Natalie Out Loud is a newsletter where we have bold, honest, and a little provocative conversations. I say what others won’t—out loud.

This space feels like a natural extension of who I am.
There’s always been someone telling me to lower my voice, to speak more quietly. But as a Cuban woman, speaking loudly is part of my culture. And as Natalie, saying what others are scared to say is part of my core essence.

It’s hard to talk about life, culture, and politics without feeling like you’re stepping on everyone’s toes. But I don’t think we’re any better off for avoiding the hard topics — in fact, we’re becoming more entrenched in our ideological factions. As a result, it’s getting harder to have conversations with people who think differently without immediately feeling triggered.

But what if we could change that?

Natalie Out Loud is all about having tough conversations with both sensitivity and frankness. We dive into politics, parenting, the Christian life, the joys and pitfalls of the digital age, and everything in between. No topic is off-limits, and no conversation is too daunting.

(We may also chat about travel or good food—because I like to have fun, too.)

If you're into that, hit subscribe!

When you subscribe to Natalie Out Loud, you’ll receive a weekly newsletter featuring exclusive essays, curated lists of my current favorites (books, articles, gadgets, and joyful little discoveries), and reflections from my corner of the world.

As a paid subscriber, you’ll also be able to join the conversation—comment on posts, suggest future topics, and shape this community. Your support keeps it all going.

Free subscribers will receive occasional essays (about twice a month).

Hi, I’m Natalie! For the first twelve years of my life, I lived in the same house in Orlando, Florida. We attended the same church my grandparents had joined when they immigrated to the States in the 1980s, went to a small church school with the same kids year after year, and lived within driving distance of most of our close family.

Then, the summer after sixth grade, my parents sold the house, packed everything into six (massive) suitcases, and moved our family to South Korea.

Throughout my teen years, I also lived in the United Arab Emirates and Tanzania, and attended a fundamentalist outdoor farm school near Moab, Utah (by far the wildest place I’ve lived—even topping the village in Tanzania where I caught a flesh-eating bacteria on my toes).

It’s no wonder I turned to writing—to process my feelings of insignificance (and significance) in the face of such a big world.

In my professional life, I’ve worked in journalism (as an editor and writer), social media management for national and international nonprofits, and now, I’ve returned to my first love: writing. I now work with several clients writing feature stories and media pieces, and also work with Spectrum Magazine where I am editor of The Current (the magazine’s quick news column), the weekend web editor, managing editor of their print publication, and a regular contributor (read two of my articles here and here).