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.
Why Homelessness Is Rising in Europe and How to Solve It | With Pastor Martijn van Leerdam
Why is homelessness increasing across Europe despite living in some of the world's wealthiest societies?
In this episode, I speak with Martijn van Leerdam, director of Pauluskerk Rotterdam, about the realities of homelessness, the people behind the statistics, and why so many vulnerable people fall through the cracks of our systems.
We discuss the role of housing shortages, migration, bureaucracy, addiction, mental health, political choices, and whether homelessness is ultimately a societal failure rather than an individual one.
This conversation also explores what ordinary people can do, how we should interact with those experiencing homelessness, and why empathy matters more than ever in increasingly individualistic societies.
If you enjoy nuanced conversations about politics, society and the future of Europe, don't forget to follow Level With Me.
10 May 2026
The United States of Europe: What It Is and How It Would Work | Anna Strolenberg (VOLT)
Europe is facing a level of geopolitical uncertainty it hasn't seen in decades. From the war in Ukraine to shifting US foreign policy, questions about the future of the European Union are more pressing than ever. One answer gaining momentum among young Europeans is the idea of a United States of Europe.
In this episode, I speak with Anna Strolenberg, Member of the European Parliament representing VOLT - a transnational European party - about what this idea actually means, how it would work in practice, and what the main risks and trade-offs are.
What is VOLT?: how this transnational European party works across borders and why it was built this way
The United States of Europe: what the concept means, what would change, and what would stay the same
Defense and security: the case for a European army and what it would look like alongside existing national armies
The veto: how unanimity voting works today, why some see it as a problem, and what alternatives exist
European governance: how decisions are currently made in the EU, who holds power, and what a more democratic structure could look like
Eastern vs Western Europe: different perspectives on European integration and how to address the gap
Cultural identity: the concern that deeper integration threatens national cultures, and the counter-argument
Representation in politics: on being the youngest Dutch MEP, diversity in parliament, and who gets to shape political decisions
Human rights: why Anna sees this as the necessary foundation of any future European project
24 Apr 2026
Beyond Biology: Why Menstruation Is Political | Maria Carmen Punzi, PhD
Is menstruation a private issue or a public matter? Most people assume it's the former - but the reality is far more complex.
In this episode, I host Dr. Maria Carmen Punzi, researcher, advisor, and advocate who has spent nearly a decade working at the intersection of menstrual health, gender equality, and public policy. From advising businesses and organizations to presenting research at the European Parliament, Maria Carmen is on a mission to break the silence around menstruation and reframe it as the systemic issue it truly is.
We cover a lot of ground in this conversation:
🩸 Body literacy — what it means to truly understand the language of your own body, and why most of us were never taught it
🩸 The workplace, gender equality, and who our systems were built for — and what needs to change
🩸 The "weaker body" myth — how we see as the male body as the default standard, and what that has cost women for decades
🩸 Period poverty in Europe — shocking findings from research presented at the EU Parliament, and why period poverty affects far more people than national poverty rates suggest
🩸 AI and period tracking apps — the hidden risks of free apps, data privacy, and what responsible design should actually look like
Whether you menstruate or not, this conversation will change how you think about our society healthcare, and equality.
00:00 Introduction
01:32 How Maria Carmen got into menstrual health research
09:59 What is body literacy?
14:43 The strengths of the menstrual cycle
19:20 Red flags you shouldn't ignore
23:31 Self-advocacy in the healthcare system
28:54 The menstruation taboo is everywhere
35:10 Free period products in public spaces
38:14 Menstruation as a gender equality issue
47:37 Period poverty in Europe
57:53 AI and period tracking apps
1:03:41 Key takeaways
8 Apr 2026
From the EU Parliament to the Garbage Truck: A Different View on Society by Quin Blokzijl
Quin Blokzijl is on a mission to challenge an overlooked inequality in society: the divide between university-educated and practically educated people.
Despite making up a large part of the population, people with practical education are heavily underrepresented in politics, media, and public debate. Quin has experienced this firsthand — from being excluded based on educational level to working within institutions such as the European Parliament.
Today, he works as a garbage collector by choice, while using his platform to question how we define intelligence, success, and value in society.
In this conversation, we explore:
- Why are vocationally educated people underrepresented in politics
- How the system reinforces inequality
- Why many people feel excluded from democracy
- The link between this divide and rising populism
- What politicians and society can do differently
- How we currently determine one's worth, and what is the problem with this
- How to break out of our bubbles and why it is so important
This episode challenges how we think about work, intelligence, and who gets a voice. Quin brings bold ideas, like the need for politicians to do hands-on work, or for more people to work "50-50" - both outside and the office.
👷🏽♂️ Guest: Quin Blokzijl
Garbage Collector & Opinion Leader
Follow Quin's work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quinblokzijl/ (https://www.instagram.com/quinblokzijl/)
Or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinblokzijl/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinblokzijl/)
🎙 Hosted by Vera Balo
Level With Me — nuanced conversations about the topics shaping modern life in Europe.
Follow for my journey of building the podcast, as well as critical thinking material:
Substack: https://substack.com/@verabalo (https://substack.com/@verabalo)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-balo/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-balo/)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RJfOMuau3H2bPJPqj6qAn?si=389f7f4e32b54451 (https://open.spotify.com/show/6RJfOMuau3H2bPJPqj6qAn?si=389f7f4e32b54451)
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/level-with-me/id1876229836 (https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/level-with-me/id1876229836)
0:00 Intro
1:13 Quin’s journey & early influences
4:27 Experiencing the education divide
5:19 Why he became a garbage collector
7:21 Life on the job & social perceptions
11:38 Elites vs workers: key differences
14:15 Core issues: money, pressure & recognition
15:53 His mission explained
17:29 Are vocational workers excluded from democracy?
21:57 Representation & political inequality
27:14 Why many feel disconnected from politics
30:15 The communication gap in public debate
34:18 Should politicians do physical work?
40:30 Solutions & what needs to change
44:12 What happened to unions?
46:05 Climate, class & communication
51:23 Quin’s future plans
53:52 What individuals can do
55:08 Breaking out of your bubble
57:14 Outro
22 Mar 2026
How to Deal with Serious Illness and Caregiving
We live in the most medically advanced societies in history. And yet, when serious illness enters someone’s life, families often feel completely unprepared.
In this episode of Level With Me, I speak with Nara Moripen, founder of PAL, about what really happens when a diagnosis changes everything.
We talk about:
What “serious illness” actually means
The shock of diagnosis and the importance of asking about prognosis
The hidden role of family caregivers
Caregiver burnout and how to prevent it
Why palliative care is misunderstood — and why it should start earlier
The funding and systemic gaps across Europe
Why we need to talk more openly about death, grief, and serious illness
This is a conversation for patients, caregivers, colleagues, friends — and anyone who will one day face serious illness in their circle. Because we all will.
00:00 Why serious illness still catches us unprepared
01:05 Nara’s story: From consultant to caregiver
04:28 The patient journey: Medical, emotional & practical challenges
16:11 The diagnosis phase and asking about prognosis
27:34 The conversations families need to have
30:53 What it really means to be a caregiver
38:55 What palliative care actually is (and why it matters early)
43:55 System gaps: Funding, access, and inequality
49:02 Caregiver burnout and balancing work & life
53:33 How workplaces, friends & society can do better
1:00:10 Innovation, AI & hope for the future
1:04:05 Breaking the taboo around illness, death & grief
17 Feb 2026
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.
10 Feb 2026
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.
10 Feb 2026
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 talent
The idea of moral ambition
The “Triple S framework”: sizable, solvable, and sorely overlooked problems
Whether hands-on jobs like teaching or nursing are recognized as impactful
Acting locally versus solving complex global problems
Privilege, responsibility, and who should do more
Burnout, trade-offs, money, and the real lifestyle behind impact careers
Why community matters
Practical first steps you can take - even if you can’t change careers right now
This episode is for you if you’ve ever:
Felt stuck in a job that pays well but feels empty
Wanted to “do good” but felt overwhelmed by the scale of the world’s problems
Questioned whether small actions really matter
Visit the School for Moral Ambition to take the first step towards a job with a positive impact: https://www.moralambition.org/ (https://www.moralambition.org/)
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