Miriam Jayaratna
@miriamjayaratna.bsky.social
Clinical psychologist and writer of humorous things Work in The New Yorker, NYT, WSJ, McSweeney’s, Reductress, The Boston Globe, VQR, et al
Please read my latest for @mcsweeneys.net and know that I’ll be watching 🤗
McSweeney's@mcsweeneys.net · 6mo ago"The length of your stay reveals the extent of my draft’s power to pull the reader in. So even before you’ve given me any notes, you’re already saving me from downward spiraling into self-doubt. Thank you!"
Honored to be included on this list by @tomellison123.bsky.social, who wrote some of my favorite short humor pieces of 2025!
Tom Ellison@123tomellison.bsky.social · 9mo agoVery quick/non-exhaustive roundup of some very hilarious combinations of words I liked this year.
Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir about her affair with “The Politician” aka RFK, Jr. drops tomorrow, but if you just can’t wait, Emily Flake, @miriamjayaratna.bsky.social & I have some excerpts to tide you over on @mcsweeneys.net!
More Excerpts from Olivia Nuzzi’s American Canto
“Forget the sex; the real scandal here is the crime against language.” — Brian Phillips, The Ringer, on Olivia Nuzzi’s new memoir, American Canto, ...
mcsweeneys.net
The least plausible part of this Tr*mp blowing Epstein rumor is that he would ever work hard to give someone else pleasure
My latest disgusting food adventure is up on @mcsweeneys.net!
McSweeney's@mcsweeneys.net · 10mo ago"At first huff, its contents smelled like Fruity Pebbles. The kernels were speckled with brown dots, which I knew from the ingredient list were motes of 'watermelon hibiscus seasoning.' It looked like popcorn that had come down with the measles."
Great to see so many male comedians speaking out against Lou*s CK going to Saudi Arabia but why did these same people say nothing after he sexually assaulted women?
A fun piece in @newyorker.com today by me, @miriamjayaratna.bsky.social and Ali Fitzgerald, inspired by Ronnie No Vaccines DeSantis. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Disney World’s New Rides Are Sick
Make sure to wash your hands after Viruses of the Caribbean.
newyorker.com
Please take @vikshulevich.bsky.social’s advice about the book I haven’t written!
Viktoria Shulevich@vikshulevich.bsky.social · last yr.Thrilled to be back in @mcswys today declaring my love of romance books, the delightful tropes and most of all, HEAs. Thanks @cmonks for the pub and my amazing writing friends for the feedback! www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/don...
The brilliant @miriamjayaratna.bsky.social, living the king-sized bed dream for @mcsweeneys.net.
McSweeney's@mcsweeneys.net · last yr."My life partner tosses, turns, and loudly attempts to learn Mandarin on Duolingo. None of these activities requires me to relocate to the couch, which is good, because we no longer have a couch. There’s no room for any furniture in our apartment except the bed."
I’m on @mcsweeneys.net today with some ideas about how to get a good night’s sleep! www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/how...
How I Think a King-Sized Bed Would Transform My Love Life
My husband and I gaze at each other while we brush our teeth, savoring these final moments together before we go our separate ways. I kiss him good...
mcsweeneys.net
The best satire sometimes predicts the future, as is the case with this terrific piece about predicting the weather. Thank you @kathrynbaecht.bsky.social and @erinmcreynolds.bsky.social
Such a balm to take a break from the news and just enjoy this delightful summertime humor from the scorching hot @miriamjayaratna.bsky.social, @alisolomain.bsky.social and Kerry Elson!
McSweeney's@mcsweeneys.net · last yr."A pedestrian 'safety island.' Enjoy lounging on this six-foot urban oasis of grass, cement, and paper plates stained with sunset-hued pizza grease."
This summer’s a real scorcher, and if you’re in NYC and can’t get to the beach, @alisolomain.bsky.social, Kerry Elson and I have some suggestions for how to bring the beach to you! www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/les...
Lesser-Known New York City Beaches
A pedestrian “safety island” Enjoy lounging on this six-foot urban oasis of grass, cement, and paper plates stained with sunset-hued pizza grease....
mcsweeneys.net
My latest for Reductress is for anyone who’s ever been to the doctor reductress.com/post/woman-r...
Woman Rewarded for Time Spent in Waiting Room With More Time Waiting in Exam Room
In a bewildering situation that unfolded at an outpatient clinic in Minneapolis, MN, 32-year-old Teagan Wood waited for 40 minutes to see her gynecologist for her annual visit, only to be brought into...
reductress.com
www.newyorker.com/humor/shouts... I wrote a Shouts piece with my friends. We want to be kinky but we’re just so tired.
B.D.S.M. for the Middle-Aged
Now you’re going to sit in that chair and watch me load the dishwasher my way. And you’re not going to say a single word.
newyorker.com
Skype, which I’ve been using unironically since the start of the pandemic for my virtual therapy sessions, will soon be no more 💔 So I wrote this eulogy for it in @wsj.com. RIP to a real one www.wsj.com/tech/persona...
Essay | So Long Skype, Thanks for All the Dropped Calls
A few last words for the pioneering videoconferencing app, which Microsoft is finally kicking to the curb.
wsj.com
The pilot of the plane I’m on is literally named Captain Morgan. Pray for me
Actually, The New Pornographers is the Band, and the Old Pornographer is the Band’s Monster
An irreverent — and illustrated! — riff on Mary Oliver’s iconic poem “Wild Geese.” (@miriamjayaratna.bsky.social, @amandalehr.bsky.social, Jenny Kroik)
Unfortunately, This Is What the Soft Animal of Your Body Loves - Electric Literature
A graphic narrative by Miriam Jayaratna, Amanda Lehr, and Jenny Kroik
buff.ly
Last chance for early bird tickets to Slackjaw Live at Caveat (Lower East Side, NYC) next Monday! Come see us! Emily Menez, @miriamjayaratna.bsky.social, @johnathanappel.bsky.social, Scarlet Meyer, Val Parker, Nicole Beckley, Jamie Mulligan, and me! www.caveat.nyc/events/slack...
Slackjaw: LIVE
The internet's funniest pieces read LIVE by your favorite writers. Featuring Johnathan Appel (Last Week Tonight).
caveat.nyc
