Alex Sujong Laughlin
@alexlaughs.bsky.social
Tryhard | co-owner Defector
die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a jilted lover in an ephron film
November 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a jilted lover in an ephron film
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
"What’s left when the rich people lose interest is the work," an important statement. An industry boom will show you who people really are. (Like Ira Glass, who starts this piece insisting that all podcasts should be listened to at 2x to maximize podcast listening.)
I expected this podcast festival to feel like a funeral, but it was surprisingly optimistic. Once you hit rock bottom, you can only really go up.
defector.com/resonate-pod...
defector.com/resonate-pod...
The Bad News Is There’s No More Money, But That’s Also The Good News | Defector
RICHMOND, VA – The audience was booing Ira Glass. It was the opening session of Resonate, a podcast festival founded three years ago by Chioke l’Anson at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute ...
defector.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
"What’s left when the rich people lose interest is the work," an important statement. An industry boom will show you who people really are. (Like Ira Glass, who starts this piece insisting that all podcasts should be listened to at 2x to maximize podcast listening.)
I expected this podcast festival to feel like a funeral, but it was surprisingly optimistic. Once you hit rock bottom, you can only really go up.
defector.com/resonate-pod...
defector.com/resonate-pod...
The Bad News Is There’s No More Money, But That’s Also The Good News | Defector
RICHMOND, VA – The audience was booing Ira Glass. It was the opening session of Resonate, a podcast festival founded three years ago by Chioke l’Anson at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Institute ...
defector.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I expected this podcast festival to feel like a funeral, but it was surprisingly optimistic. Once you hit rock bottom, you can only really go up.
defector.com/resonate-pod...
defector.com/resonate-pod...
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
An in-depth look at the video team that helped so many people get into the Zohran Mamdani campaign: defector.com/selling-zohran
Selling Zohran | Defector
On a cool Sunday in November, a few days after Donald Trump’s re-election, Zohran Mamdani stood on a street corner in Jamaica, Queens, holding up a hastily drawn cardboard sign that read “DID YOU…
defector.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
An in-depth look at the video team that helped so many people get into the Zohran Mamdani campaign: defector.com/selling-zohran
We lost a diva
November 4, 2025 at 12:17 AM
We lost a diva
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
i see you're doing something online that you have effortlessly done 100,000 times. would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? w
October 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
i see you're doing something online that you have effortlessly done 100,000 times. would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? would you like to use this ai tool? w
not to brag but i went through a whole 24 pack of pimple stickers this weekend
October 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
not to brag but i went through a whole 24 pack of pimple stickers this weekend
i've been spiraling about "what is the point of learning" lately so i wrote a blog about it defector.com/learning-is-...
Learning Is More Than Just Collecting Facts | Defector
Earlier this week, I read Horace Walpole’s Castle Of Otronto for the first time. Published in 1764, it’s widely considered the first gothic novel, the cornerstone of a genre that would include future ...
defector.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
i've been spiraling about "what is the point of learning" lately so i wrote a blog about it defector.com/learning-is-...
five years ago i switched to fountain pens because they were "more sustainable" but now instead of losing a $.50 pen every two months now i just lose a $10 pen every two months
October 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
five years ago i switched to fountain pens because they were "more sustainable" but now instead of losing a $.50 pen every two months now i just lose a $10 pen every two months
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
EXCITING NEWS: Only If You Get Caught, a new podcast hosted by me and produced by @alexlaughs.bsky.social drops one week from today. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Only If You Get Caught
History Podcast · Updated Weekly · Only If You Get Caught is about how we can better understand sports and culture by appreciating the ways humans cheat in ways big and small.
Hosted by Patrick Redfo...
podcasts.apple.com
October 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
EXCITING NEWS: Only If You Get Caught, a new podcast hosted by me and produced by @alexlaughs.bsky.social drops one week from today. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
a person at Treasury gave Defector a rundown of how this process—which appears to be against the law—was expedited in order to avoid public scrutiny
defector.com/treasury-dep...
defector.com/treasury-dep...
Treasury Department Has Plans To Mint Dollar Coin Featuring Donald Trump's Likeness | Defector
The United States Department of the Treasury has developed, to the brink of production, a dollar coin that features the face and likeness of President Donald Trump, according to a source within the Tr...
defector.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:37 PM
a person at Treasury gave Defector a rundown of how this process—which appears to be against the law—was expedited in order to avoid public scrutiny
defector.com/treasury-dep...
defector.com/treasury-dep...
when they tell you publishing is slow they mean S L O W
i've been working on this for five years and we sold it six months ago but now i get to announce to the world! i'm writing a book! never say the word "talent" around me if you don't want a whole ass dissertation!!!!!
i've been working on this for five years and we sold it six months ago but now i get to announce to the world! i'm writing a book! never say the word "talent" around me if you don't want a whole ass dissertation!!!!!
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
when they tell you publishing is slow they mean S L O W
i've been working on this for five years and we sold it six months ago but now i get to announce to the world! i'm writing a book! never say the word "talent" around me if you don't want a whole ass dissertation!!!!!
i've been working on this for five years and we sold it six months ago but now i get to announce to the world! i'm writing a book! never say the word "talent" around me if you don't want a whole ass dissertation!!!!!
Is it too late to get raptured
September 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Is it too late to get raptured
I went on @morningbrew.extwitter.link's Per My Last Email podcast to talk about something I know a lot about: being a tryhard at work! www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvN0...
Is it Cringe to Try Hard at Work?
YouTube video by Per My Last Email
www.youtube.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I went on @morningbrew.extwitter.link's Per My Last Email podcast to talk about something I know a lot about: being a tryhard at work! www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvN0...
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
I'm really proud to work at a media company that isn't made up of cowards, that can say All of This Is Really Fucking Bad over and over again because it is.
defector.com/charlie-kirk...
defector.com/charlie-kirk...
Charlie Kirk Is A Means To An End | Defector
It’s become clear that Charlie Kirk is worth more to Trumpworld dead than he ever was alive. His fatal shooting last week in Utah has been used as a cudgel in an attempted purge of wrong-thinking libe...
defector.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I'm really proud to work at a media company that isn't made up of cowards, that can say All of This Is Really Fucking Bad over and over again because it is.
defector.com/charlie-kirk...
defector.com/charlie-kirk...
this is fucking crazy
WHAT THE HELL
September 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM
this is fucking crazy
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
it's stunning what a rare and radical statement this is defector.com/five-years-o...
September 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
it's stunning what a rare and radical statement this is defector.com/five-years-o...
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
Heyyy! I’m back at Defector after book leave and just in time to say that I’m on a podcast! @alexlaughs.bsky.social had me on the latest episode of Try Hard. I learned to ride a bike.
If you ever wished I did more fun things, wow, today is for you!
If you ever wished I did more fun things, wow, today is for you!
Diana Moskovitz Rides a Bike
Podcast Episode · Try Hard · 09/08/2025 · 27m
podcasts.apple.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Heyyy! I’m back at Defector after book leave and just in time to say that I’m on a podcast! @alexlaughs.bsky.social had me on the latest episode of Try Hard. I learned to ride a bike.
If you ever wished I did more fun things, wow, today is for you!
If you ever wished I did more fun things, wow, today is for you!
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
Let's remember some guys!
Immaculate Grid has teamed up with our friends at @defector.com to present "Remember Some Guys from the 21st Century."
Visit immaculategrid.com/remember this week to create and share a list of your favorite guys since 2000—there are no wrong answers!
Immaculate Grid has teamed up with our friends at @defector.com to present "Remember Some Guys from the 21st Century."
Visit immaculategrid.com/remember this week to create and share a list of your favorite guys since 2000—there are no wrong answers!
September 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Let's remember some guys!
Immaculate Grid has teamed up with our friends at @defector.com to present "Remember Some Guys from the 21st Century."
Visit immaculategrid.com/remember this week to create and share a list of your favorite guys since 2000—there are no wrong answers!
Immaculate Grid has teamed up with our friends at @defector.com to present "Remember Some Guys from the 21st Century."
Visit immaculategrid.com/remember this week to create and share a list of your favorite guys since 2000—there are no wrong answers!
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
cannot stress enough how many podcasters have pivoted into fine art because this is now somehow more lucrative than podcast
There have been a ton of 20th anniversary "best of" podcast lists lately, and it has started to feel a bit like an obituary for an industry.
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks | Defector
This week, Left Of Dial published its Essential Listening Poll, a compilation of the 100 best podcasts of all time, according to industry creators, writers, and scholars (Disclosure: I was invited to ...
defector.com
August 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
cannot stress enough how many podcasters have pivoted into fine art because this is now somehow more lucrative than podcast
We've been working toward this day for NINE YEARS so allow me a moment of pride: IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THIS NEW PROFESSOR. The students at Franklin & Marshall are very lucky if I say so myself 🥹
August 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
We've been working toward this day for NINE YEARS so allow me a moment of pride: IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR THIS NEW PROFESSOR. The students at Franklin & Marshall are very lucky if I say so myself 🥹
1) the fact that (rich) parents are down to subject their small children to an unproven educational experiment
2) the kids take “brain breaks” from their iPads by watching YouTube as a group
3) the “coaches” in classrooms don’t have to be licensed
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
2) the kids take “brain breaks” from their iPads by watching YouTube as a group
3) the “coaches” in classrooms don’t have to be licensed
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
For $65,000 a year, a teacher-less AI private school comes to Virginia
At Alpha School, a new private school in Northern Virginia, students will study for just two hours a day using adaptive apps and personalized lesson plans.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
1) the fact that (rich) parents are down to subject their small children to an unproven educational experiment
2) the kids take “brain breaks” from their iPads by watching YouTube as a group
3) the “coaches” in classrooms don’t have to be licensed
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
2) the kids take “brain breaks” from their iPads by watching YouTube as a group
3) the “coaches” in classrooms don’t have to be licensed
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Lots of people have reached out and said nice things about this, but lots of other people have asked me why I care enough to spend 2000 words writing about a dying industry.
(and a strange number of comments on the blog from people proudly proclaiming they don't listen to podcasts at all. ok??)
(and a strange number of comments on the blog from people proudly proclaiming they don't listen to podcasts at all. ok??)
There have been a ton of 20th anniversary "best of" podcast lists lately, and it has started to feel a bit like an obituary for an industry.
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks | Defector
This week, Left Of Dial published its Essential Listening Poll, a compilation of the 100 best podcasts of all time, according to industry creators, writers, and scholars (Disclosure: I was invited to ...
defector.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Lots of people have reached out and said nice things about this, but lots of other people have asked me why I care enough to spend 2000 words writing about a dying industry.
(and a strange number of comments on the blog from people proudly proclaiming they don't listen to podcasts at all. ok??)
(and a strange number of comments on the blog from people proudly proclaiming they don't listen to podcasts at all. ok??)
Reposted by Alex Sujong Laughlin
The latest Try Hard hit me like a ton of bricks with this quote:
"Perfection impresses people, and imperfection is what drives connection."
@alexlaughs.bsky.social doesn't miss!
pca.st/aimdilw1
"Perfection impresses people, and imperfection is what drives connection."
@alexlaughs.bsky.social doesn't miss!
pca.st/aimdilw1
Erika Casupanan Sings in Public
pca.st
August 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
The latest Try Hard hit me like a ton of bricks with this quote:
"Perfection impresses people, and imperfection is what drives connection."
@alexlaughs.bsky.social doesn't miss!
pca.st/aimdilw1
"Perfection impresses people, and imperfection is what drives connection."
@alexlaughs.bsky.social doesn't miss!
pca.st/aimdilw1