Fungal Vision | Daniel Reyes 

On this episode, we venture into the strange and mysterious kingdom of fungi. Join Leah as she sits down to talk mushrooms with mycologist Daniel Reyes, the founder of MycoAlliance, a science and education company that offers classes in mushroom propagation and conducts research at an off-the-grid laboratory in a nature preserve in east Austin. Daniel is a specialist in Mycoremediation, the practice of using fungi to clean up toxic pollution. 

We’ll start with some basic fungi facts (What is a mushroom, exactly?) and learn how easy it is to grow delicious mushrooms in your garden — even in pots! Hear tales of mycological adventure in the Amazon rainforest, learn how mushroom cultivation can help provide disaster relief to earthquake-damaged areas in Mexico City, and get the scoop on the future of fungi!

To learn more about MycoAlliance, register for a class, or buy spawn, you can visit their website at txfungi.com. Follow them on Instagram at @mycoalliance.

For dates and info about the Introduction to Mushroom Cultivation and Mycology class at Two Hives Honey, and the Mushroom Cultivation and Bioremediation Workshop at Circle Acres, visit the MycoAlliance events calendar. Download the iNaturalist app for help identifying Mushrooms of Texas. To donate to the Mushrooms for Mexico earthquake relief project, visit the GoFundMe page. 

Other mentions in this episode: CoRenewal, formerly the Amazon MycoRenewal Project; The Telluride Mushroom Festival (August 16-19, 2018); Curcuma - plant-based food truck in Austin; Books: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan;  Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets;  The Fungal Pharmacy by Robert Rogers. FYI: Morel season in Austin is February - April.

This episode was recorded in February 2018 at Permanent RCRD Studios in Austin, Texas. Hothouse is produced by Leah Churner and engineered by Mike Moody. Visit us at www.hothousepodcast.com. Email the show with plant questions and feedback at [email protected] and follow us on Instagram @hothousepodcast. Music by Moonsicles. moonsicles.bandcamp.com.