Next Level University

Latest Episodes:

What Happens Vs What It Means About You (2274) Dec 07, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros reveal why your confidence and consistency are shaped less by what happens and more by the meaning you attach to those moments. After thousands of coaching calls and nearly a decade of daily episodes, Kevin and Alan have seen how unexamined beliefs quietly influence decision-making, self-improvement, and long-term personal development. This conversation challenges the assumptions you’ve been operating from and offers a clearer lens for understanding how identity is built and reshaped over time.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain, or confused by your own reactions, this episode delivers the perspective shift you didn’t know you needed.
Learn more about:
Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - 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:
(2:11) Kevin’s trip and the challenge of accurate self-assessment
(4:22) Confidence–humility balance and the identity “sweet spot”
(7:00) Staying grounded when success and struggle collide
(10:34) Readiness, anxiety, and growing into the next level
(15:16) The compound effect of long-term relationship capital
(17:03) When deep work finally becomes visible
(19:11) Disempowering beliefs disguised as strength
(23:03) Trendline thinking and sustainable self-belief
(30:49) 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.

“Being Behind” Isn’t A Bad Thing! (2273) Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down why so many people misread the feeling of being “behind” and unknowingly sabotage their own growth. This conversation gives you a sharper lens on self-improvement, consistency, and long-term decision-making so you can stop reacting to the moment and start building a trajectory that compounds. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how high-level rooms, accurate self-assessment, and long-term reps quietly shape the people who win over time.
If you want the real mechanics of personal development without the noise, this one will recalibrate your thinking fast. Strengthen your strategy before life hands you another “teachable moment” you didn’t ask for.
Learn more about:
Think deeper, grow faster. Join our “Next Level Book Club” – Every Saturday –
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkcuiupjIqE9QlkptiKDQykRtKyFB5Jbhc
Next Level Dreamliner is a productivity journal designed to help break down dreams into goals, milestones, and daily habits. Grab your copy 👉 https://a.co/d/9fPpxEt
_______________________
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:
(1:36) Seeing proof of what’s possible through proximity
(3:08) How to be around high performers without comparing
(5:25) Time perspective and the decades-long compound effect
(9:26) Shifting from moment-based thinking to a career mindset
(12:38) Why the right rooms create opportunity and clarity
(13:41) Expanding identity by being around bigger thinkers
(18:19) The fundamentals behind every long-term success
(20:10) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Paranoia Isn’t As Bad As People Say… (2272) Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Accuracy grows where confidence meets concern. Kevin and Alan break down how productive paranoia improves accuracy, strengthens long-term results, and keeps you aligned with the actions your goals require. After thousands of episodes and coaching sessions, one truth is clear: high performers succeed because they prepare, not because they hope. You’ll learn how humility, preparation, and clear thinking create dependable progress, and why the right amount of concern is a skill that drives real growth.
If you’re serious about consistent self-improvement and smarter decision-making, raise the standard for the person you are becoming.
Learn more about:
Next Level Dreamliner is a productivity journal designed to help break down dreams into goals, milestones, and daily habits. Grab your copy 👉 https://a.co/d/9fPpxEt
Next Level Hope Foundation – GoFundMe donation link
https://gofund.me/5c6abcf7f
_______________________
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:
(1:13) Kevin’s airport story and the value of built-in margin
(5:05) Strengths, weaknesses, and the Drive to Five
(6:28) Productive paranoia in leadership and long-term success
(9:36) Accurate decision-making and financial discernment
(12:04) Constructive anxiety as a performance tool
(14:30) Why concern increases results
(19:36) Preparation, systems, and designing a better future
(24:46) Certainty, adaptability, and figuring things out
(26:11) Confidence, humility, and finding your end of the spectrum
(30:15) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

2 Types Of Growth Part 2 (2271) Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Are you growing because you chose to or because life left you no other option? In this Part 2 continuation of yesterday’s episode, Kevin and Alan break down how proactive growth and reactive growth shape your self-improvement, personal development, consistency, and decision-making. Drawing from thousands of episodes, years of data, and countless hours of coaching real people through real challenges, they explain why most individuals stay stuck in reactive patterns without realizing it.
If you’ve ever wondered why your results stall or why progress feels unpredictable, this conversation clarifies the deeper structure behind sustained success. This is the strategic approach high performers rely on to stay capable, adaptable, and aligned long term.
Learn more about:
Join our Next Level University Monthly Masterclass, "The Top 5 Fundamentals of Business You Must Understand to Be Successful Long-Term." One hour. Real principles. Lasting breakthroughs
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tFWBZRzLQa6h0C6g1ysvZA#/registration
Next Level Hope Foundation – GoFundMe donation link
https://gofund.me/5c6abcf7f
_______________________
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:
(1:57) Proactive capability versus reactive necessity
(3:31) Why readiness is impossible without real-world exposure
(4:38) Resourcefulness, humility, and learning in high-pressure seasons
(7:56) How entitlement blocks opportunity and long-term success
(9:34) The danger of becoming too expensive without upskilling
(12:03) Skating to where the puck will be through long-term awareness
(14:25) Updating belief systems to align attention and action
(19:12) Building self-efficacy by taking educated risks
(25:26) Identifying your growth style and becoming more optimal
(27:45) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

The 2 Types Of Growth (2270) Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros explain why real growth only happens through two pathways: proactive decision-making or reactive necessity. They break down how identity, belief, risk tolerance, and long-term consistency shape every self-improvement and personal development outcome. You’ll learn why some people stay ahead of their results while others are forced to level up only when circumstances demand it.
This is a direct, grounded look at how high performers make better decisions, build sustainable habits, and create a life they can truly support as they grow.
Choose your next level before your circumstances choose it for you.
Learn more about:
Join our Next Level University Monthly Masterclass, "The Top 5 Fundamentals of Business You Must Understand to Be Successful Long-Term." One hour. Real principles. Lasting breakthroughs
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tFWBZRzLQa6h0C6g1ysvZA#/registration
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:
(1:19) Kevin’s wiring: Getting first, then growing to keep it
(4:20) The two types of growth: Proactive Vs. Reactive
(4:49) Why long-term goals increase capability
(5:53) Designing goals that match real potential
(8:01) When your results outgrow your skillset
(9:10) The hybrid growth model
(10:52) Kevin’s history of leveling up out of necessity
(14:27) Life’s “levels” and why capability must expand
(17:48) True freedom comes from being ahead of your results
(20:56) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

One Of The Most Important Success Principles Is FREE (2269) Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down one of the most misunderstood principles in self-improvement and personal development by showing why real consistency and high-level decision-making never come from pushing harder, but from mastering a foundational performance habit most achievers overlook. This episode reveals the hidden variable that drives clarity, discipline, and long-term progress, even for those who already put in the work.
If your effort is high but your results feel inconsistent, this conversation will recalibrate how you approach sustainable growth.
Learn more about:
Next Level Hope Foundation – GoFundMe donation link
https://gofund.me/5c6abcf7f
Referenced TED Talk:
The Science of Sleep (and the Art of Productivity) | Dr. Matthew Carter | TEDxNorthAdams
_______________________
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:
(1:54) The TED Talk analogy that reframes sleep deprivation
(4:56) The “billion-dollar pill” sleep already provides
(6:39) How hustle culture convinced people to sleep less
(9:32) The pressure that comes with knowing better
(12:25) Identity, long-term consistency, and habit compounding
(15:20) How elite performers protect the asset through sleep
(16:03) Understanding the DEM sleep score
(17:04) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

The Real World VS The Social World (2268) Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

Most people build a version of themselves that looks successful while their real life falls behind. Kevin and Alan break down the hidden cost of the highlight reel, the identity damage it creates, and why real self-improvement requires consistency, discipline, and better decision-making, not optics. You will learn the fundamentals that never trend, the principles that actually move your life forward, and how to measure real personal development instead of chasing manufactured momentum.
If you are serious about growth, this conversation will sharpen your standards, strengthen your awareness, and force you to confront what your results say, not your image.
Learn more about:
Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - 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:
(2:52) Why the highlight reel hides the real cost of success
(5:15) The fundamentals that build results but never look impressive
(8:47) Financial misalignment and the Super Bowl example
(11:17) The four levels of social-world and real-world mastery
(17:15) Why you can’t opt out of perception in a digital economy
(20:13) When your real world is stronger than your social world
(23:09) Body of work vs the trailer: how trust is actually built
(30:08) Integrity, identity, and the gap between truth and image
(33:17) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Is “Follow Your Passion” Bad Advice? (2267) Nov 30, 2025

Show notes

What if “follow your passion” is the reason your self-improvement and personal development efforts keep stalling out? In this episode, Kevin and Alan break down why passion without structure leads to poor decision-making, inconsistency, and short-lived progress. They explain the deeper principles that create long-term growth, the identity-level shifts most people skip, and the real system behind sustainable success.
If you’re serious about consistent habits, better decisions, and a life built on clarity rather than clichés, this conversation gives you the strategic perspective most people never access.
Learn more about:
Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session
Next Level Hope Foundation – GoFundMe donation link
https://gofund.me/5c6abcf7f
_______________________
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:
(1:20) Kevin’s former success masking internal misalignment
(3:10) The danger of passion without strategy or math
(6:00) Presence Vs. Planning and the psychology behind both
(10:05) Why personal development must be individualized
(13:01) The passion → purpose → profit framework
(17:48) The sustainability gap most people ignore
(20:04) The five levels of mastery
(21:05) The want, love, hate framework for identifying bottlenecks
(24:12) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Math Might Be The Most Valuable Thing You Don’t Want To Learn (2266) Nov 29, 2025

Show notes

In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down why so many people stay stuck by relying on emotion instead of objective data. You’ll learn how understanding your numbers builds real confidence, how measurable feedback improves decision-making, and why tracking your behavior is a cornerstone of long-term personal development. This conversation highlights the role of data, clarity, and self-awareness in creating consistent results, especially for anyone serious about growth, success, and high performance.
If you’ve been feeling uncertain, frustrated, or unclear about your next step, this episode reveals the skill that elevates focus, accuracy, and long-term progress.
Press play and become the person who builds their future with intention and evidence, not emotion or chance.
Learn more about:
Next Level Hope Foundation – GoFundMe donation link
https://gofund.me/5c6abcf7f
Episode Reference:
The Map of Mathematics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmJ-4B-mS-Y
Visual Asset:
Foundational Mathematical Thinking - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MVXeaS3F_7pK_aR3xHnQ7UGg-NPwbE31/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:
(3:38) How mathematical thinking improves prediction and decision-making
(6:12) Why private predictions build self-awareness and reduce emotional bias
(11:19) Using data to override fear, uncertainty, and irrational assumptions
(14:09) The advantage of understanding numbers in business and life
(17:38) How limitless options lead to overwhelm without measurable guidance
(21:05) Rational thinking, accurate information, and better life design
(23:09) Why successful people track everything and think in long-term probabilities
(25:57) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

How To Practice Getting Feedback (2265) Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down why avoiding feedback limits your growth, weakens your accuracy, and keeps high achievers repeating the same patterns. Most people fear feedback because it feels threatening, but real progress requires clear data about your habits, blind spots, and performance. This episode explains how feedback shapes identity, strengthens self-awareness, and drives long-term results when used with clarity and maturity.
If you want sharper decision-making, stronger leadership, and real sustainable growth, this conversation gives you the strategic advantage.
Learn more about:
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:
(3:33) The real purpose of feedback
(6:34) How to practice feedback, starting with positive wins
(10:01) Building systems and mechanisms for ongoing feedback
(12:07) Balancing positive and constructive feedback
(14:51) Why improvement is impossible without consistent feedback
(16:41) Observing yourself as a long-term performance strategy
(18:47) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected