Matthew Berdyck (born 05/04/1976) is an American filmmaker, activist, journalist, musician, and writer, who is most notably known for his writing pieces on the subject of toxic waste.^[1]

He is the founder of ToxicWasteSites.org, formerly SuperfundResearch.org, an environmental activism firm.^[6]

Film

Matthew Berdyck started his filmmaking career in February of 2011.

Ten months later, he acquired his first solicited major cable network pitch with Cartoon Networks Adult Swim.^[10] In 2013, he released his first feature length experimental film, Matthew Berdyck's Blame Reagan, where he lived on the street, homeless, filmed entirely in first person. Shortly thereafter, he release his short film Poison in the Grapes^[1] which exposed the existence of the Summit Equipment & Supplies Superfund site, a toxic waste dump that was in his childhood neighborhood. That same year, he went on tour with two time Grammy Nominated Jordan Rudess, and American Music Award Nominated Rod Morgenstein, and created Philadelphia Experiment - Ra (Live), credited as Matthew Smith, an experimental short concert film.^[3]

Activism

In 2015, Matthew formed ToxicWasteSites.org, which would go on to become a powerful and controversial organization that is credited with exposing the largest embezzlement scheme in Virginia history, over the redevelopment of the Avtex Superfund site.^[6]

He's generated over ten million independent readers.

Warren County Jennifer McDonald Scandal (2017-2019)

During the exposure of the scandal, Matthew was attacked by local media, had published articles calling him a liar and a fraud, and he experienced death threats from the community, triggering the loss of his home.^[6]

In 2019, Matthew was vindicated when McDonald was arrested for allegedly embezzling $21 million dollars from the citizens of Warren County.

Sheriff McEathron, who had refused to investigate the crimes and death threats occurring towards the activist's home, was revealed to be McDonald's business partner.^[8]

McEathron was indicted and then shot himself.^[7]

After the passing of McEathron, Matthew said that he was crushed by the suicide and no longer had an interest in conducting activism because the death of McEathron was never his intention.

San Luis Obispo Bulldozer Heist (2021)

While on a camping trip, Matthew witnessed vandalism and attempted theft of National Forest Service bulldozers that were used to grade TV Tower Rd, in San Luis Obispo, California.

He called the police and the subjects were arrested and charged with felonies.

^[14]

Social Media Monster (documentary series)

In 2019, Columbus filmmaker, Peter John Ross, announced the production of a documentary series, then titled Nowhere Man, which claimed Berdyck is an internet troll and not an activist, that "follows his exploits around the counntry." The St. Joseph episode stars St. Joseph, Missouri City Councilman At Large Brian Myers.^[12]

During production, Myers became the subject of national criticism when it was revealed he's dressed up as a "slave owner" for Halloween.

He was not removed from the production of the film.^[11]

Matthew was born, May 4th, 1976, at 3:45pm at Akron City Hospital.

His late-father, Jeffrey Paul Berdyck, was a Wadsworth, Ohio police officer.

His mother, Kathleen Mary Kane, is a retired geriatric social worker.

As a child, Matthew excelled at reading, art, and music but struggled with math.

His test scores on the California Achievement Test revealed that he was in the 96th percentile, in the US, for reading and comprehension, but his math scores showed up in the lower 70th percentile range.

He attended Isham Elementary School until 1st grade when the family moved to Akron, Ohio after his father had experienced death threats due his job as a police officer.

From there on, he attended Akron Public Schools until 1994 when he dropped out after struggling with dyslexia issues that would not be diagnosed until he later entered college, in 1998, thus explaining his difficulty with math.

His first child, Sebastian Berdyck, was born in 1996.

His first grandchild, Vincent Valentine Berdyck, was born on November 22, 2021

He has never been married.

Matthew is a direct descendant of notorious drifter, Francis Berdych, whose story was told in the book Daddy Was A Bad Boy.

His family is Austro Hungarian, a part of the Berdych family, which also features Tomas Berdych, a ranked international tennis player.^[9]