A few years ago, Catherine Bellnap and Natalie Telfer were watching something shift.
Their podcast was growing. Their community was loyal. But every week, the content they had spent hours creating on social media simply disappeared.
Posts got buried. Stories timed out. Algorithms changed.
Distribution became a guessing game, so they decided to double down on platforms they controlled. They launched a newsletter.
And not just any newsletter.
A centralized channel that would tie everything together, the podcast, membership, live shows, curated all of the top parenting news into one place so parents didn't have to search anymore and speak directly to their audience in a way no other platform could.
Cat & Nat turned the newsletter into the connective tissue of their brand.
Podcast episodes became written stories
Membership content was previewed in the inbox
Polls drove engagement and created feedback loops
Every campaign lived in one place and compounded over time
They repurposed content across platforms, but email was the one channel that tied it all together.
“We can drive traffic to everything with one click.
Rather than having another place to publish content, they wanted a system they could build on top of.
They chose beehiiv because it was purpose-built for operators: fast to launch, easy to scale, and built to drive outcomes.
“We needed a place we could own. Somewhere we knew the content would land.”
Their readers are busy parents. They’re not scrolling TikTok for advice. They’re looking for trusted information. The newsletter became the most reliable way to deliver it.
Results That Compound
The impact was immediate and continues to grow.
Membership signups increased through consistent newsletter-driven traffic
beehiiv’s Ad Network unlocked new revenue without extra lift
Feedback volume grew through polls and replies
Cost of content delivery dropped compared to video production
What started as a hedge against platform volatility became the engine for their most important business metrics.
“We’re spending less, reaching more people, and building stronger connections.”
While Cat & Nat remain ‘social-first,’ yet discovering the power of email shifted the game:
Here’s what they learned:
Speed + Simplicity-
Newsletters are fast to produce, easy to consume, and don’t require filming, editing, or praying to the algorithm gods.Real Connection-
Their email list is a community. Open rates are higher. Replies are personal. The feedback loop is tight.
Why It Works
Cat & Nat don’t try to be everything. They stay focused:
Real parenting stories delivered weekly
No bloat, no performative content
A strong point of view, delivered in their voice
Immediate utility for a busy, overstimulated audience
They aren’t guessing what people want. They’re living it—and sharing what they learn.
“We’re parents learning in real time. If it helps us, we share it. That’s the model.”
What makes Cat & Nat’s newsletter so sticky? Here’s their formula:
1. Clear Focus: Real Parenting, No Fluff
They don’t try to be everything to everyone. Every issue is grounded in real, relatable parenting stories, what they’re actually going through, not what they think will “perform.”
2. Zero Bloat
No overproduced intros. No filler. Just value, fast.
3. Voice-Driven & Honest
They write exactly how they talk. Their POV is strong, unapologetic, and refreshingly human. It's not content. It's a conversation.
4. Built for Busy, Overstimulated Parents
Every edition respects the reader’s time. You open it, skim it, and walk away with something useful. No scrolling required.
The Takeaway: Build Something You Own. And Mean It.
Cat & Nat doubled down on platforms that help them own their audience.
Their newsletter isn’t a side project. It’s the core of their brand strategy. It’s where trust gets built, content gets amplified, and the business compounds.
And it works because it’s honest. It’s helpful. And most importantly, it’s theirs.
Want help building something you own?
Start building an email list. Keep it tight. And write like a human. That’s the leverage.
“It’s the best way to get feedback. We can ask questions and so many people respond. It’s easy, instantaneous, and trustworthy. “
With beehiiv, you can build a content engine. One that grows your audience, deepens trust, and even earns while you sleep. All the tools you need, built in.
