Giuliana Furci, an expert in fungal ecology and the first female mycologist in Chile, dives into the profound world of fungi and their essential role in our ecosystem. She emphasizes the beauty of decomposition and its significance for regeneration. Giuliana discusses the urgent need for fungal conservation amidst climate change and habitat destruction. The conversation also touches on challenging patriarchal biases in mycology and the lessons fungi teach us about interconnectivity and life's cycles. Discover how these organisms shape our planet.

Giuliana Furci, Chile’s first female mycologist and founder of the Fungi Foundation, and poet Sophie Strand, known for her work on ecology and mycelium, discuss the vital yet underappreciated role of fungi in ecosystems. They dive into thrilling topics like advocating for fungi's legal recognition, the joys of fungal expeditions, and the interconnectedness of life. Their conversation covers everything from fermentation and deviant animal behavior to ethical engagement with nature and cultivating kinship with non-human beings, highlighting the wisdom fungi offer us.

It’s not just fauna and flora, there’s a third, much overlooked kingdom of life – fungi. Fungi are essential for plant and soil health, and therefore our own survival. It’s not just the mushrooms that we eat, in this programme we celebrate fungi in all its forms. Fungi already play important roles in our food production and medicine, scientists are now investigating fungi based solutions for environmental pollution and waste disposal. We’re joined by biologist Merlin Sheldrake in the United Kingdom, author of ‘Entangled Life’, Giuliana Furci, mycologist and founder of the Fungi Foundation, the world’s first non-governmental organisation for the protection of fungi, based in Chile and Danielle Stevenson, a mycologist looking at soil toxicity in the United States. (Picture: fungi growing on a log. Credit: BBC)Presented by Ruth Alexander. Produced by Beatrice Pickup.