Next Level University

Latest Episodes:

Are You Gaining Or Losing Self-Respect? (2424) May 06, 2026

Show notes

The high road has a cost. In this episode, Kevin and Alan break down why self-respect is not built through intention, image, or outside success. It is built through follow-through, discipline, and the private choices that either strengthen or weaken your identity. This episode challenges the belief that small decisions do not matter. They do. Every broken promise, avoided standard, and shortcut leaves evidence. Over time, those choices shape your self-trust, confidence, relationships, leadership, and long-term consistency.
If you are working to become more disciplined, more aligned, and more proud of who you are when no one is watching, this episode will make you look closer. The low road may be easier, but it rarely leads anywhere worth respecting. Listen now, then go make your future self slightly less annoyed with you.
_______________________
Join the "Next Level Fitness Accountability Group" – Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session

_______________________

NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(2:12) Why broken promises cost you
(4:22) How self-respect compounds
(7:10) External success can hide avoidance
(9:41) Why high standards spread
(12:46) The high road builds discipline
(16:31) Self-respect changes belief
(21:02) Real respect needs no audience
(24:28) Choosing character before results
(30:20) Small choices create change
(33:48) Challenge makes life meaningful
(35:47) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros
Next Level University is a top-ranked daily podcast for dream chasers and self-improvement lovers. With over 2,100 episodes, we help you level up in life, love, health, and wealth one day at a time. Subscribe for real, honest, no-fluff growth every single day.

We Get Lead Wrong With This (2423) May 05, 2026

Show notes

What if discipline is not your real problem, and the deeper issue is that your goals are built against how you are wired?
In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan break down why follow-through is not one-size-fits-all. Kevin shares how a simple shift in his workout setup helped him get out of the all-or-nothing pattern. Alan explains how numbers, structure, environment, and self-awareness can create consistency when motivation is not enough.
This episode challenges the generic productivity advice that tells everyone to operate the same way. Real growth starts with knowing what drives you, what drains you, and what kind of setup actually helps you take action. Stop forcing someone else’s routine. Build the path that makes your next level harder to avoid.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join the "Next Level Fitness Accountability Group" – Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

_______________________

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(2:26) Understanding how you are wired
(5:18) Building consistency through self-honesty
(7:32) Designing your environment for success
(11:43) Choosing goals that actually matter
(15:04) Using pain as fuel for growth
(17:40) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

The Goal Is NOT TO Peak (2422) May 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down why the goal is not to peak, but to keep becoming. They challenge the belief that age, past success, talent, or comfort should decide how much growth is still available to you.
This episode looks at personal development, self-awareness, purpose, identity, fulfillment, limiting beliefs, and the standards required to build a future that is stronger than your past. Kevin and Alan make a clear distinction between being proud of what you have done and using old wins as permission to stop evolving. Press play and stop letting yesterday’s wins collect interest on a life that needs new deposits.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join the "Next Level Fitness Accountability Group" – Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

_______________________

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(3:17) Growth without falling into hustle culture
(9:13) The difference between past success and continued growth
(12:23) Why early talent stops being enough
(14:36) How to know your future is shrinking
(17:24) Breaking the belief that you have already peaked
(21:34) Turning regret into better choices
(23:06) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Don’t Come Out Of The Gate Too Fast (2421) May 03, 2026

Show notes

Starting small only works if you plan to build. In this episode of Next Level University, Kevin and Alan challenge one of the most common mistakes in personal development: confusing sustainable habits with low standards. It is easy to come out too fast, burn out, and blame the process. It is just as easy to start small, stay small, and wonder why the results never come.
Through coaching lessons, fitness examples, financial habits, and hard-earned perspective from thousands of episodes, Kevin and Alan explain how to find the right pace for growth. Not too aggressive. Not too comfortable. Just challenging enough to build skill, identity, discipline, and long-term consistency.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Next Level Podcast Accelerator:
https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/group-coaching/

Next Level Fitness Accountability Group – Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

_______________________

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(2:45) When too much creates failure
(3:52) Simple systems beat overcomplication
(6:22) Why your setup may be too much
(8:17) The difference between starting and staying small
(10:31) Build standards you can sustain
(12:31) Develop skill before life gets harder
(14:18) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Is There More Pain In Being Yourself Or Pretending To Be Someone Else? (2420) May 02, 2026

Show notes

Authenticity sounds simple until being fully yourself threatens your need to belong. In this episode of Next Level University, Kevin and Alan break down the hidden cost of being authentic, pretending to fit in, and manufacturing acceptance in rooms where you may not actually belong.

Some people puff up. Some people dial down. Some people keep emotional distance so rejection never gets too close. Kevin and Alan use personal examples, client patterns, and years of coaching to challenge a hard question: is it more painful to be rejected for who you are, or accepted for who you are not?

_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700

_______________________
NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(4:01) Fitting in without feeling fake
(9:38) Core wounds and manufactured belonging
(14:45) Peer pressure, discipline, and self-respect
(19:01) Why authenticity hurts differently
(22:32) Significance, uniqueness, and identity
(25:58) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Is Ego Protecting You From Shame And Regret? (2419) May 01, 2026

Show notes

Ego does not always protect your future. Sometimes it protects the version of you that refuses to change. In this episode of Next Level University, Kevin and Alan break down how ego, shame, guilt, and regret shape personal growth, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and long-term behavior change.

They challenge the popular “no regrets” mindset and explain why the emotions people avoid are often the same emotions that create discipline, humility, accountability, and transformation. Through real examples from coaching, finances, fitness, relationships, and past mistakes, Kevin and Alan show how growth starts when you stop defending your old choices and start auditing them honestly.

_______________________
Learn more about:

Track the Work. Earn the Results. To know more about the "Next Level Fitness Accountability Group," reach out.

Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(0:00) Intro
(1:23) Ego, shame, and regret
(4:25) Turning regret into better choices
(6:52) Why painful emotions drive transformation
(9:55) Courage, silence, and responsibility
(12:19) Intention, approach, and result
(15:05) Facing pain instead of coasting
(16:56) Why success raises the stakes
(24:20) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Is Shame A Good Teacher? (2418) Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Shame can either sharpen your standards or quietly destroy your identity. In this episode of Next Level University, Kevin and Alan talk about one of the most misunderstood parts of personal development: whether shame is a useful teacher or a destructive force.
They separate shame, guilt, regret, accountability, and behavior change with the kind of clarity that comes from thousands of episodes, coaching patterns, and years of studying human performance. Kevin and Alan also challenge the idea that all self-judgment is unhealthy, showing why growth requires both compassion and honest ownership.
If you have ever confused “I did something wrong” with “something is wrong with me,” this episode is worth a listen.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700
_______________________
NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(2:00) The difference between shame and guilt
(2:51) Behavior change is the real goal
(6:28) When shame becomes regret
(8:18) Identity, belief, and personal change
(11:08) Using compassion without avoiding ownership
(15:53) Standards, ego, and responsibility
(18:08) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

How Do You Figure Out If Your Strategy Is Constructive VS Destructive? (2417) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

The line between growth and damage is thinner than most people think. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan break down how to tell whether your habits, standards, feedback, and work ethic are building real progress or quietly working against you. Drawing from bodybuilding prep, coaching clients, relationship standards, and thousands of episodes in personal development, they challenge the belief that intensity is always unhealthy and comfort is always wisdom.
This episode gets into discipline, self-awareness, consistency, ego, feedback, and the skill of knowing your own threshold. It is not about doing more just to prove a point. It is about choosing the right kind of pressure, the kind that strengthens your identity, supports your goals, and matches the life you say you want. Press play before your comfort zone starts sounding like a life coach.
_______________________
Digital Asset:
Dose of Stressor - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1riopxdrbRHbQcDDoku509N5Y2iidR5zC/view?usp=drive_link
_______________________
NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(3:52) The right dose of stress
(6:06) Why does too little challenge weaken growth
(10:16) Knowing your personal threshold
(12:21) Ego, humility, and doing more
(15:22) Self-belief changes how you handle feedback
(18:25) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

How Many Decisions Can You Make Towards Your Potential? (2416) Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

What if the thing pushing you forward is also the thing keeping you stuck?
In this episode, Kevin and Alan unpack the connection between self-belief, motivation, comparison, and personal potential. They challenge the idea that every hard truth, intense standard, or motivational message works the same for every person. What builds one person may break another, and real growth starts with knowing the difference.
This episode gives a sharper way to think about self-awareness, performance, identity, and long-term consistency. They explore why belief matters, why comparison must be used carefully, and why your path to the next level has to be built around what actually improves you. Listen before borrowing someone else’s operating system and wondering why your life keeps buffering.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700
_______________________
NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(2:16) How low belief becomes a cycle
(7:41) Why the environment shapes confidence
(13:47) Choosing the right comparison level
(24:12) Why motivation must be personal
(30:52) Balancing belief with humility
(33:22) Knowing what builds or breaks you
(40:15) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

What’s The Disconnect Between Potential And Accomplishment? (2415) Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros explore why potential is not reached through motivation alone. It is developed through belief, self-awareness, identity, and the repeated decision to choose growth before the outcome is guaranteed. Drawing from their experiences in coaching, speaking, fitness, and daily personal development, they examine why people often confuse their current circumstances with their true capacity.
This episode challenges the common idea that potential is fixed. It shows how standards, decisions, and long-term consistency shape what is possible over time. Listen before comfort convinces you that your ceiling is lower than it really is.
_______________________
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Join our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700
_______________________
NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.
For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇
Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com
Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com
LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/
_______________________
Show notes:
(2:05) Choosing potential over mediocrity
(6:31) Potential as a future capacity
(8:58) Why the goal has to feel worth it
(11:17) Mistaking your current identity for your ceiling
(13:18) Starting before you feel competent
(17:08) Deciding in advance to reach more
(19:41) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

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