Matt Baglio was born and raised in San Diego, California. In 1996, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a B.A. in English Literature. After a stint working as an intern and editorial assistant for TransWorld SNOWboarding magazine, Baglio moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a freelancer.

In 2000, in an effort to expand his horizons, Baglio took a trip to Europe where he met his future wife in Rome. Over the years, he has worked for a variety of news organizations and magazines, including The Associated Press, The American Magazine, The Snowboard Journal, COLORS, Bene, and Homeland Security Today, as well as a host of others.

Baglio's interests are varied, and his work has exposed him to topics as diverse as Vatican politics, anti-mafia police, the Olympics, and satanic cults. Currently, he divides his time between Italy and California. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist is his first book.