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Try Hard

Alex Sujong Laughlin 16 Episodes Oct 5, 2026

Alex Sujong Laughlin hosts conversations with people about how they are redefining themselves, from major life changes to picking up new hobbies. The podcast encourages listeners to be a 'try hard' and take on challenges. It is created by Alex Sujong Laughlin and Defector Media.

Episodes

She worked until her brain made her stop Oct 5, 2026 35:20 Alex Sujong Laughlin interviews Yu & Me Books founder Lucy Yu about how she started the first woman-owned Asian American bookstore in New York in her twenties — and how the process nearly broke her. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fMT3qKPRGrhTetCCmMvLLulFc1Zm0RDuZWHhQPXtKe4/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.6mxzxdb60zz7🏷️: Yu & Me Books, Lucy Yu, Yu & Me, Boo

He left corporate for a socialist pirate ship Sep 21, 2026 38:16 Alex Sujong Laughlin interviews Defector's very own Jasper Wang about the choice he made to step off the achievement treadmill in his early 30s — and how that led to the creation of Defector Media. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vPfZCoO_NFuYmE1zT0gZK7uridKEC8KJVoSxOaap4ws/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: Career success, achievement treadmill, money and happiness, leaving

When your side project becomes your identity Sep 7, 2026 38:17 Alex Sujong Laughlin interviews Hrishikesh Hirway of the podcasts Song Exploder, West Wing Weekly, and Home Cooking, about his music career right after the release of his new album, In The Last Hour of Light. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_JOiqmLY7dA12mVv0SmhJkiyKybpGZwashjgwhDnQC8/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: Hrishikesh Hirway, Song Exploder, Try Hard podcast, Alex

The novel that took Alexander Chee 11 years to finish Aug 24, 2026 36:16 Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to LEGEND Alexander Chee about the process of writing, delivering, and taking back his novel, "The Queen of the Night." They talk about how he maintained confidence in his creative vision over the 11 years it took to finish the novel and not succumbing to scarcity while building a creative career. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WtsA

Morgan Jerkins on surviving New York without losing yourself Aug 10, 2026 39:45 Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to writer Morgan Jerkins about how she made the move to New York for her writing career, and how she's managed to protect her softness in the process. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gwFJDScys5QleFodC4byJ7X8ct7y_3awu7of_JdCj8M/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: , Morgan Jerkins, Wandering in Strange Lands, Caul Baby, moving to New York, writing car

From baby trans to headlining the dance floor Jul 27, 2026 37:49 Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to Jazmine Green, aka CMD+Jazmine about how queer raves were the site of both her gender transition and her evolution into a musician and DJ. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mRub5-XnAfjSye31rxa6lm-dniIumhCq4GM_tI6Tqrs/edit?usp=sharing 🏷️: , Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast, CMD+Jazmine, Jazmine Green, raves, queerness, transitio

Anna Sale on how motherhood redefined her ambition | Try Hard Podcast | Defector Media Jul 13, 2026 36:25 Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to Death Sex & Money host Anna Sale about how becoming a parent affected her professional ambition.Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DaTLT55h4dNUsdkSrrDyXnAArDDml0Y1rDi1uLRY8GI/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: Anna Sale, Death Sex and Money, ambition, motherhood, parenthood, matresence, girlboss feminism, Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast,

Why is it so hard to make friends as an adult? Jun 29, 2026 39:24 Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to Aaron Edwards about how he's learned to make friends as an adult. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GiG2tM-BxxQiE4mM4fDrtq7CWrTBaU3UBSHS4g_3j-8/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: making friends, making friends as an adult, cringe, meetups, rejection, ghosting, introversion, introverts, Aaron Edwards, Upstate Color, Kingston, Alex Sujong Laughin, T

Why Ingrid Nilsen quit YouTube at 3M subscribers Jun 15, 2026 40:43 Ingrid Nilsen was one of the most followed YouTubers ever, but in 2020, she walked away from her influencing career to try something new. In this episode, Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to Ingrid about her decision to quit influencing and how that led to the creation of her candle and fragrance company, The New Savant. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16C3QO_2Dc0xCf

We're making some changes... Jun 1, 2026 08:46 Alex Sujong Laughlin launched the Try Hard podcast in 2025 and almost ended the show due to creative burnout, chronic health issues, and major life changes. In this episode, Alex breaks down what you can expect from the new season of Try Hard. Stay tuned for our new season launch date! Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12s8f_Kz_L3z5bfEJkhJamHGJKpwGUtglVbM-tMRyV3Q

Bonus: You Can Just Publish Books? Feb 9, 2026 37:56 Breaking this brief winter freeze with a bonus episode featuring a conversation with Madeline Porsella and Mabel Capability Taylor, the creators of Mandylion Press, which "unearths lost literary gems written by women and weirdos in the (very) long nineteenth century." Check out Mandylion's books here: https://www.mandylionpress.com/ Listen to their podcast, 1-800-1800: https://open.spotif

Ronald Young Jr. Comes Clean Dec 1, 2025 36:00 We've talked a lot about trying this season, but not enough about failing. In the season one finale, Ronald Young Jr. comes clean about failing his Try Hard project. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15ysREUJm3-I9T8K6xCGT4Qbtlu1fZfuKETkb1MvaV1c/edit?usp=sharing You can contribute to Radiotopia's fall fundraiser with a tax-deductible donation here! Get tickets to

Zakiya Gibbons Goes On A Date Nov 17, 2025 32:28 Zakiya Gibbons is rusty with dating women, so she goes to a queer speed dating event to shake the cobwebs off. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1THYaMJZoV3e_45wsLsScbYxphcywyMIhltrJN0b4Ygc/edit?usp=sharingYou can contribute to Radiotopia's fall fundraiser with a tax-deductible donation here! Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector

Josh Gondelman Plays Basketball Nov 3, 2025 37:42 Josh Gondelman used to love playing basketball, but he can't seem to bring himself to play in his friend's long-running pickup game. Check out Josh's standup special, Positive Reinforcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAvNlgpdKKo Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KPusncOHye0q-x9GVxODOTuG-NMoLMjMUEVWlfg2f4I/edit?usp=sharing Send me voice memos about the thin

Rax King Plays the Banjo Oct 20, 2025 41:05 Rax King learns a song on the banjo to play at a jam.Check out Rax's new book, Sloppy: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/751421/sloppy-by-rax-king/ Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ajUijzXj3ynxpHQIvh-cQBwWdrztnZCiUzJBoQNeTQo/edit?usp=sharing Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on In

Sabrina Imbler Goes Hunting Oct 6, 2025 39:19 Sabrina Imbler is afraid of bugs, but they are working on a book about bugs. What to do?! In this episode, they attempt to catch and pin dragonflies. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Zyi-6wY81SosLtcs1y0vZXufOcFwobddFQMCeO7NHzc/edit?usp=sharingSend me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on Instagra

Ceara Jane O'Sullivan Tries to Cartwheel Sep 22, 2025 31:08 Ceara Jane O'Sullivan takes a gymnastics class in an attempt to finally master the ultimate cool girl trick: the cartwheel. Check out Ceara's podcast, Petty Crimes, here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/petty-crimes/id1612693094Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10zWovNgFBG7w9b41zkZ5Fs95LX6uhj6y5UHykd0URIU/edit?usp=sharing Send me voice memos about the thing

Diana Moskovitz Rides a Bike Sep 8, 2025 26:54 Diana Moskovitz never learned to ride a bike when she was a child. Can she make her K-drama Han River bike riding dream come true? Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CR1x7BM2vyw_t44kvnvXehKfZLjkTLbYgwQCid3vgEQ/edit?usp=sharing Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. htt

Yowei Shaw Hosts a Party Aug 25, 2025 33:10 What happens when a wallflower tries to stand in the spotlight? Check out Yowei's podcast, Proxy.Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q866ZRKA_MsysRPo1QQlBBESRfIksmQeZNFmbS_DUOg/edit?usp=sharingSend me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. Try Hard is hosted and produced by Al

Erika Casupanan Sings in Public Aug 11, 2025 36:37 Erika spent her life being the person she thought she "should" be. It turns out that doing her own thing doesn't rock the world the way she thinks it will. It's actually pretty cool. Check out Erika's podcast, Happy to See Me. Episode transcript here. Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs.Try H

Mattie Lubchansky Takes a Yoga Class Jul 28, 2025 31:35 Cartoonist Mattie Lubchansky hates exercising in front of people, so in this first episode of Try Hard, she's trying out a real life yoga class full of real life strangers! By the way, you should buy Mattie's new book, Simplicity! Episode transcript here. Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at podcasts@defector.com, or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs.

Welcome to Try Hard Jul 14, 2025 01:07 If there’s no shame in trying, why is it so hard? On Try Hard, Alex Sujong Laughlin helps people try the thing they've always wanted to do—from cartwheels to karaoke. First episode publishes July 28! Thank you to Charley Locke, Lilli Grace Barden, Yuli, and Juliana de Groot for lending your voices.

Try Hard

Episodes

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