Next Level University

Latest Episodes:

What Pisses You Off The Most Is A Hint… (2534) Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Join the Next Level Book Club every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You don’t need to finish every chapter. Just come ready to learn, reflect, and apply what you read. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CNlsx60uT3i3gQmeZs1Xvg#/registration
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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
A powerful drive without a clear path can take you farther from the life you want. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan examine why ambition can be valuable but still leave you feeling stuck when it lacks direction. They discuss the difference between being busy and making meaningful progress, and why hard work alone does not guarantee results.
Kevin and Alan break down how to recognize useful patterns without forcing yourself into someone else’s blueprint. They talk about choosing guidance wisely, becoming more coachable, and building the self-awareness needed to make decisions that fit your strengths, values, and goals. The conversation also addresses mentorship, discipline, and long-term consistency. Ambition creates momentum, but direction gives that momentum somewhere worthwhile to go.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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:
(1:17) What deeply frustrates you can reveal
(3:06) The cost of living unconsciously
(6:05) How environments shape your life
(9:03) Turn frustration into meaningful action
(10:31) The life skills school often misses
(16:56) Start where you are, build from there
(19:01) 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.

Ambition Needs Direction (2533) Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

Join the Next Level Book Club every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You don’t need to finish every chapter. Just come ready to learn, reflect, and apply what you read. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CNlsx60uT3i3gQmeZs1Xvg#/registration
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. 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
_______________________
A powerful drive without a clear path can take you farther from the life you want. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan examine why ambition can be valuable but still leave you feeling stuck when it lacks direction. They discuss the difference between being busy and making meaningful progress, and why hard work alone does not guarantee results.
Kevin and Alan break down how to recognize useful patterns without forcing yourself into someone else’s blueprint. They talk about choosing guidance wisely, becoming more coachable, and building the self-awareness needed to make decisions that fit your strengths, values, and goals. The conversation also addresses mentorship, discipline, and long-term consistency. Ambition creates momentum, but direction gives that momentum somewhere worthwhile to go.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(1:56) Kevin's early ambition and self-belief
(8:39) Why ambition alone is not enough
(10:26) Find patterns instead of copying people
(13:20) When it is time to graduate mentors
(18:49) Direct ambition toward long-term progress
(22:18) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Being The Big Fish In The Small Pond Doesn’t Work Forever (2532) Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

Join our private Next Level Book Club every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You do not need to have every chapter finished. You simply need to be ready to learn, reflect, and apply what you read. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CNlsx60uT3i3gQmeZs1Xvg#/registration
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. 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
_______________________
Is your environment helping you grow, or making you too comfortable to notice your ceiling? In this episode, Kevin and Alan break down why being the best in every room can protect your confidence while limiting your potential. Kevin shares why he is considering a more demanding gym, and Alan reflects on how challenging environments shaped his early career.
Together, they explain the “drive to five”: the balance between enough confidence to stay consistent and enough challenge to keep improving. Learn how to choose peer groups, standards, and reference points that strengthen self-belief without making the work unsustainable. Take an honest look at your circle this week. If everyone around you makes growth feel optional, find a room where your standards have to earn their seat.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(1:52) Why being the best limits growth
(3:42) Using peer groups with intention
(7:47) The drive-to-five standard
(10:31) Finding the challenge-skills sweet spot
(15:19) Choosing a constructive reference group
(16:16) Matching comparison to self-belief
(18:04) Fitness accountability and consistency
(19:08) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Why Are You ACTUALLY Not More Consistent? (2531) Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Join our private Next Level Book Club every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You do not need to have every chapter finished. You simply need to be ready to learn, reflect, and apply what you read. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CNlsx60uT3i3gQmeZs1Xvg#/registration
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros clarify why consistency is not simply a matter of motivation, discipline, or doing the same thing every day. Real consistency depends on whether your habits can survive pressure, setbacks, changing conditions, and the temptation to quit when progress feels slow.
Kevin and Alan break down the five areas that often determine whether someone follows through: self-belief, humility, sustainability, adaptability, and grit. They explain how one weak area can quietly limit your progress, even when your goals and intentions are strong. This episode offers a practical framework for identifying what is actually holding you back and building habits that support long-term personal growth, performance, health, and success.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(3:12) The five drivers of consistency
(4:00) Why sustainable habits start small
(5:55) Adaptability when plans fall apart
(11:36) Self-belief, grit, and follow-through
(19:03) How your peers affect consistency
(23:57) Why consistency drives long-term results
(26:32) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Your Beliefs Are Controlling Everything (2530) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
Your life follows the beliefs you reinforce. In this episode, Kevin and Alan explore how the belief that “it doesn’t matter” can quietly shape your habits, relationships, health, and future. They explain how small acts of avoidance compound over time, why responsibility can feel heavy, and how constructive beliefs create a more intentional life.
Kevin reflects on the years when he saw himself as a victim and how goals forced him to take greater ownership. Alan shares how facing mortality after his car accident reshaped his standards, purpose, and sense of responsibility. Together, they break down the difference between self-belief, self-worth, and the beliefs you inherited without questioning. Your choices may feel small, but they are never meaningless. Choose the belief that makes your next action count.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(2:38) Upward and downward belief cycles
(5:12) Belief, responsibility, and consequences
(10:51) Inherited beliefs shape your choices
(12:37) Self-worth drives self-investment
(14:09) Responsibility grows with maturity
(18:49) Escaping the victim mindset
(19:56) Three levels of personal responsibility
(22:06) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Redefining Success For Yourself (2529) Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
What if the definition of success you are chasing is no longer the one that serves you? In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan dig into why goals must be revisited as your priorities, circumstances, and self-awareness evolve. They break down how to identify the real constraint holding you back, recognize when competing goals are creating friction, and distinguish a strategic adjustment from inconsistency.
You will learn why clarity matters before action, how identity can shape your daily decisions, and why long-term progress requires more than following the same plan forever. Success is not about forcing an outdated standard. It is about staying honest about what matters most and building the skills to move forward with intention.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(2:52) Find the constraint behind your goal
(4:50) Start with what you want
(5:46) Sleep, longevity, and identity
(8:17) Failure tolerance and disappointing others
(12:04) Prioritize the current bottleneck
(13:16) When goals conflict
(16:40) Strategic adjustment versus inconsistency
(18:17) What remains consistent over time
(20:09) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

What Does Health Actually Mean To You? (2528) Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
In this episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros share an honest conversation about health, fitness standards, and the private frustration of knowing you are capable of more. Kevin and Alan have both trained for years, built businesses, and experienced the challenge of keeping physical goals at the center as life, work, and responsibility expand. They explain why being “better than average” can still feel unfulfilling when your current actions do not match your personal standard. The issue is not comparison. It is self-awareness.
This episode explores the psychology of high standards, the difference between effort and results, and why long-term health requires more than motivation. You will hear why aging is not a free pass, why priorities show up in your calendar, and why external praise cannot replace personal respect. If you know you have more to give, this conversation will challenge you to get honest about what your next level requires.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(2:14) What health actually means to you
(4:20) The cost of unearned expectations
(7:14) Aging without using it as an excuse
(9:28) Why your standards must be personal
(11:01) Priorities shape your physical results
(15:05) You cannot skip what you refuse to invest
(18:04) Taking responsibility as a leader
(20:11) Capability makes settling more difficult
(22:31) Why your own approval matters most
(25:04) Bettering your best over being done
(27:00) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

If You’re Doing It For The Wrong Reasons, Results Don’t Ever Come (2527) Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
Build goals you can respect. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan discuss the hidden cost of pursuing goals for the wrong reasons. Recognition, approval, and the desire to prove people wrong can feel powerful at first. But when those are your only reasons, discipline becomes fragile and success can feel empty. They break down how to look beneath your goals and ask what is truly driving you. Is it pressure, insecurity, expectation, or a meaningful desire to grow?
This episode offers a practical perspective on motivation, personal identity, and long-term consistency. The strongest goals are not built on what others will think of you. They are built on self-respect, clear values, and reasons that still matter when no one is watching.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(1:11) Why the wrong reasons fail
(3:40) When significance drives your goals
(8:12) Choosing long-term self-respect
(9:21) Find your deeper reasons
(10:02) Alignment prevents achievement resentment
(11:42) Doing difficult work with purpose
(15:39) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

Why Fake It 'Til You Make It Is Bullshit (2526) Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
What happens when your confidence is stronger in conversation than it is in action? In this episode, Kevin and Alan explain why “fake it 'til you make it” can keep you stuck in the same patterns. They break down the difference between real self-belief and performative confidence, and why behavior is the clearest measure of commitment, identity, and personal growth.
Drawing from their own experiences with fitness, discipline, and the client patterns they have seen over thousands of episodes, Kevin and Alan discuss how action creates the feedback that excuses and empty promises avoid. You will learn why small decisions matter, how honest self-awareness can expose the gap between what you say and what you do, and why self-respect is built through follow-through. Real confidence is not manufactured. It is earned. Let your actions introduce you.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(2:22) Behavior reveals real self-belief
(5:12) Small actions create a new identity
(8:17) Change behavior before changing your story
(10:00) Honest self-awareness over false promises
(12:08) Using action to test self-belief
(17:49) Truth creates an opportunity to improve
(20:14) Action builds earned self-respect
(23:32) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

What’s The Difference Between A Limiting Belief And Self-Awareness? (2525) Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

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
Fitness is forever, it's a lifestyle. Get jacked and join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. This group is invite-only. Reach out to Kevin or Alan on Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/
_______________________
Self-awareness is not a limiting belief. In today's episode, Kevin and Alan examine why honesty about your current capabilities is one of the most practical forms of personal development. Growth does not begin with pretending every goal is equally possible. It begins with understanding what is true, what can improve, and where your effort matters most. Kevin and Alan break down the difference between a belief that keeps you small and an accurate assessment that helps you make better decisions.
They discuss why people often misdiagnose their problems, avoid uncomfortable feedback, or mistake time spent for meaningful progress. This episode offers a grounded perspective on confidence, identity, performance, and long-term consistency. Learn why clear self-assessment helps you build the right skills, choose better goals, and stop wasting energy on explanations that do not address the real issue.
_______________________
NLU is more than a podcast. From the Next Level Dreamliner to Group Coaching, we provide tools and communities to help you grow with more clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Visit our website and socials through 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/

Show notes:
(3:41) Why people do not have equal potential
(6:30) Self-awareness, acceptance, and improvement
(9:36) Accurate data leads to better decisions
(14:16) Competence, merit, and useful strengths
(17:51) Errors in thinking create wrong turns
(20:23) How to assess beliefs with evidence
(24:19) Owning strengths, weaknesses, and root causes
(26:38) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

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