January 30, 2024 • 48 mins
Embark on an enlightening exploration with us as we're joined by the remarkable KK, a plant biologist and mycology aficionado. Together, we uncover the intricate symbiosis of plants, fungi, and humans, a relationship as old as life itself. KK's personal journey from childhood flower-picking to her academic pursuits in plant biology and mycology paints a vivid picture of passion turned profession. Her enchanting stories of the Amanita mushroom and the profound impact of these organisms on our ecological tapestry promise to captivate and educate.
As the conversation blossoms, we delve into the healing powers of mushrooms and the innovative applications they offer. From the turkey tail's embrace in chemotherapy relief to the Rishi mushroom's anti-inflammatory properties, we explore nature's pharmacy and the burgeoning field of sustainable materials crafted from fungi. Our self-taught paths highlight the accessibility of knowledge and the importance of curiosity, as we navigate a world where formal education in mycology is as rare as a Morel in springtime.
Concluding our session, we recount the birth of our podcast during a period of pandemic-induced reflection and the joy of sharing newfound fascinations with our listeners. Looking ahead, we're excited to unveil our 'Nerdy Jobs' series, aimed at shining a spotlight on career opportunities within plant biology and mycology. Join us on 'You Only Go Once' for an adventure in the wonders of the natural world, where learning is the journey and discovery the destination.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm KK.
I hope when you look back atyour life, you realize how
connected we all are with plants, fungi and humans, because you
only go once.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, hello, hello, hello, welcome everyone.
I'm Cheryl Kantefio, with myfantabulous co-host, eileen
Grimes, and we're here today onthe you Only Go Once podcast,
where we explore stories aroundthe limited time we have on this
earth to create a fully layeredlife.
Because you only go once,eileen.
(00:35):
We have a fantastic guest today, so please kick us off.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Thanks, cheryl.
I am so excited to nerd out alittle bit today with our guest.
Today we have KK on with us.
Kk is a plant biologist lookingto bridge the gap between
plants, fungi and humans.
She is a thirst for mycology,the study of fungi, which we'll
dive into, and would love toeducate the importance of plant
and fungi interactions.
(01:00):
Mushrooms and plants can andwill help save the planet, one
high-fee at a time.
If you like to get down andnerdy with plants, fungi and
other science facts, find theirpodcast Flora and Funga and I
highly highly recommend it.
I was listening to a few moreepisodes and the one on cancer
recently.
Dive in, just dive right on in.
So KK, welcome.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Thank you, thank you, I am honored to have this
opportunity on here, so thankyou.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
KK and I were actually talking before we
started recording and I showedthem that I got my mushroom
earrings on Also, Cheryl, Idon't know if you can see these.
Those are pretty, Yep, and thenmake me also.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Oh, nice, you have the same ones.
Yes, sacked out, nice.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Nice, I am all emanita today.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Very cool.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
That's amazing, and also you can put the socks on Do
you really, I do, I justrealized that I didn't even plan
that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
That's amazing.
So yeah, KK, tell our listenersa little bit about you.
I have had the pleasure of alsolistening to your episode where
you were interviewed, which wasso interesting and fascinating
for me.
Share a little bit about.
Where did this interest comefrom?
And it started at a young agefor you, didn't it?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yes, yes it did.
I always really liked plants.
My mom kind of taught megardening and how to get out in
nature, so that was just kind oflike the basics of it.
I also every time went togreenhouses.
I'd like collect those littlesucculent leaves that you find,
or like I'd pick, like all ofthese flowers.
I'd actually get in troublewhen I was younger by going over
(02:44):
to my neighbor's house and likeplucking their tulips and my
mom's like come on, you have togo, apologize, you can't just
like pick people's flowers.
So it was just like but they'reso pretty, Like why couldn't I
do that?
And so that was just like oneof those things.
Climbing trees as well, it'sjust one of the ways that I
relaxed and had my own alonetime and I knew I liked plants
(03:07):
but didn't really know what Iwanted to do in college.
I entered Mankato with abiochemistry idea and I was like
that's not me at all.
But one of the prereqs wasplant biology and I took that
class and it all just made sense, Like everything just clicked
for me.
I love the professor, so shoutout Dr Ruland for that.
(03:31):
Yeah, no, it was just.
It all made sense and I wentfor plant biology.
Specifically after that, I alsohave had some relatives that
lived in Phillips, Wisconsin,and I was driving around seeing
aminitas, actually this mushroomon the ground, and I had to go
(03:51):
check it out.
I was like, what is this thing?
It was like huge, it was likeorange, it was gorgeous.
So I took some pictures with itand learned how much plants and
fungi are all connected.
So that was just kind of theone spark where I was like whoa,
I need to learn more about this, Like why aren't people talking
about this?
So this was like 10, 10 yearsago or so and yeah, so my mom
(04:17):
supported me all the way.
She got me my ceiling running.
So that's like the number onebook that I would recommend by
Paul Stammets and, yeah, that'skind of what led me into
everything.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And Paul's here up in the Pacific Northwest.
So yes, he's on my list.
Of people want to eventuallymeet at my life.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I know I've been trying to like contact him.
I know all of his friends andhe's like, oh, this is his email
, here's his phone number.
Like he's probably just so busythat he doesn't even, I'm sure,
crack of his own phone.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Totally get it.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So yeah, and then the episode that you were talking
about was with Howard Sprouse.
So he's actually friends withPaul Stammets and he was saying
I interviewed him because he wasa listener.
And then he was like, hey, whydon't I interview you?
And then you could just havelike a little blurb about how
you got into this.
And I was like wow, really Likethank you, so we're friends to
(05:12):
this day.
He invited me out to OP fun guyfest.
So I'm in the middle of kind ofputting that documentary
together.
So that was really cool.
I'm now starting to get likeinvited to mushroom festivals
and document stuff for them.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
That's amazing.
It's been a dream, yeah, andthat was.
You went recently.
Again.
This is me watching, yes,looking through all of your
social media and everything likethat.
Yeah, so it was in October.
Yeah, my gosh, incredible.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I know Perfect time to visit the Pacific Northwest.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Definitely for that especially.
Yeah, so I just poor listeners.
I reached out to KK1 becausejust the podcast in general was
amazing.
I'm actually in the middle of apsychedelic practitioners
program, a one-year program,which is amazing and fascinating
(06:07):
, so really going through andunderstanding our first module
was really in diving intomeeting the mushroom right and
so having that background andunderstanding and educating
ourselves from a cognitive lens,a embodied lens, a sacred lens,
like all of these differentpieces.
And somehow I stumbled I can'tremember if it was one of the
(06:30):
resources or if I stumbledsomehow, but I found your
podcast and I was like I have tomeet KK at some point and have
you on the podcast.
I just this podcast is so muchfun because we really talk about
, we talk to people and heartheir stories about how they're
living their lives on purposeand in the way that's fullest
(06:52):
for them.
And seeing your passion andunderstanding what that looks
like and how you get to livethat out loud Every day is just
incredible and being able toshare that from a wonderful
geeky lens of like I get to geekout with you on this because I
love all my plants in fungi too,so it's just it's so much fun
(07:13):
for me to bring you into hereOne of the things that you were
talking about, too, for thoselisteners who might not
necessarily have as muchin-depth knowledge or understand
.
You were talking about therelation between plants and
fungi, right?
So we'd love for you to shareeven a little bit more on sort
of what that relationship lookslike, I mean, during my program.
(07:37):
Like, oh, fungi aren't plants,Like they're not even in the
same kingdom.
They're not in the same kingdom, right?
So, like this is a whole newpiece for me to learn.
So, yeah, I would just love foryou to kind of share some of
that part to educate ouraudience and let them know why
they're so cool and how they'reall interrelated.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, yeah, I really fell in love with the whole
plants and fungi just becausethere's plants and fungi out
there that can either heal youor kill you, and I thought that
was just very interesting howthey can kind of do both in
different concentrations.
So yeah, that's prettyinteresting.
And there's multiple differenttypes of like connections.
(08:22):
So there's like types of fungithat go inside of plants, roots
and give nutrients that way, sothey're kind of like intertwined
.
And then there's other onesthat kind of are just connected
and share nutrients in that way.
There's also parasitic ones andmutualistic ones.
(08:42):
There's multiple differenttypes and that's what's
fascinating is how there'sdifferent, I guess, varieties of
plants and fungi connections.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Yeah, no, I just I think it's so interesting and I
mean, I was even one of thethings that we were starting to
learn about was like how, at thebeginning of life, even right,
and how much they required eachother basically to like to even
evolve and grow and become allthe life forms that we have now.
(09:16):
Was that interconnection and Ijust think it's a really magical
thing.
We don't, you know, some peoplelook at mushrooms and it's like
God, there's just like get themout of my yard.
I know.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yes, it is sad A lot of people are afraid of even
touching mushrooms and so I'malso trying to, I guess, get
away from that stigma that youcan't even learn about mushrooms
Like you can touch them.
Fun fact, you can technicallylike nibble on them like any
mushroom as well.
You just can't swallowmushrooms.
(09:48):
So how mushrooms kind of affectyour system is if it goes
through specific organs.
So that's kind of like a partytrick.
If you want to like nibble onsome mushrooms, you're like, hey
, but don't do that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Don't do that.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Don't do mushrooms?
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But it is interesting how yeah, it only really
affects you if it goes through aspecific like liver and organs
and things like that.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I kind of feel like 2023 has been the year of the
mushroom because more and morepeople on social media that are
active faragers, especiallyaround the.
I know nothing, so I'm justgoing to say words and hopefully
these are right, but the oystermushroom seems to be big and
popular, especially in theculinary world.
I've seen social media chefscreate vegan alternatives to
(10:46):
fried chicken using oystermushrooms, which is fascinating,
and for somebody I will freelyadmit I can't eat mushrooms
because I have a reaction so sad.
It is sad because every time Ilook at something I'm like oh,
that looks really good.
So I'm constantly fascinated bythe way people are approaching
(11:07):
foraging in general and justsaying, like ha-za for the
mushroom as an alternate sourceof just food.
Because, again, there's been alot.
You know, there's always thetalk about the reduction of the
carbon footprint by, you know,eating less red meat and things
(11:30):
like that, and people arefocusing on alternatives that
not only are good for you buttaste good.
So you know, I'm excited tohear more around what you've
discovered, and then two morethings and then I'll.
You know, we'll get back tothis.
I do this, I just shoo, I gooff.
If you're looking for aninteresting festival on
(11:50):
mushrooms.
I don't know if you've heardabout Kenneth Square,
pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
I actually just released an episode today on a
fair-earing mushrooms and so Iactually interviewed the.
So the guys mom, I think, putson that festival.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Okay, so that's huge.
It's huge in this area.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Mushroom Capital of the World.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Mushroom Capital of the World?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, maybe, the United States.
I was going to say maybe thecountry, but that's not the
world.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
But, you know, give them what they need, yeah, so
it's just really interesting andI also am interested in hearing
more around.
You had mentioned that they,you know, we always look at
mushrooms and plants in generalas like these things that float
above the land.
And what you don't realize,what I've come to realize, is
(12:39):
that there's a wholecommunication system that goes
on underneath right and there'sespecially with and again I'm
going to be your and then I'llcome back and I promise but
especially they've noted withtrees.
So like if there's like a wholeforest of trees and if one of
the trees isn't thriving, theyall kind of get together
underneath the ground and kindof supplement the nutrients that
(13:01):
that tree needs to thrive.
Is that the same way that it iswith mushrooms too?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Yes, Yep, and they actually both go hand in hand,
like how we bridge the gapbetween all of them.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
So there's specific mushrooms that are associated
with specific trees, so theyalready have their relationship.
So that's like morels, ormostly like the parasitic ones,
so the hen of the woods, theoyster, things like that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Kind of favor one specific tree, just because they
have like all of the thingsthat they need.
But then you know, you see awhole forest and all of that's
also connected underneath.
So, yeah, it's there'sdifferent trees connecting,
trying to shuttle nutrients toother things, and then those
(13:52):
mushrooms are on top of that,and then don't even get me
started on all the othermicrobes in the soil.
So it's just like let's seewhat are some of those, like
different little invertebratesor little insects to little
worms and then microbes just ingeneral, like there's endless
(14:15):
amount of those.
So having like the bigbiodiversity underneath the soil
is really what drives all theconnections and yeah, it thrives
that way.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
That's great.
So I don't know if you knowthis about Eileen and I, but we
are women in STEM, so you knowwe've yep and we actually
co-founded a women in ITorganization.
When we work together and Ialways think back to when I was
(14:46):
in school and I went from beingreally interested in science and
math to not being interested inscience and math, which is kind
of a thing with girls inparticular, right, what advice
would you give to budding youngwomen who are interested in STEM
about your particular area ofinterest?
(15:08):
So you talked about, like youknow, obviously your mom gave
you support, although notplucking tulips from neighbor's
yards, but what you know?
What?
Where would you say they couldstart learning more about
biodiversity, fungi, all thethings that you're interested in
as well?
You know how do they getstarted and how do they build
(15:31):
community in that space.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yeah, I guess I always.
I'm always like a foreverlearner, so I always have
library books on hand, like Ihave some books behind me.
Literally the books that I haveis like phosphorus and like the
nature of plants, like how doyou plants work?
Like that's the stuff that I'mreading while going to sleep.
So, yeah, finding your locallibrary is probably my biggest
(15:56):
advice is, like, look at all ofthe areas of like biology or
whatever topics that you'reinterested in, and or ask for
help to try to find those topics, Because I learned so much from
public libraries.
You can rent them Also.
The internet is crazy now.
Yeah, if you're, youtube kindof covers so many different
(16:17):
things.
But I just loved learning somuch and that's why I wanted to
go to school.
You don't even have to get adegree to do what I'm doing or
other mycologists.
It's just kind of like an easyway to have a schedule, but if
you're really determined, thenit's probably more beneficial to
teach yourself.
So that's a lot of mycologistsright now, just because they
(16:40):
don't really teach that.
Like when I was at Mankato, Ikind of made my own like
emphasis with mycology, becausethey only offer like soil
science.
So it's kind of unfortunatethat they only offer like thank
God they offered plant classesand so right now they're
starting to, I think, get moreof those professors in with the
(17:03):
mycology field.
But I'm thinking about thatcould be like my thing to bring
back is trying to do a class onthe connections of both plants
and fungi.
I think that would be reallyfun to be like a professor that
way.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Oh, I think that would be great, because it has
to start with somebody right,exactly.
I want to switch a little bitbecause prior to us starting our
recording, you had mentioned,or you and Eileen had started
mentioning, some of the new notresearch but real, I guess
findings with mushrooms inrelationship to cancer.
(17:40):
Cancer is something that isvery cancer.
Research is something verypersonal to me.
I lost my mom to pancreaticcancer last year and I lost my
mother-in-law to metastaticbreast cancer back in 2012.
And it's just curious to see,like you know, chemo almost
(18:00):
seems worse than the disease,and I mean no disrespect because
they have come.
Doctors and scientists havecome so far with chemotherapy
and what it does Right, and itwould also be interesting to see
what from nature might be ableto combat this awful and city is
disease.
So I was wondering if you hadany insights around that.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah yeah, turkey tail is.
So I don't.
I don't want to like butcherthis, but my partner is the one
that always like he's that he'sthe chemist.
So when we do mushroompresentations.
I'm like, yeah, the botanist,like the biology and he's all
like all right, we got thischemical and then like it's got
the trans, like Formation thatway, and I'm just like wow, but
(18:43):
turkey tail is one of themushrooms that is well studied.
It's actually prescribed inEurope because it has a specific
molecule in there that when youtake it, it actually helps with
the chemo.
So it actually like is asynergistic effect and helps you
go through chemo easier.
It's also used for immuneboosting and yes, a turkey tail
(19:09):
would be.
It's kind of like the numberone thing that we talk about at
farmers markets and also Rishiis another very well studied
mushroom from eastern liketraditional medicine, and that's
like an overall immunearthritis is what I take for as
well.
(19:30):
So I actually was diagnosed withrheumatoid arthritis like three
years ago and so I actuallylearned all about this because
somebody approached me to be onthe podcast.
But they were like, hey, I'dlove to do like a holistic
approach of helping you heal,and so they went through and
Rishi was like the number onepowder that they recommended
(19:51):
that I take.
So I've been.
I take a specific mushroomstack every day to help with
different things.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Okay, Okay, that's fascinating too, yeah, from the
rheumatoid arthritis perspectivetoo yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That's fascinating.
So I also sorry.
I'm just going to jump in realquick.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Jump in, jump on in.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I take these at nighttime.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Okay, Chill gummies, yeah, yeah, but it's got the
Rishi and like it's sofascinating because there's just
so many and like I'm literallyI'm drinking some mushroom
coffee right now.
Yeah, Not in preparation foryou.
I've literally been doing thisnow for a while and I've just
I've found some benefits withwith a lot of that and focus and
(20:34):
clarity and a lot of things toowith them, like a daily
mushroom right and I just it'sbeen kind of incredible having
that and but yeah, there's justthere's so there's so many
different things right now.
I feel like a lot of this stuffis now starting to pop up.
I was researching the other dayon mushroom fabric right and
(20:58):
just how, how there's potentialfor using that.
Obviously, there's still someyou know work that they that
needs to be done and making surethat it's flexible enough and
that you're able to move in itand things that like.
Walking like this, right, butit's so fast, like it's just
(21:20):
fascinating seeing that worldnow being like, oh, and it's,
it's replenishable, right,that's easy to grow and and all
those things, and it's just it'sjust fascinating seeing how
much is accessible to be able tobring in terms of
sustainability, right, but thenalso really the benefits that we
get by actually taking thosethat are that are really
(21:43):
supportive.
So sorry, I was interrupting.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
No, no, you're okay, I remember the molecule
polysaccharide K is what's inTurkey tail, so I just want to
make sure I say thatspecifically.
I wanted to talk about linesmain as well.
So when we're at this market.
Tons of people.
So I'm in the villages, florida, so 55 plus retirement
(22:07):
community, and people come up toour stand and about like three
months ago nobody really, youknow, knew the benefits of
mushrooms.
And recently people are comingup to our stand.
They're like, hey, do you guyshave lines main?
And we're like, yeah, weactually do.
Like, what form do you want?
We got tinctures, powder, fresh, dried, like all of these
different options for people.
(22:27):
And I love how mushrooms aretrending right now, just because
now people are coming up to usand asking what mushrooms we
have.
And so, yeah, if you don't knowwhat lines main, it is very
like it's a white, fuzzymushroom and honestly tastes
it's like a pull apart stringcheese or like crab meat texture
(22:48):
.
So a lot of people are using itas like a crab meat substitution
and so it's a very like vegandriven product right now.
So we have a recipe that covershow to make lines main crab
cakes.
So you replace crab with linesmain one to one, and it's a
perfect, perfect recipe and thenyou can feed it to your vegan
(23:11):
friends and impress them.
But lines main is very good for, like, cognitive benefits, so
reducing the like the risk ofADHD, dementia, alzheimer's so
it's exactly the group of peoplethat we're targeting for our
market.
So it's just want to make surethat we talked about lines main
(23:32):
at some point.
Very tasty mushroom.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It's very fluffy, it looks very fluffy I mean, it
looks fluffy, that's you know.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
I looked it up.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I was like, oh, that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, and there's multiple types within the same
family, so it's a Hresiumspecies and there's like
multiple of that in that family.
That is wild.
Yeah, yeah, super cool, theseCheryl.
Yeah, see, I'm so fascinatednow.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, I feel like every time, like you got me.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I feel like every time I record one of these I'm
like, oh, and I go right downthe rabbit hole and I'm gone.
So if you see me like lookingto the side, it's because I'm
like what is lion's mane?
And I'll boop, boop, boop, boop.
And I'm like, oh, that's neat.
Boop, boop, boop, boop, boop.
So where's the most interestingplace you've traveled to see?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
mushrooms yes.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, so for school we got to study abroad somewhere
.
So I really always had thisidea of visiting New Zealand,
like it's just one of those likemystical places where you never
can go.
It's like a 12 hour flight togo there or more.
Yes, so it's already a journeyto get there.
(24:44):
But yeah, I found this, whatwas it called?
I'll circle back to the company.
But I was there studying abroadin New Zealand for a month, so
two weeks.
You were there doingrehabilitation of plants.
So you could technically pickif you wanted to build a school
(25:05):
or like help children or likeplant stuff, and I was like
plant stuff, right.
So I'm one of those people.
Where I was, we were on thisisland with no electricity, like
you had to bring your own trashoff of the island because there
was no, no trash.
You know pans anywhere.
(25:26):
And so we would bring all of ourfood for the two weeks and we
were with a big group of peopleand we would plant native trees.
We would go out and collectseeds and start to replant them
and try to germinate them andthen also tackle any invasive
species that we're seeing.
So that was a really fun twoweeks of just getting our hands
(25:49):
dirty and trying to get down andnerdy with some plants.
So that was really cool.
And then the following twoweeks we got to actually
adventure around.
So we started at the SouthernIsland and then we ventured back
up to Auckland.
So that was a life changingexperience for me, just because
I felt like at that point I wasjust starting to get to know the
plants in the US and so it waskind of fun.
(26:11):
When I left I was like, wow, Ifeel like I know more plants in
New Zealand than I do here,which now is the opposite.
But but yeah, it was just areally fun experience and I
found that nobody really knewwhat mushrooms were.
And New Zealand is just theperfect place for biodiversity
because you have all of thesewinds coming in from different
(26:35):
angles from this island, soyou're getting like a different
combinations from each each areaand so it's kind of its own
hodgepodge of different speciesand it's not.
It doesn't have a lot of animalspecies on there just because
it is so secluded, so it's superdiverse with plants and fungi.
(26:56):
So it was just really fun onour bush walks, which Bush means
the native forest there, sowe'd call it like going on a
nature walk in the forest, butthere the bush is like native.
So I was one of those peoplewhere I was in the beginning of
our hikes and I'd be like, hey,look at this mushroom.
(27:18):
Or like people would be like,hey, what is this mushroom, come
check it out.
And so I try to like take somepictures, and at the end of the
whole two, four weeks, peoplewere actually really interested
in mycology and I thought thatwas really cool and to have I
could get also a credit forstudying abroad.
(27:39):
So all I'd have to do was teacha class on something, and I
wanted to teach a class on theimportance of fungi, and so it
was cool.
We got to go out and I toldpeople to collect all of these
different types of mushroomsthat they found and then we kind
of divided them into whateverfamily they were and how they
grew.
So fun, yeah, I got peoplereally interested and I think
(28:03):
that stuck with people along theway.
So I just love teaching andeducating and impressing, you
know, yeah, Well, and then tohave a podcast too, to go with
that.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, now I have a podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So wow, full circle.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So awesome.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
So do you have I mean , obviously you've been to a few
places now since then, right,and you've been able to go on
some of these different tripsand things.
Do you have a dream place thatyou want to go visit and learn
more and see more?
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Yeah, my goal overall , I think, is to retire to New
Zealand.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
I think there's so much more to learn.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
And every time a family member or friend says
they want to visit, I'm like ohmy god, can I come with Like I
want to?
Tour you around, like I feellike I did a little bit of
everything and if I were to pickanother place, probably
Thailand, I would love to visitmore of, like the Asia area.
I haven't really been there atall, and I think that'd be.
(29:13):
I mean, it's super tropical, soI think that would be even the
same diversity.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Yeah, so I think that'd be next on my list.
Interesting.
So I'm curious.
Just sorry, it just sparks.
As you were talking about NewZealand, so you said there's a
limited amount or very, very fewof animal species in there.
So I know one of the thingsthat please educate me if I'm
(29:40):
incorrect here One of the thingsthat helps or can help grow is
like manure, right, and so withthe lack of that, but without
the sort of added piece of that,what changes without that and
how does that sort of work thenwhen you don't necessarily have
that sort of input?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Yeah, now New Zealand's actually known for
like the most sheep or somethinglike that.
Like there's tons.
Ah, okay, like the rollinghills was something that was
just like mind blowing when youdrove by.
It was just like hills on hillsand like all of these like
cattle or livestock are justroaming free and so that's a
huge difference from here.
(30:24):
But they have animals they justdon't have like major predators
.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
So, there's a lot of birds.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
There's a lot of insects I think we saw like
iguanas and like specificreptiles, wow.
But yeah, there's not likesomething that will kill off a
lot of other animals, if thatmakes sense.
So, they kind of have to makesure that if a cat is brought on
then you have to get it checkedand goes through quarantine, so
(30:54):
you can't really just bring.
I think it takes like a monthor two to get your pet even
okayed to come into New Zealandbecause of that reason.
But yeah, there's there's a lotof diversity of like insects,
birds and smaller animals, butyeah, that would affect probably
(31:15):
some of the land.
But yeah, it was fun to see allthe sheep, so there was a lot
of livestock there.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
So you decided to start a podcast.
How did that happen?
What did what did that looklike?
Why, when, where, you know?
And then what do you want to dowith it going?
Speaker 1 (31:34):
forward, yeah, yeah.
So it started, um, I guess,during COVID.
Um, to be honest, I was workingat Mayo Clinic in Rochester, so
I was analyzing blood samplesall day Super exciting stuff and
I always we could listen tomusic and podcasts and things.
So I started diving intolearning about plants, learning
(31:56):
about mushrooms, but I nevercould find a podcast that
bridges both Like there is a lotof house plant podcasts and
then a lot of like mushroompodcasts and I was like, well,
they're all connected, why isn'tthere a podcast like that?
And so I was like, no, I'm goingto make my own.
So that's kind of like where itstarted from.
(32:18):
I just wanted to be selfish andlearn the specific questions
that I had, and so I was likeI'll just make a podcast and
then record it, and then maybethis will help me get into, you
know, a masters or whatever.
And just networking, I think,was the main draw to that as
well, as I think everybodyshould practice public speaking.
(32:40):
It was something that everybody, I think, dreads in middle
school, college, high school,all of that.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
So I think it's, it's something that now, with
practice it becomes more easy.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
So that's kind of where that all started from.
But yeah, I was working at Mayoand I honestly had so much
downtime that I started up mywhole podcast while at work.
So, yeah, that's, I had thetime.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yeah, well, and what's so amazing?
So I actually have both of mykids in Montessori.
For me, and this was importantfor me growing up, I had two
teachers who were my parents andthe love of learning and
knowing how to learn was soincredibly important for me
growing up and like that wasinstilled in my brain and that's
why, like I have my kids inthis Montessori approach.
It's like how do you, how doyou learn, how do you know how
(33:34):
to learn Right, and so you know?
For you to create a podcast,it's like I don't really know
what I'm doing.
I didn't major in soundengineering, I didn't major in
any of these things.
Yet here you are.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yes, it's, it's so many avenues, so I wanted to.
How I kind of started was I gotreally meta with it.
I was listening to a podcastcalled how to Start a Podcast,
and so that was done byBuzzsprout, which is the
platform that I use to do mypodcast, do my stuff, so same I
think you'll yell do to you, wedo too.
(34:08):
Yes, exactly.
So they have a whole checkliston their website or something
like that.
And it was like literally juststep by step.
So every day I was like I'mgoing to tackle this, I'm going
to tackle that, make a website,make an icon.
I don't know how to do any ofthese things.
Like I was, so not tech savvy,but one day I just I made a
(34:29):
website and I did it and I waslike no, what now?
Now I'm going to do this.
So we were talking prior aboutediting, video editing, and so
that's where I started with theaudio editing and I was like,
okay, I have an app, I have that.
I understand that I got socialmedia.
Now I want to like increase ita little bit more, a little bit
more.
(34:49):
And so that's where the videoediting started, and so that's
been going really nice and yeah,just kind of learning as you go
and don't crush yourself to doeverything at once, because you
can't physically do everythingat once.
So why are we even worriedabout doing everything at once,
right?
So I just kind of took it onestep at a time, also with like
(35:12):
releasing and recording podcasts.
Like I don't want to, I guess,lockdown, I have to release
something every week because Idon't have that time.
So then I started with everyother week and now I'm two once
a week.
So I tried to just tackle whatI knew I could do and then it
free sit when I was ready.
(35:32):
So that's advice if you'retrying to start your own podcast
.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, and it's solid advice too.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Yes, yeah, I know when we were starting it is.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
It is, I know, when we started, you know Eileen and
I definitely have differentstrengths.
Like Eileen, again, you knowshe, she talks about ADHD, but
it's more of her researchprowess that she kind of goes
okay, well, we need to do this.
And da, da, da.
And I mean, while I was like soI'm almost on board with the
(36:01):
podcast, and meanwhile she waslike I've got the headsets, I've
got the microphone, like whatare you, what are you waiting
for?
Like we're doing this.
This is a thing.
I was like, all right, well, Iguess I'm joining, yeah.
And we learned along right,just tell me what I'm supposed
to do, I'll show up.
And then I learned too that,like Eileen is not a fan of
social media, like posting,doing that stuff, whereas I love
(36:22):
it, I'm a junkie.
I'm like, okay, like I will,you know, I'll be on there, I'll
be happy to do that.
So I think the both of us havefound synergy in what our
strengths are for doing that.
But I love that there was apodcast about doing a podcast.
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
And I had I had started.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Years and years ago, I read a book on adventure.
It wasn't called Adventures inPodcasting, but it was by.
It was one of the first MTV VJsand I wish I could remember his
name, but he was really intopodcasting and he gave solid
advice as to how to do that,what equipment you should use
(37:02):
and that kind of thing, becausehe got into it.
Yeah, but and then it was like15 years later I was like, oh,
podcasts, I think I shouldlisten to these.
And I started listening to them.
I thought that would be alovely thing.
And then Eileen one day said,hey, we should do a podcast.
And I was like, oh, that'sinteresting.
And she's like, so, I'vealready got this and this and
this, you need to update thewebsite.
(37:22):
And I was like, well, okay, Iguess we're doing this.
This is a thing, this ishappening, and it's lovely,
right, because the amount ofconnections that you make, I
mean it's very.
You know when I think aboutwhat you do with your
exploration around biodiversityand you know, and mycology did I
say that right, mycology,mycology, it's almost very.
(37:44):
It seems almost like a naturalevolution for you to go to
podcasting, because there's allthis behind the scenes coming
together.
You know working with people,understanding what's going on
and making those connections, sojust you know.
Good, I feel like apseudo-mycologist now.
So I'm feeling pretty good aboutlife right now.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
That's good.
Yes, it's who you know, notwhat you know sometimes.
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
I'm just taking a really big leap on that bridge.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Yeah, Now it's very helpful when you have, you know,
two people and you kind of haveyou get to work with each
other's strengths and weaknesses.
So, yeah, I I couldn't also havedone this without my partner
helping me.
He actually helped purchase myfirst mics for me because I
didn't have the money or theresources.
So he was like, hey, I'm goingto get this for you because I
(38:36):
know you're really excited aboutit and I just want to support
you.
So he's been my number onefirst supporter of the podcast
and now he's my I call him mytechnical advisor Fantastic.
So, when we go, when we go outfor festivals, he's kind of the
cameraman.
Also the director of, like hekind of knows, you know how
things will look and yeah so.
(38:58):
So yeah, it's been very helpfulto have another person, because
I don't know how I could havelike, All right, here we are
Like recording by myself anddirecting and thinking of all
that.
So right.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Very helpful.
That's great.
That's great.
We're getting close to our hourand Eileen has an infamous
question and I was hoping thatEileen would ask her infamous
question of UKK.
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
So, as Cheryl kind of already shared, there's three
words that she knows when theycome out of my mouth something
it is taking us down a whole newadventure.
This is happening right, andfor us in the podcast, I just I
knew that you know we had talkedabout it.
We'd actually talked about itfor a while, to be fair, cheryl
(39:47):
for me at least about doing somekind of podcast for a while,
and there got to be a pointwhere I was like I just feel
like the, the intuitive part ofme.
It was like this is actuallygoing to be something that's
going to exist in this world.
I know that.
I know that I'm willing andwanting to put the effort in to
make it here.
(40:08):
I want this to be somethingthat exists and it feels right
to do that, and I can't imaginehaving left my life behind
without doing that right.
So this is happening, or somethree magic words that Cheryl
knows there's a whole newadventure.
She's not always a part of them.
Some of them for me, like I'mdoing an aerial arts class
(40:29):
tonight and I was just like thisis happening, I'm going to
learn how to spin myself in theair on silks, because why not
Right?
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Why not?
That's exciting, that sounds sofun, okay, cool.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Way harder than you think I've done it and I'm like
I, I lift heavy weight and thatwas that's crazy.
I was like sore for days, yeah,whole different version of body
weight conditioning stuff.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
So, anyway, we'll see how that goes.
I, as long as I don't face planon the floor, that's all I'm
really hoping for for tonight.
So, anyway, with that beingsaid, though, you know, with
whether it's your podcast, ortravel experiences, or things
that you know you're kind ofwanting to bring into this world
(41:19):
, is there anything on your thisIs Happening list that we can
be excited for with you?
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Yeah, that's a great question.
So what Cheryl was saying orasking, and I totally forgot
about mentioning, was the futureof the podcast and what my
goals would be, and what I amtrying to manifest is doing a
traveling type of podcast.
So I bet everybody knows whatdirty jobs is right.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
Yes, I want to do something called nerdy jobs and
so I would venture around and dothe jobs of these different
people with plants or fungi, solike a conservationist or a lab
technologist or you know, viceversa, and I would want to do
their job for a weekend or aweek and just kind of see what
(42:10):
it entails.
But I so because I think a lotof the youth right now, you know
, don't really know like Ididn't really know what I could
do with a plant biology degree.
So it'd be really nice to showpeople like what the options are
.
And I think it's just such abroad topic, Like I was
(42:31):
interviewing somebody yesterdayon, like how broad mycology is
you can go with like themedicinal, the psychedelic realm
, the culinary realm, theresearch realm, it's.
It's like endless taxonomy andjust endless learning with
mushrooms and most of the stuffwe don't even know yet.
So I think it's reallyinteresting to educate the youth
(42:54):
on what their options would besurrounding nerdy jobs, plants
and fungi, so I think that wouldbe my main.
Next thing that I want to do istravel more and do something
like that I love that that isgoing to be.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
That's exciting, yes.
And let us know right now, yeah, manifest it and we'll we'll,
definitely we'll need to haveyou back.
Yes, and kind of like yes andhear more about that, because
that would be fantastic.
I'm really excited for it.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
TV show book.
I'm available All right Put itout there, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
Absolutely yeah, and if you ever sorry this is
another part of my problem Keepgoing, it's not a problem.
If you ever happen to do, orwant to do, retreats, where
you're taking people to do stufflike that, where you get to go.
I know it was actually funny.
I was reading I need to go getthe Mason Goes Mushrooming book
(43:52):
that I saw when you yeah,there's a kid's book, cheryl
it's.
I'm going to get it for you toput in your library, oh please.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (43:59):
Anyway, but yeah.
So even to go, like I would pay, to go on a retreat with you to
like show me around and educate, like that could be a really
cool thing also right as a pieceof that.
But yes, I love that idea and Iwould love for my kids to see
that and I could see it being somany different things.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
I'm like, oh, PBS time, so educational it could be
on so many different channels,right?
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Right, yeah, yeah, that's exciting.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
Okay, we're putting that out there for you.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yes, we're putting it out there for you.
And if you happen to take nerdyjobs to New Zealand, please
give a snuggle to the VelayBlack Nose sheep, because they
are the cutest teddy bearlooking sheep ever.
I love them Need to lift thisup.
Oh, yeah, they are.
They are so stinking adorable.
They look like like they'rejust so cute.
(44:58):
So, yeah, as soon as you saidthat, I was like, oh, she's
going to receive the Velay BlackNose sheep Very exciting.
Well, okay, so let's, let'smake sure that people know how
to get to you into your podcast.
So share some of your socialmedia handles with us.
Yeah, please, yes, yeah, I amon.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
Get connected.
What social media platform am Inot on that's probably where I
could start.
But yeah, at Flora Fungapodcast, f-l-o-r-a, f-u-n-g-a,
podcast, P-O-D-C-A-S-T, so thatis like my handle for all things
.
I'm pretty sure.
Okay, from YouTube, tiktok eventhat's a new thing that I'm on
(45:43):
TikTok Instagram.
I'm even on Twitter or X Idon't know how X even makes
sense Like who even says?
Speaker 3 (45:51):
yeah, I'm on X.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Like, that doesn't even make sense.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
No.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
But yeah, so, and then I also have a website that
you can venture towwwflorafungapodcastcom.
So that's where you canactually look at my merch which
is so good, it's so good.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
I'm okay with that.
All right, we're wearing oneright now.
Do you see this?
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Yes it's very cute.
This is my.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
OG one.
I actually just don't feel badabout reaching out for help.
Also, that's another adviceabout podcasts.
Like my little icon, I paidsomebody on Fiverr to do and
recently I just paid three orfour people to actually do more
merch ideas.
So that is also coming soon,manifesting that in 2024.
(46:34):
I've got like three or fourideas already lined up.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
Fantastic Love it, love it, love it.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
Listen and watch wherever you can find your
podcasts Awesome.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
Very good, kk.
What a pleasure to talk withyou about this world that you've
opened my eyes to certainly.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
And.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
I know that I feel like now I'm going to have to do
a whole bunch of catch up withyou and Eileen on this Get down
and nerdy.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Yeah, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I'm going to go get down and nerdy, exactly so, on
behalf of my co-host, eileenGrimes and I, I thank you so
much, everyone for joining usfor this installment of you Only
Go Once and KK.
It was an absolute pleasure anduntil next time, take care
everyone.
Bye, see ya, peaches.
Hi, I'm KK.
I hope when you look back atyour life, you realize how
connected we all are with plants, fungi and humans, because you
only go once.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
All right, hello, hello, hello, welcome everyone.
I'm Cheryl Kantefio, with myfantabulous co-host, eileen
Grimes, and we're here today onthe you Only Go Once podcast,
where we explore stories aroundthe limited time we have on this
earth to create a fully layeredlife.
Because you only go once,eileen.
(00:35):
We have a fantastic guest today, so please kick us off.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Thanks, cheryl.
I am so excited to nerd out alittle bit today with our guest.
Today we have KK on with us.
Kk is a plant biologist lookingto bridge the gap between
plants, fungi and humans.
She is a thirst for mycology,the study of fungi, which we'll
dive into, and would love toeducate the importance of plant
and fungi interactions.
(01:00):
Mushrooms and plants can andwill help save the planet, one
high-fee at a time.
If you like to get down andnerdy with plants, fungi and
other science facts, find theirpodcast Flora and Funga and I
highly highly recommend it.
I was listening to a few moreepisodes and the one on cancer
recently.
Dive in, just dive right on in.
So KK, welcome.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Thank you, thank you, I am honored to have this
opportunity on here, so thankyou.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
KK and I were actually talking before we
started recording and I showedthem that I got my mushroom
earrings on Also, Cheryl, Idon't know if you can see these.
Those are pretty, Yep, and thenmake me also.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Oh, nice, you have the same ones.
Yes, sacked out, nice.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Nice, I am all emanita today.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Very cool.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
That's amazing, and also you can put the socks on Do
you really, I do, I justrealized that I didn't even plan
that.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
That's amazing.
So yeah, KK, tell our listenersa little bit about you.
I have had the pleasure of alsolistening to your episode where
you were interviewed, which wasso interesting and fascinating
for me.
Share a little bit about.
Where did this interest comefrom?
And it started at a young agefor you, didn't it?
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yes, yes it did.
I always really liked plants.
My mom kind of taught megardening and how to get out in
nature, so that was just kind oflike the basics of it.
I also every time went togreenhouses.
I'd like collect those littlesucculent leaves that you find,
or like I'd pick, like all ofthese flowers.
I'd actually get in troublewhen I was younger by going over
(02:44):
to my neighbor's house and likeplucking their tulips and my
mom's like come on, you have togo, apologize, you can't just
like pick people's flowers.
So it was just like but they'reso pretty, Like why couldn't I
do that?
And so that was just like oneof those things.
Climbing trees as well, it'sjust one of the ways that I
relaxed and had my own alonetime and I knew I liked plants
(03:07):
but didn't really know what Iwanted to do in college.
I entered Mankato with abiochemistry idea and I was like
that's not me at all.
But one of the prereqs wasplant biology and I took that
class and it all just made sense, Like everything just clicked
for me.
I love the professor, so shoutout Dr Ruland for that.
(03:31):
Yeah, no, it was just.
It all made sense and I wentfor plant biology.
Specifically after that, I alsohave had some relatives that
lived in Phillips, Wisconsin,and I was driving around seeing
aminitas, actually this mushroomon the ground, and I had to go
(03:51):
check it out.
I was like, what is this thing?
It was like huge, it was likeorange, it was gorgeous.
So I took some pictures with itand learned how much plants and
fungi are all connected.
So that was just kind of theone spark where I was like whoa,
I need to learn more about this, Like why aren't people talking
about this?
So this was like 10, 10 yearsago or so and yeah, so my mom
(04:17):
supported me all the way.
She got me my ceiling running.
So that's like the number onebook that I would recommend by
Paul Stammets and, yeah, that'skind of what led me into
everything.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
And Paul's here up in the Pacific Northwest.
So yes, he's on my list.
Of people want to eventuallymeet at my life.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
I know I've been trying to like contact him.
I know all of his friends andhe's like, oh, this is his email
, here's his phone number.
Like he's probably just so busythat he doesn't even, I'm sure,
crack of his own phone.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Totally get it.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
So yeah, and then the episode that you were talking
about was with Howard Sprouse.
So he's actually friends withPaul Stammets and he was saying
I interviewed him because he wasa listener.
And then he was like, hey, whydon't I interview you?
And then you could just havelike a little blurb about how
you got into this.
And I was like wow, really Likethank you, so we're friends to
(05:12):
this day.
He invited me out to OP fun guyfest.
So I'm in the middle of kind ofputting that documentary
together.
So that was really cool.
I'm now starting to get likeinvited to mushroom festivals
and document stuff for them.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
That's amazing.
It's been a dream, yeah, andthat was.
You went recently.
Again.
This is me watching, yes,looking through all of your
social media and everything likethat.
Yeah, so it was in October.
Yeah, my gosh, incredible.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I know Perfect time to visit the Pacific Northwest.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Definitely for that especially.
Yeah, so I just poor listeners.
I reached out to KK1 becausejust the podcast in general was
amazing.
I'm actually in the middle of apsychedelic practitioners
program, a one-year program,which is amazing and fascinating
(06:07):
, so really going through andunderstanding our first module
was really in diving intomeeting the mushroom right and
so having that background andunderstanding and educating
ourselves from a cognitive lens,a embodied lens, a sacred lens,
like all of these differentpieces.
And somehow I stumbled I can'tremember if it was one of the
(06:30):
resources or if I stumbledsomehow, but I found your
podcast and I was like I have tomeet KK at some point and have
you on the podcast.
I just this podcast is so muchfun because we really talk about
, we talk to people and heartheir stories about how they're
living their lives on purposeand in the way that's fullest
(06:52):
for them.
And seeing your passion andunderstanding what that looks
like and how you get to livethat out loud Every day is just
incredible and being able toshare that from a wonderful
geeky lens of like I get to geekout with you on this because I
love all my plants in fungi too,so it's just it's so much fun
(07:13):
for me to bring you into hereOne of the things that you were
talking about, too, for thoselisteners who might not
necessarily have as muchin-depth knowledge or understand
.
You were talking about therelation between plants and
fungi, right?
So we'd love for you to shareeven a little bit more on sort
of what that relationship lookslike, I mean, during my program.
(07:37):
Like, oh, fungi aren't plants,Like they're not even in the
same kingdom.
They're not in the same kingdom, right?
So, like this is a whole newpiece for me to learn.
So, yeah, I would just love foryou to kind of share some of
that part to educate ouraudience and let them know why
they're so cool and how they'reall interrelated.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yeah, yeah, I really fell in love with the whole
plants and fungi just becausethere's plants and fungi out
there that can either heal youor kill you, and I thought that
was just very interesting howthey can kind of do both in
different concentrations.
So yeah, that's prettyinteresting.
And there's multiple differenttypes of like connections.
(08:22):
So there's like types of fungithat go inside of plants, roots
and give nutrients that way, sothey're kind of like intertwined
.
And then there's other onesthat kind of are just connected
and share nutrients in that way.
There's also parasitic ones andmutualistic ones.
(08:42):
There's multiple differenttypes and that's what's
fascinating is how there'sdifferent, I guess, varieties of
plants and fungi connections.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Yeah, no, I just I think it's so interesting and I
mean, I was even one of thethings that we were starting to
learn about was like how, at thebeginning of life, even right,
and how much they required eachother basically to like to even
evolve and grow and become allthe life forms that we have now.
(09:16):
Was that interconnection and Ijust think it's a really magical
thing.
We don't, you know, some peoplelook at mushrooms and it's like
God, there's just like get themout of my yard.
I know.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yes, it is sad A lot of people are afraid of even
touching mushrooms and so I'malso trying to, I guess, get
away from that stigma that youcan't even learn about mushrooms
Like you can touch them.
Fun fact, you can technicallylike nibble on them like any
mushroom as well.
You just can't swallowmushrooms.
(09:48):
So how mushrooms kind of affectyour system is if it goes
through specific organs.
So that's kind of like a partytrick.
If you want to like nibble onsome mushrooms, you're like, hey
, but don't do that.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Don't do that.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Don't do mushrooms?
Speaker 1 (10:08):
But it is interesting how yeah, it only really
affects you if it goes through aspecific like liver and organs
and things like that.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I kind of feel like 2023 has been the year of the
mushroom because more and morepeople on social media that are
active faragers, especiallyaround the.
I know nothing, so I'm justgoing to say words and hopefully
these are right, but the oystermushroom seems to be big and
popular, especially in theculinary world.
I've seen social media chefscreate vegan alternatives to
(10:46):
fried chicken using oystermushrooms, which is fascinating,
and for somebody I will freelyadmit I can't eat mushrooms
because I have a reaction so sad.
It is sad because every time Ilook at something I'm like oh,
that looks really good.
So I'm constantly fascinated bythe way people are approaching
(11:07):
foraging in general and justsaying, like ha-za for the
mushroom as an alternate sourceof just food.
Because, again, there's been alot.
You know, there's always thetalk about the reduction of the
carbon footprint by, you know,eating less red meat and things
(11:30):
like that, and people arefocusing on alternatives that
not only are good for you buttaste good.
So you know, I'm excited tohear more around what you've
discovered, and then two morethings and then I'll.
You know, we'll get back tothis.
I do this, I just shoo, I gooff.
If you're looking for aninteresting festival on
(11:50):
mushrooms.
I don't know if you've heardabout Kenneth Square,
pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
I actually just released an episode today on a
fair-earing mushrooms and so Iactually interviewed the.
So the guys mom, I think, putson that festival.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Okay, so that's huge.
It's huge in this area.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Mushroom Capital of the World.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Mushroom Capital of the World?
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, maybe, the United States.
I was going to say maybe thecountry, but that's not the
world.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
But, you know, give them what they need, yeah, so
it's just really interesting andI also am interested in hearing
more around.
You had mentioned that they,you know, we always look at
mushrooms and plants in generalas like these things that float
above the land.
And what you don't realize,what I've come to realize, is
(12:39):
that there's a wholecommunication system that goes
on underneath right and there'sespecially with and again I'm
going to be your and then I'llcome back and I promise but
especially they've noted withtrees.
So like if there's like a wholeforest of trees and if one of
the trees isn't thriving, theyall kind of get together
underneath the ground and kindof supplement the nutrients that
(13:01):
that tree needs to thrive.
Is that the same way that it iswith mushrooms too?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Yes, Yep, and they actually both go hand in hand,
like how we bridge the gapbetween all of them.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
So there's specific mushrooms that are associated
with specific trees, so theyalready have their relationship.
So that's like morels, ormostly like the parasitic ones,
so the hen of the woods, theoyster, things like that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Kind of favor one specific tree, just because they
have like all of the thingsthat they need.
But then you know, you see awhole forest and all of that's
also connected underneath.
So, yeah, it's there'sdifferent trees connecting,
trying to shuttle nutrients toother things, and then those
(13:52):
mushrooms are on top of that,and then don't even get me
started on all the othermicrobes in the soil.
So it's just like let's seewhat are some of those, like
different little invertebratesor little insects to little
worms and then microbes just ingeneral, like there's endless
(14:15):
amount of those.
So having like the bigbiodiversity underneath the soil
is really what drives all theconnections and yeah, it thrives
that way.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
That's great.
So I don't know if you knowthis about Eileen and I, but we
are women in STEM, so you knowwe've yep and we actually
co-founded a women in ITorganization.
When we work together and Ialways think back to when I was
(14:46):
in school and I went from beingreally interested in science and
math to not being interested inscience and math, which is kind
of a thing with girls inparticular, right, what advice
would you give to budding youngwomen who are interested in STEM
about your particular area ofinterest?
(15:08):
So you talked about, like youknow, obviously your mom gave
you support, although notplucking tulips from neighbor's
yards, but what you know?
What?
Where would you say they couldstart learning more about
biodiversity, fungi, all thethings that you're interested in
as well?
You know how do they getstarted and how do they build
(15:31):
community in that space.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Yeah, I guess I always.
I'm always like a foreverlearner, so I always have
library books on hand, like Ihave some books behind me.
Literally the books that I haveis like phosphorus and like the
nature of plants, like how doyou plants work?
Like that's the stuff that I'mreading while going to sleep.
So, yeah, finding your locallibrary is probably my biggest
(15:56):
advice is, like, look at all ofthe areas of like biology or
whatever topics that you'reinterested in, and or ask for
help to try to find those topics, Because I learned so much from
public libraries.
You can rent them Also.
The internet is crazy now.
Yeah, if you're, youtube kindof covers so many different
(16:17):
things.
But I just loved learning somuch and that's why I wanted to
go to school.
You don't even have to get adegree to do what I'm doing or
other mycologists.
It's just kind of like an easyway to have a schedule, but if
you're really determined, thenit's probably more beneficial to
teach yourself.
So that's a lot of mycologistsright now, just because they
(16:40):
don't really teach that.
Like when I was at Mankato, Ikind of made my own like
emphasis with mycology, becausethey only offer like soil
science.
So it's kind of unfortunatethat they only offer like thank
God they offered plant classesand so right now they're
starting to, I think, get moreof those professors in with the
(17:03):
mycology field.
But I'm thinking about thatcould be like my thing to bring
back is trying to do a class onthe connections of both plants
and fungi.
I think that would be reallyfun to be like a professor that
way.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Oh, I think that would be great, because it has
to start with somebody right,exactly.
I want to switch a little bitbecause prior to us starting our
recording, you had mentioned,or you and Eileen had started
mentioning, some of the new notresearch but real, I guess
findings with mushrooms inrelationship to cancer.
(17:40):
Cancer is something that isvery cancer.
Research is something verypersonal to me.
I lost my mom to pancreaticcancer last year and I lost my
mother-in-law to metastaticbreast cancer back in 2012.
And it's just curious to see,like you know, chemo almost
(18:00):
seems worse than the disease,and I mean no disrespect because
they have come.
Doctors and scientists havecome so far with chemotherapy
and what it does Right, and itwould also be interesting to see
what from nature might be ableto combat this awful and city is
disease.
So I was wondering if you hadany insights around that.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah yeah, turkey tail is.
So I don't.
I don't want to like butcherthis, but my partner is the one
that always like he's that he'sthe chemist.
So when we do mushroompresentations.
I'm like, yeah, the botanist,like the biology and he's all
like all right, we got thischemical and then like it's got
the trans, like Formation thatway, and I'm just like wow, but
(18:43):
turkey tail is one of themushrooms that is well studied.
It's actually prescribed inEurope because it has a specific
molecule in there that when youtake it, it actually helps with
the chemo.
So it actually like is asynergistic effect and helps you
go through chemo easier.
It's also used for immuneboosting and yes, a turkey tail
(19:09):
would be.
It's kind of like the numberone thing that we talk about at
farmers markets and also Rishiis another very well studied
mushroom from eastern liketraditional medicine, and that's
like an overall immunearthritis is what I take for as
well.
(19:30):
So I actually was diagnosed withrheumatoid arthritis like three
years ago and so I actuallylearned all about this because
somebody approached me to be onthe podcast.
But they were like, hey, I'dlove to do like a holistic
approach of helping you heal,and so they went through and
Rishi was like the number onepowder that they recommended
(19:51):
that I take.
So I've been.
I take a specific mushroomstack every day to help with
different things.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Okay, Okay, that's fascinating too, yeah, from the
rheumatoid arthritis perspectivetoo yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That's fascinating.
So I also sorry.
I'm just going to jump in realquick.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Jump in, jump on in.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
I take these at nighttime.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Okay, Chill gummies, yeah, yeah, but it's got the
Rishi and like it's sofascinating because there's just
so many and like I'm literallyI'm drinking some mushroom
coffee right now.
Yeah, Not in preparation foryou.
I've literally been doing thisnow for a while and I've just
I've found some benefits withwith a lot of that and focus and
(20:34):
clarity and a lot of things toowith them, like a daily
mushroom right and I just it'sbeen kind of incredible having
that and but yeah, there's justthere's so there's so many
different things right now.
I feel like a lot of this stuffis now starting to pop up.
I was researching the other dayon mushroom fabric right and
(20:58):
just how, how there's potentialfor using that.
Obviously, there's still someyou know work that they that
needs to be done and making surethat it's flexible enough and
that you're able to move in itand things that like.
Walking like this, right, butit's so fast, like it's just
(21:20):
fascinating seeing that worldnow being like, oh, and it's,
it's replenishable, right,that's easy to grow and and all
those things, and it's just it'sjust fascinating seeing how
much is accessible to be able tobring in terms of
sustainability, right, but thenalso really the benefits that we
get by actually taking thosethat are that are really
(21:43):
supportive.
So sorry, I was interrupting.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
No, no, you're okay, I remember the molecule
polysaccharide K is what's inTurkey tail, so I just want to
make sure I say thatspecifically.
I wanted to talk about linesmain as well.
So when we're at this market.
Tons of people.
So I'm in the villages, florida, so 55 plus retirement
(22:07):
community, and people come up toour stand and about like three
months ago nobody really, youknow, knew the benefits of
mushrooms.
And recently people are comingup to our stand.
They're like, hey, do you guyshave lines main?
And we're like, yeah, weactually do.
Like, what form do you want?
We got tinctures, powder, fresh, dried, like all of these
different options for people.
(22:27):
And I love how mushrooms aretrending right now, just because
now people are coming up to usand asking what mushrooms we
have.
And so, yeah, if you don't knowwhat lines main, it is very
like it's a white, fuzzymushroom and honestly tastes
it's like a pull apart stringcheese or like crab meat texture
(22:48):
.
So a lot of people are using itas like a crab meat substitution
and so it's a very like vegandriven product right now.
So we have a recipe that covershow to make lines main crab
cakes.
So you replace crab with linesmain one to one, and it's a
perfect, perfect recipe and thenyou can feed it to your vegan
(23:11):
friends and impress them.
But lines main is very good for, like, cognitive benefits, so
reducing the like the risk ofADHD, dementia, alzheimer's so
it's exactly the group of peoplethat we're targeting for our
market.
So it's just want to make surethat we talked about lines main
(23:32):
at some point.
Very tasty mushroom.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It's very fluffy, it looks very fluffy I mean, it
looks fluffy, that's you know.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
I looked it up.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
I was like, oh, that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yeah, and there's multiple types within the same
family, so it's a Hresiumspecies and there's like
multiple of that in that family.
That is wild.
Yeah, yeah, super cool, theseCheryl.
Yeah, see, I'm so fascinatednow.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, I feel like every time, like you got me.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
I feel like every time I record one of these I'm
like, oh, and I go right downthe rabbit hole and I'm gone.
So if you see me like lookingto the side, it's because I'm
like what is lion's mane?
And I'll boop, boop, boop, boop.
And I'm like, oh, that's neat.
Boop, boop, boop, boop, boop.
So where's the most interestingplace you've traveled to see?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
mushrooms yes.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Yeah, so for school we got to study abroad somewhere
.
So I really always had thisidea of visiting New Zealand,
like it's just one of those likemystical places where you never
can go.
It's like a 12 hour flight togo there or more.
Yes, so it's already a journeyto get there.
(24:44):
But yeah, I found this, whatwas it called?
I'll circle back to the company.
But I was there studying abroadin New Zealand for a month, so
two weeks.
You were there doingrehabilitation of plants.
So you could technically pickif you wanted to build a school
(25:05):
or like help children or likeplant stuff, and I was like
plant stuff, right.
So I'm one of those people.
Where I was, we were on thisisland with no electricity, like
you had to bring your own trashoff of the island because there
was no, no trash.
You know pans anywhere.
(25:26):
And so we would bring all of ourfood for the two weeks and we
were with a big group of peopleand we would plant native trees.
We would go out and collectseeds and start to replant them
and try to germinate them andthen also tackle any invasive
species that we're seeing.
So that was a really fun twoweeks of just getting our hands
(25:49):
dirty and trying to get down andnerdy with some plants.
So that was really cool.
And then the following twoweeks we got to actually
adventure around.
So we started at the SouthernIsland and then we ventured back
up to Auckland.
So that was a life changingexperience for me, just because
I felt like at that point I wasjust starting to get to know the
plants in the US and so it waskind of fun.
(26:11):
When I left I was like, wow, Ifeel like I know more plants in
New Zealand than I do here,which now is the opposite.
But but yeah, it was just areally fun experience and I
found that nobody really knewwhat mushrooms were.
And New Zealand is just theperfect place for biodiversity
because you have all of thesewinds coming in from different
(26:35):
angles from this island, soyou're getting like a different
combinations from each each areaand so it's kind of its own
hodgepodge of different speciesand it's not.
It doesn't have a lot of animalspecies on there just because
it is so secluded, so it's superdiverse with plants and fungi.
(26:56):
So it was just really fun onour bush walks, which Bush means
the native forest there, sowe'd call it like going on a
nature walk in the forest, butthere the bush is like native.
So I was one of those peoplewhere I was in the beginning of
our hikes and I'd be like, hey,look at this mushroom.
(27:18):
Or like people would be like,hey, what is this mushroom, come
check it out.
And so I try to like take somepictures, and at the end of the
whole two, four weeks, peoplewere actually really interested
in mycology and I thought thatwas really cool and to have I
could get also a credit forstudying abroad.
(27:39):
So all I'd have to do was teacha class on something, and I
wanted to teach a class on theimportance of fungi, and so it
was cool.
We got to go out and I toldpeople to collect all of these
different types of mushroomsthat they found and then we kind
of divided them into whateverfamily they were and how they
grew.
So fun, yeah, I got peoplereally interested and I think
(28:03):
that stuck with people along theway.
So I just love teaching andeducating and impressing, you
know, yeah, Well, and then tohave a podcast too, to go with
that.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah, now I have a podcast.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So wow, full circle.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
So awesome.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
So do you have I mean , obviously you've been to a few
places now since then, right,and you've been able to go on
some of these different tripsand things.
Do you have a dream place thatyou want to go visit and learn
more and see more?
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Yeah, my goal overall , I think, is to retire to New
Zealand.
Speaker 3 (28:49):
I think there's so much more to learn.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
And every time a family member or friend says
they want to visit, I'm like ohmy god, can I come with Like I
want to?
Tour you around, like I feellike I did a little bit of
everything and if I were to pickanother place, probably
Thailand, I would love to visitmore of, like the Asia area.
I haven't really been there atall, and I think that'd be.
(29:13):
I mean, it's super tropical, soI think that would be even the
same diversity.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Yeah, so I think that'd be next on my list.
Interesting.
So I'm curious.
Just sorry, it just sparks.
As you were talking about NewZealand, so you said there's a
limited amount or very, very fewof animal species in there.
So I know one of the thingsthat please educate me if I'm
(29:40):
incorrect here One of the thingsthat helps or can help grow is
like manure, right, and so withthe lack of that, but without
the sort of added piece of that,what changes without that and
how does that sort of work thenwhen you don't necessarily have
that sort of input?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Yeah, now New Zealand's actually known for
like the most sheep or somethinglike that.
Like there's tons.
Ah, okay, like the rollinghills was something that was
just like mind blowing when youdrove by.
It was just like hills on hillsand like all of these like
cattle or livestock are justroaming free and so that's a
huge difference from here.
(30:24):
But they have animals they justdon't have like major predators
.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
So, there's a lot of birds.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
There's a lot of insects I think we saw like
iguanas and like specificreptiles, wow.
But yeah, there's not likesomething that will kill off a
lot of other animals, if thatmakes sense.
So, they kind of have to makesure that if a cat is brought on
then you have to get it checkedand goes through quarantine, so
(30:54):
you can't really just bring.
I think it takes like a monthor two to get your pet even
okayed to come into New Zealandbecause of that reason.
But yeah, there's there's a lotof diversity of like insects,
birds and smaller animals, butyeah, that would affect probably
(31:15):
some of the land.
But yeah, it was fun to see allthe sheep, so there was a lot
of livestock there.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
So you decided to start a podcast.
How did that happen?
What did what did that looklike?
Why, when, where, you know?
And then what do you want to dowith it going?
Speaker 1 (31:34):
forward, yeah, yeah.
So it started, um, I guess,during COVID.
Um, to be honest, I was workingat Mayo Clinic in Rochester, so
I was analyzing blood samplesall day Super exciting stuff and
I always we could listen tomusic and podcasts and things.
So I started diving intolearning about plants, learning
(31:56):
about mushrooms, but I nevercould find a podcast that
bridges both Like there is a lotof house plant podcasts and
then a lot of like mushroompodcasts and I was like, well,
they're all connected, why isn'tthere a podcast like that?
And so I was like, no, I'm goingto make my own.
So that's kind of like where itstarted from.
(32:18):
I just wanted to be selfish andlearn the specific questions
that I had, and so I was likeI'll just make a podcast and
then record it, and then maybethis will help me get into, you
know, a masters or whatever.
And just networking, I think,was the main draw to that as
well, as I think everybodyshould practice public speaking.
(32:40):
It was something that everybody, I think, dreads in middle
school, college, high school,all of that.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
So I think it's, it's something that now, with
practice it becomes more easy.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
So that's kind of where that all started from.
But yeah, I was working at Mayoand I honestly had so much
downtime that I started up mywhole podcast while at work.
So, yeah, that's, I had thetime.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Yeah, well, and what's so amazing?
So I actually have both of mykids in Montessori.
For me, and this was importantfor me growing up, I had two
teachers who were my parents andthe love of learning and
knowing how to learn was soincredibly important for me
growing up and like that wasinstilled in my brain and that's
why, like I have my kids inthis Montessori approach.
It's like how do you, how doyou learn, how do you know how
(33:34):
to learn Right, and so you know?
For you to create a podcast,it's like I don't really know
what I'm doing.
I didn't major in soundengineering, I didn't major in
any of these things.
Yet here you are.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Yes, it's, it's so many avenues, so I wanted to.
How I kind of started was I gotreally meta with it.
I was listening to a podcastcalled how to Start a Podcast,
and so that was done byBuzzsprout, which is the
platform that I use to do mypodcast, do my stuff, so same I
think you'll yell do to you, wedo too.
(34:08):
Yes, exactly.
So they have a whole checkliston their website or something
like that.
And it was like literally juststep by step.
So every day I was like I'mgoing to tackle this, I'm going
to tackle that, make a website,make an icon.
I don't know how to do any ofthese things.
Like I was, so not tech savvy,but one day I just I made a
(34:29):
website and I did it and I waslike no, what now?
Now I'm going to do this.
So we were talking prior aboutediting, video editing, and so
that's where I started with theaudio editing and I was like,
okay, I have an app, I have that.
I understand that I got socialmedia.
Now I want to like increase ita little bit more, a little bit
more.
(34:49):
And so that's where the videoediting started, and so that's
been going really nice and yeah,just kind of learning as you go
and don't crush yourself to doeverything at once, because you
can't physically do everythingat once.
So why are we even worriedabout doing everything at once,
right?
So I just kind of took it onestep at a time, also with like
(35:12):
releasing and recording podcasts.
Like I don't want to, I guess,lockdown, I have to release
something every week because Idon't have that time.
So then I started with everyother week and now I'm two once
a week.
So I tried to just tackle whatI knew I could do and then it
free sit when I was ready.
(35:32):
So that's advice if you'retrying to start your own podcast
.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
Yeah, and it's solid advice too.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
Yes, yeah, I know when we were starting it is.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
It is, I know, when we started, you know Eileen and
I definitely have differentstrengths.
Like Eileen, again, you knowshe, she talks about ADHD, but
it's more of her researchprowess that she kind of goes
okay, well, we need to do this.
And da, da, da.
And I mean, while I was like soI'm almost on board with the
(36:01):
podcast, and meanwhile she waslike I've got the headsets, I've
got the microphone, like whatare you, what are you waiting
for?
Like we're doing this.
This is a thing.
I was like, all right, well, Iguess I'm joining, yeah.
And we learned along right,just tell me what I'm supposed
to do, I'll show up.
And then I learned too that,like Eileen is not a fan of
social media, like posting,doing that stuff, whereas I love
(36:22):
it, I'm a junkie.
I'm like, okay, like I will,you know, I'll be on there, I'll
be happy to do that.
So I think the both of us havefound synergy in what our
strengths are for doing that.
But I love that there was apodcast about doing a podcast.
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
And I had I had started.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Years and years ago, I read a book on adventure.
It wasn't called Adventures inPodcasting, but it was by.
It was one of the first MTV VJsand I wish I could remember his
name, but he was really intopodcasting and he gave solid
advice as to how to do that,what equipment you should use
(37:02):
and that kind of thing, becausehe got into it.
Yeah, but and then it was like15 years later I was like, oh,
podcasts, I think I shouldlisten to these.
And I started listening to them.
I thought that would be alovely thing.
And then Eileen one day said,hey, we should do a podcast.
And I was like, oh, that'sinteresting.
And she's like, so, I'vealready got this and this and
this, you need to update thewebsite.
(37:22):
And I was like, well, okay, Iguess we're doing this.
This is a thing, this ishappening, and it's lovely,
right, because the amount ofconnections that you make, I
mean it's very.
You know when I think aboutwhat you do with your
exploration around biodiversityand you know, and mycology did I
say that right, mycology,mycology, it's almost very.
(37:44):
It seems almost like a naturalevolution for you to go to
podcasting, because there's allthis behind the scenes coming
together.
You know working with people,understanding what's going on
and making those connections, sojust you know.
Good, I feel like apseudo-mycologist now.
So I'm feeling pretty good aboutlife right now.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
That's good.
Yes, it's who you know, notwhat you know sometimes.
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
I'm just taking a really big leap on that bridge.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (38:13):
Yeah, Now it's very helpful when you have, you know,
two people and you kind of haveyou get to work with each
other's strengths and weaknesses.
So, yeah, I I couldn't also havedone this without my partner
helping me.
He actually helped purchase myfirst mics for me because I
didn't have the money or theresources.
So he was like, hey, I'm goingto get this for you because I
(38:36):
know you're really excited aboutit and I just want to support
you.
So he's been my number onefirst supporter of the podcast
and now he's my I call him mytechnical advisor Fantastic.
So, when we go, when we go outfor festivals, he's kind of the
cameraman.
Also the director of, like hekind of knows, you know how
things will look and yeah so.
(38:58):
So yeah, it's been very helpfulto have another person, because
I don't know how I could havelike, All right, here we are
Like recording by myself anddirecting and thinking of all
that.
So right.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Very helpful.
That's great.
That's great.
We're getting close to our hourand Eileen has an infamous
question and I was hoping thatEileen would ask her infamous
question of UKK.
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (39:25):
So, as Cheryl kind of already shared, there's three
words that she knows when theycome out of my mouth something
it is taking us down a whole newadventure.
This is happening right, andfor us in the podcast, I just I
knew that you know we had talkedabout it.
We'd actually talked about itfor a while, to be fair, cheryl
(39:47):
for me at least about doing somekind of podcast for a while,
and there got to be a pointwhere I was like I just feel
like the, the intuitive part ofme.
It was like this is actuallygoing to be something that's
going to exist in this world.
I know that.
I know that I'm willing andwanting to put the effort in to
make it here.
(40:08):
I want this to be somethingthat exists and it feels right
to do that, and I can't imaginehaving left my life behind
without doing that right.
So this is happening, or somethree magic words that Cheryl
knows there's a whole newadventure.
She's not always a part of them.
Some of them for me, like I'mdoing an aerial arts class
(40:29):
tonight and I was just like thisis happening, I'm going to
learn how to spin myself in theair on silks, because why not
Right?
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Why not?
That's exciting, that sounds sofun, okay, cool.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
Way harder than you think I've done it and I'm like
I, I lift heavy weight and thatwas that's crazy.
I was like sore for days, yeah,whole different version of body
weight conditioning stuff.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
So, anyway, we'll see how that goes.
I, as long as I don't face planon the floor, that's all I'm
really hoping for for tonight.
So, anyway, with that beingsaid, though, you know, with
whether it's your podcast, ortravel experiences, or things
that you know you're kind ofwanting to bring into this world
(41:19):
, is there anything on your thisIs Happening list that we can
be excited for with you?
Speaker 1 (41:24):
Yeah, that's a great question.
So what Cheryl was saying orasking, and I totally forgot
about mentioning, was the futureof the podcast and what my
goals would be, and what I amtrying to manifest is doing a
traveling type of podcast.
So I bet everybody knows whatdirty jobs is right.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
Yes, I want to do something called nerdy jobs and
so I would venture around and dothe jobs of these different
people with plants or fungi, solike a conservationist or a lab
technologist or you know, viceversa, and I would want to do
their job for a weekend or aweek and just kind of see what
(42:10):
it entails.
But I so because I think a lotof the youth right now, you know
, don't really know like Ididn't really know what I could
do with a plant biology degree.
So it'd be really nice to showpeople like what the options are
.
And I think it's just such abroad topic, Like I was
(42:31):
interviewing somebody yesterdayon, like how broad mycology is
you can go with like themedicinal, the psychedelic realm
, the culinary realm, theresearch realm, it's.
It's like endless taxonomy andjust endless learning with
mushrooms and most of the stuffwe don't even know yet.
So I think it's reallyinteresting to educate the youth
(42:54):
on what their options would besurrounding nerdy jobs, plants
and fungi, so I think that wouldbe my main.
Next thing that I want to do istravel more and do something
like that I love that that isgoing to be.
Speaker 2 (43:09):
That's exciting, yes.
And let us know right now, yeah, manifest it and we'll we'll,
definitely we'll need to haveyou back.
Yes, and kind of like yes andhear more about that, because
that would be fantastic.
I'm really excited for it.
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1 (43:26):
TV show book.
I'm available All right Put itout there, yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:32):
Absolutely yeah, and if you ever sorry this is
another part of my problem Keepgoing, it's not a problem.
If you ever happen to do, orwant to do, retreats, where
you're taking people to do stufflike that, where you get to go.
I know it was actually funny.
I was reading I need to go getthe Mason Goes Mushrooming book
(43:52):
that I saw when you yeah,there's a kid's book, cheryl
it's.
I'm going to get it for you toput in your library, oh please.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (43:59):
Anyway, but yeah.
So even to go, like I would pay, to go on a retreat with you to
like show me around and educate, like that could be a really
cool thing also right as a pieceof that.
But yes, I love that idea and Iwould love for my kids to see
that and I could see it being somany different things.
Speaker 1 (44:23):
I'm like, oh, PBS time, so educational it could be
on so many different channels,right?
Speaker 2 (44:32):
Right, yeah, yeah, that's exciting.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
Okay, we're putting that out there for you.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
Yes, we're putting it out there for you.
And if you happen to take nerdyjobs to New Zealand, please
give a snuggle to the VelayBlack Nose sheep, because they
are the cutest teddy bearlooking sheep ever.
I love them Need to lift thisup.
Oh, yeah, they are.
They are so stinking adorable.
They look like like they'rejust so cute.
(44:58):
So, yeah, as soon as you saidthat, I was like, oh, she's
going to receive the Velay BlackNose sheep Very exciting.
Well, okay, so let's, let'smake sure that people know how
to get to you into your podcast.
So share some of your socialmedia handles with us.
Yeah, please, yes, yeah, I amon.
Speaker 1 (45:20):
Get connected.
What social media platform am Inot on that's probably where I
could start.
But yeah, at Flora Fungapodcast, f-l-o-r-a, f-u-n-g-a,
podcast, P-O-D-C-A-S-T, so thatis like my handle for all things
.
I'm pretty sure.
Okay, from YouTube, tiktok eventhat's a new thing that I'm on
(45:43):
TikTok Instagram.
I'm even on Twitter or X Idon't know how X even makes
sense Like who even says?
Speaker 3 (45:51):
yeah, I'm on X.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
Like, that doesn't even make sense.
Speaker 3 (45:54):
No.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
But yeah, so, and then I also have a website that
you can venture towwwflorafungapodcastcom.
So that's where you canactually look at my merch which
is so good, it's so good.
Speaker 3 (46:09):
I'm okay with that.
All right, we're wearing oneright now.
Do you see this?
Speaker 2 (46:11):
Yes it's very cute.
This is my.
Speaker 1 (46:13):
OG one.
I actually just don't feel badabout reaching out for help.
Also, that's another adviceabout podcasts.
Like my little icon, I paidsomebody on Fiverr to do and
recently I just paid three orfour people to actually do more
merch ideas.
So that is also coming soon,manifesting that in 2024.
(46:34):
I've got like three or fourideas already lined up.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
Fantastic Love it, love it, love it.
Speaker 1 (46:40):
Listen and watch wherever you can find your
podcasts Awesome.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
Very good, kk.
What a pleasure to talk withyou about this world that you've
opened my eyes to certainly.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
And.
Speaker 2 (46:52):
I know that I feel like now I'm going to have to do
a whole bunch of catch up withyou and Eileen on this Get down
and nerdy.
Speaker 1 (47:00):
Yeah, that's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
I'm going to go get down and nerdy, exactly so, on
behalf of my co-host, eileenGrimes and I, I thank you so
much, everyone for joining usfor this installment of you Only
Go Once and KK.
It was an absolute pleasure anduntil next time, take care
everyone.
Bye, see ya, peaches.
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