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Shoot Your Shot, Squints (with John Williams)

The AgentFirst Podcast

Release Date: 11/19/2025

Beat it Til' It's Dead (with Brad Withrow) show art Beat it Til' It's Dead (with Brad Withrow)

The AgentFirst Podcast

Brad Withrow has worn many hats, but he only found the perfect fit when he discovered payment processing—through an ad on Craigslist. He didn’t know it, but that ad would change his life. Now, Brad leads a whole team of Agents, and reflects on his past experiences that prepared him to be a leader.

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Anti-Shirt & Tie Sales (with Connie Lewis) show art Anti-Shirt & Tie Sales (with Connie Lewis)

The AgentFirst Podcast

With 24 years of sales under her belt, Agent Connie Lewis still feels like she’s only beginning. She’s been through it all to keep a roof over her family: waitressing, cleaning, manufacturing—but she truly found her stride once she got into the payments industry. Connie opens up about her approach to cold calling, the freedom of 1099, and how she rides the wave of change in industry tech.

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It Started with a Paper Route (with Richard Brown) show art 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) show art 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) show art 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) show art 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 show art 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) show art 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) show art 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 show art 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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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.