INFLUENCERS Tampa Bay Times Columnist Stephanie Hayes
Season 2, Episode 1541, Dec 22, 2025, 09:31 PM
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Lunchtime Conversation host Nanette Wiser explored the columnist craft with Tampa Bay Times columnist Stephanie Hayes, a warrior princess who tackles political silliness and everyday annoyances with depth and humor.
🦩Stephanie Hayes is an award-winning journalist and columnist for the Tampa Bay Times focusing on Florida life, culture, current events and anything on the spectrum of absurd to mundane. Her column is nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate. 🦩Before starting her column in 2020, Hayes was a senior editor at the Times and edited an investigation that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. A graduate of University of South Florida, with a muse named Rocket (her Pomeranian), Hayes's wit and wisdom slays political dragon, pierces the heart of issues with sly humor and intelligence. Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen and other Floridian pundits, you've met your match!
🦩Named best columnist in Florida by the Florida Society of News Editors and have a first place National Headliner Award in addition to honors from the Society for Features Journalism, the Green Eyeshade Awards and more.Â
🦩She's written two books, Be Serious, an essay collection published by Creators, and Obitchuary, a novel. Her writing has appeared in Chicago Quarterly Review, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Boudin, Saw Palm and Bodega.
🦩 Hayes attended the Yale Writer's Workshop with a focus on fiction and has taught non-fiction craft and leadership skills in and outside the newsroom.
Sign up for Hayes newsletter, Stephinitely today!
Sidelong glances at Florida! Ill-fated life advice! Occasional animal photos! Sign up for weekly thoughts, feelings and funny business from the mind of columnist Stephanie Hayes.
🦩Stephanie Hayes is an award-winning journalist and columnist for the Tampa Bay Times focusing on Florida life, culture, current events and anything on the spectrum of absurd to mundane. Her column is nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate. 🦩Before starting her column in 2020, Hayes was a senior editor at the Times and edited an investigation that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. A graduate of University of South Florida, with a muse named Rocket (her Pomeranian), Hayes's wit and wisdom slays political dragon, pierces the heart of issues with sly humor and intelligence. Dave Barry, Carl Hiaasen and other Floridian pundits, you've met your match!
🦩Named best columnist in Florida by the Florida Society of News Editors and have a first place National Headliner Award in addition to honors from the Society for Features Journalism, the Green Eyeshade Awards and more.Â
🦩She's written two books, Be Serious, an essay collection published by Creators, and Obitchuary, a novel. Her writing has appeared in Chicago Quarterly Review, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Boudin, Saw Palm and Bodega.
🦩 Hayes attended the Yale Writer's Workshop with a focus on fiction and has taught non-fiction craft and leadership skills in and outside the newsroom.
Sign up for Hayes newsletter, Stephinitely today!
Sidelong glances at Florida! Ill-fated life advice! Occasional animal photos! Sign up for weekly thoughts, feelings and funny business from the mind of columnist Stephanie Hayes.
- Learn Stephanie’s patented column-writing process, starting with “panic”
- Find out what she’s watching, reading, eating or ignoring entirely
- Laugh a little, because we all need it
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