Show Notes
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
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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 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.
More from Try Hard
Alex Sujong Laughlin interviews former Gotham and Portland Thorns player Mana Shim about how she walked away from her career to report her abusive coach a landmark NWSL scandal that rocked women's soccer.
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.
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.
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.
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.