Libsyn Directory

Ep. 307 - Fixing Farm Finance, with Damian Mason

Release Date: 06/20/2025

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

In this passionate episode, Mary Jo delves into the ethical issues within the agricultural finance industry, sharing her frustrations with financial consultants who exploit struggling farmers by charging exorbitant fees. She contrasts her own approach, which prioritizes genuine aid and financial education over profit. Mary Jo discusses her deep-rooted drive to protect and empower vulnerable people in the agricultural industry, and her commitment to providing high-quality support to all clients regardless of their financial status. Audio Production by Podsworth Media -

Ep. 318 - Get Out of Your County (and Your Own Way)

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

If you're still judging what works based on what your neighbor did (or didn't do), this episode is for you. Mary Jo calls out the small-town mindset that keeps farmers stuck—from refusing to leave the county, to writing off ideas without understanding them. She dives into why it's dangerous to assume something "doesn't work" when you've never asked the right questions, never left your operation, and never learned what others across the country are doing differently. Whether it's grazing practices, estate planning, or Infinite Banking—it's time to stop sitting at the coffee shop and start...

Ep. 317 - Goals and Mission Statements Are a Waste of Time

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

In this episode, Mary Jo shares her candid thoughts on the inefficiency of writing out goals and drafting mission statements, advocating instead for actionable steps and a positive mindset to achieve business success. Through a detailed client case study, she discusses leveraging resources and strategic thinking to maximize returns in farming and ranching. Mary Jo challenges conventional wisdom and encourages listeners to focus on solutions rather than getting bogged down by goals and mission statements. Audio Production by Podsworth Media -

Ep. 316 - Reimagining Agricultural Finance

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

In this episode, Mary Jo explores the significant impacts of bank control on farming operations and presents the Infinite Banking Concept as a solution. By controlling their own finances, farmers could make strategic decisions without bank-imposed selling deadlines, increasing profits and reducing stress. The discussion also touches upon the broader implications of financial control, such as influencing market prices, promoting generational wealth, and even addressing serious issues like farmer suicide. Audio Production by Podsworth Media -

Ep. 315 - The True Value of Money

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

In this episode, Mary Jo and John continue their study through Nelson Nash's Becoming Your Own Banker book. They address common misconceptions about money, interest, and banking systems, emphasizing the importance of viewing money as valuable and leveraging whole life insurance to become your own banker. The discussion includes the biblical basis for earning interest, the mechanics of banking, and the critical aspects of creating a personal banking system. Audio Production by Podsworth Media -

Ep. 314 - What Impacts Your Operation the Most, with Tracy Brunet

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

Are you a farmer worried about losing your family farm to banks, bad estate planning, or expensive buyouts? Mary Jo Irmen joins Tracy Brunet on the Impact Farming Show to reveal how Infinite Banking for farmers can protect your farm, simplify farm succession planning, and keep your operation in the family for generations. In addition to providing an overview of the Infinite Banking Concept, they discuss specifically how it is instrumental in making transition planning work, how it helps in "fair and equal" situations with off-farm children, and how it factors into old-age care for the farm...

Ep. 313 - Avoiding the Bank Doesn't Mean Debt-Free or Using Cash

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

Too many farmers assume “Farming Without the Bank” means living cash-only and staying debt-free. In this episode, Mary Jo Irmen sets the record straight. She breaks down why using cash only could be costing you thousands in lost opportunity, why paying interest isn’t the enemy, and how uninterrupted compound interest is the secret sauce behind the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC). Whether you’ve read the book or you’re hearing this for the first time, this episode will completely shift how you think about using cash, debt, and life insurance in your farming operation. 🔑 KEY...

Ep. 312 - Seed or Harvest?

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

🌱 Seed vs. Harvest: What Are You REALLY Paying Taxes On? Most farmers and business owners are unknowingly planning for a tax-heavy retirement, and it’s costing them big time. In this episode, Mary Jo Irmen uses a simple corn jar visual to unpack the powerful financial truth behind “seed vs. harvest” taxation. She explains why paying taxes today (on the seed) is often smarter than paying them later (on the harvest), and how whole life insurance and the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) let you grow wealth without giving Uncle Sam a bigger cut later. If you’re putting money into IRAs,...

Ep. 311 - Farm Progress: Nebraska Farmer Got it WRONG

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

📣 Farm Progress Got It WRONG About Infinite Banking In this no-holds-barred episode, Mary Jo Irmen breaks down a misinformed article published by Nebraska Farmer on the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC). She exposes the inaccuracies line by line, from calling IBC an “investment” to lumping it in with universal life insurance. Mary Jo calls out the authors' lack of research, clarifies key IBC principles, and explains why misleading articles like this one harm farm families looking for genuine financial solutions. If you're tired of financial "experts" getting it wrong and want the truth...

Ep. 310 - Arrival Syndrome at its Finest

Farming Without the Bank Podcast

🎙️ EP. 310 – Arrival Syndrome at Its Finest Why is it so hard to get others to understand Infinite Banking, even when you’ve done the work and read the book? In this episode, Mary Jo Irmen breaks down one of the biggest barriers to spreading the truth about IBC: arrival syndrome—the belief that someone "already knows" and doesn’t need to learn more. From dismissive family members to skeptics crying “scam,” Mary Jo addresses the frustrating (and sometimes ridiculous) excuses people give when they refuse to do their due diligence. If you’ve ever felt like you’re banging your...

More Episodes

Many farmers take pride in being debt-free, but is that pride holding them back?

In this episode, Mary Jo Irmen joins Damien Mason on the Business of Agriculture podcast to challenge the status quo of farm finance.

They tackle the misconceptions around debt, why Infinite Banking isn’t just about operating expenses, and how to use whole life insurance as a financial tool to build liquidity, flexibility, and generational wealth.

Mary Jo shares real examples, powerful insights, and blunt truths about what’s broken in today’s ag financial mindset—and how to fix it using the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC).

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been farming for decades, this conversation will shift how you think about money, succession planning, and the real cost of being “debt-free.”

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Cash isn’t king—cash flow is

Debt isn’t the enemy when it creates opportunity

Farms fail financially because of poor planning, not poor production

Whole life insurance is the key to uninterrupted compound interest

Generational wealth starts with being intentional, not just working hard

⏱️ EPISODE TIMECODES

(00:00) – Why being “debt-free” might be hurting farmers

(00:28) – Intro to Mary Jo Irmen and how she discovered IBC

(02:04) – What the Infinite Banking Concept actually is

(04:09) – How IBC helps farmers become their own banker

(06:04) – Why Mary Jo won’t meet with you unless you read the book

(08:47) – Real talk: a million-dollar loan and what happens next

(10:46) – When to borrow from a policy vs. from a bank

(12:00) – How whole life policies preserve liquidity and control

(13:48) – Why most policies are sold wrong (and what to avoid)

(15:00) – The truth about “cheap” policies and long-term success

(16:22) – Using IBC for more than just operating expenses

(19:07) – Misguided fear of debt and the myth of the humble, broke farmer

(23:08) – The biggest financial mistake farmers make today

(25:27) – Why life insurance is critical for estate transfer

(29:01) – How to use life insurance in a contract for deed

(30:35) – Discounted dollars explained: 18¢ for every $1 passed down

(33:02) – Where to connect with Mary Jo and learn more

📚 RESOURCES & LINKS
📘 Grab your copy of Farming Without the Bank:
👉 https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/book

📅 Ready to talk? Book a meeting after reading the book:
👉 https://www.farmingwithoutthebank.com/contact

🎧 Listen to more episodes of the Farming Without the Bank podcast:
👉 Available on all major platforms

📨 Questions? Email Mary Jo:
📬 [email protected]

👍 Follow Mary Jo on Facebook:
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/FarmingWithoutTheBank

🎥 YouTube Channel (Mary Jo Irmen):
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@MaryJoIrmen

🔥 KEEP LEARNING
Explore past episodes and see how real farmers are using IBC to grow their operations, protect their legacy, and make smarter money decisions.

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