"a smart writer who’s so emphatically not neurotic... commendably swole" -NYMag
Casey Johnston is a bestselling author, writer, and cultural critic. Her work covers the intersections of a diverse range of topics, including politics, identity, health, technology, power, womanhood, and embodiment, and has earned critical acclaim from numerous outlets.
Casey grew up in the Adirondacks, and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Physics from the Columbia University engineering school. She has worked in media since 2008. In 2016, Casey started a science-based column about strength called Ask A Swole Woman, which now lives within her newsletter, She’s A Beast. In December 2021, she published LIFTOFF: Couch to Barbell, a beginner strength training book.
Casey’s newest book, A Physical Education, is a journalistic exploration of the wide-ranging history, science, and psychology of strength braided with her personal story of learning to lift weights. It was published in May 2025 by Hachette/Grand Central.
Casey is represented by Anna Sproul-Latimer at Neon Literary.
Photo by Elena Mudd.