Why Try: A Web Series About Failing at Social Rules (ft. Creator, Aidan Kushner)

Episode #146: In this episode of Let’s Talk Media, host Vedant Akhauri sits down with Aidan Kushner, the creator of the new YouTube web series, Why Try. This comedy celebrates the God-given right to be miserable in a modern world that constantly tries to force a negative into a positive.Aidan discusses his background in stand-up and sketch comedy (including his time at Second City) and how he transitioned into narrative filmmaking. Premise: Two cynical 20-somethings who meet at an emotional support group and bond over their mutual hatred of everyone else there.This episode covers: The Anti-Sitcom: Aidan discusses his influences, ranging from the neurotic Jewish humor of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld to dark British wit, and how he writes characters who never learn their lesson.The "Blacklist": A deep dive into the show’s absurd plotlines, specifically the sex blacklist - a registry for people who are bad at sex, and the main character’s placement on it due to a belt incident.Toxic Negativity vs. Toxic Positivity: Aidan explains the real-life inspiration behind the show’s opening scene at a support group, satirizing the echo chamber of toxic positivity to cure depression.How to write Cringe Comedy: How Aidan translates real-life awkwardness into script, ensuring that while the characters may be mean, their actions stem from relatable social gray areas rather than malice.Micro-Episodic Storytelling: A look at the production format of releasing 3-to-5-minute chunks that coalesce into a full sitcom narrative, Season 2: A tease for Season 2 releasing on February 12, 2026.Cast/Crew credited on iMDB are:Dixie O' Connell as Daisy⁠Sydney Nocerino as Melanie⁠Sean Gordon - credited under Sean S Gordon on iMDB - as AaronDorothea Miller as RachelChristian Clements as GregoryJack Alano as ArchieIvan Richter as BillyAidan Kushner as Creator/Executive Producer/Director/Editor/Party Guy/Man on the Phone/WaiterTate M. Coan as VickyClaire Kane as Annoying SpeakerHaylin Davis as AmyMark Gacki as Poker JoeMichael Newman as BarryHayden Keegan as WaiterSophia Astor as Boom OperatorReed Gordon as Script Supervisor.You can watch the series on YouTube under Aidan Kushner or follow the show on Instagram @whytry_webseries. You can also follow Aidan @aidan_kushner.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a rating to be notified of future episodes. You can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow us on Instagram @letstalkmediava.