Next Level Woman: Life, Career, & Leadership

Kristen Newsome, M.Ed., PCC
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Next Level Woman is a empowering podcast dedicated to inspiring women of color to elevate every aspect of their lives. Join us as we explore strategies for personal & professional growth, career advancement, and authentic leadership. Through inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical tips, this show helps women break barriers, unlock their full potential, and step into their next level of success and fulfillment, as they define it. Podcast Host: Kristen Newsome, M.Ed., PCC | CEO of Level Up Coaching, LLC Executive Producer: Charles E.O. Barnes, II | Founder, WETF & Big Earl Records

Episodes

  1. Jan 1

    Choosing Me: The Acceptance Shift

    You don’t have to become someone else to deserve peace.  Self-love isn’t a reward for improvement—it’s a decision you make right now, in the middle of your real life. Radical acceptance doesn’t mean you approve of everything. It means you stop fighting what’s true… so you can finally lead yourself forward with clarity. Join our next conversation with Xaviera Barnwell, a mother, advocate, and a woman in her becoming. Xaviera works in palliative care as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and she’s also a pre-nursing student on the path to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Through her voice and her lived experience, she explores faith, healing, femininity, and what it really means to choose yourself—especially when it’s uncomfortable. #choosingme #radicalacceptance #selflove #nextlevelwoman #embraceyourpeace #loveyoufirst #selfrespect #matt22:37-40 #levelupcoaching

    51 min

  2. 11/21/2025

    From Delay to Data: Making the Meantime Matter

    In this episode, we’re getting practical about the in-between—the season when your goals are real, your effort is consistent, and the timeline still says “not yet.”  Our guest is Christina Johnson—a project manager and consultant with a psychology background who’s known for turning complexity into clarity. She helps leaders and teams operate with purpose, communicate cleanly, and make progress that actually shows up in the numbers. In this conversation, we discussed how to turn waiting into strategy: how to reframe setbacks without shrinking, how to use simple metrics to track momentum, and how to communicate shifting timelines without losing trust in the process.  In the meantime, strategize and refine your focus.

    57 min

  3. 10/30/2025

    Love Evolved: How Black Women Are Redefining Partnership in 2025

    What happens when Black women stop performing love—and start defining it for themselves? 💛 Tune in as Imani Blake shares how her generation is rewriting the rules of partnership and authenticity in 2025.

    52 min

  4. 09/27/2025

    Navigating the Myth of Work/Life Balance: Curating A Life You Love

    On this week’s episode of Next Level Woman: Life, Career & Leadership, I sit down with Tangela Woodley, Sr. Manager of Employer Branding at L’Oréal Group, for a real conversation on: 💡 The myth of work-life balance 💡 Why prioritizing—not balancing—is the key to living fully 💡 The boundaries she’s set to thrive personally and professionally 💡 What she’s sacrificed—and gained—by curating a fabulous life she actually loves 💡 Her long-range career vision and the wisdom she’s passing on to women coming behind her 🎙 Tangela’s story is bold, practical, and deeply inspiring for women navigating demanding industries without losing themselves in the process.   Connect with Tangela on social: IG @tdubb_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangelawoodley/

    55 min

  5. 09/20/2025

    An Unapologetic Call to Rest: Two Sides of the Same Coin

    Podcast host and Author's review of her two latest book releases: Unapologetic: A New Way to Lead, Live, and Level Up and Sovereign Rest: Woman of Color’s Unapologetic Path to Renewing Mind, Body, and Spirit. Together, these two works—Unapologetic and Sovereign Rest —are two sides of the same coin. One says: rise boldly, take your place, lead without apology. The other says: breathe, reclaim your energy, protect your spirit. We need both.

    16 min

  6. 08/23/2025

    Mentoring for Career Success in Higher Education

    Mentorship can be the game-changer that opens doors, builds confidence, and accelerates careers—especially for women of color navigating predominantly white spaces. In this episode of Next Level Woman, I sit down with Dr. Juliet Jordan Lowery, Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at Greensboro College, to talk about: ✨ Breaking barriers and thriving in challenging environments ✨ Building authentic mentor/mentee relationships ✨ The role of allies and sponsors in real change ✨ Strategies for resilience, belonging, and leadership 🎧 We conversed about some real life situations regarding helping mentees who are navigating the landscape of higher education. Tune in for inspiring stories and actionable steps to create mentorship that truly transforms careers. Follow Dr. Lowery on Linked In IG: @readerfrog88

    57 min

  7. 08/08/2025

    The Confidence Code: Black Women and Imposter Syndrome

    In this soul-stirring episode of Next Level Woman, host Kristen Newsome welcomes Shameka Burrell, a powerhouse guest who is a pastor, business owner, nonprofit leader, wife, and mother. Together, they go beyond surface-level talk to explore the real roots of imposter syndrome in the lives of Black women—and what it takes to reclaim confidence in the face of doubt, perfectionism, and pressure. Rooted in both spiritual wisdom and lived experience, this conversation is a permission slip for every woman who’s ever felt “not enough”—and a guide to walking boldly in your calling, no matter the title you carry. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: Imposter syndrome and cultural identity How faith and leadership can shape confidence Balancing family, ministry, and business with authenticity Rewriting limiting beliefs from society and childhood Practical tools and mindset shifts to own your power

    51 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

About

Next Level Woman is a empowering podcast dedicated to inspiring women of color to elevate every aspect of their lives. Join us as we explore strategies for personal & professional growth, career advancement, and authentic leadership. Through inspiring stories, expert insights, and practical tips, this show helps women break barriers, unlock their full potential, and step into their next level of success and fulfillment, as they define it. Podcast Host: Kristen Newsome, M.Ed., PCC | CEO of Level Up Coaching, LLC Executive Producer: Charles E.O. Barnes, II | Founder, WETF & Big Earl Records

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