I'm a writer at The Atlantic. Formerly at The New York Times, GQ, and Gawker.
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Such Sweet Sorrow
How my trip to quit sugar for one week became a journey into hell.
Photo illustration by Hannah Whitaker for The New York Times

America Must Free Itself from the Tyranny of the Penny
What I learned about pennies will shock you, and hopefully the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
Photo: Jamie Chung for The New York Times

One City’s Secret to Happiness: The Annual Burning of a 50-Foot Effigy
A profile of Zozobra, a monster that lives in the mountains outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Photo: Thomas Prior for The New York Times

What Is Glitter?
A journey into the glittery heart of darkness for The New York Times.
Photo: Chris Maggio for The New York Times

Everybody Knows Flo From Progressive. Who Is Stephanie Courtney?
A profile of Stephanie Courtney, who has portrayed Flo in ads for the insurer Progressive for more than 15 years.
Photo: Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times

My Brilliant Strangers
I went on a package trip for Millennials who travel alone. Help me.
Photo: Rosie Marks for The New York Times

Could I Survive the “Quietest Place on Earth”?
Legends tell of a chamber in an old Minneapolis recording studio that drives visitors insane. I figured I’d give it a whirl.
Photo: Alec Soth/Magnum for The New York Times

Vote the Rock
A profile of Dwayne Johnson for the cover of GQ's 2017 Comedy issue.
Photo: Peggy Sirota for GQ

The Tao of Wee Man
A profile of “Jackass” star Jason “Wee Man” Acuña for The New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Chris Buck for The New York Times

I Lived The #VanLife. It Wasn’t Pretty.
Traveling California by van for The New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Caity Weaver

Justin Bieber Would Like to Reintroduce Himself
A profile of Justin Bieber for GQ's March 2016 cover.
Photo: Eric Ray Davidson for GQ

Cher Everlasting
An interview with Cher for The New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Christopher Anderson

Can We Learn Anything From Horses?
An exploration of horse “attunement” in Santa Fe, N.M. for The New York Times.
Photo: Ramsay de Give for The New York Times

The Loveliest, Sexiest, Madliest of Them All
A profile of Kim Kardashian for the cover of GQ's 2016 Love, Sex, and Madness issue.
Photo: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for GQ

There Is No Reason to Cross the U.S. by Train. But I Did It Anyway.
An account of a transcontinental Amtrak trip for The New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Holly Andres for The New York Times Magazine

What Makes an American Hero? (Or a Canadian One?)
A profile of the Carnegie Hero Fund, which, for over 100 has privately rewarded for everyday heroes.
Photo: Nancy Andrews for The New York Times

My 14-Hour Search for the End of TGI Friday's Endless Appetizers
An epic journey through Hell on a boat made of mozzarella sticks.

Who Is Sam Asghari, Britney Spears’s Fiancé?
An interview with Sam Asghari for The New York Times.
Photo: Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times

How Maya Rudolph Became the Master of Impressions
A profile of Maya Rudolph for The New York Times Magazine.
Photo: Alex Prager for The New York Times. Painting by Vanessa Prager

The Reality Behind ‘Below Deck’
A behind-the-scenes visit to the set of a behind-the-scenes show for The New York Times.
Photo: Albert Bonsfills Morell for The New York Times