Mushroom Revival Podcast

Today we are joined by Micahel Beug, a legendary professor and scientist from Evergreen State College. Micheal mentored a handful of the today’s great mycologists such as Paul Stamets, Jonathan Ott and Jeremy Bigwood. With a PhD in organic chemistry and a love for mushrooms, Michael’s expertise was and continues to be instrumental for the growth of mycology as a whole. After just publishing a field guide “Mushrooms of Cascadia: An Illustrated Key”, we are blessed to have this opportunity to talk with Michael. Tune in for some insider info on culture and science of mycology in the western world.Topics Covered:Stories from the mushroom toxicology call listThe development of mycology education at Evergreen State CollegeMichael Beugs recent publication “Mushrooms of Cascadia: An Illustrated Key”Early mycological culture with a renown crew including Paul Stamets, Jeremy Bigwood, Jonathan OttResearching psychotropic fungi at Evergreen: methods, chemistry, bureaucratic, and moreProfessor Beug’s specialty in  biochemistry and enzyme kinetics, and how that supported the mycology research at EvergreenMichael’s work on studying the ecological impacts of DDT, effectively ending the use of DDT in North America!Basics of fungal metabolismThe national effort to define the mycoflora of North AmericaShow Notes:Michael Beug’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwbeug44/Publication on DDT: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/18165522_Carbonic_Anhydrase_Interaction_with_DDT_DDE_and_DieldrinMushrooms of Cascadia: An Illustrated Key: https://fungi.com/collections/identification-guides/products/mushrooms-of-cascadiaEvergreen College: https://www.evergreen.edu/Fungi Magazine Contributing Author: https://www.fungimag.com/bios/beug.htmwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

All bodies are beautiful. All healthy lifestyle changes are beautiful. And for those who choose to pursue a goal of losing weight for the right reasons, there is a new ingredient showing promising results — psilocybin. While known for mental and spiritual support, psilocybin’s benefit can transcend into the physical realm by way of mental health, as well as biophysically. We discuss the mental reframe that can support a weight loss regime and how psilocybin itself has appetite suppressant properties.We are joined by Trevor Miller who is on the board of directors for MAPS (Multidisciplinary association for psychedelic studies) and has been advocating for psychedelic therapies for years. Trevor is now on the advisory board for NeonMind Biosciences, a Canadian company who is involved in some cutting edge research on the topic of psilocybin and weight loss, and the belief that lives change when minds change. Topics Covered:The origin story of NeonMind Biosciences and their novel approaches in psilocybin therapyPsychedelic use among people in the industryPsilocybin’s evolutionary ecologyPsilocybin as an appetite suppressantPsilocybin as a pattern interruptor especially with dietary habitsThe importance of acknowledging toxic stigmas around weight and reminding ourselves it is not bad or wrongShow Notes:Neon Mind Website: https://neonmindbiosciences.com/Canadian Psychedelic Association: https://www.psychedelicassociation.net/Psygen: https://psygen.ca/www.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Spalted wood is beautiful. It’s a form of rotting, and it’s caused by fungi. Spalting comes in many forms: patterns, colors, textures. Until this century, the biology of spalting wasn’t well understood, and even less so any methods to produce it in a laboratory setting. We are once again joined by Javier Ribera, a wood materials scientist and mycologist from EMPA to discuss new research on spalted wood. The team at EMPA has built off of existing literature on the biology of spalting which has allowed them to artificially produce spalted wood, potentially opening a market for designer wood rot.Topics Covered:History of spalted wood use in the United StatesThree kinds of spalting: zone lines, pigmentation and white rotMel & Mark Lindquist’s legacy of spalted wood in woodcraftDIY spalting methods: the possibilities and limitationsThe mycology of zone line spalting: what species are involved? What does wood anatomy have to do with it?How researchers at EMPA are commercializing spalted woodsHow you can spalt your own wood at home!Show Notes:EMPA’s Fungal Biotech: https://www.empa.ch/web/s302Spalted Wood The Movie: http://spaltedwood.com/Zone Line Spalting from Science to Application: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127521000332GIY Spalted Wood Methods: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2009/04/14/spalt-your-own-lumberWood Spalting Starter Pack: https://www.mossycreekmushrooms.com/product/spalting-liquid-culture-pack/More spalting species (members only): https://www.northernspalting.com/buy-materials/fungi/Compatible woods + examples: https://www.northernspalting.com/spalting-info/wood-species-examples/Dr. Sara (Seri) Robinson book on Spalted Wood: https://www.abebooks.com/Spalting-101-Robinson-Dr-Seri-C/30973684244/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade-_-product_id=COM9780764360893NEW-_-keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjw3_KIBhA2EiwAaAAlipUvXMCvEPINjOPvbbXRh6epgaMoJPs504UaowGjmrDTZaOPjiLjgRoCSJIQAvD_BwEwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Find your mushy match and take our mushroom quiz  here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Hear that...? Fungal violins have entered the music scene. This technology, known as Mycowood, uses fungi to partially degrade wood used to make violins; and it results in superior acoustics. We are joined by the scientist behind these innovative fungal projects, Dr. Javier Ribera, who is a materials scientist at EMPA with specialties in cellulose and wood materials. Javier walks us through the creation of Mycowood technology, and how this unique application could evolve in further wood-based design.Topics Covered:The inspiration for creating MycowoodHow climate change is physically altering our lumber supplyThe history, theory, and materials science of the famous Stradivarius ViolinWood as a material for resonance, and how fungi can be used to engineer the acousticsThe three fungi tested by EMPA for Mycowood including Schizophyllum commune, Physisporinus vitreus, and Xylaria spp.Processes of creating MycowoodThe current availability of Mycowood technologiesShow notes:Dr. Javier Riberia’s Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Javier-Ribera-2Interview with Francis Schwarze: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H_-CRuzWYEMPA Website:https://www.empa.ch/Violino ai funghi (Fungal Violin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlICRNzPoicEMPA Report on Mycowood for Violins: https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/mycowood-violin?inheritRedirect=trueBIotech Stradivari: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ppp3.10097Mycowood Violins in the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/learning/mycowood-violins-a-different-kind-of-time-machine.htmlwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Modern farming practices are destroying vital soil ecologies, and our patch work solutions aren’t making things any better. Today we are joined by Dr. Elaine Ingham, a leading soil ecologist who has established the Soil Food Web School, a platform that teaches people how to optimize their growing operation and advocates the return to greener practices. We discuss how we can repair the land using simple, natural, systems, and how in doing so we heal the planet by increasing carbon sequestration, depolluting water supply systems, catalyzing environmental justice and so much more.Topics covered:Soil health before human influencePractical ways we can rebuild microbial populations for healthier soilSpecialized relationships between soil fungi and plantsSuccessions of ecosystem health from the soil to mature plantsThe adversaries of inorganic fertilizers Analyzing ratios of the fungal and bacterial needs to grow healthy plantsCultivating and sourcing biocomplete compostIndustrial level compost production and soil remediationCarbon sequestration in soil healthShow notes:Soil Food Web website: https://www.soilfoodweb.com/Dr. Ingham’s published work on soil ecology: https://www.soilfoodweb.com/publications/www.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Where is psilocybin headed? Recent societal vindication of psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies are paving a prominent future for these substances, especially in psychiatric therapy. But how do we navigate this resurgence for the better? What conversations should be had, what questions should be asked, and who should we trust? These are big questions that will evolve with the industry. Today we welcome Ron Shore, who has spent years studying clinical applications for psychedelic therapy and collecting related data to initiate conversations around these important elements. Ron is a PhD candidate at Queens University who has spent years in the public health world. Ron offers a needed perspective on the growing economy of psilocybin and other entheogens. Topics Covered:Combining neuroscientific and traditional ceremonial settings for psychedelic healing spacesRevisiting psychedelic science with new understandings in neuroscience & psychiatry The importance of maintaining and respecting all cultural elements without cultural appropriationThe economy of psilocybin — what is it like now? How will it progress and what should we be aware of as the industry grows to ensure we uphold cultural and economic equality?Attempts to patent natural psychedelic substances such as ayahuasca Behind the scenes of psychedelic clinical trials and how we can improve by being more inclusiveObtaining funding for psychedelic researchSteps that industry leaders and influencers can take to be in their highest integrity while doing this workResources and thoughts on educating ourselves on the psychedelic historyPsilocybin and associated alkaloids of psilocybe mushrooms The current state of scientific literature on synthetic or ‘pure’ psilocybin compared to the natural biomass of psilocybe mushroomsAnimal studies with psilocybinHow psychedelics influence your brain physiologically How consciousness is a ‘fruiting body’, and therefore, a mushroom ;)Show Notes:Dimensions healing :https://dimensionshealing.com/Ron Shore’s website: https://www.ronshore.ca/Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines: https://chacruna.netFrancoise Bourzat: https://francoisebourzat.com/Michael Pollan's books: https://michaelpollan.com/books/Landmark study on neurogenesis: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.06.008More articles: https://news.yale.edu/2021/07/05/psychedelic-spurs-growth-neural-connections-lost-depressionhttps://neurosciencenews.com/depression-dendrites-psilocybin-18856/Robin Carhart-Harris’s publications on psilocybin & other psychedelics: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7_MD_w0AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=aowww.mushroomrevival.com We are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form.  Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

How did multicellular life evolve? We don’t know! However, fungi are helping us develop ideas about the emergence of complex life. Today we are joined by Dr. William Ratcliff, who has successfully induced naturally unicellular yeast to evolve into multicellular ‘snowflake yeasts’ in his lab at Georgia Tech. Prepare for a delightful interview featuring evolutionary history, biotechnology, semantics, philosophy, and life itself.Dr. William Ratcliff has his Ph.D. in Ecology evolution and Behavior and runs the Ratcliff lab at Georgia Tech and is the Co-Director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences.Topics covered:The difference between multicellular life and single cellular lifeWhat is an organism?Evolutionary trends and novelties in multicellular lifeCatalyzing multicellular life in vitro Why yeast— specifically saccharomyces cerevisiae — are so widely used in genomics research and biotechnologyThe Ratcliff Lab’s development of multicellular yeasts dubbed ‘snowflake yeast’Mechanistic basics of multicellular yeasts, particularly entanglementPrototaxites and its characteristics of entanglements Cellular differentiation and cellular suicide in evolving snowflake yeasts Reversing multicellular evolution  Cyanobacteria, Bangiomorpha pubescens and other early forms of multicellular life Ways that multicellularity can be expressedMyxococcus xanthusAcellular slime moldsHow to grow snowflake yeast at home!Show notes:The Ratcliff Lab: https://ratclifflab.biosci.gatech.edu/Grow your own multicellular yeast: http://www.snowflakeyeastlab.com/the%20kit.htmThe Biophysics if nascent multicellularity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WwBiBUcKG4William Ratcliff’s Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wdVRIS0AAAAJ&hl=enSnowflake Yeast Microscopy Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h7CqrmjId8r50zT6v_1qXoJWMcHa6JJ9?usp=sharingwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Love chocolate? You have fungi to thank for that! On today's show we are walking you through the complex journey between the cocoa bean and a chocolate bar.  The unmatchable decadence is achieved by unique fermentation methods and microbes. Yeast, filamentous fungi, and bacteria are all at play and today we have a chocolate scientist and PhD candidate, Caitlin Clark, who has dedicated her research to chocolate fermentation.Topics CoveredLactic acid fermentation versus chocolates specialty microbesThe complex and ethical journey of chocolate makingAlkalizing chocolatePolyphenol content in a variety of chocolate productsPsychoactive properties in chocolate’s constituents such methylxanthine and theobromine How fermentation alters potency of these constituents Mycorrhizal, endophytic, and pathogenic fungi involved in the cacao trees Other fungal relationships such as endophytes and mycorrhizal species Microbiome of fermentation in cocoa including yeasts, filamentous geotrichum, bacillus bacteria and moreWild ferments, aseptic ferments and experiments with starter culturesChemical and mechanical ways that fungi transform the stockWhat determines a ‘good’ microbial presence versus a ‘bad’ one in the chocolate making processHow cocoa byproducts are madeBloom in chocolateHow to shop for the best quality chocolateShow NotesCaitlin’s website: https://www.trimethylpyrazine.com/Caitlin’s Instagram: @chocolate.graduate Chocolate Vendor’sBar & Cocoa: https://barandcocoa.com/SOMA: https://www.somachocolate.com/Quntu: https://en.qantuchocolate.com/Nuance Chocolate: http://www.nuancechocolate.com/White Label: https://www.whitelabelchocolate.com/Ethical aspects of the cocoa and chocolate value chainNatto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natt%C5%8DMycotoxins in chocolate making and cocoa productsFurther reading: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-DNBQ5kJRWPWm1nZXzjGH-VMgLJBtjsC?usp=sharingwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. 

Over one million specimens of fungi share a space known as the Fungarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is the largest collection of dried fungi in the world with specimens as old as the 1700s.Today we welcome lead mycologist Tuula Niskanen, and Fungarium curator Lee Davies to spotlight this important collection. We discuss when, where, why, and how fungi from all over the world are collected, studied and preserved. Topics Covered:How the Kew Fungarium is curated and maintained The value and importance of saving physical specimensShelf life and preservation methods of fungi in the form of spores, mycelium and fruiting bodiesSpecimen highlightsThe Kew Gardens State of the World’s Fungi ReportHow citizen science can help and benefit from Kew   Show notes:Access the Fungarium: https://herbtrack.science.kew.org/searchIMI database: http://www.herbimi.info/herbimi/home.htmBeyond the Gardens short virtual tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9HitGBVlIYState of The World’s Fungi: https://stateoftheworldsfungi.org/Ophiocordyceps taylorii photo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tBG__EwAt-vH1kjI2qAbxckRJovJPBAv/view?usp=sharingHongos de Patagonia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yya-bvYTSas www.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Today’s show covers a field known as mycovirology, or the study of viruses that infect fungi. This esoteric science is nascent but profound in its applications, and we are welcoming one of the few people in the world who are studying these relationships. Why do mycoviruses matter? How can we work with and against them? How can this subfield influence mycology as a whole?We welcome Dr. Brenda Wingfield from the university of Pretoria in South Africa. Brenda holds her degree in fungal genomics and has published over 300 respective articles. Her work has expanded the mycological fields of taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and tree pathology. Topics Covered:Defining mycovirology What makes fungal viruses unique from othersStuck fermentation caused by killer yeastsAsymptomatic vs symptomatic virusesMechanisms of viral infection in fungiUsing mycoviruses to combat Chestnut BlightViruses transferring from plants to fungiArmillaria virusesGenetic engineering with virusesWhat we know about the fungal immune systemThe detriment of La France disease in Agaricus bisporus farms 1000 Fungal Genome Project Show notes:Dr. Brenda Wingfield's publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tnLyuG0AAAAJ&hl=enFive Questions about Mycoviruses: https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005172Mycoviruses educational video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXZBMcmGv84Killer Yeasts in Wine: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0922338X9390056ESecrets of Fungal Viruses: https://theconversation.com/researchers-unlock-the-secrets-of-fungal-viruses-why-it-matters-158632www.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements. We are transparent with our lab results, and use actual fruiting bodies aka mushrooms! We provide our supplements in tincture, capsule, powder, and delicious gummy form. Energy (Cordyceps): Need a little pick-me-up before a workout or when you’re picking up your kids from school? The Energy Cordyceps is the mushy match for you.Focus (Lion’s Mane):  Needing a little more focus in your daily life? Lion’s Mane is known to be the mushroom for the brain and may support cognitive function.Calm (Reishi): Looking for some tranquility and zen in your life? Reishi will bring you into the zen state of mind you’ve been searching for.Daily 10 (Mushroom Mix): It’s like having 10 bodyguard mushrooms fighting off all those bad guys. This is a good place to start as it contains all of the daily mushies you need. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.