Matt Van Swol

Matthew Van Swol (born c. 1980s) is an American social media influencer, former nuclear scientist, and photographer. He rose to prominence in late 2024 for his on-the-ground activism and commentary during the recovery from Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, where he resides. ^[1]

Van Swol grew up in a small town in South Carolina, he is of Dutch descent. He is a self-taught landscape photographer and holds a background in nuclear science, having worked for the U.S. Department of Energy. ^[2] Additionally, he has worked in content creation and marketing, including roles with companies like Wyze and as a creative director. ^[3]

As a social media personality on X (formerly Twitter), he has amassed over 450,000 followers, sharing content on politics, culture, and personal experiences. He describes himself as having shifted from a "tech bro" perspective to conservative views following Hurricane Helene, having frequently been saying he has "red-pilled" since hurricane Helene and was a former liberal.

Following Hurricane Helene's impact on Western North Carolina in September 2024, Van Swol became actively involved in recovery efforts, including fundraising, supporting local communities, and criticizing federal responses, particularly from FEMA. ^[4] He appeared on multiple Fox News segments alongside his wife, Erin Derham, discussing the disaster's aftermath, aid delays, and political implications. ^[5]

Van Swol is married to Erin Derham, a filmmaker and fellow activist in Hurricane Helene recovery. They reside in Western North Carolina and have three kids and a Golden Retriever. He has been vocal about his political evolution toward MAGA-supporting views post-disaster. ^[6]

References

1. "Matt Van Swol". Matt Van Swol. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
2. "Matt Van Swol - The Outbound Collective". https. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
3. Federspill, Meaghan. "Pop Profile: Matt Van Swol | Popular Pays Blog". Popular Pays. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
4. https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/1949796157237997798 Post Dear @glennbeck , You don't know me, and we have never met... but you've changed my life. I want to tell you that story. On Friday, September 27th 2024, my whole world turned upside down. Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina like a ball of fury... the first few weeks were spent scrambling taking care of my family and others around us. As weeks without power went by, we began branching out to help others beyond our town. I've never seen so much devastation in my life. We talked with people who watched their homes float away, kids who BARELY got out of the way before a landslide destroyed their home, and some stories that just broke you, completely. So many people needed help. So few people were receiving it. That's when I get a call from @SteveBakerUSA , a Blaze reporter. At the time, I was still fairly liberal. I did NOT trust the Blaze or this reporter one iota... ...but then again, they were the ONLY news outlet calling me to ask how things were going So I picked up the phone. The conversation that ensued was so kind, so thoughtful, so remarkably empathetic, I was completely caught off guard. Steve disarmed me with KINDNESS. He asked questions. Let me speak. Taught me things I didn't know. Shared his story. Earned my trust. I cannot express to you how shocking this moment was. My wife and I had sworn off ALL conservative media. Even when we went on conservative TV shows to tell our stories, we held our noses and dove in. Conservatives, of course, could never be as kind, open, and empathetic as liberals... right? Yet here was this reporter from a "radical right-wing" (in my head) news outlet that is being so kind, so helpful, so thoughtful... It didn't make sense. Then a week later I get a message from this guy, @jpauldecker . He says he's with a charity I've never heard of called @Mercury1Charity and wants to help. We get on a phone call and... low and behold... Mercury One is YOUR charity too! I'm still suspicious... a lot of people said they wanted to help during Helene and then did. So we started sending names of people we knew needed help to JP... and one by one, ALL OF THEM got what they needed. One woman, who was sleeping in a tent with her son until we delivered her an RV, asked for building supplies so she could rebuild her home. @Mercury1Charity delivered those within 2 weeks. Asked for NOTHING in return. I was floored. It happened over and over and over again. Someone called us needing something we couldn't do, and @Mercury1Charity delivered. Then, on January 9th... our phones began to blow up. FEMA "forgot" to extend hotel vouchers for THOUSANDS of Hurricane Helene victims in hotels. In the middle of a snowstorm. I spent the day on the phone with terrified people, not knowing where they were going to sleep tomorrow. People with kids. Disabled veterans. Whole families. I called @Mercury1Charity , frantic. They extended the stay of AN ENTIRE HOTEL'S WORTH OF HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS. THE WHOLE HOTEL!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it. I just sat there stunned. You don't know me Glenn, but right then and there, whatever wall I had built up in my stupid liberal brain to say: Liberals = good Conservatives = bad That wall came FULLY crashing down. Months later, I did something I had not done in years. I took my family to church... a place my 5 year old son had never been. I knew that if Christians were the ones giving up their time and their resources to come help Western North Carolina... that was something I wanted to be a part of too. Today, our who family has been going to church for 3 months. So Glenn... just wanted to say thanks. You've changed more lives than you could possibly imagine and the least I can do... ...is say thank you
5. "It's 'taking people forever' to get any response from FEMA, North Carolina resident says | Fox Business Video". Fox Business. 2024-11-28. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
6. "A North Carolina Update: An Interview with Matt Van Swol". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2026-01-28.