Try Hard
Booking Overview
Metrics
Episodes: 23
Frequency: Every two weeks
Rating: 4.6/5.0
Estimated listeners: 1,000 - 10,000
Listener location: USA
Contact Information
Publicly listed emails
maggie.gourville@prx.org
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Host
Alex Sujong Laughlin - Podcast host and creator associated with Defector Media.
Booking Intelligence
Booking Requirements
Recent Guest Discussions
Jasper Wang - Leaving Corporate Consulting, Redefining Success, Worker-owned Media, Entrepreneurship, Money And Happiness, And Alternative Careers.
Hrishikesh Hirway - Songwriting, Creative Process, Perfectionism, Creative Burnout, Artistic Identity, Collaboration, And Making An Album.
Alexander Chee - Writing And Revising A Novel, Sustaining Creative Confidence, Scarcity, And Building A Creative Career.
Morgan Jerkins - Moving To New York For A Writing Career, Starting Over, Navigating Transition, And Preserving Personal Softness While Pursuing Creative Work.
Jazmine Green - Queer Raves, Gender Transition, Becoming A Musician And DJ, And Evolving Creatively In Adulthood.
Recent Topics
Episodes
She chose herself over her soccer career
October 19, 2026
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. Episode transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11UOOnIzTfTAQEOtV5s1L8CEEbxTCVuTgcD3U-pOErAk/edit?usp=sharing🏷️: Mana Shim, professional soccer, NWSL, Paul Riley, Portland Thorns, abuse scandal, sexual harassment, speaking up, player rights, women's soccer, identity crisis, law s...
She worked until her brain made her stop
October 05, 2026
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...
He left corporate for a socialist pirate ship
September 21, 2026
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...
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get in touch with Try Hard?
Try Hard is hosted by Alex Sujong Laughlin. Its publicly listed email is maggie.gourville@prx.org. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.
What is the email for Try Hard?
The publicly listed email for Try Hard: maggie.gourville@prx.org.
How many listeners does Try Hard have?
Podseeker estimates Try Hard reaches 1,000 to 10,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.
Who is an ideal guest for Try Hard?
Try Hard typically books rising experts. Typical guest background: Authors with published books, musicians or DJs with released work and an established creative practice, media entrepreneurs, and professionals with notable career transitions or distinctive personal reinvention stories. Common among recent guests: Published books; Released albums or other professional music; Established podcasts or media projects. Recent guests include Jasper Wang, Hrishikesh Hirway, and Alexander Chee.
How hard is it to get booked on Try Hard?
Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.
What topics does Try Hard cover?
Recent episodes cover Art, Creative Careers, Career Change, Writing, and Music. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.
Publicly listed emails
maggie.gourville@prx.org
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