The Founders
I founded Gut Instinct with the intention of fostering authentic human conversations. What has consistently moved me is the symbiotic relationship between media and society–how media influences society and, in turn, how societal dynamics shape the media. Recognizing this interplay, I find it crucial to ensure that the media we present is genuine and reflective of real experiences.
-Natalie McCarty
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Founder, CEO, Editor-in-Chief, & Creative Director
Based in Los Angeles, Natalie is the founder of Gut Instinct, a media platform dedicated to honest conversation, cultural criticism, and politically conscious storytelling. With a background in communications, public relations, and political engagement, her work is shaped by a belief that media is inseparable from the social conditions in which it exists.
Her writing and editorial direction sit at the intersection of culture, activism, and lived experience from her time spent in New York and beyond. Natalie is interested in how film, music, art, and literature reflect systems of power, identity formation, grief, friendship, and personal growth—and how storytelling can serve as a form of civic participation. Drawing from her ties to advocacy and political awareness, she approaches media as both reflection and responsibility.
Through essays, interviews, and collaborative work, Gut Instinct creates space for emerging creatives while engaging critically with the world as it is. At its core, the platform is invested in connection between people, ideas, and the stories that shape how we understand ourselves and one another.
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Co-Founder, Head Writer, & Event Coordinator
Based in Phoenix, Stella is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University studying Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in business. She is making her mark in the world of journalism with both creative and strategic skills needed in today’s media landscape. As the Co-Founder and Head Writer, she hopes to inspire and inform her audience with impactful stories about community, conversation, and culture.
Known for her active involvement in the community, Stella is a familiar face at local events and a voice in local publications. She takes every opportunity to expand her experience and insights, and loves to step outside of her comfort zone. With a constant curiosity for the world around her, Stella always has something to write about. And, she focuses on sharing these stories to connect and resonate with readers.
Meet the Team
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![A woman with long dark hair and a black sleeveless top looking over her shoulder and smiling at the camera in a room with white walls.]()
Arya Desai
Senior Film & Entertainment Staff Writer
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![A young woman with glasses and dark hair in a bun wearing a denim dress and holding a purple purse, standing indoors against a dark background.]()
Reese Carmen Villella
Senior Culture & Politics Staff Writer
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![Black and white photo of a woman with wavy hair resting her chin on her hands, looking thoughtfully at the camera.]()
Bella Kovar
Senior Pop Culture Staff Writer | Mixed Media Artist
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![A young woman sitting on a bed with a vintage rotary phone, in a bedroom with colorful decor.]()
Iris Vaughn
Senior Fashion & Lifestyle Staff Writer
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![A young woman with short brown hair and earrings stands outdoors among trees with pink and green leaves, holding a white stick near her face, wearing a sleeveless striped dress.]()
Kelly Darroch
Culture, Music & Politics Staff Writer
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![A girl in black jacket and shorts standing barefoot on the sand at the beach, smiling with hands around her face, with waves and a ship in the background.]()
Angelica Ruiz
Senior Culture, Music & Politics Staff Writer | Content Creator
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![A woman sitting on a beige chair with her legs crossed, wearing a white blouse, red and white checkered shorts, and tall brown boots with leopard print accents. She has multiple necklaces, rings, a red belt, and a red headband. Behind her is a colorful curtain with floral and bird patterns, and a map on the wall.]()
Audrey Treon
Fashion & Editorial Staff Writer
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![A young man with curly hair, wearing a blue baseball cap, denim jacket, and jeans, sitting on the ground at night, looking down. There is a rusty metal railing above him and some grass and dirt in the background.]()
Axel Tamayo
Senior Graphic Designer & Photographer
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![A woman with short blonde hair, makeup, and a septum piercing, sitting on a ledge near a pool with blue mosaic tiles, wearing a black sleeveless top and camouflage shorts.]()
Yselia Gutierrez
Junior Graphic Designer
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CG Morand
Style & Ethics Staff Writer
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![A woman smiling and sitting in a field of bright orange California poppies, holding a flower, wearing a floral dress, during daylight.]()
Néya Sridhar
Film & Entertainment Staff Writer
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![Woman in floral dress sitting on a green wooden bench, surrounded by green vine leaves and shade]()
Jenna Birdwell
Culture, Music & Politics Staff Writer
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![Young person sitting in a room with a wooden desk, bulletin board, and various posters and photos on the wall. They are wearing a colorful patterned sweater.]()
Bruce Gregg
President & Editor-in-Chief of Frat Magazine | Staff Writer
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![Young woman with dark hair wearing a tiara and a blue spaghetti strap top, smiling at the camera.]()
Jordan DelFiugo
Cinema & Television Staff Writer
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![Young woman with long dark hair wearing a pink sleeveless top and blue jeans, accessorized with jewelry, standing with hands on hips against a plain wall.]()
Maleah Puente
Style Features Staff Writer
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![Young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes standing against a plain white wall. She is wearing a dark button-up shirt and has a neutral expression.]()
Lauren Aho
Multimedia Producer
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![Young woman in a red dress holding spiral notebooks, standing against a white brick wall.]()
Georgia Mills
Pop Culture Staff Writer
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![A young woman with short, wavy hair and tattoos on her arms sitting at a table, smiling at the camera, with her hand resting on her face. She is wearing a floral dress, a necklace, rings, and a bracelet.]()
Carolina Dionísio
Staff Writer & The Banned Media Club Moderator
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![A young person with dark skin and long, reddish-brown, curly dreadlocks looks to the side against a plain white background.]()
Sterling Carr
Lifestyle & Editorial Staff Writer
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![A woman with long reddish-brown hair sitting on a dark leather couch in a wooden-paneled room with framed photographs on a windowsill behind her, smiling at the camera.]()
Debra Murray
Film & Media Staff Writer
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![A woman with long blonde hair, sunglasses on her head, and earrings resting her chin on her hand, smiling with closed eyes, standing partially hidden behind a wall in a room with beige walls.]()
Amy Walter
Music, Media, & Lifestyle Staff Writer
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![A young woman with dark hair in a messy bun, wearing a black tube top, a cream-colored skirt, and an open white lace jacket, standing in a doorway and looking off to the side with one arm raised and the other resting behind her head.]()
Valentina Roca
Media & Lifestyle Staff Writer
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![A woman smiling and sitting on the ground, wearing a black hat, a black lace dress, and colorful wristbands, surrounded by people at a crowded event.]()
Julia Krys
Film & Entertainment Staff Writer
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![Young woman with a top bun hairstyle, wearing a beige satin jacket over a pink lace top, sitting inside a restaurant or cafe. She has a gold heart necklace, hoop earrings, and is smiling softly.]()
Isabella Kelly-Goss
Culture & Politics Staff Writer
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![A young woman with blonde hair and sunglasses on her head standing on a city street during sunset, with historic buildings and cars in the background.]()
Catherine Murphy
Media & Lifestyle Staff Writer
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Mia Lyman
Music & Politics Staff Writer
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Kianna Amaya
Media & Politics Staff Writer
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![A young woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair, wearing a dark gray T-shirt with a small ladybug design, posed against a purple and blue gradient background.]()
El Weiss
Pop Culture & Music Features Staff Writer
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![A woman with long, wavy dark hair, wearing a green top with gathered sleeves, a black necklace with green and white beads, and red lipstick, is leaning slightly forward and looking at the camera against a plain white wall.]()
Katherine Figuera
Music Editorial Lead
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![A woman with curly hair wearing black sunglasses and a black top, illuminated by red and green lighting, in a dimly lit room with wooden walls and a chessboard on a table.]()
Laurel Sanders
Music Features Staff Writer
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![A woman with curly hair and glasses standing in a dry grassy field with a layered rock formation in the background under a clear blue sky.]()
Ava Emilione
Culture & Politics Staff Writer
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![A woman with long dark hair and tattoos on her left arm smiling and holding sunglasses on her head inside a red elevator.]()
Hannah Ferguson
Film & Entertainment Staff Writer
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![A young woman with long brown hair wearing a black and white top with lace detail, sitting at a table indoors, with string lights hanging in the background.]()
Alivia Stonier
Film & Television Staff Writer
“Our goal is to provide young creatives with opportunities to build a professional resume and have published articles. Creating a space that connects people and brings stories to light is a dream come true. Not just a dream, but our reality.”
As seen in Shoutout LA’s “Meet Natalie McCarty | Publicist, Manager, & CEO”
Natalie McCarty