Kristin Wong, photographed by Jesse Dittmar

Writer · Journalist · Columnist

Kristin Wong

Kristin Wong is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, ELLE, The Atlantic and Electric Literature, among other publications. She is a staff writer at Hidden Brain Media and a columnist for Slate.

Photograph — Jesse Dittmar Enter ↓
As seen in The New York Times Slate The Atlantic ELLE Glamour Refinery29
The New York TimesContributor since 2017
SPJ NWExcellence in Journalism Award
Hidden Brain MediaStaff Writer & Researcher
SlateColumnist, Pay Dirt
Selected Writing

Bylines

On money, psychology, language, identity, and the things we don't say out loud.

Full archive →
Kristin Wong portrait, by Jesse Dittmar Photograph — Jesse Dittmar
About

The Writer

Kristin Wong is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, ELLE, Catapult, Electric Literature, The Pinch, and New York magazine's The Cut, among other publications. She is a recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists' Northwest Excellence in Journalism Award.

Kristin frequently writes about topics related to social science and is currently a writer and researcher for Hidden Brain Media, where she contributes to the Hidden Brain podcast and radio show, which airs on more than 300 NPR member stations. She was previously a contributor to MSN Living, where she wrote a column about dating and relationships. Kristin also produced and hosted a long-running video series for MSN based on her column. Kristin has also written for television and co-wrote the Netflix comedy series Let's Big Happy, which starred Angela Sarafyan and Andrew W.K. She has written sketch comedy for Upright Citizens Brigade and iO West.

Kristin has discussed her writing on NPR, BBC Radio, and WNYC. She has spoken at numerous conferences, including the National Conferences for Women, alongside guests like Brené Brown and Gloria Steinem. In 2018, she published her first book, Get Money, which Outside magazine called "a foundational book on money that's easy to understand and will probably make you laugh out loud." Kristin is also a columnist at Slate, where she writes for the money column, Pay Dirt. She graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in Literary Studies and currently lives in Pasadena, California, where she has too many tabs open.

Get Money (Grand Central Publishing, 2018)BookshopPublisher

Talks & Appearances

Speaking

Kristin speaks on gender, money, career, and the media — moderating panels and leading workshops on negotiating, burnout, and the stories we don't tell about money.

  • 2024
  • 2021
    Statement Event — panel on gender equity gaps widened by the pandemic
  • 2019
    An Evening of "Smarter Living" — panel with fellow New York Times contributors, New York City
  • 2019
    Stacks House — panel moderator, "Women and Negotiating," Los Angeles
Earlier talks & appearances
  • 2019
    UCLA Smart Woman Securities — fireside chat
  • 2019
    Michigan State University — workshop on personal finance basics
  • 2019
    Watermark Conference — panel on burnout recovery, San Jose
  • 2019
    Lola Retreat — panel on preparing for big life events, Los Angeles
Book Kristin to Speak

“In Cantonese,” my mother says, “love isn't so frivolous.”

— from “How Untranslatable Words Have Connected Me to My Mother,” Catapult

Newsletter

Untranslatable

A social science writer on identity, language, and the weirdness of being human — essays on the words that don't cross over, and the feelings that don't either.

"I love your newsletter. A tiny dose of deep that ignites self-reflection and makes one feel understood."Juli F.

"I adore your newsletter! Thank you so much for putting it out into the world."Andy C.