The Mushroom Hour Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 11: Masterclass in Transforming Ecology with Soil Biology & Mycoremediation (feat. Craig Trester) Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Mushroom Hour, we have the honor of interviewing Craig Trester of MYC.NYC.
Strap yourself in for a mind-blowing conversation as Craig walks us through a veritable masterclass in soil biology and the soil food web, including the interactions of fungi and other microorganisms. He shares the secrets of working with the passive systems of nature to regenerate our environment through bio-remediation and myco-remediation. The constant theme is that everything starts with the cultivation of healthy, life-rich soil. How does fungi work with other microorganisms to create healthy soil? How can healthy soil kick-start a restoration of its surrounding ecosystem? What are the steps and ingredients in creating healthy soil?
Taking this knowledge into the heart of New York City, we'll see how Craig is inspiring the next generation of young minds with an appreciation of mycology and soil science. We'll journey into creeks full of "black mayonnaise" and witness bio-remediation in practice and how the restoration of healthy soils really can restore an urban environment.
The knowledge expounded in this interview is like a blueprint for tangible, positive change. The best tool we can give the next generations inheriting the Earth is this compendium of knowledge that can restore our natural ecology and, in so doing, change our social ecology with a shift from a scarcity mindset to a mindset of abundance.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
(@welcome_to_mushroom_hour)
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
Craig Trester IG: https://www.instagram.com/nyc.myc
New York Mycological Society: http://newyorkmyc.org
Youtube - Professor Dave Explains: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0cd_-e49hZpWLH3UIwoWRA
Books
Adding Biology - For Soil and Hydroponic Systems (Elaine Ingham & Carol Ann Rollins): https://www.amazon.com/Adding-Biology-Soil-Hydroponic-Systems/dp/0979756103
Teaming with Fungi (Jeff Lowenfels): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604697296/
Teaming with Microbes (Jeff Lowenfels): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604691131/
Teaming with Nutrients (Jeff Lowenfels): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604693142/
Oxford Press: Very Short Introductions: https://www.veryshortintroductions.com
Microbia (Eugenia Bone): https://www.amazon.com/Microbia-Journey-Unseen-World-Around/dp/1623367352
Mycophilia (Eugenia Bone): https://www.amazon.com/Mycophilia-Revelations-Weird-World-Mushrooms/dp/B00P71GXYO
Mycorrhizal Planet (Michael Phillips): https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/mycorrhizal-planet/
Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780123705266/mycorrhizal-symbiosis

Ep. 10: Mixing Chemistry & Mycology in the Appalachian Rainforest (feat. Mandie Quark) Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the joy of interviewing Mandie Quark AKA Mushroom Madman. Mandie is an intriguing blend of artist and scientist who has been completely taken over by mushrooms.
Our journey takes us to the temperate rainforests of North Carolina - one of the only rainforests in North America. We start our chat with a brief history of Mandie Quark. Her impressive academic career saw her explore pharmacognosy, ethnobotany and eventually receive a Masters Degree in Biochemistry. Mandie made the decision to hang up her academic lab coat in 2018 to pursue an alternative career path centered around mycology with her partner-in-mushrooms, Michael Weese of MushroomLife.
Our conversation takes us into mushroom foraging, mushroom identification, genetic sequencing of mushrooms how Mandie is sharing her vast knowledge of chemistry to further other citizen scientists' endeavors in the world of mycology. We wrap up talking about her upcoming "Chemistry for Mycologists" classes and an amazing "Rainforest Mycology Convergence" educational bonanza planned for Summer 2020.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour (@welcome_to_mushroom_hour)
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
Mandie Quark IG: https://www.instagram.com/mushroom_madman/
Mandie Quark Website: https://www.mushroommadman.com/
Michael Weese IG: https://www.instagram.com/mushroomlyfe/
Michael Weese Website: https://mushroomlife.com/
NAMA: https://namyco.org/
Book - Mushrooms of Northeastern North America: https://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Northeastern-North-America-Bessette/dp/0815603886
Book - Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm: https://www.amazon.com/Plant-Intelligence-Imaginal-Realm-Perception/dp/1591431352
Mushroom - Terana Caerulea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terana_caerulea

Ep. 9: Wild Kingdom - Medicinal Mushrooms, Regenerative Foraging and Spiritual Connection (feat. Neil Thenier) Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of interviewing Mr. Neil Thenier of Wild Kingdom Extracts. Neil is a life-long forager, musician, and an IIN (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) health coach.
Our chat starts with an exploration of the compounds that make both medicinal and gourmet mushrooms such nutritional powerhouses. What are polysaccharides and terpenes and why are they good for us? Neil’s team at Wild Kingdom creates amazing medicinal mushroom extracts that are optimized to supercharge your body using a dual-extraction method. But what are the differences between dual-extraction, alcohol extraction and hot water extraction and why does it matter? And is there a difference between compounds present in wild mushrooms compared to cultivated mushrooms?
Sustainability in foraging is a hot topic, so let's learn the methods Wild Kingdom uses to source medicinal mushrooms and how to implement some next level ecologically-friendly practices into your own foraging. We wrap up with a little perspective on the priorities of our modern, hyper-commercialized culture and how an explosion of interest in re-wilding is opening new possibilities for us to co-create a brighter future.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
Wild Kingdom Instagram
https://wildkingdomextracts.com/
Arthur Haines (Research on Potency of Wild Foods)

Ep. 8: Let Wild Mushrooms & Plants be Thy Medicine (feat. Jess Starwood) Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the joy of interviewing Jess Starwood. Jess is a master forager, plant-based chef, teacher, and herbalist with a Masters of Science degree in Herbal Medicine from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She hosts wild food workshops in Southern California as well as other sites in the Western US and Mexico.
We kick things off with our own observations on how a connection to the natural world aids in balancing in our spiritual, mental and physical health. Then get your forage gear together for a trip into the wild, or maybe even just the backyard, to meet some amazing wild plants and mushrooms. We'll chat about the nutritional virtues of wild foods that are all around us and how to embody what Jess calls "The Forager's Mindset" - What can we forage from forests (or even situations!) to make things work and tap into the invisible abundance at our fingertips?
Looking at foraging and its growing popularity in the context of a broader ecological framework, foragers are faced with some important questions. Is there enough wild food for everyone to go foraging in places like LA? What are sustainable practices we can be mindful of in picking wild plants and mushrooms? In the effort to manage invasive fungi and plant species, could be the best solution be found in learning how to harness and eat them?
We finish our conversation with a dazzling display of wild food recipes that will leave you feeling inspired.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
Jess Starwood Instagram
https://jstarwood.com/

Ep. 7: Gnome Life - Wild Mushroom Identification & Exotic Forage Adventures (feat. Tugrul De Luce) Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of interviewing the distinguished Tugrul De Luce, or “Tug” for short. For the last 12 years of his life, he has ventured on an epic journey into the world of fungi. He has traveled into the wilds of North and South America with world famous mycologists, and has explored the frontiers of mushroom identification.
We start our conversation with the principles of wild mushroom identification. How important is a knowledge of trees when foraging and identifying wild mushrooms? What are the physical characteristics that matter most when you're identifying a mushroom? What can we learn from spore prints?
Before you know it, we find ourselves journeying between the jungles of Ecuador, Bolivia and Mexico hunting wild cordyceps and other exotic fungi. We'll hear about Tug's mentors and legends in mycology like Larry Evans and Alan Rockefeller. The conversation wraps up with a look at future projects that include responsibly exploring the therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms in Jamaica.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
Two Gnomes
Chester County Mycological Association (Pennsylvania)
Larry Evans
Institute for Psychosomatic Mycophagy

Ep. 6: The Lion King - DIY Mycology & Lions Mane Mushrooms (feat. MycTyson Mushrooms) Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Mushroom Hour, we have the privilege of interviewing the man behind MycTyson Mushrooms. Myc has years of professional mushroom growing experience, founded the Reddit.com/r/MushroomGrowers community and has spent the past 8 years on his own intensive cultivation and research projects. He's best known for his Hericium erinaceus or lions mane mushrooms!
Our chat starts by diving into the digital to talk about how online communities should provide safe spaces for new mycophiles to learn and grow in their journey of exploring mushroom cultivation. We reveal some sage wisdom and useful resources for those who want to start growing their own mushrooms. What is the most critical thing to have in your toolkit when you decide you want to dive deeper into the world of mushroom growing?
True to his nickname, we enter the lion's den and learn about the medicinal properties of lions mane and Myc's lions mane breeding program. Pulling from 30+ wild strains of this potent medicinal, he hopes to develop a powerful strain that will be a vigorous grower loaded with beneficial compounds (and maybe sporeless!). Finally, we talk about a new book in the works to help everyone grow lions mane and how MycTyson Mushrooms is planning to support mushroom farming efforts in developing countries.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Art by: Wyn Di Stefano
Episode Resources
MycTyson Mushrooms
Reddit.com/r/MushroomGrowers
Reddit.com/r/MycoBazaar
Mushroom Cultivation by Peter Oei (book)
Fungal Pharmacy by Robert Rogers (book)
Lions Mane Research Articles

Ep. 5: Wild Food Foraging & English Folklore with a Freudian Twist (feat. Fern Freud) Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the distinct pleasure of interviewing Fern Freud, who comes to us all the way from Southern England. Fern developed her skills as a mushroom forager early in life and has since become a prolific plant forager as well.
With this member of the storied Freud family, we travel to the misty shores of England and explore UK foraging culture. Fern will lead our group through the woods and show us, not only an abundance of wild food, but also the bond that is formed by foraging in community. We'll talk about escaping the low-level stress of modern urban living and how spending time in the forest can recharge your spirit.
We finish the interview with a conversation about the role of folklore in culture and specifically the lore of the land in England. Could folk tales be time capsules of important herbal and medicinal knowledge passed down through the generations?
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Episode Resources
Foraged by Fern
Lore of the Land (Book)

Ep. 4: Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research - The Promise of Psilocybin Therapy (feat. Ian Geithner) Feb 11, 2020

Show notes

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of interviewing Ian Geithner - a graduate student at the University of Maryland working in the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, under the mentoring hand of Dr. Roland Griffiths.
During our conversation we walk through the hallowed halls of Johns Hopkins into the cutting-edge world of therapeutic psilocybin clinical trials. We'll meet the researchers who have picked up the torch of psychedelic research and are exploring the frontiers of treating mental and emotional disorders like anorexia, depression and Alzheimers.
As a method of treatment, psilocybin shows unique promise to clinical research subjects. What are the physiological effects it has on our brains and how does it work to change the way our consciousness operates? What is the future of this research and are we at the beginning of a renaissance in psychedelic medicine? If these topics spark your interest and you feel a pull to get involved, we talk about opportunities both as a research subject and/or a clinical researcher in this promising field of holistic medicine.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Episode Resources
Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research
https://clinicaltrials.gov/
Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences by Bill Richards
Roland R. Griffiths

Ep. 3: Community Mycology & Entheogen Decriminalization in San Francisco (feat. James McConchie) Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Mushroom Hour, we have the honor of interviewing James McConchie, the proprietor of San Francisco's own "Haight Street Shroom Shoppe". This interview was conducted inside his 'shroom shop in San Francisco.
In this chat we go under the hood into the world of DIY mycology and learn about growing our own mushrooms. We'll try our hand at community building and see how a physical space where mycophiles can gather and explore their passion for mycology can be a positive influence on any community.
We also talk politics and learn about the decriminalization movements of entheogenic plants in California (in which James has been intimately involved). How is decriminalization different from legalization? How does the decriminalization of substances work at a civic level? We wrap with our postulations about about the therapeutic future for psilocybin, the future for mycology in general, and how mushrooms can nourish mind, body and spirit.
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Episode Resources
The Haight Street Shroom Shoppe
Decriminalize California
Decriminalize Nature

Ep. 2: FreshCap - Activating Minds & Bodies via Education & Medicinal Mushrooms (feat. Tony Shields) Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Mushroom Hour we have the distinct privilege of interviewing Mr. Tony Shields of FreshCap Mushrooms.
During this interview we follow the windy trail of Tony's personal exploration through kingdom fungi. This journey saw him build his own mushroom farm, teach people around the world about cultivation, and ultimately dive into the world of medicinal fungi with his company FreshCap Mushrooms - all with the his wife and partner in fungi, Tegan, by his side.
Diving beneath the surface, we'll come to grips with some of the big questions surrounding medicinal mushrooms. Is there a difference between using the fruiting body of the mushroom vs. mushroom mycelium? What are the realities of sourcing the highest quality medicinal mushrooms and are all mushrooms from China bad?
Thanks for listening and Mush Love!
Directed, Recorded, Produced by: Mushroom Hour
Music by: Ancient Baby
Episode Resources
FreshCap Mushrooms
Medicinal Mushrooms: A Clinical Guide by Martin Powell (can also be found on Amazon)
Organic Mushroom Farming and Mycoremediation by Tradd Cotter (can also be found on Amazon)

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