About Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes

Stephanie Hayes is a columnist with the Tampa Bay Times. She has been at the Times since 2003, when she became an editorial assistant and just kind of hung around until her bosses gave her more jobs. Before taking on her current role writing humor, she was an editor, leading arts and lifestyle coverage. In that capacity, she oversaw a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and James Beard Award, as well as winners of the National Headliner Awards, Society for Features Journalism and more. Prior to editing, she was a reporter covering local governments, higher education, nightlife, feature obituaries, fashion and performing arts. She won first place for criticism in the Green Eyeshade Awards and a first place National Headliner Award for lifestyle blogging. She’s the author of the novel "Obitchuary," inspired by her time on the death beat. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida and lives in Dunedin, Florida, with her husband, stepdaughter, giant cat and tiny dog. Read her column here.

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Merry Christmas, Except for the Hungry, Poor and Sick Dec 20, 2025

The holidays always bear a certain layer of heaviness. That's why so many people try to tap into their best selves this time of year, donating gifts, opening their homes to wayward friends. But no small acts of kindness can reverse the acutely cynica... Read More

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Marco Rubio, Have You Considered Comic Sans? Dec 13, 2025

Marco Rubio, secretary of state, has taken a brave stance on a prudent matter ripping at the fabric of American life: sans serif typeface. This week, Rubio put an abrupt end to the State Department's use of Calibri, a screamingly liberal font akin to... Read More

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Add to Cart! Don't Stop Now! Dec 06, 2025

Happy Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Buy Now Pay Later Sunday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, Insolvency Wednesday, Reckoning With Capitalism Thursday, Debt Consolidation Loan Friday, Moving Back In With Mom Saturday and back to Clean Slate Su... Read More

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McCarthy Was Totally Misunderstood, Bro Nov 29, 2025

It is hereby the official position of Florida's State Board of Education that Joseph McCarthy was actually a pretty chill dude. Per our newly adopted teaching standards, students will learn that the much-maligned senator and boss dunker of lefties wa... Read More