The AgentFirst Podcast

Hosted by Justin Volrath

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

In the world of merchant services, working as a 1099 sales agent is anything but simple. Payments veteran and host, Justin Volrath, is eternally fascinated with the life of sales agents, having been one himself for over twenty years. To him, the adrenaline rush of closing a sale is just as interesting as the stories of Agents rushing to a cold call–one hand on the wheel, the other eating lunch. It's a grind. It's perseverance. It's real. On The AgentFirst Podcast, Justin dives into the stories of agents in the payments industry, uncovering what makes them tick, how they approach selling merchant services, and why they ventured into this career path in the first place.

Listen to episodes

33 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 522 min

Slide in the DM's (with Julie Eads

"No Soliciting? I thought that said 'No Smoking'!" Julie Eads is three years into her payments career and already has the prospecting skills of a pro. But she didn't just fall into this industry, she swapped her long career in healthcare for one in payments, with determination to find success and freedom. For herself. For her kids. For their future. Tune into episode 5 of The Agentfirst Podcast to hear her story. And if you find yourself sliding in a prospect's DMs...just remember, that's a Julie Eads move. The AgentFirst Podcast is hosted by payments veteran, Justin Volrath. Each episode he explores the journey of Agents in the payments industry, uncovering what makes them tick, how they approach selling merchant services, and why they ventured into this career path in the first place. New episodes every other Wednesday! Follow PayCompass on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.Originators of #AgentFirst. Learn more at paycompass.com.

May 20, 2026Episode 423 min

Cowboys vs Bankers (with Tom Rasmussen)

Agent Tom Rasmussen is part-Agent, part-Cowboy. And he somehow manages both when he's out in the field. With a background in military and farming, he found his way into payments without any sales experience. But sales experience be damned...because cowboys get it done. Eight years in, he's still successful, and his dreams of a quality life for him and his family are bigger than ever. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The AgentFirst Podcast is hosted by payments veteran, Justin Volrath. Each episode he explores the journey of Agents in the payments industry, uncovering what makes them tick, how they approach selling merchant services, and why they ventured into this career path in the first place. New episodes every other Wednesday! Follow PayCompass on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.Originators of #AgentFirst. Learn more at paycompass.com.

April 22, 2026Episode 220 min

The Pro With No Ego (with Rob Cervantez)

It takes a lot of strength to put your ego aside. Agent Rob Cervantez has been humbled, challenged, and pulled in every direction, but he never gave up on his mission to serve people. That mission took many forms, from church marketer to Marine Sargeant, and he eventually found his true calling in Payments. Now he's building a life he's proud of while uplifting others. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- The AgentFirst Podcast is hosted by payments veteran, Justin Volrath. Each episode he explores the journey of Agents in the payments industry, uncovering what makes them tick, how they approach selling merchant services, and why they ventured into this career path in the first place. New episodes every other Wednesday! Follow PayCompass on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Originators of #AgentFirst. Learn more at paycompass.com.

April 8, 2026Episode 123 min

Making a Deal With God (with Kristina Meyer)

Despite an amazing run in the corporate world, Agent Kristina Meyer knew it wasn't her endgame. The long hours weighed on her, and she didn't want her kids growing up with misery as the standard. The decision to let that go and dive into the unknown was daunting—but she put her trust in God and overcame her fear. The abundance poured in once she committed to being an Agent, and now Kristina works on her own terms. No more long nights, no more fear. Just pure faith and gratitude.

February 25, 2026Episode 827 min

Legend of The Credit Card Lady (with Mary Hogue)

Thirty years ago, Mary Hogue's first paycheck as an Agent was $2.30. But after going from job, to job, to job, she wasn't going to give up. No more struggling. No more bologna sandwiches. She put in the work and built an empire—now she's a legend known as "The Credit Card Lady" in her hometown of Abilene, Texas, and she's sharing every bit of the journey with us in our Season 3 Finale.

February 11, 2026Episode 723 min

No Such Thing as Winning Alone (with Justin Farnsworth)

When Justin Farnsworth joined the industry a few years back, he didn't see his small town as a setback—he used it as leverage. Every mom & pop shop was an opportunity to get to know his neighbors and make their lives easier. Every relationship built led to more referrals. He bet on local business owners, driven by his relentless passion to serve others. Fast-forward to today: his numbers are off the charts, and he'll be the first to tell you it's all because of the community behind him.

January 28, 2026Episode 623 min

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

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.

January 14, 2026Episode 526 min

Anti-Shirt & Tie Sales (with Connie Lewis)

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.

December 31, 2025Episode 421 min

It Started with a Paper Route (with Richard Brown)

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.

December 17, 2025Episode 324 min

The Art of Opening Doors (with Brandon Springer)

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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