This week on Work in Progress: Mom’s Edition, we’re talking about the real mess that is… applying for unemployment. From glitchy websites to confusing requirements, Sarah and Jessie break down the chaos of navigating benefits — all while parenting, job hunting, and dodging existential spirals.

But first, a check-in (including Jessie’s 8-hour DMV saga) and our recurring segment Parenting in Public: Hot Takes, where we go off about the absurd design of modern playgrounds (seriously, why are there so many 25-foot drops?!).

Then we dive into what it’s really like to file for unemployment — the phone calls, the weird rules, and the maddening bureaucracy. Every state is different, none of it is easy, and sometimes it feels like you need a PhD just to fill out the form.