Welcome back, citizen! You've seen fungi, you've likely eaten fungi, but have you heard fungi? In this episode, you'll get to do just that and learn how two artists have discovered how to collaborate with our nonhuman friends. Trust me, it's mind-blowing. My guests this time are: Tosca Teran and Andrei Gravelle of Nanotopia. If you want to learn mo…

Welcome back, citizen! Today, we revisit the exciting Fungus Olympics event and take a short trip around the world to talk to some competitors. This is part 2 of the series, where I speak with the contestants before they've run their fungi through the obstacles. In parts 3 and 4, we'll check in with our competitors to see how their fungi fared. If …

Welcome back, citizen! Join us for a micro-battle in the soil! This week, we'll get familiar with nematodes and learn about an incredible adaptation that some familiar fungi have. My guest this time is Dr. Greg Thorn with Western University in London, Ontario. If you want to learn more about this episode's topics, here are some links: The Universit…

Welcome back, citizen! What's got people so excited about the Great Lakes? A great discovery in the lakes is getting a lot of attention lately. So, I spoke to the researchers who plumbed the depths of the Great Lakes and brought up something surprising. My guests this time are Dr. Andrew Miller from the University of Illinois and Dr. Robert Cichewi…

Welcome back, citizen! Can fungi do acrobatics? sprints? backstrokes? Find out in this first episode of Fungi Town's four-part series on the Fungus Olympics! I'll talk to one of the organizers of the competition and several of the competitors to find out how the event got started and learn about the people behind the competition. If you want to lea…

Welcome back, citizen! Listen to this very special Halloween episode, where we'll talk about eerie glows, a mushroom that looks like a pumpkin, and fairy rings. My guest this time is Dr. Andrew Miller from the Illinois Natural History Survey. If you want to learn more about this episode's topics, here are some links: Dr. Miller's co-authored articl…

Welcome back, citizen! Life on Earth faces some serious challenges. In this episode, I'll go over some of the major events that have shaped life on our planet and talk about our current "extinction event." I'll also speak with Dr. Taegan McMahon about her efforts to save our amphibian species. If you want to learn more about this episode's topics, …

Welcome back, citizen! What do gangrene, witches, and LSD have in common? Find out when I talk to Dr. Anthony Glenn from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service about the plant pathogen known as ergot of rye. If you want to learn more about this episode's topics, here are some links: Claviceps purpurea (Wikipedia) Ergot (…

Welcome back, citizen! Invasive species are a hot topic these days. With pythons in Florida and Lion Fish at the Atlantic coast, they're making news everywhere. But what exactly is an "invasive species" and how do we control them? I'll answer those questions and talk to Kristen Wickert from West Virginia University about how she's learning to contr…

Welcome back, citizen! This episode is the long-awaited smut episode! But, no need to usher the kids out of the room, because I'm talking - of course - about a type of fungi. My guest, Dr. Marin Brewer of the University of Georgia's Plant Pathology department, will talk about the biology of Ustilago maydis. I'll also speak to Daniel Brooks from Lic…

Welcome back, citizen! This episode, I focus on having fun with fibers. My guest, Alissa Allen of Mycopigments, will talk about how to turn mushrooms and lichens into yarn dye! As a fiber artist, I'm especially excited to learn about this creative alternative to chemical colors. I'll also speak to Alissa's client and friend, Tess Barlow, about her …

Welcome back, citizen! This week, Fungi Town has gone batty! These often misunderstood but very beneficial creatures are one of the most fascinating things in nature. We've got 47 species in North America. One of America's native bats is the Pallid bat, that feeds on the "deathstalker" scorpion, the sting of which is said to be able to kill an adul…

Welcome back, citizen! In this episode of Fungi Town, we learn about a culinary delicacy from the American south that just might become a boon for Georgia farmers. Cousin to the well-known and much-sought-after European black truffle, the pecan truffle can be found much closer to home, but still fetches a nice price in the local market. Find out wh…

Hello, citizen. Welcome back to Fungi Town! This time, we go underground to explore complex relationship between orchids and fungi. Did you know that all orchids depend on underground fungi to grow? In fact, most plants grow better with a fungal partner. But it's not all smiles and handshakes in this relationship. Find out more as I talk to Melissa…

Hi citizen! Welcome back to Fungi Town! This week, we focus on the amazing ability some fungi have to clean our environment. Lots of people enjoy growing and eating oyster mushrooms, but did you know that they can also clean diesel fuel and motor oil out of the soil? They're not the only species of fungi skilled at breaking down toxic materials. Si…

Hi citizen! Welcome back to Fungi Town! This week, we investigate the mysterious partnership between fungi and algae that forms lichen. Although they may look like moss and live in some of the same habitats, lichens are completely different organisms. To help me explain what lichens are and what makes them so interesting, my guest Dr. Frank Bungart…

Welcome back to Fungi Town! This week, we explore one of my favorite topics - beer! What has beer got to do with fungi? Everything! In fact, you can't make beer without it. Join me as I talk to two beer brewing experts and find out what role our fungal friends have in making the most consumed alcoholic beverage on the planet. (But you don't have to…

Welcome back to Fungi Town! One of the very best ways to learn about mushrooms is to go out and find them. But once you do, how do you know what you've got? How do you know if it's poisonous? Where should you look to find more of them? To answer any of those questions, you'll need to get a proper mushroom ID and on this episode of Fungi Town, we'll…

Welcome to the very first episode of Fungi Town! Many people think that fungi are related to plants, but they're actually more closely related to animals! In this episode, I'll go over some important differences between the plant and fungi kingdoms. We'll also go on a tour of the average home to discover some of the many ways that we interact with …

Curious about cordyceps? Feeling icky about inkcaps? Maybe you just want to know what that fuzz growing on your bread is. I'm excited about the world of fungi and even more excited to bring you my brand new podcast all about them! Here's a little taste of what's to come at Fungi Town, launching soon.…