The Mushroom Hour Podcast

Mushroom Hour

Hi there...welcome to Mushroom Hour. Listen in as we venture into kingdom fungi with unique and beautiful humans who all share a passion for mushrooms. We'll go forage for wild mushrooms, explore their potency as nature's medicines, become citizen mycologists, transform human consciousness and learn how mushrooms inspired art, spirituality and culture throughout our history. There are so many ways that mushrooms can benefit (wo)mankind - we just need to tap into the mycelium network and let them share their gifts. Excited to have you along for the journey! Mush Love read less
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Episodes

Ep. 165: Hongos in Patagonia - Pedomorphosis & Rethinking Evolution (feat. Dr. Francisco Kuhar)
14-11-2023
Ep. 165: Hongos in Patagonia - Pedomorphosis & Rethinking Evolution (feat. Dr. Francisco Kuhar)
Today on Mushroom Hour we have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Francisco Kuhar. Dr. Kuhar is a Mycologist specialized in the fungal diversity of gasteroid and ectomycorrhizal fungi and biotechnological applications of fungal enzymes. He has a special interest in the evolutionary biology of sequestrate forms of fungi. Dr. Kuhar is an Associate researcher at CONICET in the Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal (IMBIV - UNC), curator of Fungi at the CORD Herbarium and one of the leaders of Inommy Labs helping to pioneer a new fungi-based product platform.   TOPICS:    Freud, Linguistics and Life Sciences   Hongos in Patagonia   See the Future in a Spore   Hypogeous & Sequestrate Fungi   Pedomorphosis    Mutations Happening too Fast in the Evolutionary Record   Are We Too Obsessed with Adaptation in Evolutionary Biology?   The Story of Rhizopogon and Suillis     Alan Turing Equations Predicting Biological Forms   Approaching Scientific Questions with an Open Mind   Burning Questions on Underground Fungi   Matching Genetics to Traits in Fungi   Inommy Labs   Fungal Bioprospecting    LINKS:   Francisco Kuhar IG: https://www.instagram.com/franfungi   Innomy Labs: http://innomylabs.com/index.html   Hongos De Argentina: https://hongos.ar/   "Ontogeny and Phylogeny": https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674639416   Turing pattern: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_pattern   Geastrum genus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geastrum
Ep. 163: Fruits of the Forest - Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms (feat. Daniel Winkler)
23-10-2023
Ep. 163: Fruits of the Forest - Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms (feat. Daniel Winkler)
Today on Mushroom Hour we have the honor of being joined once again by mycological legend Daniel Winkler. A mushroom educator, trained ecologist and award-winning photographer, he grew up collecting mushrooms in the Alps. Daniel has been foraging for more than 25 years in the Pacific Northwest, in addition to South America and High Asia, where he is involved in ethnomycological fieldwork. He served as vice president of the Puget Sound Mycological Society, who recognized his lifetime of service with their Golden Mushroom Award. Through his travel agency, Mushroaming, Daniel runs mushroom-focused eco-tours to Tibet, Bhutan, the Amazon, Colombia and the Austrian Alps as well as in the Pacific Northwest. Today we’re going to dive into his newest field guide “Fruits of the Forest” – A Field Guide to Pacific Northwest Edible Mushrooms.    TOPICS:    Mushroaming Tours & Book Deals   Creating a Mushroom Guide Focused on Edibility   Lobsters, Scaberstalks and Wooly Chanterelles   How You Prepare Your Mushrooms Makes a Big Difference   Under-Researched Compounds in US Common Mushrooms   Old Mushrooms, Rotten Proteins and Stomach Upset   Gyromitra Controversy   Mitigating Toxicity When Eating Wild Mushrooms    Getting Comfortable with Bugs in Your Wild Mushrooms?   Shaggy Parasols   Nutritional Value of Mushrooms   Diversify Your Fungal Portfolio   Grounded Approach to Medicinal Mushrooms   Wild Mushroom Recipes   EPISODE RESOURCES:   BOOK LINK: https://www.mushroaming.com/node/253   Mushroaming Website: https://mushroaming.com/   Daniel Winkler IG: https://www.instagram.com/themushroamer/   "All the Rain Promises and More": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_That_the_Rain_Promises_and_More...   Chlorophyllum genus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyllum   Russula brevipes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russula_brevipes   Leccinum scabrum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leccinum_scabrum   Turbinellus floccosus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinellus_floccosus   Laccaria amethystina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laccaria_amethystina   "Mushrooms Poisons and Panaceas": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6387576-mushrooms
Ep. 162: The Flowering Wand - Rewilding the Sacred Masculine (feat. Sophie Strand)
14-10-2023
Ep. 162: The Flowering Wand - Rewilding the Sacred Masculine (feat. Sophie Strand)
Today on Mushroom Hour we join in communion with the overflowing font of mythos, play and animated everything Sophie Strand. Sophie is a poet and writer with a focus on the history of religion and the intersection of spirituality, storytelling and ecology. Her poems and essays have appeared in numerous projects and publications, including the Dark Mountain Project, poetry.org and the magazines Unearthed, Braided Way, Art PAPERS and Entropy. Their newest book “The Flowering Wand – Rewilding the Sacred Masculine” is a potent retelling of classical European myths and masculine characters like Dionysus, Merlin, Jesus that encourages men to put down the iron sword and pick up a myceliated, vegetal thyrsus.    TOPICS COVERED:   Staying Alive by Exploring Ecology   Mediterranean Religions & Arthurian Myths    Myths as Vessels of Environmental Information   Replanting Myths - Reroot, Rewild, Retell    Polyphonic Iconography   Partnership Cultures and Dominator Cultures   Medusa & Mothers Turned into Monsters    Symbiosis & Synchronism    The Rebellion of Dionysus   Gender as a Morphic Field & a Mycelial Web    The King Becomes the Kingdom   Expanding Masculinity   Jesus the Magical, Nature-Loving Rabbi   Returning to the Compost Heap    EPISODE RESOURCES:    "The Flowering Wand": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Flowering-Wand/Sophie-Strand/9781644115961   "The Madonna Secret": https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Madonna-Secret/Sophie-Strand/9781591434672   Sophie Strand Substack: https://sophiestrand.substack.com/   Sophie Strand IG: https://www.instagram.com/cosmogyny/   "Bitch": https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/lucy-cooke/bitch/9781541674905/?lens=basic-books   Microanimism: https://www.microanimism.com/   Chlorophyllum molybdites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyllum_molybdites   "Enlivenment": https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262536660/   "An Immense World": https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/616914/an-immense-world-by-ed-yong/
Ep. 161: Minnesota's Mushroom Valley - Mushroom Caves & the Unexplored Underworld (feat. Dr. Greg Brick)
30-09-2023
Ep. 161: Minnesota's Mushroom Valley - Mushroom Caves & the Unexplored Underworld (feat. Dr. Greg Brick)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are going spelunking with the gracious Dr. Greg Brick. Dr. Brick has worked as a hydrogeologist with environmental consulting firms, at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and has taught geology at local colleges and universities. He has edited the Journal of Spelean History for the past 20 years. He has published more than 200 articles about caves and was the recipient of the 2005 Cave History Award from the National Speleological Society. His has written for books including his most recent, "Minnesota Underground", co-authored with Doris Green and released in 2019. He served as co-editor of "Caves and Karst of the Upper Midwest", a textbook covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. His work has been featured in National Geographic Adventure magazine as well as on the History Channel. He has led guided tours of caves for the Minnesota Historical Society and the University of Minnesota College of Continuing Education. Today he is taking us on a subterranean journey into the centuries-old caves of Mushroom Valley near St. Paul Minnesota!   TOPICS COVERED:   Caves, Karsts and Crevices   Natural Caves, Artificial Caves, Anthropogenic Caves   Exploring Caves & Claustrophobic Limitations   US Geography of Caves & Karsts   Human Cultures & Caves – Lore and Culture Around Caves    Hollow Earth Theory   The Underexplored Underground    Minnesota’s Mushroom Valley    Mole People of the NY Subway   Mushroom Farming from the Paris Catacombs to Minnesota     Economic Ecosystem that Supported Mushroom Farming in Caves   Subterranean Nightclubs - Mystic Caverns & Castle Royal    Conservation & Biodiversity in Cave Systems     LIDAR & Future of Exploring the Underworld    EPISODE RESOURCES:    Website: https://drgregbrick.com/   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregBrick   Carver's Cave: https://drgregbrick.com/carvers-cave-wakan-tipi/   David J. Weary & Daniel H. Doctor's Cave Map of the US:  https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1156/pdf/of2014-1156.pdf   Mystic Caverns & Castle Royal: https://twincitiesmusichighlights.net/venues/castle-royal/
Ep. 160: Osmose Studio - Biomaterials Reimagined, Mycelium Futures & Regenerative Design (feat. Ashley Granter & Aurelie Fontan)
18-09-2023
Ep. 160: Osmose Studio - Biomaterials Reimagined, Mycelium Futures & Regenerative Design (feat. Ashley Granter & Aurelie Fontan)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are blessed once more by the presence of Mycomaterial Specialist Ashley Granter. Along with Biofashion Designer Aurelie Fontan, Ashley is a founder of Osmose Studios - a multidisciplinary design studio dedicated to exploring how society should draw inspiration and processes from Mother nature. Working with mycelium as well as natural dyes and fabrics, they aim to bring forward beautiful design that doesn’t cost the planet and actually fosters the regeneration of lost ecosystems.    TOPICS COVERED:   Birth of Osmose Studios    Working with Classic Biomaterials in New Ways    Fashion, Materials, Regenerative Design    Future of Biomaterials Rooted in Technologies of the Past?   Product Design Grounded in Consumer Experience    Dresses Made with Kombucha & Mycelium Leather   Interior Design made with Mycelium    Diverse Landscape of the Biomaterials Industry    Scaling Sustainably and Decentralized – like a Fungus   Integrating Waste Streams into New Materials    Genetic Modification vs Directed Evolution    Business’ Role in Preserving Ecosystems and Biodiversity   Biomaterials as a Craft vs Mass Production   Working with Your Life Partner as a Business Partner    EPISODE RESOURCES:   Osmose Studio IG: https://www.instagram.com/osmose_labs/   Armillaria (fungal genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armillaria   Cantharellus (fungal genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantharellus   Francis Crick's books: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/francis-crick/219274/   "Synthetic Aesthetics" by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg: https://www.daisyginsberg.com/work/synthetic-aesthetics-book
Ep. 159: Mycorrhizal Ecology, Soil Biodiversity & Political Instability in South America (feat. Dr. César Marin)
03-09-2023
Ep. 159: Mycorrhizal Ecology, Soil Biodiversity & Political Instability in South America (feat. Dr. César Marin)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are honored by the presence of Dr. César Marin – Researcher and Academic at the Center for Research and Innovation for Climate Change, School of Sciences, Santo Tomas University in Chile. Among his many accomplished roles, César has been a Postdoc at the Department of Mycorrhizal Symbioses, at the Czech Academy of Sciences, a Researcher at the Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences of the University of O’Higgins and at the Department of Ecosystems and Environment, of the School of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile AND Professor of “Soil, Ecosystems, and Global Change” at the Open University of Recoleta. Dr. Marin is the founder and lead of the South American Mycorrhizal Research Network, he is on the Board of Directors of the International Mycorrhiza Society, one of the initial members/Network laboratory of the Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (SoilBON), and a Research Associate of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN). He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the International Mycorrhiza Society Newsletter, on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment and of the Evolutionary and Genomic Microbiology section, Scientific Adviser of FungiFest, and collaborator on Skype a Scientist.    TOPICS COVERED:   Mycorrhizal Ecology   Underground Nutrient Economy   The Oldest Tree in the World   How Mineral Availability Shapes Fungal Ecologies in Soil   Starting a Research Career in Chile   Emerging Mycology Research in South America   Undiscovered Biodiversity    Living with Political Violence in Colombia   How Science can Diffuse Violence and Contribute to Positive Social Change   South American Mycorrhizal Research Network   Protecting Land Based on Below-Ground Biodiversity   Fungal Allies & Adapting to a Changing Environment    Multilevel Natural Selection Theory   How to Think About the Practice of Science   EPISODE RESOURCES:    Dr. César Marin Website: https://cesar-marin.com/   SPUN: https://www.spun.earth/   SoilBON: https://www.globalsoilbiodiversity.org/soilbon   South American Mycorrhizal Research Network: https://southmycorrhizas.org/  "Gran Abuelo" tree in Chile: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-cypress-in-chile-could-soon-break-the-record-for-worlds-oldest-tree   Butyriboletus loyo (fungus): https://www.ffungi.org/blog/butyriboletus-loyo-surviving-extinction   Cortinarius magellanicus (fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortinarius_magellanicus   Rhizoglomus cacao (fungus): https://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/nova_hedwigia/detail/115/101684/Rhizoglomus_cacao_a_new_species_of_the_Glomeraceae?af=crossref
Ep. 158: The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi - Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes & Bodies (feat. Dr. Keith Seifert)
21-08-2023
Ep. 158: The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi - Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes & Bodies (feat. Dr. Keith Seifert)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are joined by magnanimous mycological scholar Dr. Keith Seifert, adjunct professor in the biology department at Carleton University. Dr. Seifert has spent more than forty years studying fungi on five continents. At Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, he did research on microscopic fungi from farms, forests, food and the built environment to reduce toxins and diseases affecting plants and animals. He was president of the International Mycological Association, an executive editor of Mycologia, and associate editor of several other scientific journals. Dr. Seifert is here to dive into his debut book The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi – Exploring the Microscopic World in Our Forests, Homes and Bodies. In this marvelous book, he invites us to see our world as one full of microbial ecological succession, symbiotic interactions with fungi and maybe an understanding that this epoch could truly be considered the mycocene.   TOPICS COVERED:   Descending into the Hidden Kingdom   Spectrum of Symbioses   The Lives of Endophytes    Holobionts   Fungi and Human Agriculture   Mycotoxins   Ancient History of Fungal Domestication – Beer, Bread & Cheese   Rot to Fermentation Continuum   Invasive Species, Biopiracy, Biocolonialism   Human Houses as Ecosystems   Mold Colonies in Our Homes   Dandruff, Candida & Fungi in the Human Microbiome   Amphibian Apocalypse   A World Powered by Fungi    EPISODE RESOURCES:   "The Hidden Kingdom of Fungi": https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-hidden-kingdom-of-fungi-exploring-the-microscopic-world-in-our-forests-homes-and-bodies-keith-seifert/17251543?ean=9781771646628   Keith Seifert iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/77976   Keith Seifert ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Keith-Seifert-2   "I Contain Multitudes": https://edyong.me/i-contain-multitudes   Phytophthora infestans (Irish Potato Famine Pathogen): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytophthora_infestans   UG-99 Wheat Rust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ug99   Escovopsis aspergilloides: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escovopsis_aspergilloides   "When Darwin Comes to Town": https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34930832-darwin-comes-to-town   "The Song of the Dodo": https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12868099
Ep. 157: Psychedelic Adventures into Microscopic Mushroom Worlds (feat. Irene Antonez)
04-08-2023
Ep. 157: Psychedelic Adventures into Microscopic Mushroom Worlds (feat. Irene Antonez)
Irene Antonez is a Prague based Russian/Ukrainian artist and musician, who works in the genre of bio art and botanical/mycological illustration with a focus on fungi and microorganisms. She holds two Masters' degrees: in Future Design and in Fine Art. Irene draws inspiration from her microscopic research of fungi as well as mushroom hunting, ethnomycology, ethnobotany, old scientific illustration books as well as from her family history of " mushroom obsession". She uses a microscope to explore the invisible world of tiny organisms that we typically overlook. Irene believes that it’s highly important to emphasize the spirit or « soul » in each living being no matter its scale or size. In her artwork, Irene plays with combinations of various scales to show the beauty and importance of tiny, microscopic creatures to the World. She is constantly engaged in various mushroom-related projects all around the world. She has been a guest speaker at mycological events like the Hawaii Mushroom Conference and has her artwork displayed in exhibitions both in Prague and internationally.    TOPICS COVERED:   Growing up in a Mycophilic Culture   Family Love of Art & Music   Future Design   Ethnomycology    Psychedelics & Artistic Expression   Traveling through Microscopic Worlds   The Soul and Spirit of Microorganisms   Scale & PerspectiveFlow & Curiosity   Becoming a Fungal Ambassador   Inspiring Mycological Awakenings   Early Art Exhibitions   Immersion into Audio & Visual Artwork   Mushroom Foraging in Prague   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Irene Antonez Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/IreneAntonezArt?ref=search_shop_redirect   Irene Antonez IG: https://www.instagram.com/irene_antonez_art/   Mikhail Vishnevsky (inspiration): https://golden.com/wiki/Vishnevsky%2C_Mikhail_Vladimirovich-DZKYXW5   Rhodotus palmatus: https://www.mushroomexpert.com/rhodotus_palmatus.html    Hydnellum peckii: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_peckii   "The Invention of Nature" (book): https://www.andreawulf.com/about-the-invention-of-nature.html   "Entangled Life" (book): https://www.merlinsheldrake.com/entangled-life
Ep. 156: Chaotic Forager - Mycology, Ecosystems & the Explosion of Mushroom Media (feat. Gabrielle Cerberville)
27-07-2023
Ep. 156: Chaotic Forager - Mycology, Ecosystems & the Explosion of Mushroom Media (feat. Gabrielle Cerberville)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are excited to be joined by Gabrielle Cerberville, aka @chaoticforager. Gabrielle is a wild food educator, mycophagist, permaculturist, and interdisciplinary artist. Her entertaining educational videos on Tiktok, where she shares her knowledge of edible plants and fungi, have been viewed by millions worldwide. She has lectured extensively on the importance of ecological awareness and land knowledge and believes that ethics and knowledge must go hand-in-hand to support a sustainable future.   TOPICS COVERED:   Growing Up in the Mountains of PA   Developing Mushroom Identification Superpowers   Underrated Edible Fungi   Puffball Superstar   Expanding the Wild Culinary Repertoire     Adventures in Kalamazoo   Becoming TikTok Famous   Foraging as an Evolving Practice   Social Media vs Entertainment Media   Success & Mental Health Tips for Social Media   Artistic, Acoustic, Ecological Explorations   Elevating Mainstream Fungal Understandings   Chaotic Future Plans   Embracing the Human Role as Nature's Stewards   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Chaotic Forager Website: https://chaoticforager.com/   Gabrielle's Creative Alchemy: https://gabriellecerberville.com/   Chaotic Forager TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/chaoticforager/   Chaotic Forager IG: https://www.instagram.com/chaoticforager/   Armillaria tabescens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armillaria_tabescens   Tylopilus alboater: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tylopilus_alboater   Calvatia gigantea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvatia_gigantea   Lab Girl (Book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25733983-lab-girl   Braiding Sweetgrass (Book): https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass
Ep. 155: What a Mushroom Lives For - Matsutake & the Worlds They Make (feat. Dr. Michael J. Hathaway)
18-07-2023
Ep. 155: What a Mushroom Lives For - Matsutake & the Worlds They Make (feat. Dr. Michael J. Hathaway)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are graced by the presence of Dr. Michael J. Hathaway - Professor of Anthropology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Associate Member of the School for International Studies, and the Director of SFU's David Lam Centre for Asian Studies. He is a 2022 Guggenheim Fellow and author of What a Mushroom Lives For (2022) and Environmental Winds (2013). Hathaway is a cultural anthropologist with two central interests. First, he is deeply interested in China’s place in the modern world, looking at how little-known dynamics there have created world-spanning effects in surprising realms such as feminism, environmentalism, and Indigenous rights. His aim is to disrupt the typical assumptions that globalization emerges solely from the West. Second, Hathaway is doing what he can to foster a transformation in scientific understandings based on colonial assumptions of the natural world. For a quarter-century, Hathaway has lived in, worked, and traveled in China and increasingly in Japan, where he has explored the entangled and emerging worlds of transnational environmentalism and Indigenous rights. More recently, Hathaway has been exploring hidden histories of Indigenous-led activism across the Pacific Rim and how they have shaped the contemporary world. Today we’re going to dive into his newest book, “What a Mushroom Lives For”.   TOPICS COVERED:   Environmentalism and Indigenous Rights in China   The Mushroom at the End of the World   Matsutake World Research Group   New Relationships with Biology    Human Exceptionalism   World Making   Thinking Like a Mushroom   Umwelt   Matsutake’s Economic Ecosystem   The Yi People & Their Fungal Economy   Entanglements of Yaks, Mushrooms, Barley, Trees and Public Policy   How Matsutake Continually Shapes Cultures and Economies into the Future    Efforts to Cultivate Matsutake   Can Shifting Ecological Worldviews Shape the Future?   EPISODE RESOURCES:    Michael J. Hathaway Website: https://www.michaeljhathaway.net/   "What a Mushroom Lives For" (book): https://www.amazon.com/What-Mushroom-Lives-Matsutake-Worlds/dp/0691225885Matsutake Worlds Research Group: https://people.ucsc.edu/~atsing/migrated/matsutake/    "The Mushroom at the End of the World" (book): https://www.amazon.com/Mushroom-End-World-Possibility-Capitalist/dp/0691162751   Jakob von Uexküll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakob_Johann_von_Uexk%C3%BCll   The Yi People: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yi_people   Schizophyllum commune (AKA Splitgill Mushroom): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophyllum_commune
Ep. 154: Medicinal Mushrooms, Fungal Microbiomes & Alberta's Fungal Diversity (feat. Martin Osis)
11-07-2023
Ep. 154: Medicinal Mushrooms, Fungal Microbiomes & Alberta's Fungal Diversity (feat. Martin Osis)
Today on Mushroom Hour we are joined by the magnanimous Martin Osis. Martin is passionate about wild mushrooms! He loves to look at them, touch them, smell them, taste them, and talk about them. For decades he has been educating and entertaining people and groups about mushrooms by talks, forays, workshops, identification courses and just going on and on and on about mushrooms to pretty much anyone who will listen! His enthusiasm about mushrooms makes him a sought-after speaker at many functions. Although he is an amateur mycologist, he is generally regarded as one of Alberta’s experts in mushroom field identification, constantly studying emerging scientific papers on mycology, as well as scouring the diverse habitats to see what species might be growing in Alberta. His particular interest in medicinal mushrooms comes from a strong desire to help people get and stay healthy by natural means. Other interests include fungal biodiversity, DNA sequencing of fungi, mushroom photography, and of course, edible fungi. As one of the founding members of the Alberta Mycological Society, he has been a major contributor to AMS, and has created several projects including the ever-popular Great Alberta Mushroom Foray, held in a different location annually in Alberta. He also was the driver in the formation of the Medicinal Mushroom committee at NAMA. Martin is currently on the Advisory Board of “My Fungi”, an Alberta mushroom company developing expertise in psilocybin production for research, mushroom grow kits and mycoremediation.   TOPICS COVERED:    Nature & Theology   Alberta Fungal Biodiversity Hotspot   The Russula Edibility Riddle   Leccinum Mysteries    Cataloging Fungal Diversity   What Does Fungal Biodiversity Tell Us?   Mushrooms in Eastern Medicine   Oyster Mushrooms, Statins and Your Heart   Observational Experience    Topical Applications of Medicinal Mushrooms    Fungal Microbiomes & Complex Relationships with Bacteria   The Rise of Tremella    Medicinal Mushroom Compounds   Future Projects with My Fungi, New Books and More    EPISODE RESOURCES:   Alberta Mycological Society: https://www.albertamushrooms.ca/   MyFungi: https://myfungi.ca/   Russula (genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russula   Leccinum (genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leccinum   Leccinum vulpinum: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leccinum_vulpinum   Lyophyllum shimeji: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyophyllum_shimeji   Tremella fuciformis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremella_fuciformis