I have been fascinated with fungus since I was a wee little tyke. I think it started with Egon Spangler cited collecting spores, molds, and fungus as his favorite hobby. My grandmother was notorious for cutting the mold off cheese and proclaiming “It’s fine!”. Well, it wasn’t fine. Actually it was safe to eat, but what she didn’t realize what that the mold had infiltrated the entirety of block of cheese, and was getting ready to reproduce. Cutting off the mold simply ensured it had to grow a new sporing mechanism.

I sat down with Dr. Britt Bunyard, Mycology Master and Editor-In-Chief of Fungi Magazine. He explains these strange organisms and how they adapt like bacteria, but look like plants. They are weird, amazing, and have a wide range of abilities ranging from bioluminescence to zombification. They produce some of the most deadly toxins in the world, as well as some of the largest and oldest organisms on the planet. This leaves us with a scary question: What can’t they do?

*BONUS* – Zombie Fungus

You know I love zombies, so check out our Bonus episode on Cordyceps, the Zombie Fungus that affects ants, flies, and caterpillars.