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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All the Cars Are Ugly Feb 28, 2026

Tragically, I have started shopping for a new car. I drive a 2017 Fiat 500X. His name is Frank, and he has an Italian accent. Though he is far from my first car, he is the first car I have ever truly loved. I found him sitting alone in a beam of ligh... Read More

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Pam Bondi Used To Inspire Women. Now She Protects Bad Men. Feb 21, 2026

Most anyone who worked in Tampa Bay news in the 2000s has a Pam Bondi story. Before her ascent to become this nation's most scurrilous attorney general, she was a constant contact for reporters covering crime and courts and a fixture on the Tampa soc... Read More

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Fighting With My AI Email Assistant Feb 14, 2026

Hey! I'm your AI email assistant. Do you want me to summarize this email for you? No. Your aunt sent her flight times for next Thursday and is interested in getting lunch with her high school friend while she's in town. I said no. <... Read More

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The Olympics, Patriotism and Who We Dream to Be Feb 07, 2026

I did not grow up in a sports household. No one in my family was athletically inclined, and the only time I remember football on TV was when uncles came for Thanksgiving. My brother and I made feeble attempts at sports: summer camp taekwondo, a bit o... Read More