Gut Instinct was established in November 2023. After a year of being present through their website and social media pages on both Instagram and TikTok, they have gained a following in the literary world. Natalie and Stella met online, and after seeing Stella’s poems and stories, she reached out and asked if she would want to write for the magazine. Stella wrote a piece for Gut Instinct, and that was only the beginning. Some months later, they met in person and now talk to each other every day!  

Natalie originally planned a career in public relations and never saw herself as a writer until she started the magazine. Gut Instinct’s mission originally evolved through her college thesis that analyzed how public personas and narratives shape cultural consciousness; it inspired her to address media that felt genuine rather than being purely curated or strategic to garner more UVMs and fill what she saw to be a major gap in the media.

Stella has always been interested in writing, whether it’s writing about crushes in her diary or songs in her childhood bedroom. Senior year was when Stella decided that it was writing that she wanted to pursue, after taking every opportunity at Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University to get her work published. Gut Instinct allows her to express herself and talk about how she deals with things in the world around her. Going out in the field and reaching out to local publications to get her stories published and joining the college’s newspaper was just a stepping stone to getting her where she is today.

Gut Instinct’s mission is to highlight the voices from multicultural, multigenerational, and multiethnic backgrounds, reflecting how the world really is. Their team of eclectic writers bring their own perspectives, experiences, and interests, allowing them to speak to a wide audience with their broad spectrum of content that speaks to a wider audience.

The magazine isn’t just about sharing stories, they publish articles that resonate with genuine experiences of anxiety, grief, love, and loss, offering different perspectives and cultivating a community of open-minded individuals. In a time where public discourse is often clouded by such bigotry and narrow-mindedness, opening the door for conversations like this influences how people think and feel significantly. Natalie said, ‘Even if we’re reaching a handful of people, we can change the culture by exposing our audience to a richer diversity of thought, culture, and experiences, which I believe is crucial for fostering understanding and empathy in our society today.’

Each writer in the magazine has the freedom and encouragement to connect with brands or interview sources. They all have complete creative freedom and individuality that helps to cover a wide range of topics without overlap. Natalie’s background in PR helps her reach out to people for her own features. As the founder and editor-in-chief, her role revolves around organizing schedules, collaborating with their graphic designers and social media interns, as well as coordinating with Stella, bouncing off ideas for the future and how to keep the magazine growing.

For aspiring writers, Stella says, ‘Take every opportunity you’re offered. The most valuable thing I’ve learned is to just get involved, either within your community or school. Any experience is a good experience…you should always remember to have your voice heard and stand up for yourself. Never be afraid to express different perspectives or ideas because most times companions are looking for a fresh pair of eyes when it comes to creative decisions.’

Writing about personal topics like family dynamics, mental health struggles, or growing up has flooded Stella’s DM’s with replies from readers. It creates a real sense of reality between her words and how they affect others.

The future plans for the magazine are to focus their online presence, especially now they recently launched their website a few months ago and moved off medium. Expanding Gut Instinct into print is something that Natalie and Stella have had on their minds from the start but there is a lot that goes into making it happen and is something that they would like to do when the magazine is more established.

Gut Instinct’s team has just tripled in size and has recently started publishing daily articles. All of the writers are expected to submit two submissions a month; whether it’s about Oasis returning, a new film release, or Dave Grohl’s announcement of infidelity, their content stays fresh and engaging, bringing authenticity to their work.

There are currently 30 team members for the extended team with the writers’ team being capped at 20. Knowing the different writer’s strengths and keeping their communication open and dynamic helps foster creativity. Angelica handles a lot of their social media content so Natalie checks in with her finding ways to tap into viral trends. El is her go-to for when a pop culture moment hits. Bruce is a long-time collaborator and friend who helps give feedback and a fresh perspective. Axel is the senior graphic designer, bringing a lot of their ideas to life visually. ‘It’s all about keeping it collaborative and letting our natural dynamics fuel the work.’

Gut Instinct had its first in-person event over the summer, where they were able to work with local vendors and artists, followed by an after-party. Stella said that, ‘The event was able to bring people together to have genuine conversations and create connections within the community, which is what Gut Instinct is truly all about.’ They are looking to create more events like their “Gut Instinct Weekender” in the future with the goal to expand the sense of community in new cities and bring people together through the power of conversation.

Natalie

“I’m proud of the community we’ve built here – one that champions a wide range of stories and viewpoints, and I believe that genuine representation is what truly resonates with our readers.”

“Getting to work on something so close to my heart, where I can merge my passion for media with my love for life, feels like a reward in itself. But beyond that, doing it alongside an incredible team who’ve become genuine friends and being able to connect with readers worldwide, it’s all so fulfilling.”

Stella

“Gut Instinct has transformed my life and so many others in the past year of its creation. To be able to publish articles that make others genuinely feel heard has been a blessing. Words are so much more important and powerful than we know, which makes me all the more excited for what’s to come in the future!”

“Thank you both for giving your time for the interview with us, it’s great to see another magazine come together in a similar way to The Up And Coming Magazine, and we look forward to collaborating with you again in the future.”

This was written by our contributing writer, Shanai Besst.