Author, Founder, and Strategist working at the nexus of media, communications, education, and space, David Ariosto brings a rare blend of journalistic rigor, executive leadership, and visionary thinking to some of the most complex challenges of our time.
A two-time published author, columnist, and podcast host, Ariosto’s most recent book, "Open Space: From Earth to Eternity – The Global Race to Explore and Conquer the Cosmos", (Knopf Doubleday Publishing) examines the high-stakes collision of science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and geopolitics in a new era of space exploration. He also hosts Space Minds, a podcast spotlighted by SpaceNews, and publishes the Open Space Report weekly newsletter and podcast, both focused on the accelerating future of the space economy.
As founder of The Space Agency, a strategic communications and intelligence firm redefining how organizations navigate the space frontier, his role provides veteran analysis and strategic guidance across key space markets, including the United States, Europe, and Asia, enhancing partners’ capabilities and helping propel their missions forward in an increasingly competitive global space economy.
For more than two decades, Ariosto’s work has shaped public discourse across think tanks, Fortune 500 firms, and major media ecosystems. His career includes leading editorial strategy at Intelligence Squared, running international news bureaus for CNN, and consulting for institutions such as Edelman and Eurasia Group.
His reporting and fieldwork have taken him to more than 50 countries, including extended assignments in Cuba and Afghanistan. He also served as a visiting professor at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, an Interplanetary Initiative Visiting Scholar, and a board member of the Overseas Press Club. His highly acclaimed debut book, "This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro’s Shadow " (St. Martin’s Press), earned critical praise from The Washington Post, USA Today, and Amazon.
“I want the world to be a bit better because I was here.” — overheard in a crowd, 11/28/2023
