Matthew Ribel

About

I’m a journalist, speechwriter, and executive comms consultant based in Colorado. Under my own byline, I’ve written about science and subcultures for WIRED and Washingtonian. In 2023, ‘Star, Destroyer’ received the Popular Media Award from the American Astronomical Society. Several of my pieces are being adapted for television by major studios. Over the years, I’ve also helped dozens of clients tell better stories and make sharper arguments — presidential tickets and cabinet secretaries, renowned physicians and scientists, award-winning entertainers, and Fortune 50 executives. I learned the craft while working at West Wing Writers, the preëminent speechwriting firm in Washington. I later led speechwriting and executive communications at Conservation International. I’ve written about many things, including but not limited to: climate change, clean energy, and nature conservation; campaign finance, good governance, and democracy reform; 5G and universal broadband; public health, pharmaceuticals, and health policy; labor politics; the future of advertising; autonomous vehicles; and also tree nuts and yogurt. That work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and two dozen other outlets. In 2025, I founded The Fitzcarraldo Group, an executive communications firm serving leaders with novel, strange, or hard-to-explain ideas. If you need help nailing a big (or little) speech, cutting through industry jargon to tell a better story about your company, producing great in-house editorial, or placing an op-ed that resonates, get in touch at http://www.matthewribel.com.