bond movie posters and signed Star Wars memorabilia to Pokémon cards with the kids, they explore why not every purchase needs to generate a financial return. Travis shares how collecting can reconnect you with childhood interests, create unexpected connections with other people, and even open the door to teaching kids valuable lessons about money, commerce, and entrepreneurship. On this episode we talk about: Why it's okay to spend money on hobbies and collectibles that make you happy, even if they never increase in value How Travis scored an original The Spy Who Loved Me movie poster for just $75 and why meaningful collectibles are worth more than their resale price How collecting Pokémon cards with your kids can create lasting memories and teach them about earning, saving, and spending money What buying and reselling products online taught Travis about commerce, budgeting, and finding profitable deals Why the best collectibles combine personal enjoyment with the possibility of becoming valuable keepsakes for the next generation Top 3 Takeaways Not every dollar needs to make you more money. Building wealth is important, but it's also worth setting aside money for things you genuinely enjoy. If a purchase brings you years of happiness, it doesn't have to appreciate in value to be worthwhile. Hobbies can create unexpected connections. Shared interests like Star Wars, movies, and collectibles can become natural conversation starters that help you connect with people you'd never otherwise meet. The right hobby can be both personally fulfilling and socially valuable. Teach kids the value of money through experiences. Helping children work toward something they want, whether it's a rare Pokémon card or another special purchase, introduces them to earning, budgeting, and entrepreneurship. Even simple activities can teach lessons that last a lifetime. Notable Quotes "It's just cool to own stuff that you think is cool and you don't have to explain it to anybody and nobody has to get it or understand it." "I bought it to enjoy it." "You can get that money. Like it's more money than you have. But there's ways that you can sell some extra money." Connect with Travis Chappell Website: https://travischappell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell/ A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana K. White is the author of Procrastinators Get Stuff Done and Decluttering at the Speed of Life, a Wall Street Journal bestseller with more than 500,000 copies sold. After struggling to manage the clutter in her own home, Dana developed practical, reality-based strategies to help people move from feeling overwhelmed to taking action. Through her five-step anti-procrastination process, she teaches people how to stop overthinking, break big goals into manageable steps, and make meaningful progress without needing the perfect plan. On this episode we talk about: Why procrastination often comes from feeling overwhelmed rather than being lazy or unmotivated. Dana’s five-step process for overcoming procrastination: look, do the easy stuff, experiment, make a plan, and finish. Why taking action and learning through experimentation can be more effective than endless research and planning. How to break big goals into small, completable steps that make it easier to build momentum. Why focusing on what you can accomplish today is more effective than pressuring yourself to achieve long-term consistency right away. Top 3 Takeaways Start by looking at the reality of the situation. Before making a detailed plan, take a noncommittal look at what you're actually dealing with. Removing the unknown can make an overwhelming project feel much more manageable. Experiment instead of trying to predict everything. You don't have to know whether an approach will work before you try it. Taking action helps you learn what works and what doesn't, while endless research can keep you stuck for months. Focus on today's finish line, not the entire journey. Instead of setting a goal like running every day, focus on going for a run today. Break larger projects into small, completable steps, and let consistency develop over time. Notable Quotes “Ultimately it's facing something that is so overwhelming I cannot even get started.” “The goal is to find out what works, which means if I fail, I've actually succeeded because I've learned something that doesn't work.” “If I run today, I am so much more likely to run tomorrow.” Connect with Dana K. White Website: DanaKWhite.com Books: Procrastinators Get Stuff Done and Decluttering at the Speed of Life A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Scribe captures workflows as work happens and automatically generates step-by-step guides with screenshots and instructions, so no one has to sit down and write documentation from scratch. Learn more at scribe.how/tmm and mention Travis Makes Money for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans. - When you need a legal hand, visit LegalZoom. Go to LegalZoom.com to get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices