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.

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Josh Bartch, the CEO of Mydecine, a research & development company with a special interest in psilocybin and psychoactive treatments. We discuss the origins of their work, their team, and current research and practices in the field.Topics covered:Mydecine's mission and commitment to human benefit via fungal discoveryPsilocybin treatment for PTSD and other mental health concernsMachine-learning based drug discoveryFormulation and commercialization of psychedelic therapeutics The deficiencies in chemical compounds in psilocybe mushroomsVarietals of psilocybin-containing mushrooms Collaborative and intern opportunities at Mydecine’s facilitiesDescribing new compounds in functional mushroomsBureaucracy of importing and researching psychedelic mushrooms Bioavailability of psilocybin Managing ethical clinical researchShow notes:Mydecine website: https://www.mydecine.com/Josh Bartch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-bartch-a5361b96MindLeap app: https://mindleap.health/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.

Zombie fungi aren't just cool — they're extremely useful. Dr. Brian Lovett is back on the show to discuss the powers of entomopathogenic fungi. We get into the weeds of what makes these fungi equip for success as carnivores, transgenic engineering, the evolution of pathology and more. Brian also shares cutting edge research from the MosquitoSphere in Burkina Faso, where he and his team work to combat malaria using Metarhizium fungi. Topics Covered:Defining entomopathogenic fungiChemical signaling and mechanisms of infectionCircadian rhythms in fungi, and how entomopathogenic fungi time keep in their hostsMycopesticides, especially to fight Malaria in mosquitoes Transgenic engineering of fungi with spider venom genes to target insects Metarhizium as a platform fungi for board and narrow range target specific Current practices, successes and challenges in the fight against malariaEthics of developing and deploying biotechnology in international local communities Synergies between bio and chemical insecticidesUnique chemical  compositions of entomopathogenic fungiShow notes:Brian Lovett's website: https://www.lovettbr.com/Cordyceps unilateralis on the BBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKjBIBBAL8Genetically engineering fungal pesticides: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ps.4734The Insect Pathogens: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1128/9781555819583.ch45Zombie Insect Presentation with Genspace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF7NOiREHlUArticles mentioned: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48464510Transgenic Metarhizium: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/364/6443/894.abstractwww.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.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is one of fungi’s most well known chemical analogues. Today we bring you a leading scientist, Dr. David Nichols who speaks to the history, chemistry, legality and so much more of this notable compound.  Topics covered:David Nichol’s career pursuing psychedelic pharmacologyPatent litigation, especially with psychedelic constituents Lab testing for new psychedelic analogues in ratsBureaucracy of working with Schedule I substancesHow to synthesize LSDLSD’s physical characteristics, structure and fluorescenceWhat happens to the LSD molecule when you adjust minute aspects, and what that tells us about itselfStructural similarities and differences in an array of psychedelic molecules / chemical ‘templates’ for psychoactive compoundsNeuro-mechanics of LSD and other entheogenic compoundsEvolution and function of serotonin receptorsHPPD: Hallucinogen Persisting Perception DisorderTrepanation: how does it affect neurochemistry, if at all?NBOMes (N-benzyl methoxy): What is it and how does it work?Metabolizing LSD and related compoundsChirality in psychedelics, especially LSDListener questionsShow notes:Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia feat. Dr. Nichols: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N4VoqeuK3sHallucinogens (2004) : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14761703/DEA 222 - https://dehs.umn.edu/using-dea-form-222-order-controlled-substancesMapping the Mind Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hfsIbib_50MAPS Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxjCSKMbZBATelluride Keynote presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlDCM5JQzRkLeo Perutz & the Mystery of St Peter’s Snow: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2752/175169713X13589680082172Trepanation articles & video: https://lostmediawiki.com/Heartbeat_in_the_Brain_(partially_found_Amanda_Fielding_trepanation_documentary;_1970)Downloadable literature: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14N9VdXGFlLvjnShYRH2MRurNi54a77Ig?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. Find your mushie match and take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

Ergot describes a group of fungi with powerful alkaloids. So powerful, that they have impact in history, medicine, and possibly religion. It's famous for the morbid poisoning in humans, for catalyzing the synthesis of LSD,  and its potential role in ancient ceremony. Today we are honored to speak with Dr. Daniel Panaccione, who is one of few ergot alkaloid specialists. Having studied their biosynthesis and genetics, he is a true expert on their chemical matters. Dr. Panaccione is a professor of plant and soil sciences at West Virginia University where he works on genetic manipulation and chemical analyses to understand underlying genes of ergot alkaloids and reconstruct its pathways.Topics CoveredDefining Ergot species & their respective metabolitesLife cycle of Claviceps purpurea and it's ecological rolesHow an ergot fungus may be behind the Salem Witch Trials and other historical eventsSynthesis of ergot alkaloid-based drugs and medicinesMechanisms of action with ergot alkaloids in the human bodyDEA regulation on ergot alkaloids and like compoundsEvolution of ergot alkaloid producing fungiPotential and unlikely organisms that contain ergot alkaloidsThe inadvertent discovery of LSDPharmacology of ergot alkaloids: challenges, history, methods and R&DShow notesDr. Panaccione's WVU profile: https://www.davis.wvu.edu/faculty-staff/directory/daniel-panaccioneHamilton’s Pharmacopeia feat. Ergot and Dr. Panaccione: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N4VoqeuK3sErgot Museum: https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2014/04/minnesota-wheat-fungus-helped-win-world-war-ii/Linnda Caporael's report on the Salem Witch Trials: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/witches-curse-interview/1502/Growing Ergot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrKfF-G_CugLife Cycle of Ergot: https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/fungalasco/pdlessons/Pages/Ergot.aspx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWH--o1ccMYStructure of Ergot Alkaloids: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5480214/Suggestive reports on Ergot in Sumerian Clay Tablets, Mesopotamian Temples, and Chinese literature: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1637017/The Immortality Key — How ergot may be involved in religious influence: https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/2021/3/4/21759683/christianity-psychedelics-brian-muraresku-the-immortality-keyErgot as an ingredient in the Kykeon: http://www.psychedelic-library.org/paspali.htmDownloadable literature: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1g64gVETsao2bC_cDK1QjBYbBW7Uu0iHQwww.mushroomrevival.comWe are a functional mushroom company and make 100% certified USDA Organic and Vegan mushroom supplements.  Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

To celebrate our 100th episode, we kick off the show with a compilation of all the responses to our classic question "If mushrooms had the mic and could say one thing to the whole human race, what would they say?"We also have some updates for you all, including a message of gratitude for making the podcast possible. Enjoy the condensed fungal wisdom and some candid conversation between your co-hosts Alex Dorr and Lera Niemackl.Featuring:Nathalie KelleyMyron SmithOmar ThomasSophia RoeEkaterina DadachovaTe'Lario Watkins IIRobin DivineLarry EvansCassie EttingerMatt ScullinLexie GropperAlexandra ElbakyanVanja PalmersThomas HartleRyan Paul GatesAlan RockefellerJones OmageGiuliana FurciMatthew MeyerSteve AxfordTom VolkAnna SitkoffTradd CotterBarry McClearyMario CeballosGunther WeilIan HallMerlin SheldrakeFor a clean compilation, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ayALSwU4Sswww.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.

We are humbled to be speaking with psychedelic pioneer, Dennis McKenna. Dennis and his late brother Terrence are some of the most influential figures in western psychedelic culture. The brothers contributed to the introduction to psilocybin mushrooms in the United States, including but not limited to, cultivation techniques, ethnomycology, user guidance, and providing spores. Dennis was active in the psychedelic movement in the 60s and continues to shape the 21st century renaissance through education and organizations such as the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy. Prepare for some serious wisdom and untold stories from the McKenna family. Topics Covered:The McKenna’s trip to La Chorrera in search of psychedelic Virola sap called oo-koo-hey, and the inadvertent encounter of Psilocybe cubensis in cow piesPsilocybin as an ideal oral form of DMTChemical composition of psychedelic mushrooms i.e beta-carboline content The McKenna family, from a small town in Colorado and the becoming of the most influential figures in western psychedelic use Psilocybin’s potential influence on hominid evolution including fossil records, ecological history, circumstantial evidence, epigenetics and moreProhibition and regulation of psilocybin and other entheogensOrganismic birthrights to form a relationship with the natural worldShow notes:McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy: https://mckenna.academy/Heffter Research Institute: https://www.heffter.org/Erowin reports on Virola sap: https://erowid.org/library/books_online/golden_guide/g71-80.shtmlPsilocybin: A Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/415951.PsilocybinLife with Terrance McKenna: https://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Screaming-Abyss-Dennis-McKenna-ebook/dp/B00A8KWLYKNotable Quotes:“Part of the message from nature is, [psilocybin] is the perfect psychedelic, you don’t really need to improve on it.”“We were approaching this like engineers, we wanted to build a machine out of our own bodies that would enable us to visit other dimensions.”“People should have a fundamental right to form symbiosis. And because we’re talking about alliances with non-human organisms, it's not even a human right, it's an organismic right.”“When you choose to use a drug, you’re choosing a relationship.... call it a symbiotic relationship.”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. Not sure where to begin? Take our mushroom quiz here.Use code ‘PODTREAT’ for a 30% discount.

A milestone for mycelium has emerged. Adidas has partnered with Bolt threads, a biomaterials company, to use mycelium in their Stan Smith Mylo Edition shoes.  Built with biology, crafted with humanity— Bolt Threads is pioneering the use of fungal materials into industrial commodities, and it's not something their team takes lightly. Today we are joined by the co-founder of Bolt Threads, Dr. David Breslauer, to discuss the philosophy and methodology behind their important contributions and innovative products. Topics Covered:Fundamentals in fungal biotechBiomimicry in materials scienceThe company history and culture of Bolt ThreadsEngineering yeast to make a spider silk-like proteinSilk as a base protein for innovative materialsEmergence of germ theory from silkworm factoriesThe industry of biomaterials: how do you scale a material or product to make a real difference?Mycelium leather — its performance, sustainability, engineer-ability and aestheticsFilamentous fungi in biotech and how it differs from yeastsShow notes:Stan Smith Mylo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R__xk0-z7lgBolt Threads: https://boltthreads.com/Mylo: https://www.mylo-unleather.com/Spider silk mechanics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xossR6eHv3IGerm theory: https://asm.org/Articles/2019/December/Sick-or-Silk-How-Silkworms-Spun-the-Germ-Theory-ofwww.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.