Today I'm making friends with Dan Hollaway – former VP of Marketing at Black Rifle Coffee, and host of the popular Citizen and Drinkin Bros podcasts.**On this episode, we talk about– Dan's time in the military– Grappling with trauma and depression– Why coddling people doesn't help them– The early days of the Black Rifle Coffee Company... and more!** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

910: Dan Hollaway | Don't Be a Sigma Male B*tch

Today I&#39;m making friends with Dia Simms – CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila &amp; Mezcal.**On this episode, we talk about– how Dia began negotiating Department of Defense contracts in her early 20&#39;s– her journey through the world of sales– how Dia worked her way from being Executive Assistant for Sean &quot;Diddy&quot; Combs to being President of his company– growing a vodka label to be valued at $2 Billion– the difference between tequila and mezcal– and so much more!** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Dia SimmsDia Simms serves as the CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila &amp; Mezcal, a new independent spirits brand that launched in November 2020. Simms leads Lobos 1707 alongside Founder and Chief Creative Officer Diego Osorio with early backing by sports and cultural icon, LeBron James.  Lobos 1707 Tequila &amp; Mezcal is named after the Spanish word lobos, meaning &quot;wolves&quot;, and dedicated to celebrating the strength of the pack. Simms brings an impressive track record of building successful brands, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit and deep expertise in the spirits industry to Lobos 1707.In May 2021, Simms Co-Founded Pronghorn, a 10-year initiative to drive diversity, equity and inclusion in the spirits industry.  Pronghorn, backed by the world’s leading spirits producer, Diageo, seeks to help participants within the Black community achieve the goal of generating $2 billion in economic value in the U.S.Simms spent almost fifteen years working alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs at Combs Enterprises, starting in 2005 as his executive assistant. She grew within the company while building multiple brands and businesses under the Combs Enterprises umbrella. In 2017, Simms was named President of Combs Enterprises, making her the first president in the company’s thirty-year history other than Sean Combs himself. In her role as President, she oversaw multi-billion-dollar brands under the Combs empire, including CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, Blue Flame Agency, AQUAhydrate, Bad Boy Entertainment, Sean John and Revolt TV. Of note, Simms led the transformation of CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka taking the previously unprofitable brand to a $2 billion retail value.Simms was listed as “One of the Most Powerful Executives in the Industry&#39;&#39; by Billboard in both 2017 and 2018, as well as named to the Ebony &#39;Power 100&#39; list. In April of 2018 she was an honoree of the Matrix Awards from New York Women In Communications (NYWIC), as well as named to the 2018 Ad Age ‘Women to Watch’ list and Variety’s ‘Power of Women New York Impact List’. Simms serves on the board for the Maryland organization THREAD, which provides underprivileged Baltimore-area high-school students resources to help foster their academic advancement and personal growth. She often speaks on the importance of divers

909: Dia Simms | Building a $2 Billion Vodka Empire with Sean “Diddy” Combs

Today I'm making friends with Brandon Novak - professional skateboarder and star of the hit show Viva La Bam and the movies Jackass.** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Brandon NovakFrom Baltimore, Maryland, Brandon was a professional skateboarder discovered by Tony Hawk and rose to fame on the hit MTV show Viva la Bam, and the movies Jackass. As a teen, he became addicted to heroin which lasted for 20 years. He wrote the addiction memoir, Dreamseller, and it became a best seller on Amazon. He also penned The Brandon Novak Chronicles and recently, The Streets of Baltimore. Brandon gives back by helping people into treatment celebrating 8 years clean in May 2023 and nearly 5 years tobacco free.He relates to millions of people across the country; 1 in 4 to be exact who are directly affected by addiction in their family. He travels the country as one of the most in-demand addiction keynote speakers, bringing awareness and education to high schools across the nation. Brandon truly embodies someone who can turn their life around. Brandon has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives through his story of sobriety.Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

908: Brandon Novak | Why Filming 'Jackass' Was a Junkie's Dream

Today I'm making friends with two people - Mike and Angie Lee, the brother/sister duo behind Soul CBD.** What I Discuss with Mike and Angie– Mike's boxing career and the serious injuries that left him with chronic pain.– How Angie tries to live a life free of regret– The loophole that allows Mike and Angie to ship THC– The issues with big pharma and the benefits of CBD they don't want you to know.** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Angie LeeAngie is a vivacious marketing maven who’s found her soul’s calling in helping women kick ass.Angie is a highly sought after marketing mentor, keynote speaker, professional podcaster & serial entrepreneur. She is the Co-Founder of Soul, Author of Ready Is A Lie & Creator of a top female personal development & business event, Pays To Be Brave. Her Forbes Top 100 Podcast, The Angie Lee Show, teaches thousands of ambitious women how to make friends with fear & make money doing what they love.** About Mike LeeMike is a world-ranked professional boxer who has fought in some of the world’s most iconic arenas like Madison Square Garden, Cowboys Stadium & The MGM Grand in front of millions of fans. In 2014 Mike was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, ankylosing spondylitis, that almost ended his career. In and out of hospitals for over two years he became tired of all the medications and treatments. Mike began searching for all natural alternatives which lead him to discover CBD and all of its incredible physical and mental benefits! Using his background in finance and business, Mike felt that creating Soul CBD would be the perfect way to share his knowledge while helping others to defeat whatever battles with pain they may be facing.Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

907: Mike and Angie Lee | Overcoming Chronic Pain with CBD

Today I'm making friends with Justin Cottlee – a Marketing Director, Dissector and Instructor for the Institute of Human Anatomy.The Institute of Human Anatomy a private human cadaver lab dedicated to providing anatomical, physiological, health, wellness, and fitness education to health professionals, pre-license students, and via social media, to the general public.** What I Discuss with Justin– His journey from the Marine Corp to Massage Therapy– How and where to buy a body(!)– What Justin's learned about life working closely with death– Smoking VS Vaping– Whether CBD is snake oil– The affects of alcohol– and so much more!** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Justin CottleJustin is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps Infantry, as well as a fully Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Utah. He discovered his passion for human anatomy and physiology while in school to become a licensed massage therapist at the Utah College of Massage Therapy in 2011. After graduating in 2012, he became a Teaching Assistant for Jonathan Bennion, where his love for anatomy grew to even greater depths, and led him to start teaching at the Institute of Human Anatomy in 2013. He has taught at multiple trade schools in the state, including Healing Mountain Massage School, Intermountain Massage Therapy College, as well as the Utah College of Massage Therapy from 2013-2019, where he also served as the Director of Education. In his spare time, Justin enjoys challenging games of chess, hiking in the mountains, playing acoustic guitar, and spending quality time with his family.Go to https://www.magicmind.com/travis And get up to 56% off your subscription for the next 10 days with my code TRAVIS20Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

906: Justin Cottle | What Dead Bodies Can Teach Us About Life

Today I'm making friends with Greg Mohr –  who has helped hundreds of people invest in a few hundred franchise units.** What I Discuss with Greg:– Getting his start in the fast food industry– Most underrated franchises to invest in– Common misconceptions about owning a franchise– What industries are truly recession proof– and more** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Greg MohrGreg Mohr started his work life in the restaurant industry. His first impression of franchising came straight out of high school, at a fast-food restaurant chain. He later managed a twenty-four-hour restaurant—another chain outlet but not a franchise. Seventeen years of restaurant management flew by before he earned degrees in electrical engineering and physics and became an engineer.Greg climbed the corporate ladder, working in the semiconductor industry for about fifteen years. During this time, he earned an MBA specializing in management information systems. Doing so did not speed up his pace of climbing the ladder, as he had hoped. In the meantime, inspired by many business books, including Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, Greg purchased rental properties and found that he could manage them on the side while keeping his day job. As he loves to share, Greg eventually found himself laid off, and it was a blessing. He saw an opportunity and knew it was now or never. After working with a franchise consultant, he found a great fit after narrowing down his goals and criteria. He never looked back.Greg has helped hundreds of people invest in a few hundred franchise units. Further information can be found at https://www.franchisemaven.com/ or contact Greg at greg@franchisemaven.comFollow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

905: Greg Mohr | Real Freedom Through Franchises

Today I'm making friends with David Hauser who has a track record of founding multiple successful companies, building exceptional teams, and investing in innovative ideas.** What I Discuss with David:– Constantly running into each other at LifeTime Gym in Vegas– Why David always knew he was going to be an entrepreneur– How David’s parents instilled work ethic in him– Coding websites in the early '00s– How David raised $20m as a 17 year old– Why college can’t create entrepreneurs– Building and exiting several successful companies** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About David Hauser:David Hauser is an entrepreneur hailing from New York City. He attended City & Country School, Poly Prep Country Day School, and Babson College, where he received excellent educational opportunities that fueled his never-ending quest for learning. With a track record of founding multiple successful companies, building exceptional teams, and investing in innovative ideas, David has shared his experiences through media appearances and public speaking engagements.Currently residing in Las Vegas, he spent significant years in New York City, Boston, and Austin. David's notable entrepreneurial achievements include founding Grasshopper (bootstrapped to $30M+ ARR, acquired by Citrix), Chargify (built profitably, secured Mark Cuban investment, acquired by Battery Ventures), Vanilla (raised $42M from Venrock and Insight Partners), and ReturnPath (raised funds from Flatiron Partners, with a secured management team).As a founding member of National Entrepreneurs’ Day, David has also made significant contributions as an angel investor in companies like Intercom, Unbounce, Groove, The Hustle, and more than 50 others. His expertise has been showcased through public speaking engagements at events such as SaaSFest, FOWA, Big Omaha, LessConf, and SuperConf, as well as his coverage in major media outlets including CNN, Fox, Inc. Magazine, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and Inc. 30 Under 30.Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star rating!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

904: David Hauser | Raising $20M as a Teen, Buying Boring Businesses, and More

Today, I’m making friends with Chris Do, an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love.** What I Discuss with Chris:– NorCal VS SoCal– Growing up as a first generation immigrant– The problem with the education system– The struggles of being a true designer within the ad agency system** (Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)** About Chris Do: Chris Do is an Emmy award-winning designer, director, CEO and Chief Strategist of Blind and the founder of The Futur—an online education platform with the mission of teaching 1 billion people how to make a living doing what they love.He currently serves as the chairman of the board for the SPJA, and as an advisor to Saleshood. He has also served as: advisory board member for AIGA/LA, Emmys Motion &amp; Title Design Peer Group, Otis Board of Governors, Santa Monica College and Woodbury University.He has taught Sequential design for over 15 years at ArtCenter College of Design as well as Otis College of Art and Design. Additionally, he has lectured all over the world including: AIGA National Design Conference, Birmingham Design Festival, Awwwards New York/San Francisco/Amsterdam, AIGA Miami, The Design Conference Brisbane, Creative South, Digital Design Days Milan/Geneva, Lu Xun Academy Fine Art Dalian, Motion Conference Santa Fe, VMA Design Conference, MIT Boston, Bend Design Conference, Graphika Manila, Create Philippines, Rise Up Summit Cairo, RGD Design Thinkers Toronto, California Institute of the Arts, LA Art Institute, Otis College of Design, UCLA, MGLA, Cal State Los Angeles/ Northridge, Post Production World, Adobe Video World and San Diego University.His firm’s work has been recognized by national and international organizations such as: the Emmy’s, Clio, Effie Gold, Huffington Post, Lynda.com, Webbie, Communication Arts, London International Awards, One Show, British D&amp;AD, AICP 20, Pictoplasma, How, 72 dpi, L.A. Weekly, Boards, Res 10, Type Director’s Club (20, 22, 23, 26), IDN, Addy Awards, BDA, Create, Stash (2, 12, 22, 24, 35, 43, 65), Creatie Augustus 2010, Motion Design, Asia Image, Brief, 365 AIGA Year In Design 26, Art Director’s Club, Motionographer, New York Festivals, B Brand, PPaper, I.D., and Print.Mr. Do has given talks and conducted workshops on: Sales, Negotiations, Value Based Pricing, Mindset, Branding, Graphic &amp; Motion Design, Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Business Management, and Client Relations.Follow Travis on:– IG 👉🏻 instagram.com/travischappell– FB 👉🏻 facebook.com/traviscchappell– Twitter 👉🏻 twitter.com/traviscchappell– Pinterest 👉🏻 pinterest.com/travischappellpod Subscribe to Travis Makes Friends on Apple Po

903: Chris Do | Why Education Rocks But the System Doesn’t

Today, I’m making friends with Jon Gordon, whose best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world.

What I Discuss with Jon:

Why he moved to Jacksonville in 2001 (and thinks I should too.)

Playing pickle ball with Tim Tebow and Ed Mylett.

The reason his wife almost made the decision to divorce him.

Being thankful for pain (after you go through it).

The fact that most people have a “hole in their soul.”

How narcissists can change.

The secret to building his successful multi-million dollar speaking career.

And so much more…


(Psst... Before I tell you more about the guest, do you like this show? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — even one sentence helps! 🙂)

About Jon Gordon: 
Jon Gordon is one of the most influential and sought after leadership authors and speakers today.
He’s a consultant to numerous leaders, CEO’s, NFL, NBA, and MLB Coaches, championship teams and high performers and an inspirational teacher who has helped millions of people have a more positive mindset.
He is the author of 28 books including 15 best sellers and 5 children’s books.
His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 3 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, and The Power of a Positive Team.
Jon’s latest book, The One Truth has been called profound, revolutionary and life changing.
Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers.
His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, Campbell’s Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, Miami Heat, The Los Angeles Rams, Snapchat, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, West Point Academy and more.
Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
– The One Truth | Purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3S6usd0
– The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy | Purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3HcheFA
(Please note that as an Amazon Associate, The Travis Makes Friends Podcast receives compensation for some of the products listed)

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902: Jon Gordon | How to Heal Your Soul

Noah Kagan (@noahkagan) is the founder and Chief Sumo at AppSumo.com, a company that provides tools and content to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Under Noah&#39;s leadership, AppSumo has grown to over $10 million in annual revenue.

Before starting AppSumo, Noah held key roles at two of tech&#39;s fastest-growing companies. He was employee #30 at Facebook, where he worked directly with Mark Zuckerberg to build their advertising platform. He then became the 4th employee at Mint.com, the popular online personal finance company that Intuit acquired for $170 million.

A self-described &quot;taco-loving&quot; entrepreneur, Noah draws on his experiences building and scaling multiple eight-figure internet companies to help and inspire other entrepreneurs. As Chief Sumo at AppSumo, he pushes the boundaries of what&#39;s possible in business, marketing, and personal development. He’s also the author of Million Dollar Weekend, a comprehensive guide on how to take action and build the business (and life) of your dreams.

Noah&#39;s journey from Facebook and Mint.com to leading AppSumo provides unique insights and lessons for any entrepreneur looking to start, build, or grow their own business.

What Travis and Noah discussed:

Take action even if you don&#39;t have full clarity yet. In the absence of clarity, take action anyway to gain more clarity. By taking small actions, you&#39;ll get feedback that helps validate or invalidate ideas faster. This allows you to fail fast and learn.

Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Connect with smart people early on before they get really big. This allows you to more easily build relationships that can pay dividends down the road.

Start small, test quickly. You can start a business over a weekend without spending much money. Validate your idea by getting real customer feedback fast before investing more time and money in building out a bigger vision.

Keep trying new ideas. Successful entrepreneurs try many different business ideas, most of which may fail before they find success. By continually trying new ideas and using the feedback, you get better at executing.

There are big risks in not being an entrepreneur, including not having control over your schedule and life. As an entrepreneur, you design your ideal life. Even if you don&#39;t become a millionaire, you can create a business that gives you more freedom.

This was an insightful conversation with Noah Kagan, a successful entrepreneur who built a $80 million per year business after being let go from Facebook. He shares his journey of trying over a dozen different business ideas that failed before finding his big success. Noah reveals that you don&#39;t need a lot of money or time to start a business that can change your life, anyone can do it over a weekend. Listen to this full Travis Makes Friends episode to get all the details on Noah&#39;s weekend business launch framework.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, @trav

901: Noah Kagan | How to Launch a Million-Dollar Business in 48 Hours

Dana Cornell (cornellcapitalholdings.com) is a financial expert with over 20 years of experience advising clients. Formerly an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, he is now a Forbes-recognized financial consultant running his practice. He focuses on helping individuals, small business owners, and working professionals develop customized passive income and wealth accumulation strategies leveraging commercial real estate opportunities.
In addition to being a Certified Financial PlannerTM professional, Cornell has also earned the Certified Investment Management AnalystTM designation. He leverages his extensive expertise to create tailored plans to help his clients achieve their financial goals.

What Dana and Travis discussed:

The real formula for building wealth is to buy cash flow, don't pay taxes, and don't lose money. Look at investing in commercial real estate and small businesses to generate cash flow.

There are different types of equity - preferred equity sits lower on the risk scale than pure equity as there is more protection. Understand the differences to make informed investment decisions.

Commercial real estate is likely heading towards trouble due to economic policies, rising interest rates, tightening bank lending, and excessive debt loads. Tread carefully when investing here.

The ultra-wealthy diversify their income streams across real estate, small businesses, and liquid assets rather than relying on a single source. Build multiple income streams for stability.

The traditional retirement planning approach of saving and projecting into the future often fails. Instead, focus on buying back your time now through passive income opportunities.

Learn directly from 20+ years of financial services expertise, gain specific commercial real estate and alternative investing advice, and shift your mindset from traditional retirement planning to prioritizing buying back your time today. Dana Cornell provides a wealth of practical knowledge that can transform how savvy individuals approach investing and wealth creation.


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900: Dana Cornell | The Reverse Financial Plan That Builds Real Wealth

Alex Neist (@alexneist), an ex-Arena Football League quarterback and coach, transitioned from sports to entrepreneurship as the founder and CEO of Hostage Tape, a company focused on improving sleep quality. His journey in business was inspired by his parents&#39; encouragement, the principles of Stoicism, and key insights from authors like Chris Voss and Robert Cialdini. Neist values emotional intelligence, effective communication, and the art of negotiation in both his personal and professional life. Under his leadership, Hostage Tape emphasizes the importance of detail in product development and marketing, learning from early challenges in manufacturing and advertising. Neist believes in giving his team autonomy and continuously seeks to improve through lessons learned from books like Voss&#39;s &quot;Never Split the Difference.&quot; 

His approach to building a strong network involves creating desirable products and reaching out to influential individuals. Neist trusts his instincts for business pivots and stays motivated by viewing challenges as opportunities for growth.

What Alex and Travis discussed:


Mouth breathing can significantly impact sleep quality and health. Alex went down a &quot;rabbit hole&quot; researching ways to address his snoring and poor sleep, eventually discovering mouth taping. This simple technique helped transform his sleep and energy levels.

Building a successful business takes time and perseverance. Alex spent 16 years building his first company through constant failures and learning. This grit prepared him for the meteoric growth of his newest venture. Success is rarely overnight.

Surrounding yourself with people on the path you want to be on is crucial. Alex 
stresses finding mentors and examples that exemplify your vision and values rather than listening to naysayers without relevant experience. We become like those we surround ourselves with.

Delegating tasks and responsibilities is key as a business scales. As Alex&#39;s company grew quickly, he focused on letting go of control by empowering his team to take on more. Learning to delegate instead of doing everything yourself is vital.

Small problems can snowball into relationship breakdowns if not addressed. Something as simple as loud snoring compounded over the years for Alex, driving his wife out of their bedroom. This was a catalyst leading to their separation and divorce. We must proactively work on the small issues.

This was a wide-ranging, vulnerable conversation with much to learn. Be sure to listen to the full Travis Makes Friends podcast episode with Alex Neist to hear the context behind these insights.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, @travismakesfriends
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899: Alex Neist | The Entreprenurial Drive That Created Hostage Tape

Wylie McGraw (@wyliemcgraw) is a former star athlete and 3-tour combat veteran who has become a high-performance coach to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and public figures. Named a "secret weapon" by influential leaders, his work provides an elite edge by ending stress and sustaining peak performance. With a reputation as a direct and honest mentor, Wylie has developed principles to unleash untapped potential and achieve self-mastery. His combat experience gives him unique insights into overcoming obstacles and advancing personal growth. Wylie operates on the belief that with the right radical intervention, anyone can reach their fullest potential. He has worked with influential leaders such as Will Smith, Elon Musk, Kanye West, and he is the host of the Wise Words & Whiskey Podcast

What Travis and Wylie discussed: 

Sports and athletics at a young age teach important lessons about self-awareness, working hard towards goals, handling adversity, and being part of a team. Getting kids involved can expand their capacity for performance in other areas of life.

The personal development industry often sells a "hamster wheel" of programs and gurus rather than helping people truly find themselves. It's important to discern what works for you rather than getting caught up in the marketing hype.

True high-performance coaching is about building relationships, asking the hard questions, and pushing people beyond their self-imposed limits - not just trying to make money. Coaches should focus on transformational results rather than numbers.

Leaving every relationship better than you found it, even small gestures like an introduction or book recommendation, pays off exponentially in the long run through expanding your network and opportunities.

On his podcast "Wise Words & Whiskey," Wiley has authentic conversations about life and performance over a nice bottle of whiskey matched to each guest. It's a chance to gain wisdom in a casual environment.

This was an insightful conversation about living life on your own terms and the difference between surface-level coaching and truly transformational work. Listen to the full discussion with Wiley on the Travis Makes Friends podcast to hear more of his unique perspectives.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, @travismakesfriends
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898: Wylie McGraw | How to Accelerate Performance in Life and in Business

Thais Gibson (@thepersonaldevelopmentschool) is an acclaimed personal development leader and counselor known for her pioneering work on the subconscious mind and attachment theory.
With over 38 million views across her platforms, Thais has helped thousands transform limiting beliefs and behaviors through her integrated attachment theory model. This expansion on traditional attachment theory empowers the healing of different life attachments to enable personal growth.
Thais founded The Personal Development School, offering acclaimed courses based on her academic training and in-depth client research. She is certified in over 13 modalities, including CBT and NLP, with a Ph.D. in the field.

What Travis and Thais discussed:

Going through hardship and pain can be extremely valuable. As Thais said, the hardest times of her life taught her the most important lessons. Embracing and learning from adversity makes us stronger.

Understanding the subconscious mind is key to personal growth. Our subconscious drives up to 95-97% of our behaviors, yet most people focus solely on the conscious mind. We must reprogram limiting subconscious beliefs that hold us back.

We are all wired for connection and suffer in its absence. Thais noticed that many of her affluent clients created unnecessary problems due to a lack of fulfillment. Seeking genuine bonds with others provides meaning.

Food and the environment affect mental health more than most realize. Poor nutrition and societal divisions breed widespread issues. Taking control of our health and thinking for ourselves is essential.

We must align conscious goals with subconscious needs to achieve them. Self-sabotage happens when conscious desires conflict with subconscious priorities. Identifying core needs and limiting beliefs allows us to remove inner resistance.

This thought-provoking discussion was about overcoming hardship, mastering the mind, the need for connection, societal issues, and achieving goals. To learn more insights from Thais Gibson and Travis Chappell, listen to this episode on the Travis Makes Friends podcast.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel, @travismakesfriends
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897: Thais Gibson | The Masterclass for Finding Your Attachment Style

Dr. Aditi Nerurkar (@draditinerurkar) is a physician and public health expert who specializes in stress management, resilience, burnout, and mental health. She currently serves as Co-Director of the Harvard Medical School Clerkship in Community Engagement and formerly was medical director of a Harvard integrative medicine program. Her research has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and she is a frequent medical commentator for MSNBC and NBC News.

Dr. Nerurkar has worked extensively in global public health, including on HIV/AIDS and refugee health projects in Africa. She is the author of The Five Resets, a book on rewiring your brain to manage stress. An internationally recognized speaker, she has given talks at major conferences and corporations on building resilience. Dr. Nerurkar aims to provide science-backed strategies to help people thrive in the face of modern stressors. She also co-hosts the Time Out podcast produced by iHeartmedia and Hello Sunshine. 

What Travis and Dr. Aditi discussed:


Stress is unavoidable, but we can rewire our brains to manage it in a healthy way. Dr. Nerurkar explains how techniques like mindfulness and neuroplasticity can strengthen neural pathways to activate the prefrontal cortex instead of the stress-response amygdala. This allows us to thrive rather than just survive.

Know yourself and walk your own path. Travis emphasizes the importance of self-discovery, following your intuition, and being true to yourself rather than conforming to others&#39; expectations. This self-awareness and authenticity lead to fulfillment.

Small steps add up through neuroplasticity. By repeating simple practices like taking mindful walks, we cement new neural pathways over time. Consistency matters more than duration. Even reluctant patients find these lifestyle tweaks effective.

Combat negativity bias intentionally. We&#39;re bombarded with up to 10,000 marketing messages daily, predominantly negative. This can wire our brains to constant stress. Seeking positive inputs counteracts this, whether it&#39;s reading good books or avoiding toxic media. Our brains are shaped by what we expose them to.

Live a lifetime daily. Dr. Nerurkar recommends devoting bits of each day to the important elements of life - childhood play, work, family, vacation, and retirement. This provides balance and meaning. Details like phone calls to loved ones count.

Dr. Nerurkar offers science-based, actionable strategies to refocus our minds and lives. Tune into this episode of Travis Makes Friends to learn more about mastering stress, understanding neuroplasticity, and optimizing your well-being.

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896: Dr. Aditi Nerurkar | How to Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience

Eric Skwarczynski (@eskwarczynski) is a versatile media professional with a passion for storytelling. Over the past 7 years, he has worked in various roles, including videographer, photographer, writer, and graphic designer, taking him to over 20 states and 13 countries. His mission is to shed light on the important issue of mental, physical, and sexual abuse within Independent Baptist Churches. He hosts the Preacher Boys podcast, which launched in January 2020 and has since amassed millions of downloads. Content from his podcast has been featured on Peacock and CBC, and on his accompanying YouTube channel. 

He has also launched a second YouTube channel, Film School’d, featuring directors, actors, writers, Academy Award-winning FX artists, and more film industry experts.

Today, Eric is promoting the new documentary &quot;Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals&quot; which premieres on Investigation Discovery on November 24th and 25th of 2023. The four-part docuseries exposes predatory behavior within Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches and gives voice to survivors seeking justice. Featuring first-hand accounts from survivors like Ruthy Heiler, Kathy Durbin, and Amanda Householder, Let Us Prey offers crucial insight into the troubling culture within the IFB. Eric&#39;s testimony is also featured in the documentary, continuing his mission to shed light on abuse within Independent Baptist Churches.

What Travis and Eric discussed:
Why Eric started the Preacher Boys podcast to expose abuse and corruption in the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church community he grew up in. He felt someone needed to uncover the problems, even though he was no longer part of the church.

The upcoming documentary &quot;Let Us Prey&quot; on Investigation Discovery and HBO Max will shine a bigger spotlight on abuse in the IFB. Eric and others spent significant time being interviewed for it.

According to Eric, the IFB attracts and enables abuse because of its authoritarian power structure, purity culture, and lack of accountability for leaders. It sends the message that abuse will be tolerated.

Both Eric and Travis emphasize the importance of continual questioning and keeping an open mind, rather than sticking dogmatically to answers that can&#39;t be questioned. This prevents becoming trapped in harmful fundamentalist thinking.

They feel empathy for Christians saddened by their deconversions but ultimately had to be honest about their beliefs. Mutual love and conversation matter more than agreement.

This raw, revealing conversation exposed the rampant abuse and silencing in Christian fundamentalist circles, through Eric&#39;s courageous Preacher Boys podcast and the upcoming documentary &quot;Let Us Prey.&quot; However, effecting real change requires questioning the system and speaking truth, with integrity and empathy. Travis and Eric model this by engaging kindly across deep divides. Listen to this entire inspiring episode if you want inspiration to fig

895: Eric Skwarczynski | Is That a Cult?

Stevie Hendrix (@stevie_hendrix) is a globally recognized digital creator who has spent almost a decade connecting with millions worldwide alongside his wife Sazan. Together, Stevie and Sazan invite their &#39;online fam&#39; into their lives through social media, cultivating an engaged community centered around kindness.

As a true influencer, Stevie&#39;s impact stretches far beyond the digital space. He has partnered with globally-recognized brands like Target, Disney, AMEX, and Macy&#39;s as a brand ambassador and spokesperson. His infectious positivity and compassion have struck a chord with followers and brands alike.

Stevie and Sazan have been featured extensively in major publications, including Cosmopolitan, People, Forbes.com, and graced the covers of magazines like Austin Living and Magnify. At his core, Stevie aims to spread more love, joy and inspiration through his work - regardless of algorithms, platforms or ventures. He is dedicated to uplifting others and making a difference through the incredible reach of his digital profiles.

Their book A Real Good Life will help you be more intentional with each hour of your day, build deeper connections, establish sustainable rhythms, recognize the value of reflecting, focusing, gathering, and resting, and inspire you to cherish life&#39;s gift in each moment.


What Travis and Stevie Discussed:

Work hard when you&#39;re young to set yourself up for success later. In your 20s, you have energy and time on your side that you won&#39;t have later when you have more responsibilities. Use that time to grind, take risks, and build skills that set you up for bigger success down the road.

Have a vision for your work. Grinding just to grind accomplishes little. Understand the lifestyle you want in the future, and use the hustle of your younger years to build towards that vision. With a purpose behind it, hard work in your 20s pays off enormously later.

Struggle now or struggle later - the struggle is inevitable. It&#39;s better to purposefully take on hard things when you&#39;re young and able to control the circumstances more. Putting off struggle until later only makes it more difficult. Embrace the necessary struggle on your terms.

The hustle is about focused, quality work, not just quantity of hours. Work smarter by examining how you spend your time and cutting out unproductive activities. A few hours of deep focus outpaces unfocused work for 14+ hours. The hustle is about working intelligently.

Cultivate the garden you have. Your life circumstances may not be ideal or what you envisioned, but you can still cultivate goodness daily. Start with the garden you have rather than wishing for a different plot - make the most of the gifts and people around you now.

Stevie provides an inspiring perspective on making the most of your younger years and cultivating a life you love. For more insights, be sure to listen to the full conversation on the Travis Makes Friends podcast episode with Stevin a

894: Stevie Hendrix | How to Live a Real Good Life

Ajit Nawalkha (@realcoachajit) is an accomplished author, podcaster, and entrepreneur focused on coaching and personal growth. As the co-founder of Evercoach by Mindvalley and the Global Grit Institute, Ajit has established himself as a leader in the coaching world.
He is the talented author behind such books as "Live Big" and "The Book of Coaching," sharing his insights to inspire others to live purposeful and fulfilled lives. Ajit also hosts the popular podcast "Master Coaching with Ajit," where he delves into coaching best practices.
With decades of experience founding, scaling, and optimizing businesses, Ajit brings a wealth of knowledge on topics like coaching, team building, systems, marketing, and more. 
He works closely with select companies to catalyze positive change, cultivating workplaces and leaders that prioritize wealth, fulfillment, and making a difference.

What Travis and Ajit discussed:

Achieve clarity on what you truly want. Ajit realized he wanted to be healthy and energetic as he aged so he could keep up with his future grandkids. Once he got clear on his desire, he was able to make the lifestyle changes needed.

Friendships require vulnerability and consistency over time. Ajit believes in developing deep, meaningful friendships built on trust rather than having many shallow connections. This requires being open and spending quality time together.

Entrepreneurship fosters personal growth. Ajit was drawn to business because whether you succeed or fail, you will transform in some way. It pushes you to improve, unlike a regular job.

Listen to your heart's desires, not society's. Don't let others dictate what you should want. Connect to your own inner wisdom about the life you wish to create.

Take bold action when you realize your truth. After Ajit's "come to Jesus" moment on New Year's Eve, he made many major changes in alignment with his soul's purpose.

Travis and Ajit dive deeper into many intriguing topics together, including friendship, entrepreneurship, coaching, and living a meaningful life. Tune in to gain more of Ajit's wisdom and insights from his fascinating personal journey. 

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893: Ajit Nawalkha | Certainty in Entrepreneurship and How to Craft a Life of Significance

Jen Gottlieb (@jen_gottlieb) joins Travis Chappell in this inspiring episode of Travis Makes Friends to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, speaker, and author. From auditioning for Broadway roles to creating a personal training business to manifesting her dream partner, Jen shares the ups and downs that eventually led her to where she is today.

Before co-founding Super Connector Media, Jen Gottlieb was pursuing her dreams of becoming an actress in New York City. Her dedication led to landing a role in the Broadway National Tour of The Wedding Singer. But that was just the start of Jen&#39;s acting career. She went on to score a role on the hit VH1 TV series That Metal Show as &quot;Miss Box of Junk&quot;, aka &quot;The Vanna White of Rock and Roll&quot;. The only problem? Jen wasn&#39;t actually a fan of heavy metal music. After the show&#39;s cancellation and a breakup all in one week, Jen turned hardship into growth. She realized sometimes difficult times happen so transformation can too. Jen created the fulfillment, alignment, visibility and impact she dreamed of by fully stepping into the spotlight and letting the world see the real her. 

Jen currently is promoting her new book: BE SEEN. Her book is the ultimate roadmap that will show you how to live out the life that you know you were meant to live. Not only will it help you build the confidence necessary to make this happen, it will equip you with all the essential tools you need to find your unique voice, build your brand, and live out loud!

What Travis and Jen discussed:

Why you need to take action to manifest your goals. Jen manifested huge milestones like booking her dream role and meeting her husband by not just visualizing what she wanted but also taking steps to make it happen. Manifesting requires putting yourself in the right situations and opportunities.

How to turn rejection into fuel. Jen has faced rejection throughout her life, from losing out on acting roles to having book proposals turned down by publishers. But she used those rejections as motivation to keep taking action and work harder. Rejection is part of success.

The importance of being yourself. Jen got cast on a TV show by showcasing her true personality, not the persona she thought they wanted. She lost herself playing a character on TV for years. Your authentic self will connect best with your audience.

The reason behind never giving up. No matter how many setbacks Jen faced, she persisted in pursuing her goals. She knew what she wanted even as a child and never let anything stop her from achieving it. If you stay committed, you can create the life you envision.

The truth about finding purpose. Jen thought her purpose was acting, but it evolved into motivational speaking which feels more aligned. Sometimes your purpose is not what you expect. Stay open and it will reveal itself.

This conversation is perfect for any aspiring entrepreneur or creator. Be sure to listen to the full episode and feel inspir

892: Jen Gottlieb | Giving Yourself Permission to Be Seen

At just 26 years old, Aleric Heck (@alericheck) has already accomplished what most entrepreneurs only dream of. He started on YouTube over 14 years ago by creating AppFind, which grew into the largest app review channel at the time with over 500k subscribers.

Now Aleric runs the highly successful 8-figure company AdOutreach, where he empowers entrepreneurs to harness the power of value-driven video and scale their businesses on YouTube. His clients have collectively generated multiple 9 figures in revenue. Aleric has received ClickFunnels prestigious 2CommaClub-X award, and AdOutreach was ranked the 87th fastest growing company in America by INC 5000.

Leveraging his phenomenal results, Aleric has built several other ventures, acquired companies, and invested in businesses with a mission to empower entrepreneurs to share their ideas and solutions with the world.

What Travis and Aleric discussed:

Mistakes are inevitable when building a business. Rather than get discouraged, view mistakes as tuition you pay to learn. Refine based on data and feedback, but persist through failures on the path to success. Aleric made many mistakes starting his agency, but learned from them.

Recurring revenue models are better for establishing long-term relationships and enterprise value versus one-off sales. Big companies obsess over recurring revenue for this reason. With one-off sales, each new deal feels like starting over. With recurring revenue, you continually earn trust.

Running YouTube ads to your own public videos as in-stream ads can harm your channel&#39;s organic performance. The reason is that in-stream ads are skippable, so they negatively impact watch time metrics. However, in-feed ads that appear in search can boost discoverability without hurting watch time.

When first starting out, it&#39;s best to niche down and focus on mastering one core skillset or service, then expand from there. This allows you to provide immense value in one area before branching out. Aleric started with a niche YouTube channel reviewing mobile apps, then leveraged that expertise to build his YouTube ads agency.

To grow a YouTube channel with ads, first let your best-performing content rise organically. Then boost those top videos through in-feed ads targeted to your ideal audience. This amplifies reach while optimizing for watch time. Simply &quot;boosting&quot; without targeting is less effective.


This is a fascinating discussion with YouTube ads expert Aleric Heck on the Travis Makes Friends podcast. To hear more expert entrepreneurial advice from Aleric and others, be sure to check out the full episode!

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