About S.F. Hayes
S. F. Hayes holds a Ph.D. in biology from Caltech, with undergraduate degrees in molecular biology and philosophy from UC Berkeley—a dual lens that continues to shape how she observes, questions, and writes about the world.
Her career has taken a wide and unconventional path, from hands-on laboratory work to consulting on railroads to teaching aerobics—each experience reflecting a restless curiosity and a refusal to stay in one lane for too long.
At her core, though, she has always been a reader and a writer. After years spent building a life across disciplines—and raising two children—she returned to the page with renewed clarity and commitment.
She now writes in the in-between spaces of New York City—cafés, parks, and subway cars—finding rhythm in movement and meaning in observation. She lives in the city with her husband, two children, and two cats: Spark, who hates her, and Pineapple, who does not.
Discover My Substack
We may not agree about this but...
...have you noticed how many unwritten rules there seem to be that many in society follow, and yet. We can't quite pin point where they came from.
The Permission Problem
The wellness industry made billions telling women to pour into themselves so they can pour into others. What if you poured into yourself just because you matter?
The Disappearing Act
We've normalized the idea that the best mothers disappear into their children. We've never stopped to ask what that teaches the children.