Try Hard

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, Bookstore, entrepreneurship, burnout, grief, community, self-worth, asking for help, mental health, work-life balance, pursuing your dreams, career change, Asian American community, resilience, personal growth, self-care, overcoming adversity, creativity, believing in yourself


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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



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Credits:



This show is produced by Haleema Shah and 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.

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 Bain, consulting career, corporate ladder, Defector, worker-owned media, socialist media, entrepreneurship, career change, financial freedom, defining success, how much money is enough, work-life balance, making less money, alternative careers, business for good, sports media, Jasper Wang


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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 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.

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 Sujong Laughlin, Hrishikesh Hirway interview, Hrishikesh Hirway musician, In the Last Hour of Light, songwriting, creativity, creative process, perfectionism, writer's block, creative burnout, creative block, artistic identity, creative identity, making music, making an album, songwriting process, collaboration, letting go, fear of failure, trusting the process, creative confidence, artistic growth, finding your voice, musician, music podcast, creativity tips, overcoming perfectionism



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


Email Alex: alex[at]defector.com


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


***



Credits:



This show is produced by Haleema Shah and 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.

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/1WtsAKS23yZBVheavaMvsXbc6cV3YKEnmU38ygLiCA2k/edit?usp=sharing


🏷️: Alexander Chee, The Queen of the Night, Edinburgh, How To Write An Autobiographical Novel, Iowa Writers Workshop, creative writing, writing careers, creativity, Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout


***



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 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.

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 careers, Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout


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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 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.

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, transition, transitioning in your 30s, djing, electronic musicians, nowadays brooklyn, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout


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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 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.

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, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout

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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 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6OAiTsWXSBt7KlW7unuJPGXad4P5x6va 



***



Credits:



This show is produced by Haleema Shah and 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.

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, Try Hard podcast, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout


***



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 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6OAiTsWXSBt7KlW7unuJPGXad4P5x6va 



***



Credits:



This show is produced by Haleema Shah and 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.

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_2Dc0xCfLgoxnFD2XmcHU0hL0_4aylVf85oejk/edit?usp=sharing

🏷️: Ingrid Nilsen, Erica Anderson, The New Savant, youtubers, youtube, lifestyle, creators, vlogmas, influencers, small business, starting a business, candles, candle company, early influencers, covergirl, Alex Sujong Laughin, Try Hard podcast, starting over, navigating transition, creative burnout


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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 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.

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.