August Media Co. is an IP-first studio bringing the ancient world to life through cinematic storytelling and cutting-edge technology. We draw on history, Christian belief, and beauty to create bold, original media that inspires. Across film, podcasts, and immersive experiences, we build premium worlds with scale, edge, and ambition—treating the past as something real, immediate, and worth experiencing now.

With creative hubs in Austin, Texas and San Diego, California, August Media brings together filmmakers, historians, artists, and technologists to produce high-end media built for today’s audiences and tomorrow’s platforms.

ABOUT AUGUST

the Team

  • MATTHEW LARSEN

    CEO | Founder

    Matthew D. C. Larsen is Founder and CEO of August Media, where he develops original stories that blend historical depth, visual ambition, and cultural insight. A historian and filmmaker, Matthew studied and taught at Yale, taught at Princeton, and is currently a full professor at the University of Copenhagen, honing the ability to turn complex history into stories that resonate with modern audiences.

    He is the author of award-winning books, including Gospels Before the Book (translated into Italian) and Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration, named one of The New Yorker’s 2025 best books of the year. His work has been featured in The New Yorker, Smithsonian Magazine, Newsweek, and more, and he has pioneered immersive 3D reconstructions of ancient sites to bring early Christianity vividly to life.

    Bridging scholarship and cinematic storytelling, Matthew crafts narratives that are precise, emotionally engaging, and alive—inviting audiences to experience history in a way that connects past and present.

  • RYAN BETHEA

    EP | Founding Partner

    Ryan Bethea is a founding partner of August Media Co., a producer, writer, and marketing strategist with a sharp instinct for audience and story. A #1 charting podcast host with over 45 million downloads, he created The Exorcist Files and Heaven Meets Earth, shows known for immersive storytelling and spiritual depth.

    At August Media, Ryan leads brand and audience strategy, shaping how projects are positioned, launched, and scaled across platforms. He’s written and acted in dozens of national commercials and has collaborated with major brands, bestselling authors, and top creators—approaching marketing less like promotion and more like a story worth following.

  • BRYCE CARTER

    CFO/COO | Partner

    Bryce brings over 20 years of experience in wealth management and consulting to his role as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of August Media Company. He builds the operational and financial backbone that allows ambitious, long-form storytelling to move from vision to reality—on time, on budget, and without compromise.

    At August Media, Bryce oversees finance, operations, and production infrastructure, translating creative ambition into executable plans. He brings an operator’s mindset to filmmaking, creating clarity from complexity and giving storytellers the structure they need to focus on the work that matters.

  • LAUREN LARSEN

    CHIEF OF STAFF 

    Lauren Larsen is Chief of Staff at August Media, where she helps guide the company’s creative vision from concept to execution. She oversees operations, project development, and cross-team coordination, ensuring each film, podcast, and immersive project is produced with precision and cinematic clarity.

    A strategic collaborator with a storyteller’s sensibility, Lauren brings together creatives, scholars, and production teams to turn rigorous research into compelling, public-facing narratives. Her leadership emphasizes clarity, collaboration, and creative momentum—shaping a culture where ambitious storytelling can thrive.