Get Your Tickets for the 1st Oakland Psychedelic Conference:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oakland-psychedelic-conference-tickets-169188460239?ref=eios   Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we are beyond blessed to be joined by three members of Oakland’s own Hyphae Labs, Ian Bollinger, Tomás Garret and Reggie who has joined us on the podcast previously. Inspired by early-life transformative experiences with psilocybin-containing mushrooms, Reggie has had a lifelong passion for mycology and now consults with the largest mushroom cultivators in the world. He is a also member of the Advisory Board for Decriminalize Nature and an avid activist for police reform and an ally of The Movement for Black LivesIan Bollinger is a dedicated researcher, scientist and host of the Understanding Entheogens Podcast.  Advising for harm reduction through education by working with the entheogen decriminalization movement in the SF Bay Area; Ian dedicates his time to churches, non-profits, and public benefit corporations to bring scientific insights from the growing entheogen space to the public through his writings, podcast, and outreachTomás is the head of operations for Hyphae Labs. His background is in analytical chemistry that began with food and drug testing in Wisconsin. He moved to California in 2018 and began pesticide and solvent testing for the cannabis industry.  Over the past few years he has become intertwined like mycelium with the vibrant Oakland psychedelic community.Formed by citizen scientists like these, Hyphae Labs works to connect cultivators and consumers to knowledge, data, and education that supports their community through harm reduction.  They are currently engaged with research around Tryptamine content in entheogenic organisms, providing lab and analytical support for the Psilocybin Cup. I am excited to learn more about their collective, their vision and the upcoming Oakland Psychedelic Conference.   TOPICS COVERED:   Hyphae Connection Between Ian, Tomás and Reggie Mission and Purpose of Hyphae LabsWhy is Testing Entheogenic Compounds Important?Testing Compounds in Psilocybin-Containing Mushrooms Legality of Testing Entheogens in Oakland  Connection Between Testing & Decriminalization  Wading into the Chemistry of Tryptamines  MAOIs in Mushrooms  Effects of Compounds Other than Psilocybin  The Hyphae Potency Spectrum  Inspiration & Goals of the Oakland Psychedelic Conference  Featured Speakers at the Conference  Building Community & Embracing Diversity  Future of Hyphae Labs as Psychedelics Go Mainstream  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Tickets for Oakland Psychedelic Conference: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oakland-psychedelic-conference-tickets-169188460239?ref=eios  Oakland Hyphae: https://www.oaklandhyphae510.com/  Oakland Hyphae IG: https://www.instagram.com/oakland_hyphae/  Ian Bollinger IG: https://www.instagram.com/eyepsychonaut/  Understanding Entheogens with Ian Bollinger: https://www.critical.consulting/blog  Dictyonema (Fungus/Lichen): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictyonema

Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we have the distinct privilege of being joined by Dr. Andy Letcher. Dr. Letcher is a writer, performer and scholar of religion who began life as an ecologist, completing his D.Phil in Ecology at Oxford University. After a spell as an environmental activist during the 90s, especially during the anti-roads protests, he moved across to the humanities, completing a PhD at King Alfred’s College Winchester. He is an expert on contemporary alternative spiritualities, especially modern Paganism, neo-shamanism and psychedelic spiritualities. He is especially interested in the tangled and sometimes tortuous relationship between science and spirituality, and in so-called dark green religion. He has written papers on: the distribution of mammals across continents; fairies; mysticism; and psychedelic spirituality. Andy is also the author of the comprehensive work “Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom” that examines enthnomycological research, legends and myths surrounding humanity’s relationship with psychoactive fungi.    TOPICS COVERED:   Ecologies, Environmentalism and Cries to the MoonWhat is Spirituality?Sensory and Cultural Inputs Birthing Religious TraditionsDefining the SelfExploring “Semi-Permeable Self”, “Ecological Self”, “Community Self”Consciousness Fields, Panpsychism & AnimismSymbiosis and SympoiesisAre Psilocybe Mushrooms Guiding Human Culture?Are Psychedelics Going to Save Us from Ourselves?What does a Psychedelic-Informed and Ecologically Self-Aware Society Look Like?How Large a Role did Psychedelics Really Play in Ancient Cultures, Religions, Rites and Secret Societies?Are We Part of the Most Psychedelic and Mycologically Inspired Culture Ever?We are the Mushroom People   Psychedelics in Druidry and Other Future Research   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Andy Letcher Website: http://andy-letcher.blogspot.com/   Andy Letcher Writings: https://independent.academia.edu/AndyLetcher   "Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom": https://www.amazon.com/Shroom-Cultural-History-Magic-Mushroom/dp/0060828293  Schumacher College: https://campus.dartington.org/schumacher-college/   William Blake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake   Victor Turner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Turner   Terence McKenna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_McKenna   Carl Jung: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung   Donna Haraway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Haraway   Huston Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huston_Smith   

Today on Mushroom   Hour we are joined by internationally renowned herbalist Dr. Christopher Hobbs. Dr. Hobbs is a fourth-generation herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, herbal clinician, research scientist, consultant to the dietary supplement industry, expert witness, botanist and mycologist with over 35 years of experience. He is also a prolific writer and has authored or co-authored over 20 books, including the new “Christopher Hobbs’s Medicinal Mushrooms, the Essential Guide.” Christopher has lectured on herbal medicine world-wide. He earned his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley with research and publication in evolutionary biology, biogeography, phylogenetics, plant chemistry, and ethnobotany. Time to dive deep into medicinal mushrooms!   TOPICS COVERED:   Embracing Generational Tradition of Herbalism in a World of Toxic Notions  Discovering Mushrooms in the 1970s  Herbalist World View  Elevating Consciousness  Allying with Plant & Mushroom Spirits  Importance of Spiritual Wellbeing  What is Medicine?  Chemistry of Medicinal Mushrooms and the Immune System  One of Medicinal Mushrooms Biggest Benefits - Fiber  Effects of Beta Glucans & Ancient Receptors in the Body  Secrets of Medicinal Mushroom Products  Starch Testing our Mushroom Powders  Healing Powers of Reishi  Why Do We Put Up With It?  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Christopher Hobbs' Website:  https://www.christopherhobbs.com/  Christopher Hobb's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchristopherhobbs/  Christopher Hobb's IG: https://www.instagram.com/christopherhobbs1/?hl=en  "Christopher Hobbs' Essential Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms": https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Hobbss-Medicinal-Mushrooms-Consciousness/dp/1635861675/  "A Modern Herbal": https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Herbal-Complete-Margaret-Grieve/dp/1626542236/  "Back to Eden": https://www.amazon.com/Back-Eden-Jethro-Kloss/dp/0940985101/  Dr. Edward Shook: https://www.biblio.com/edward-e-shook/author/587245  Dr. John Christopher: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christopher_(herbalist)  Dr. Michael Tierra: https://planetherbs.com/owners/dr-michael-tierra-l-ac-o-m-d/  Ed Smith: https://m.facebook.com/herbal.ed  Susun Weed: http://www.susunweed.com/  Rosemary Gladstar: https://scienceandartofherbalism.com/  Reishi (mushroom): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingzhi_(mushroom)  Boletus edulis (mushroom): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boletus_edulis

Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we are joined by Bryce Alex, Doctoral Student at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Bryce is originally from Utah and he spent time working as a graduate student and Masters Candidate in the legendary Dentinger Lab at the University of Utah. His mycological research work has involved important players when it comes to fungal ecology that are largely invisible and many of us may have never heard of. He has worked on projects involving metabarcoding fungal propagules carried on bird feathers and mining transcriptomic datasets for hidden mycoviruses. He began his PhD in Plant Pathology at University of Wisconsin Madison in Fall 2020. I am excited for him to share his expertise with the emerging field of mycoviruses and how they relate to fungal, plant and even animal populations.   TOPICS COVERED:    Entering the World of Mycology by Chance  Research in Legendary Dentinger Lab  What is a Mycovirus?  How do Mycoviruses Effect Their Hosts?  Hypovirulence in Pathogenic Fungi  Cryphonectria parasitica  Mycovirus Transference to Plants & Animals?  Agaricus bisporous Dieback Disease   Theories on Origins and Evolution of Mycoviruses  Changing Paradigm of Virology  Bryce’s Current PhD Research  Advice for Pursuing Academic Mycology  Embracing the Mycology Community  Future of Bryce’s Work  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Bryce Alex LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-alex-5799b8169   UW-Madison Rakotondrafara Lab: https://rakotondrafaralab.russell.wisc.edu/   Utah Dentinger Lab: https://www.biology.utah.edu/faculty/bryn-dentinger/   Cryphonectria parasitica: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_blight   "50-Plus Years of Fungal Viruses": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25771805/   "Five Questions About Mycoviruses": https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005172   "Mycoviruses of filamentous fungi and their relevance to plant pathology": https://bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1364-3703.2008.00503.x   

Today on Mushroom Hour we have are graced by the presence of Bill Sheehan PhD and Gabriela D’Elia of the Fungal Diversity Survey - also known as FunDiS. Bill Sheehan is the co-founder and president of FunDiS and  Gabriela is currently FunDiS Deep Funga Blog Editor. FunDiS aims to increase scientific knowledge and public awareness of the critical role of fungi in the health of our ecosystems and to better utilize and protect them in a world of rapid climate change and habitat loss. They do this by equipping community scientists, working with professionals, with the reporting tools to document the diversity and distribution of fungi across North America.Bill spent most of his career starting and running two national environmental policy nonprofits. Around the time he was getting ready to retire he reconnected with his love of natural history through a fascination with fungi. Combining his experience running nonprofits with his scientific training and an appreciation for the power of grassroots action, FunDiS unites several mycelial strands of his life.Gabriela first noticed the marvelous mushrooms while she was walking around Seattle, WA. After studying fungal ecology at school there, Gabriela embraced a perspective of Holistic Mycology, which views fungi as ecology, medicine, language, ancestor, and philosophy. Gabriela is leader of the FunDiS local project, Northern Utah Funga Community Science; V.P. of the Mushroom Society of Utah; and founder of Moon Mushrooms, which focuses on mycology education and crafting tiny batch tinctures.  TOPICS COVERED: How Bill and Gabriela came to FunDiS  Origins of FunDiS   Evolution from North American Mycoflora Project  Importance of Mapping Fungal Diversity  Undiscovered Diversity all Around the US  Amateurs Leading the Way in Biodiversity Studies  iNaturalist and Mushroom Observer  Genetic Sequencing  Biodiversity Data Feeding Conservation Efforts  Rising Awareness of Fungi in Conservation Efforts  Rare Fungi Challenges  How to Participate in FunDiS Diversity Surveys  How to Volunteer and Support FunDiSFuture of FunDiS, Community Mycology & Biodiversity Data  EPISODE RESOURCES:FunDiS Website: https://fundis.org/   FunDiS IG: https://www.instagram.com/fungaldiversitysurvey/   FunDiS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fungaldiversitysurvey   iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/  Mushroom Observer: https://mushroomobserver.org/   Pachycudonia spathulata: https://fundis.org/images/PDF/Pachycudonia-spathulata_trifold-web.pdf   Dictyocephalos attenuatus: https://fundis.org/images/PDF/Dictyocephalos-attenuatus_trifold-web.pdf   Pholiota nubigena (Bubblegum fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pholiota_nubigena   Bubblegum Fungus Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOa2ECym254Tricholomopsis rutilans (Plums and Custard Mushroom): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricholomopsis_rutilans   

Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we have the privilege of speaking with Brian Perry PhD, Associate Professor of Biology at California State University, East Bay. He received his Master's Degree from San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Dennis E. Desjardin, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University where he studied with Dr. Donald H. Pfister. Brian has been studying fungi since 1995, and has published over 45 papers in scientific journals. In addition to studying the evolution of fungal bioluminescence, he also conducts research on mushrooms and other fungi of Vanuatu, the assembly and biogeography of island fungal communities, endophytic fungi of Hawaiian plants, and the systematics of Mycena and allied genera. Brian teaches several mycology courses at Cal State East Bay and the Sierra Nevada Field Campus, and recently launched a Sierra Nevada Mycoflora project.   TOPICS COVERED:   Raised with an Appreciation for Nature  Mycological Influence of Dr. Dennis Desjardin  Why Do Some Mushrooms Glow?  Exploring Evolution of Fungal Bioluminescence  Biochemistry of Bioluminescence  Biology & Ecological Roles of Endophytic Fungi  Applied Use of Endophytes  Fungal Ecology of Tropical Islands  Research in Vanuatu  Vanuatu’s Indigenous Culture  Ethnomycology Among Vanuatu’s Indigenous Peoples  Tropical Island Phylogeography & Biogeography  Biogeographical Mysteries  Rise of Citizen Mycologists  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Dr. Brian Perry Website: https://www.perrymycolab.com/CSU East Bay Website: https://www.csueastbay.edu/directory/profiles/biol/perrybrian.htmlProf. Dennis Desjardin: https://biology.sfsu.edu/faculty/desjardinMetrosideros polymorpha (plant species): https://www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/met-poly.htm   Blue Coprinopsis (fungi): https://steveaxford.smugmug.com/Fungi/Basidiomycetes/Coprinoid-fungi/Blue-Coprinopsis/   Schizophyllum commune (fungi): https://www.mushroomexpert.com/schizophyllum_commune.html   Coprinellus disseminatus (fungi): http://www.mushroomexpert.com/coprinellus_disseminatus.html   Mycena californiensis (fungi): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycena_californiensis   

Today on Mushroom Hour it is our great privilege to be joined by Tess Burzynski - founder, head educator and cultivator at Fungi Freights Urban Lab and Environmental Studio. A Science degree graduate from Wayne State University, she works as an Environmental Scientist and continues doing research with mycoremediation in the city of Detroit. Tess is a member of the Michigan Mushroom Hunters Club and the North American Mycological Association. Throughout her studies she has learned the role mycelium plays in the environment and how beneficial, tenacious and magical it truly is. Through Fungi Freights, her goal is to educate Detroit and its surrounding neighbors about the benefits fungi have on health, food security and the environment. Fungi Freights offers an array of educational workshops and events revolved around mushrooms and their never-ending abilities. From identification, foraging and fungi biology, to DIY cultivation and mushroom art, their events never get dull. Their goal is to enlighten the community on the fascinating world of fungi! TOPICS COVERED:Lebanese & Polish Wild Food InfluencesFinding Healing & Self-Love in MushroomsBiochemical Processes in Fungi DecompositionDecomposers & MycoremediationIllustrative Example of Mycoremediation ResearchCommunity Science Leading in MycoremediationUnique Ecology of DetroitFounding of Fungi FreightsFungi Freights Projects and Community InvolvementImportance of Reciprocity in Community BuildingAdvice for Our Mushroom ProjectsWorldwide Modular, Shipping Container Mushroom FarmsBright Potential for DetroitFastest Organism on Earth is a Fungus?!EPISODE RESOURCES:Fungi Freights Website: https://www.fungifreights.net/Fungi Freights IG: https://www.instagram.com/fungifreights/Fungi Freights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fungifreights/NAMA: https://namyco.org/Pilobolus crystallinus (Fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilobolus_crystallinus

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of speaking with John Rensten. John lived and worked and foraged in London for 20 years before finally escaping to Dorset, via Hampshire, in 2016 to concentrate on mushroom hunting and coastal foraging. He runs and organizes numerous urban foraging events, wild food walks and mushroom forays. On a daily basis, John studies wild food, picks wild food and really obsesses about wild food! He has a deep passion for sharing what he has learned, running city foraging walks and taking groups mushroom hunting in The New Forest or combing the seashore in Dorset. John founded Forage London to give city dwellers a chance to enjoy and discover some of the amazing wild foods that grow all around us.   TOPICS COVERED:   Lush Diversity Found Urban Foraging  Complex Interlocking Ecologies of Greater London  Avoiding Terrestrial Mushrooms in Urban Environments?  Understanding Historical Land Use Where You Forage Fungi  Emotional Relationship with Local Green Spaces  Permaculture and Wild Foraging Permeating the Mainstream  Foraging Cycles, Seasonality, Multiple Crops & Geographic Variation in Fruiting  Edible and Medicinal Winter Mushrooms in the UK  Ancient Practice of Foraging Dovetailing with Modern Technology  Secrets of Wild Food Preservation & Preparation  Wending Path of Forage Knowledge Accumulation Through Gentle Repetition  Importance of Foraging & Learning Local  The Association of Foragers  Foraging Love Story  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Forage London Website: https://www.foragelondon.co.uk/   Forage London IG: https://www.instagram.com/foragelondon/  The Edible City (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Edible-City-Year-Wild-Food/dp/0752266136   Andy Overall: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andy-Overall  Clifford Davy: http://forestforagers.co.uk/about-us/  Pascal Baudar: https://www.instagram.com/pascalbaudar/  Phillip Stark/Berkeley Open Source Food: https://osfood.berkeley.edu/  "Restharrow": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ononis_repens  "Sneezewort": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achillea_ptarmica  Sea Arrowgrass: https://gallowaywildfoods.com/sea-arrowgrass-identification-distribution-edibility/  "Velvet Shank": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enokitake  "Scarlet Elf Cup": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcoscypha_coccinea  

 *WARNING - This episode in no way condemns or condones the use of any substance. For educational and research purposes only*  Today we are joined by entheogenic researcher Amanita Dreamer. In her former life, Amanita Dreamer was a scientist, an educator and a homesteading mother. Today she shares important information on that most famous of mushrooms, the Amanita muscaria. She looked for years for a natural alternative for help with chronic panic and anxiety and when she found this most iconic mushroom, she delved into the world of fungi and now lives to help others learn what she knows about Amanita muscaria – a mushroom that according to her, "Could save the humans on the planet".  She started a YouTube channel and founded a Forum solely dedicated to the Amanita muscaria for those who needed a safe space to get accurate information. After severe and harsh censorship on social media platforms, that are quick to declare any mushroom deadly, dangerous and illegal, she is moving all of her content to a website, AmanitaDreamer.Net. Drawing from what little research there is, Dreamer works to sift through, interpret, share, challenge and ask tough questions. She is controversial at times but scathingly honest about her path and her use of entheogenic medicines and hopes that others will open up to the simplicity, spirit and beauty that is the Amanita muscaria. She brings together the history of lore and indigenous use with modern data, research and science and hopes that this is the beginning of a future where we will know much more about this versatile, functional and magical entheogenic medicine and teacher.    TOPICS COVERED:   Discovering Amanita Muscaria at the Brink of Personal Destruction  The Fight or Flight Response System  The Transformative Healing Potential of Amanita muscaria  The “Power Mushroom"  Modern Masculinity & Amanita muscaria  Amanita muscaria Online Community   Amanita Dreamer's Dosing Protocols   Microdosing Amanita muscaria   Preparation of Amanita muscaria for Therapeutic Use   Conversion of Ibotenic Acid into Muscimol   Learning from Lore and Records of Ancient Usage   Experimenting with Novel Preparations and Uses of Amanita muscaria   Future of Research on Muscaroid Fungi   Embracing Spirituality and Communing with Mushroom Entities   EPISODE RESOURCES:   Amanita Dreamer Website: https://www.amanitadreamer.net/  Amanita Dreamer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVDN2oZZ3mgaIEVuEUm3YPw  Amanita Dreamer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanitadreamer/  Amanita Dreamer Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AmanitaDreamer  Amanita Research Forum: https://forum.amanitaresearch.com/  Dr. Trent Austin Patent Converting Ibotenic Acid: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140004084A1/en  Fly Agaric: A Compendium of History, Pharmacology, Mythology, & Exploration (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Agaric-Compendium-Pharmacology-Exploration/dp/0578714426

Today on Mushroom Hour we are joined by adventurer and mycologist Danny Haelewaters PhD. Danny Haelewaters holds a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Sciences, a Master of Science in biology, and a PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. During his Masters program he developed a new technology to analyze forensic relevant fungi in casework at the Netherlands Forensic Institute. Between 2012 and 2018, he worked at the Farlow Herbarium of the Harvard University Herbaria (Cambridge, MA) as a PhD student. In 2018, he did a short postdoc at the University of South Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and from November 2018 until late 2020 he was a USDA-funded postdoctoral research assistant at Purdue University, where he worked on characterizing the fungal microbiota of Romaine lettuce. Currently he works at Ghent University as a junior postdoctoral fellow on a project dealing with Laboulbeniales associated with bat flies. In addition, he  writes popular science articles for different sources. Since the very beginning of his student career at Ghent University (Belgium), he has has loved the interdisciplinary research in biology. It probably contributed to his choice to study the ecto-parasitic Laboulbeniales fungus. I’m excited to learn more about these unique organisms as well as the secrets of other little-known parasitic fungi. TOPICS COVERED:From Vet to MycologistFungal Inspiration at the University of GhentDiscovering LaboulbenialesUncovering Phylogeny of Rare, Microscopic FungiBat Fly Research in PanamaTripartite System of Bats, Bat Flies and FungiFuture of Laboulbeniales Research on Bat FliesOther Entomopathogens Including HerpomycesPhysiology of LaboubienialesInvasive Species & "Enemy Release” HypothesisImportance of Conserving Fungal PathogensExploring Laboubeniales as a BioControl AgentDiscovering new Clades of Cryptic Fungal OrganismsUnderstudied Habitats (Romaine Lettuce & Dead Bodies?!)EPISODE RESOURCES:Danny Haelewaters Website: http://www.dannyhaelewaters.com/Danny Haelewaters Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhaelewa/Laboulbeniales (Fungal Order): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaboulbenialesHerpomyces (Fungal Genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HerpomycesBeauveria bassiana (Fungal Species): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauveria_bassianaMetarhizium brunneum (Fungal Species Complex):https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metarhizium_brunneumOphiocordyceps (Fungal Genus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophiocordyceps