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/edit?usp=sharing

🏷️: Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast, starting over, navigating transition, trying new things, creative burnout, podcast hosting, chronic illness, work, self care, defector, creative work, new projects


***


Follow Alex Sujong Laughlin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/

Email Alex: alex[at]defector.com

Subscribe to Defector Media: https://defector.com/

Check out Try Hard in audio form: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/try-hard/id1824016771


***


Credits: 


This show is produced by Haleema Shah and me, Alex Sujong Laughlin. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Justin Ellis is Defector’s projects editor. Our show art is by Lille Allen. Our theme song is “Photo Booth,” by Avery Friedman. Jasper Wang is Defector’s business guy. Thank you to the Defector staff and to Sean Kuhn. Our merch store was created by Dan McQuade. Defector Media is a collectively owned, subscriber based media company. Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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.spotify.com/show/4evGmpMz51afDLClA3RVce

***Sign up for ICE watch training***: https://statesatthecore.substack.com/p/community-defense-and-ice-watch

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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 Ronald's show Heartbreaker in DC on Feb 21: https://www.unionstagepresents.com/shows/heartbreaker-a-tragic-love-story-from-ronald-young-jr/

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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=sharing

You can contribute to Radiotopia's fall fundraiser with a tax-deductible donation here!

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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 things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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 [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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=sharing

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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/id1612693094

Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10zWovNgFBG7w9b41zkZ5Fs95LX6uhj6y5UHykd0URIU/edit?usp=sharing

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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 [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs. https://www.instagram.com/alexlaughs/ 

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman.

Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.

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=sharing

Send me voice memos about the things YOU'RE trying at [email protected], or you can message me or tag me on Instagram @alexlaughs.  

Try Hard is hosted and produced by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Editorial and production support from Audrey Mardavich, Tom Ley, and Jae Towle Vieira. Justin Ellis is Defector's projects editor. Mixing by Samantha Gattsek. Our show art is by Lille Allen and our theme song is "Photo Booth" by Avery Friedman. Try Hard is a proud member of Radiotopia.