In this episode of The Wealthy Practitioner Podcast, Steph is joined by her close friend and collaborator Callan Faulkner (@callanfaulkner) for a raw, expansive conversation about quantum friendships, environment, and why the people you surround yourself with determine everything — your income, growth speed, confidence, and identity. Steph opens with a passionate reminder that your environment dictates your results. She explains why tolerating relationships that don't want to see you win blocks higher-level friendships, opportunities, and timelines — and why proximity to obsessed, growth-minded people can collapse years of effort into months. Callan shares the story of how their friendship began, tracing it back to a single mastermind room in early 2023 and the seemingly small decisions that led to rapid, compounding growth. Together, they break down how consistent idea-sharing, feedback loops, and mutual risk-taking accelerated both of their businesses — from early-stage offers to seven-figure launches in under two years. Throughout the episode, they explore the concept of collaboration over competition, dismantling scarcity thinking around shared markets, teams, and resources. Steph and Callan highlight how generosity, trust, and radical giving create ecosystems where everyone wins — and why holding back due to past burns or fear only blocks future alignment and abundance. The conversation expands into powerful real-world examples of how cold DMs sparked life-changing relationships, partnerships, speaking opportunities, clients, and even romantic connection. Steph reframes outreach as "invoicing the creator" — giving without attachment to outcome — and explains why the ripple effects are often far bigger than the original ask. This episode is a permission slip to raise your standards, put yourself in uncomfortable rooms, reach out boldly, and stop underestimating how good life and business can actually get. 00:00 Intro: why this conversation matters + Expander retreat context 01:30 Why high-quality friendships accelerate growth exponentially 03:15 Callan & Steph's origin story: how they met inside a mastermind 05:35 Friendship as a growth multiplier: sharing tactics, feedback loops, and speed 06:30 First major breakthroughs: launches, momentum, and permission to think bigger 07:15 Collaboration over competition: sharing resources without scarcity 09:05 Giving without expectation: "invoicing the creator" philosophy 13:57 Cold DMs that changed everything: friendships, opportunities, and leverage 16:25 Building quantum friendships intentionally: rooms, proximity, bold outreach 17:10 Final takeaway: give more, risk more, and let friendships change your life This conversation is really about being intentional — with your environment, your standards, and the rooms you choose to be in. Because the direction you set determines everything that follows. If you want to carry that same clarity into next year, this will help. Build your full 12-month 2026 marketing plan in under 90 minutes https://thewealthypractitioner.com/2026-marketing-calendar
