Our journey begins with a culturally-transformative history of anthropology and ethnobotany before we travel to the outrageously diverse and vibrant nation of Colombia to navigate it's great river, the Magdalena, with legendary explorer & anthropologist Wade Davis!
We descend into the miniature universe of myxomycetes (AKA slime molds) and tiny ascomycetes to stare in amazement at the complex beauty of microscopic fungi with macro-photography expert Alison Pollack!
We go on an in-depth exploration of the legendary Amanita muscaria mushroom, examining it's biochemistry and then the myriad theories about historical and religious use around the world with author and researcher Kevin Feeney PhD!
We follow our nose into the wonderful world of truffle fungi as we go foraging with truffle dogs, learn about commercial truffle farming and uncover secrets of their evolutionary history with Dr. Matthew Smith!
We peer through the cultural kaleidoscope of the mycophile community before diving into the microbial world of bacteria and endophytes with best-selling author, forager and chef Eugenia Bone!
We join the epic quest to map the genetics and phylogeny of kingdom fungi to see what secrets we can learn about fungal evolution, biogeography and conservation with Todd Osmundson PhD!
Peering into the metabolic processes of fungi, we learn about secondary metabolite compounds including infamous mycotoxins and their importance in our modern food systems with legendary mycologist Professor Tom Volk!
We peel back the bark to see how mycelium networks of wood-decomposer fungi compete for resources and reproduce while playing a critical biological role in our ecosystems with Professor Lynne Boddy!
On a very special trip to Uganda we meet Josephine Nakakande, the Executive Director of EcoAgric Uganda, to learn about their mushroom cultivation training programs that support women and children in need!
From steamy Southern Florida to the mushroom-laden woods of the Pacific Northwest we embark on an epic wild food adventure to learn about amazing wild foods, and the sacred responsibility that foraging entails, with Scott Stimpson of Woodland Cravings!
We dive into the complex ecology of the mycorrhizosphere to discover how symbiotic fungi are central to healthy plant populations and how we can use these beneficial fungi in our own farms and gardens with the author of "Mycorrhizal Planet", Michael Phillips!
