ABOUT

Dr. Matthew Wilburn King

Author. Scholar. Explorer.

Reimagining Science, Meaning, and Myth in the Modern Age for People, the Planet, and Peace.

Humanity stands between stories. The old myths, rooted in hierarchy, dogma, and inherited authority, no longer make sense in the world we’ve built or on the planet we’re degrading.

I’m a Cambridge-educated author, scholar, and explorer devoted to reimagining our shared story through the lenses of science, myth, ecology, and philosophy, advancing a form of human consciousness that mirrors life itself for the benefit of people, the planet, and peace.

My work asks how human systems can evolve to mirror the intelligence, interdependence, and creativity of living systems themselves.

I earned my Ph.D. in Political Ecology from the University of Cambridge, where I studied environmental governance and how human systems can evolve to serve both people and the planet. I have lived in five countries, studied in four, and traveled through 45 others in search of nature-based solutions.

I then founded and led Our COMMON Foundation for nearly two decades, supporting social and environmental entrepreneurs as part of Bhumi Investments’ impact initiatives.

Through Bhumi, which I co-founded and manage, we seeded Our COMMON Foundation with $500,000 in impact capital. Our impact investments have leveraged more than $5.2 million in aligned funding, a tenfold amplification of our initial philanthropic investment, incubating and supporting over 40 initiatives globally and benefiting more than 50,000 people worldwide.

In 2026, I’ll step down as CEO while ensuring the Foundation evolves as I dedicate more time to exploration through travel, writing, art, and storytelling. I’ll continue my collaborations with artists, scientists, governments, filmmakers, universities, and think tanks devoted to healing ecosystems and reimagining culture.

My published work, over 70 essays and articles, explores ecological collapse, spiritual awakening, systems change, human rights, and the pursuit of meaning. My TEDx talk, “Why Capitalism Needs to Empower People Again,” has been viewed by over 850,000 people.

My forthcoming novel, Vanished, and my next nonfiction book, One Choice. One Act. The No-Bullshit Guide to Living Aligned continue my exploration of myth, grief, and planetary transformation.

As an interdisciplinary artist, I blend symbolic realism, abstraction, and philosophical inquiry across media, including drawing, mixed media, sculpture, film, and performance, to explore memory, loss, and ecology.

I’ve never chased scale. I follow resonance, waves that cascade across boundaries.

If something I’ve created resonates with you, let’s connect.

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