Required listening for everyone!

An excellent podcast I’m eager to listen to

Great episode but it would helpful to research the options, if any, to get people off welfare. We have many families that are generational. welfare as described in the book Random Family written by Andrian Nicole LeBlanc.

Informative and engaging. A must-listen for any U.S. taxpayer.

I love how well researched Season 6 is. It provides a very data-driven look into perverse incentives that apply to for-profit organizations. My only gripe is that the research horsepower wasn’t split in half to investigate viable alternatives or organizations and policies that are working and should be leaned into.

Excellent and eye-opening podcast. Unfortunately, I am not sure that I am convinced by the narrators conclusion that Democrats do not support this industry…

Absolutely phenomenal show in the most frustrating way. I love the deep dive into complex programs that people love to hate but have no real understanding of the underlying complexity.

I find it jarring that the show advertises alcohol delivery services, when alcoholism and other kinds of substance addiction are a major cause/symptom of poverty. I also found it strange that the host, in season 6, shines a spotlight on the fact that the former director of a private welfare contractor is Jewish. Why did we need to know that? Was his religion relevant in some way? These questionable tactics detract from what is otherwise entertaining and educational journalism.

I’m glad that this show helped expose the manipulative nature of the gig economy and apps like Uber and Doordash. I truly fear a future where an algorithm decides your fate as an employee. The term “independent contractor” is abused in the gig economy to mislead and manipulate workers. I hope legislation can soon intervene.

Wow. This is one of the most informative podcasts to which I’ve listened. It explores the politics behind “welfare to work” public policies and how politicians and private companies use the working poor as “inventory” to exploit and demonize while taking advantage of the perverse incentives of these programs to cash in. Since attending school is not considered work and job training for skilled jobs is seldom offered, this ultimately leaves most workers in an endless cycle of poverty working temporary or part time jobs lacking benefits. Temp agencies and private welfare to work agencies make millions off of tax payers while doing nothing to eliminate poverty.

This is an extraordinary podcast. Deeply researched, beautifully put together, filled with little known but vital information about the intersections of public policy, political economy, and the ways corporate power and ideology capture the political process — with disastrous consequences for not just the poor & marginalized, but also for the well being of the masses. Often funny, its also infuriating and empowering.

Is this a new genre for podcasting? The depth of this coverage combines real people’s stories, US History, and business. Should be required listening for anyone who reads Zinn’s People’s History of the US.

For people experiencing poverty in America this an amazingly humanizing journey that actually lays out the facts of how poor people pay with their lives to just exist. Toil dread and expiration are what the working poor know and these stories are a reminder of how easily we could save each other.

Thank you for this fantastic journalism. We have been fed so many lies about what the U.S. is… you shed much needed light on these subjects and I’m very grateful.

No one is making the kind of podcast that Krissy Clark and her team is making with The Uncertain Hour. This is the kind of in depth reporting that makes podcasts so great! Krissy and her team are experts at breaking complex topics down into easily digestible bits. Everyone needs to listen to this season and we need to take action based on the findings the team uncovers!

I have been a fan of The Uncertain Hour since season 1, but season 6 is my all time favorite season! As someone who has spent decades working to support people living in poverty I find The Uncertain Hour’s reporting really illuminating regarding why so many anti-poverty programs don’t actually help people improve their lives and why. I am incredibly grateful for this outstanding journalism!

I love this show so much. No podcast breaks down policies that directly affect poor and vulnerable populations better.

The work on this show is A Plus. The reporting connects the dots in fascinating ways that run deep and wide. I was just listening and felt so hopeful that reporting as good as this holds the promise to improve the world, or at least America. Hats off!

My newest fave!!! Seriously feel like I’ve been missing out! Love the chicken information I’ve gained ♥️🐓🐣🐓 ♥️ Keep up the great work !

This is by far the best, most insightful podcast I’ve listened to on the “real” drivers behind public welfare and gig work economies and often perverse incentives. Just listened to Episode 5 and was struck by the conversation about Donna Shalala’s sense that we wouldnt fix welfare until we fixed transportation, childcare and training challenges. The guest said jobs should come first, but clearly he was/is wrong, and the system, incentives and focus (and taxpayer payments) are so misdirected. It’s a game of smoke and mirrors, and the wrong problems are being focused on, leaving the real problems Un-addressed and without adequate govt resources. It’s just maddening!

So far, I’ve made it through the first two episodes of season 6. The series is very informative, but it seems to adopt a “welfare rights” position. These episodes discuss the bureaucracy and compliance efforts for welfare administration in the Milwaukee area. When discussing the cost of contracted welfare administration, it would have been helpful to compare them to the costs of direct government administration. Similarly, episode 2 seems to imply a return to no-strings attached cash payments would be preferrable to the current system of pushing recipients into employment. That is the kind of system that largely existed prior to welfare reform. Hopefully the future episodes will compare the current system to a real-world alternative rather than some abstract utopia.

This podcast turns what could be a boring story about government policy into a gripping whodunnit that will make your blood boil!

In a time where I can relate I hear privileged yet the system that “helps”doesnt help in any meaningful way and then makes you run around in circles despite people still thinking your privileged. Until you’re in these shoes you don’t have a clue how awful this developed country of all the developed countries disregards life and doesn’t believe in the concept of us all helping our fellow human neighbors to avoid situations like these. Other developed countries care for their citizens resulting in far fewer problems and the taxes are higher (as many freak out about ) bc they’re ALSO paid more than American workers. Sickening here

Highly recommend this podcast. Great info on labor economics.

Gives you good ideas to look into further.

When discussing the history of servants vs. artisans, the series makes a significant error of omission by not distinguishing “servants” from slaves. Slaves have often been referred to as servants, so many do not know the subtle distinction between these terms and might lump them together, leading them to a massive misunderstanding of the institution of slavery. A simple and clear statement noting that all this employment history sits outside of the context of UNPAID labor, namely slavery, would have sufficed. Instead there is only an exceedingly passing, easy-to-miss reference to “paid labor” at the tail end of the segment as it quickly transitions forward. Deeply irresponsible.

Currently on the second episode of the entrepreneurship/ independent contracting set, and it has got all of my attention and just is entirely engaging and makes me want to keep listening.

I’m genuinely surprised that this podcast isn’t more well known. It is the most balanced, fascinating educational podcast I have ever listened to. I just wish there were more episodes!

Deep dives into the untold stories of situations we all think we know about

Pretty biased and looking for hooks to discredit rather than discuss. When the facts don’t fit she discredits people. Sad I wish the podcast would “Follow the facts” - and so for listeners, pass on this one.

Great fact based reporting.

Love this show

Good concept yet falls to the usual woke journalistic tropes. Just disappointed

I can’t wait for another season. I’ve listened, and relistened, to all the current seasons.

"Employment" and where we are heading: Very revealing -- and disturbing. Good luck America. I'm long retired and feel incredibly fortunate to have lived in a time and personal situation of relatively good employment opportunity and stability. I wonder if I would be able to survive in this new world.

Love being enlightened. Highly recommend. And go back to listen to past seasons.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this podcast—it’s all been great, including the latest season.

I loved listening to this podcast heard about it through reveal when they did a rebroadcast of the minor leagues pay. Initially I thought it was great until I listened to the first episode of season five and I started to cringe when the host starts to recount how labor and employment began in this country. The fact that this podcast simply grazes over slavery as thought it were some dependent servitude in which masters were required to treat their servants with respect bothers me. It’s a false narrative that I’m completely tired of hearing. Slavery was in humane and I get that this podcast is about workers and unfair wages but the beginning of this story needs to be told in its entirety and not in this fantasy realm that was narrated within the first episode of the podcast.

This the the future (and present state!) of work ya’ll. Great reporting. Great production. So very very relevant.

This season’s episodes on working in the US has given me so much more respect for the people who do physical labor everyday in order to make our lives more convenient. It’s so informative and everyone who works ought to give it a listen.

Nice job.

The right to speedy trials are at the core of this problem. Trials that take decades outrageous; if the trial is in employee’s favor if the companies will file bankruptcy. The franchise companies Will get off Scott free I’ve never admit guilt. It’s sad that nothing will come of it after decades going through the court.

Great series on temp-worker-ization of America... Got hooked from the first episode!

Show is put together well and Casters good voices and presentation. The topic is way off base for what they say it is about. Interesting dive into lousy jobs with lousy pay. However, their have always been jobs like that environment and pay. Nothing new or different and they even mention these things happen I got around 30 to 50 years ago. Completely misses the reasons and motivation for what is going on n our economy today. Just trying for sympathetic ears. Did a better job in spot appearance on the pod at Make Me Smart. At least scratched the surface of change there.

Great series on outsourced labor. Very enlightening.

Just when I was saying journalism is dead, this gave me hope. Well researched, produced and hosted. Thank you!!

The subject of outsourced labor, when misused, is such a disturbing practice. Ms. Clark and her team present this issue in a manner that should give everyone a reason to pause and reassess how we, as a society, treat every worker in our economy. I have to wonder what the cost would be, to we consumers, if every worker were paid a living wage.

Another strong piece from the marketplace team. Does have an npr tilt on how things are framed ( see framing of entitlements) but that doesn't make it any less engrossing and worth while. Would like it if it could be a pinch more introspective at moments (the choice to use the word entitlement). I am hoping they address a few more questions like how does illegal immigration play into the modern debate? Is the animus racial or cultural (to cut benefits) and even if we condemn it for whatever reason can we understand it? Something beyond the admirable if simple objective to crush any myth of generosity. Skeptical but hopeful Edit: It plays very strongly to its audience. Bit saccharine at this point. Less effective for that and less impressive.

Every season I say I won’t listen when Marketplace announces the new season and puts out teasers. It’s truth is stressful and I decide I don’t want open that can of worms. Then Krissy Clark et al do such a good job and get me invested in the real people whose stories are shared and I get hooked. I only skipped a single season so far although at times, they make me sad and angry.

Love these stories about the history and current state.