It Started with a Paper Route (with Richard Brown)
The AgentFirst Podcast
In a way, Richard Brown has been training to be a sales Agent since he was a kid. His job selling newspapers in adolescence set the tone for the rest of his career: service, consistency, and perseverance are the only things that matter. Now an industry veteran, he reflects on all of the changes he’s seen in the past three decades and what the future holds for his career.
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The Art of Opening Doors (with Brandon Springer)
The AgentFirst Podcast
When he was a full-time employee, Brandon Springer barely made it to his son’s birth. Years of long hours and being told what to do pushed him to fight for the freedom he craved—and he finally found that in the payments industry. It didn’t happen overnight, but now just a few years later, he never misses his kids’ milestones or ballgames.
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The 40-Second Pitch (with Carol Steen)
The AgentFirst Podcast
A career pivot is hard—especially after retiring. So how did Carol Steen become an Agent after years of being a manager at AT&T? Carol took advantage of the resources around her and made networking the cornerstone of her business. Her testimony is proof that sales doesn’t always mean door knocking or cold calling.
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Shoot Your Shot, Squints (with John Williams)
The AgentFirst Podcast
Agent John Williams is no stranger to hard times. From struggle meals to successful payment vet, his story isn’t just inspiring—it’s refreshingly honest. He and Justin reminisce on the early days of their careers while sharing the importance of work ethic and why sales Agents shouldn’t pose themselves as a commodity.
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The Power of Starting Over (Again & Again) - Guest: Nini Volrath
The AgentFirst Podcast
Our favorite duo takes on AgentFirst once again, and this time they fully flesh out the PayCompass journey. Tune in to listen to our kickass co-founders, Justin and Nini, discuss their roles and what it's like navigating the growth while maintaining authenticity. Justin shares his deep involvement in sales throughout his career, and how his experiences emphasized the importance of listening to Agents. This sentiment continued to inform his leadership decisions and ultimately led to the fruition of the #AgentFirst philosophy. Nini expands this perspective by highlighting operational...
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Entrepreneurship, Arizona Style (Guest: Mike Spangenberg)
The AgentFirst Podcast
We're switching things up with a very special guest: local legend and State Forty Eight CEO/Co-founder, Mike Spangenberg. PayCompass has developed a strong partnership with State Forty Eight over the years, creating some of our best swag to date. Most Arizona locals know and love the iconic clothing brand but very few know Mike's inspiring journey as a local entrepreneur. His story is one we knew our audience needed to hear. Mike discusses the power of local pride, and how that force ultimately led to the company's launch with the help of his friends. From slinging...
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Cold Calls & Hot Closes (Guest: Kristy Thompson)
The AgentFirst Podcast
In this episode of The AgentFirst Podcast, Justin sits down with PayCompass agent, Kristy Thompson, who shares her winding journey from insurance in Chicago to real estate in Florida, and finally into the world of merchant services. 💸🌴 Kristy opens up about the ups and downs of cold calling, building a business alongside her husband, and making bold moves—literally and figuratively—to stay competitive. From crashing in Florida’s saturated markets to rebooting in Arizona, she unpacks lessons on resilience, reinvention, and staying scrappy. Kristy also shares her refreshingly honest...
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A Tribute to Jon Skelly: After the Close—Building Merchant Relationships
The AgentFirst Podcast
In this heartfelt bonus episode, honors his late co-host John Skelly with a personal story and a powerful conversation on how agents can turn sales into long-term relationships. The episode dives deep into what comes after the deal is closed—turning merchants into loyal partners, supporters, and referral machines. Justin shares practical, real-world strategies on: Why the first follow-up after install matters more than you think How to use early wins to ask for referrals (the right way) Building real relationships by becoming a customer of your customers Staying top-of-mind without...
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18 Pizza Shops Walk into a Sales Pitch... (Guest: Tim Toombs)
The AgentFirst Podcast
In this episode of The AgentFirst Podcast, sits down with industry veteran and all-around good guy , who opens up about his accidental entry into the world of credit card processing—starting with a Budweiser warehouse job and somehow ending with 18 signed pizza shops in his very first week. This isn't just a story about selling. It's about grit. It's about taking risks (like starting 100% commission work 13 days before Christmas ). It's about having a partner who believes in you when no one else does (shout out to Tim's better half, Emily!). And it's about lighting someone...
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No Salary, No Limits (Guest: Misay Khoundara)
The AgentFirst Podcast
This episode of the AgentFirst Podcast is a masterclass in sales, hustle, and learning to trust yourself. Justin welcomes PayCompass' very first agent, Misay Khoundara, who has sold just about everything—vacuum cleaners, cars, credit card processing services and, most importantly, himself as a trusted expert. Misay isn’t just another sales guy; he’s a closer, a relationship builder, and a mentor who chose a career in commission-only sales because he trusted in his abilities and his work ethic. During this episode these two discuss: 💡 The Real Hustle – How early...
info_outlineJon and Justin interview Ira Cornelius, founder of Membership Merchant, about his journey in the merchant services sales industry. In Part 1 of this interview, Ira shares how he got his start selling shoes, transitioned to banking, and eventually found his way into the payments industry. He talks about the mentality he gained from being a competitive wakeboarder, finding a niche selling to adventure sports companies, the importance of building genuine relationships with merchants, and overcoming obstacles on the road to success.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in two weeks!