Joel Stein

Since joining TIME in 1997, Joel Stein has written 13 cover stories, including one in which George Clooney came to his house for dinner. He covers food and celebrities for TIME, but also writes about other topics, such as politics, business, sports, and technology. Stein has expanded his focus to include cultural and political commentary, exploring themes of elitism and cultural divides in his works.

In 2002, Stein wrote the back page column for Entertainment Weekly; from 2004-2009, he wrote a weekly opinion column for the Los Angeles Times; he currently writes a monthly column for Men's Health. He has also contributed to the New Yorker, Businessweek, Fortune, Wired, Esquire, GQ, Details, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, Sunset, Elle, Playboy, Women's Health, and many other magazines.

Stein has appeared on many TV shows including VH-1's "I Love the '80s", "101 Hottest Hot Hotties", as well as "Real Time with Bill Maher", "Nightline", the "Today Show", "Good Morning America", and the "ABC Nightly News". His expertise in the political climate and cultural moments has also led him to speak at platforms like TEDxStanford, University of Tennessee, Iowa State University, and for organizations such as the American Academy of Dermatology and Google Talks.

Stein's first book, "Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity", details his journey to discover masculinity through challenging activities such as a bout with UFC's Randy Couture, firing an Abrams tank at Ft. Hood, and earning a Boy Scout badge during a camping trip. His latest book, "In Defense of Elitism", examines the impact of anti-elitism on contemporary politics, contributing further to his role in facilitating discussions among differing groups.

Throughout his career, Stein has interviewed notable figures including Barbara Streisand, Seth Rogen, Joan Rivers, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Questlove, and Fred Armisen, enhancing his reputation as a skilled moderator and interviewer. He taught humor writing at Princeton, and holds both a B.A. and M.A. in English from Stanford. His extensive experience across media and education positions him effectively to engage with a wide range of audiences on complex cultural topics.