What if discipline was not about restriction or perfection but about alignment, showing up for your goals, your growth, and your future self even when motivation fades?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter D for Discipline (Part 1) and explore how to build daily habits that truly last.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they unpack the truth about discipline, willpower, and consistency, showing how small actions can lead to life-changing transformation.

You will discover:

• Why discipline is a bridge, not a burden
• The difference between willpower and discipline and how they work together
• How instant gratification undermines long-term growth
• The difference between convenience and consistency
• How to reshape identity through small, consistent choices inspired by Atomic Habits
• How The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People® connect to everyday discipline
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to build sustainable habits
• Why systems matter more than willpower when it comes to self-regulation
• How keeping small promises builds self-trust, confidence, and peace

This episode blends behavioral psychology, productivity science, and personal reflection to help you create systems that support consistency, clarity, and inner strength.

If you have ever struggled to stay consistent or felt pulled between convenience and growth, this conversation will help you understand that discipline is not about control, it is about care.

Subscribe, share, and take your next disciplined step with us and connect for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: @gonextlevelu

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LinkedIn: Search for Next Level U™ and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen and explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if confidence was not about knowing everything but about trusting that you can learn, adapt, and grow even when everything around you is changing?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter C for Confidence (Part 2) and explore what it means to build confidence in times of change when technology evolves faster than we can keep up and growth requires both courage and curiosity.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• The confidence curve and how it shifts during change
• How Knowledge and Ability from Prosci’s ADKAR® model strengthen self-efficacy
• What the Kübler-Ross Change Curve® reveals about emotional growth
• Building confidence when learning new technologies like AI
• Practicing intellectual autonomy and critical thinking for authentic confidence
• Reframing barriers like comparison, perfectionism, and fear of visibility
• Using the N.E.X.T. Check-In as a reset routine to rebuild confidence

This episode blends psychology, change management, and personal reflection to help you stay grounded, resilient, and confident as you navigate what comes next.

If you have ever felt uncertain in new spaces or questioned your ability to adapt, this conversation will remind you that confidence is not a destination but a daily practice.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us and connect for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for Next Level U, LLC and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for Next Level U™ and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen and explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if confidence wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about honoring your own voice, even when it shakes?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter C for Confidence (Part 1) and explore what it means to discover, protect, and practice confidence that is rooted in truth, not performance.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• How confidence begins with self-belonging
• The challenges of navigating confidence when you are the first or the only in the room
• Transformational Learning Theory and how it reframes assumptions and strengthens confidence
• Quiet expressions of confidence, from persistence to self-advocacy
• Why confidence is less about perfection and more about practicing through action
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to notice, evaluate, experiment, and track your growth

This episode blends personal stories, research, and practical tools to help you stop shrinking, start standing in your story, and express confidence in ways that align with who you truly are.

If you have ever questioned your ability, struggled with being overlooked, or wondered how to show up fully in unfamiliar spaces, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen + explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if the spaces you move through at work, in relationships, and in your community could reflect the same sense of belonging you have worked to build within yourself?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter B for Belonging (Part 2) and explore how to carry your inner grounding into the world around you.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• Why belonging at work begins with people, not policies
• How stress responses like fight, flight, freeze, and fawn show up and how to shift toward managing instead
• The Platinum Rule and how it reshapes the way we connect
• What it looks like to belong in family, friendships, and partnerships without losing yourself
• How community can restore connection when other spaces fall short
• The four key layers of belonging: self, work, relationships, and community
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to take intentional steps toward deeper connection

This episode blends personal insight, research, and practical tools to help you stop questioning your place and start creating spaces where you can show up fully and be accepted.

If you have ever wrestled with belonging in your workplace, relationships, or community, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us—and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen + explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if the foundation of every meaningful connection—at work, in relationships, and in life—started with the way you relate to yourself?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter B for Belonging (Part 1) and explore what it means to belong to yourself first—before trying to belong anywhere else.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• What self-belonging really means and why it matters
• How the Impostor Phenomenon shows up and undermines your confidence
• Why even high achievers and public figures struggle with belonging
• How the ADKAR change management model can support personal transformation
• The six core aspects of self-belonging—and how to strengthen them
• How to use the N.E.X.T. Check-In to reconnect with your values and voice

This episode blends personal insight, practical frameworks, and mindset tools to help you stop questioning your place and start reclaiming your inner alignment.

If you have ever wondered, “Do I really belong here?”—this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us—and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu

Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo

LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

More ways to listen + explore our resources:

Visit our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/gonextlevelu

What if the real secret to achieving your goals was not just about setting them—but about sustaining them?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we continue our A to Z journey with the letter A for Agility (Part 2) and uncover the quiet superpower that keeps your progress alive: self-regulation.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they explore:

• What self-regulation really is and why it matters
• Why SMART goals alone are not enough when life changes
• How Agile practices support reflection, adaptation, and resilience
• A personal story about how self-regulation helped Mayaria earn her MBA without burning out
• The N.E.X.T. Check-In framework—a simple, repeatable practice to stay aligned
• Real-life examples that show how small adjustments add up in career, health, and finances

This episode is full of practical strategies, personal insights, and encouragement to help you pause, pivot, and keep moving forward—without grinding yourself into the ground.

If you are ready to learn how to check in (not check out) when challenges arise, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us—and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

• Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu
• Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo
• LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

What if setting goals was not just about clarity—but also about adaptability?

In this episode of the Next Level U™ podcast, we begin our A to Z journey with the letter A for Agility (Part 1) and explore how two powerful approaches—SMART goals and Agile thinking—work together to create a more resilient, effective path to growth.

Join hosts Mayaria Johnson and Dr. Maryam Johnson as they break down:

• What goals are and the different types we can set
• Two common misconceptions that sabotage progress
• A practical breakdown of the SMART goal framework
• Why even the clearest goals can still fail in real life
• What it truly means to be Agile—in life, not just in software
• How combining SMART goals with Agile execution helps you stay flexible, focused, and forward-moving

This episode is full of real-life examples, insightful takeaways, and a new way to think about your goals—whether they are personal, professional, or somewhere in between.

If you are ready to build a life strategy that adapts with you—not against you—this episode is for you.

Subscribe, share, and take your next bold step with us—and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

• Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu
• Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo
• LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

Welcome to the Next Level U™ podcast, designed for individuals who are ready to grow with purpose in life, work, and leadership.

In this short trailer episode, you will meet your hosts: Mayaria Johnson, a results-driven digital transformation leader and certified expert in agile and change management; and her mother, Dr. Maryam Johnson, a lifelong educator and passionate advocate for personal development.

Together, they share the vision behind Next Level U™—a personal and professional development platform designed to help you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you are meant to be.

What to expect from the podcast:

• A bi-weekly episode series exploring personal and professional growth through an A to Z framework
• Topics like Agility, Belonging, Confidence, and Discipline, each rooted in research, lived experience, and practical strategies
• Encouragement and guidance for navigating transitions, rediscovering purpose, and building the life and career you want

Whether you are in a season of reflection, change, or reinvention, this podcast will walk with you—one bold, intentional step at a time.

Subscribe now and take your next step with us—and connect with us on social media for more tools and inspiration between episodes:

• Instagram: Follow @gonextlevelu
• Facebook: Search for "Next Level U, LLC" and look for our bridge logo
• LinkedIn: Search for "Next Level U™" and look for our bridge logo

Your growth starts here.