Rephonic
Artwork for Try Hard
Self-Improvement
Queer Dating
Learning
Speed Dating
Personal Growth
Comedy
Self-Discovery
Embarrassment
Psychology
Karaoke
Emotional Labor
Dating Dynamics
Teaching
Fear
Cartwheel
Basketball
Defector Media
Public Speaking
Gymnastics
Fitness

Alex Sujong Laughlin has conversations with people about the ways they're redefining themselves, from major life changes to picking up new hobbies.

Be a try hard. We double dog dare you.

Created by Alex Sujong Laughlin and Defector Media.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes15Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for Try Hard

Latest Episodes

Alex Sujong Laughlin talks to Aaron Edwards about how he's learned to make friends as an adult.

Episode transcript here: docs.google.com/document/d/1GiG2tM-BxxQiE4mM4fDrtq7CWrTBaU3UBSHS4g_3j-8/edit?usp=sharing

🏷️: making friends, making fr... more

YouTube

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... more

YouTube

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 t... more

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 ni... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ingrid Nilsen
Co-founder and chief creative officer of The New Savant
The New Savant
Episode: Why Ingrid Nilsen quit YouTube at 3M subscribers
Madeline Porsella
Co-founder of Mandylion Press
Mandylion Press
Episode: Bonus: You Can Just Publish Books?
Mabel Capability Taylor
Co-founder of Mandylion Press
Mandylion Press
Episode: Bonus: You Can Just Publish Books?
Ronald Young Jr.
Audio producer, storyteller and host based in Alexandria, Virginia
Independent artist
Episode: Ronald Young Jr. Comes Clean
Zakiya Gibbons
Award-winning journalist, host, story editor, podcast producer, writer, and voice actor based in Brooklyn.
Episode: Zakiya Gibbons Goes On A Date
Josh Gondelman
Comedian and writer with a new stand-up special called Positive Reinforcement.
Episode: Josh Gondelman Plays Basketball
Rax King
Writer and author of Sloppy and Tacky
Episode: Rax King Plays the Banjo
Sabrina Imbler
Staff writer and co-owner at Defector Media; author of the essay collection, How Far the Light Reaches, A Life in 10 Sea Creatures
Defector Media
Episode: Sabrina Imbler Goes Hunting
Ceara Jane O'Sullivan
Writer, character comedian, and creator of the Petty Crimes podcast
Saturday Night Live
Episode: Ceara Jane O'Sullivan Tries to Cartwheel

Host

Alex Sujong Laughlin
Host of Try Hard; affiliated with Defector Media. Appears across episodes as the lead interviewer and facilitator of personal-growth challenges.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 66 ratings
  • 2nd season is so far from the show I fell in love with 💔

    The first season was something special and unique, now this just feels like every other interview podcast. Season 1 felt like something from the golden days of podcasting, like Mystery Show. It felt local, personal, relatable, original.

    I care much more about the experiences of everyday try hards, than why an already very successful person chose a different career path. Don’t we have enough of those shows already?

    I understand the creator had to make some changes to make the show sustainable,... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Carmen Sanfrancisco
    United States24 days ago
  • Uplifting and Relatable

    I really enjoy listening to this podcast and I’m looking forward to future episodes. As someone who’s been recovering from an injury for over a year, Try Hard is a great reminder that it’s still possible to get back out there and just do my best no matter the outcome. Alex, you have no idea how much of a positive impact your podcast is having on my spirit and my recovery. Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amanda Sabourin
    Canada6 months ago
  • Mind-blowing

    So profoundly bad

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    crunch-19
    United States9 months ago
  • Thought-provoking and human

    This one’s a slow burn for me. I was sucked in immediately by the honesty and relatability of the first episode, and while

    I haven’t felt as deeply struck by the others as I was that first one, I find that I am really appreciating the subtle thematic narrative unfolding across the first season. The episodes really stick with me and have provoked a lot of self-reflection and reminiscing about my own experiences trying scary new things.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Shortstak111
    United States9 months ago
  • Aren’t we all try hard?

    I loved Alex on Normal gossip and love her new venture. Life is filled with moments where you don’t quite know what you’re doing and hope no one notices. So hearing people describe how they’re trying a new thing is cathartic and entertaining.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fallingsakura9
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host for honesty, empathy, and practicality.
Episodes are relatable and well-edited with a supportive vibe.
Guests' vulnerability and humor are consistently highlighted as strengths.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bonus: You Can Just Publish Books?
Q: How did you two meet and decide to start Mandylion Press?
We met in grad school while studying the history of design, and our shared passion for 19th-century literature and visual culture led us to collaborate on projects; that collaboration evolved into the idea of publishing our own books when opportunities aligned.
Sabrina Imbler Goes Hunting
Q: What were the things that were holding you back from trying this?
The biggest one was fear because I have never really touched a living bug before.
Sabrina Imbler Goes Hunting
Q: What did you want to learn how to do?
I wanted to try collecting bugs and pinning bugs.
Erika Casupanan Sings in Public
Q: How did you pick the song that you were going to sing?
Erika chose "Someone Like You" by Adele because it was a song she had previously worked on during singing lessons and wanted to finally complete it.
Erika Casupanan Sings in Public
Q: When you said that you wanted to be a rock star, what did that mean to you?
Erika describes that being a rock star meant living based on being herself and expressing herself, which she realizes she does now as a keynote speaker and podcaster.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Try Hard

What is Try Hard about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on people pushing beyond comfort zones to try new things, with a warm, candid approach that blends humor, vulnerability, and practical takeaways. Episodes cover personal growth through missteps and smaller experiments—dating, sports, music, public speaking, fitness, and quirky challenges—highlighting emotional honesty, self-discovery, and the social dynamics of trying something new. A standout vibe is the host's empathetic, non-judgmental style that invites guests to share real fears and progress, making it approachable for listeners seeking inspiration or accountability to try themselves. Notable strengths include tight editing, relatable storytelling, and a consistent thread of encouraging persistence despite embarrassme... more

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How many subscribers and views does Try Hard have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Try Hard has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Try Hard?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Try Hard:

1. Proxy with Yowei Shaw
2. Maintenance Phase
3. ICYMI
4. You're Wrong About
5. If Books Could Kill

How many episodes of Try Hard are there?

Try Hard launched a year ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Try Hard?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Try Hard from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Try Hard?

Recent guests on Try Hard include:

1. Ingrid Nilsen
2. Madeline Porsella
3. Mabel Capability Taylor
4. Ronald Young Jr.
5. Zakiya Gibbons
6. Josh Gondelman
7. Rax King
8. Sabrina Imbler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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