Level with Me

Vera Balo

Level With Me is an independent podcast about critical thinking in the age of social media bubbles. Hosted by Vera Balo, the show explores the cultural, political, and social trends shaping modern life in Europe. Each episode focuses on a complex or polarising topic - from democracy, climate, and housing to mental health, work, and art. Instead of debates or monologues, Level With Me creates space for critical thinking. Guests are invited to share their perspectives, while ideas are questioned and contextualised.

Episodes

  1. 17 FEB

    Is Democracy Failing? Should We Limit Voting Rights? Jason Brennan, Author of Against Democracy

    Does democracy actually work the way we think it does? In this episode, I speak with political philosopher Jason Brennan, author of Against Democracy, about the fundamental flaw he sees in modern democratic systems: voters have almost no incentive to become informed. We discuss alternatives to democracy, such as epistocracy, the rule of the knowledgeable. But we also talk about the concepts of rational ignorance, tribal politics, democratic backsliding, and the potential of technology. Level With Me explores polarizing topics shaping modern life in Europe through nuanced conversations that encourage critical thinking.

    1h 19m

  2. TRAILER

    Level With Me Introduction

    Introducing Level With Me, a podcast I’m creating to encourage critical thinking, especially here in Europe.I plan to explore the issues shaping modern life — from culture and politics to technology, business, and lifestyle.Most conversations today take place in echo chambers. Podcasts often let guests present their narratives without challenge, nuance, or context. Level With Me is my attempt to do things differently: to ask challenging questions, think more deeply, and explore the complexity behind the headlines.If you’re curious about the world, bored of oversimplified narratives, or want to hear perspectives that challenge your assumptions, I’d love to have you on this journey.

    24 sec

  3. 10 FEB

    The School For Moral Ambition Co-Founder on Impactful Careers

    What does it really mean to have an impactful career? Do you need privilege, elite education, and work on the world's biggest problems to make a difference?In this episode, I’m joined by Jan-Willem van Putten, co-founder of the School for Moral Ambition, for a deep and honest conversation about purpose, responsibility, and what meaningful work looks like in an unequal world.We talk about: What a career with positive impact actually is (and what it isn’t)Why many people might be wasting their talentThe idea of moral ambitionThe “Triple S framework”: sizable, solvable, and sorely overlooked problemsWhether hands-on jobs like teaching or nursing are recognized as impactfulActing locally versus solving complex global problemsPrivilege, responsibility, and who should do moreBurnout, trade-offs, money, and the real lifestyle behind impact careersWhy community mattersPractical first steps you can take - even if you can’t change careers right nowThis episode is for you if you’ve ever:Felt stuck in a job that pays well but feels emptyWanted to “do good” but felt overwhelmed by the scale of the world’s problemsQuestioned whether small actions really matterVisit the School for Moral Ambition to take the first step towards a job with a positive impact: https://www.moralambition.org/

    1h 12m

Trailer

About

Level With Me is an independent podcast about critical thinking in the age of social media bubbles. Hosted by Vera Balo, the show explores the cultural, political, and social trends shaping modern life in Europe. Each episode focuses on a complex or polarising topic - from democracy, climate, and housing to mental health, work, and art. Instead of debates or monologues, Level With Me creates space for critical thinking. Guests are invited to share their perspectives, while ideas are questioned and contextualised.

Information

  • Creator
    Vera Balo
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Vera Balo
  • Show Website
    Level with Me