Writing clips
I graduated from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, with a focus on covering religion. After a time stringing with Religion News Service, I started work at Time, Inc. (now DotDash Meredith) where I have been since 2005, both as a writer and editor. I freelance when I can.
The Atlantic, July Issue, 2025
The World’s Hardest Bluffing Game
I cover an extraordinary Iraqi stadium sport. Mheibes masters are wildly skilled at mind reading— and sometimes double as peacemakers. Was linked to by the 1440 newsletter with 5 mil subscribers.
image by Cannaday Chapman
Vulture, July 2025
The Creator of Mafia Has Feelings About The Traitors
I interview Dimma Davidoff, one of the greatest living game designers, who originated the social deduction game genre in Soviet-era Moscow. His Mafia is the core game played in the reality series The Traitors.
WIRED, October Issue, 2022
The piece explores of the Nordic Larp scene, in which extreme role-play scenarios push players to the breaking point. It was chosen as a read of the week by the Best of Journalism substack and Longreads, and Joel Stein devoted one of the early episodes of “Story of the Week” to talk about it.
Proto, Spring issue, 2022
The Secret Life of Francis Collins
Veteran NIH chief—and Biden’s cabinet-level scientist—shares how he keeps a toe in the world of research during decades of life in public service.
Proto, September, 2021
Nicholas Holmes, a British neuroscientist, wants to come clean about all of his research misdeeds—and invites other scientists to follow.
Proto, November, 2020
The Cholera Riots of the 1830s show how anger can pivot towards the medical profession in times of pandemic.
Nautilus, February issue, 2014
The early internet became home to a new form of role play—and gave birth to experiments in onllne divinity.
Al Jazeera America, 2014
This op-ed looks at the moves from the newly-installed Pope Francis to thaw relations with the LGBT+ community.
Boston Review, 2012
Tim Tebow’s Christianity on the field is part of a tradition that goes back millennia. So why is it so hard for Americans to accept?