125. Spooky Mushrooms, Modern Folklore, and Mycelial Mind Control w/ Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifni

125. Spooky Mushrooms, Modern Folklore, and Mycelial Mind Control w/ Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifni

From Planthropology by Vikram Baliga, PhD

October 30, 2025 · 1h 5m · Season 6 · Episode 125

About this episode

The episode explores the intersection of mushrooms, folklore, and ecology with guests Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini.

Send us Fan Mail A perfect circle of mushrooms in the grass can feel like a message. We follow that feeling into the heart of fungi and folklore with Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini of Spirits, exploring why mushrooms unsettle us, how they anchor myth, and what they can teach us about living with limits and wonder. From fairy rings and house spirits to cordyceps and body horror, we trace the line between ecology and story: a mycelial network expands and fruits at the edge, myth calls it ...

People in this episode

Host: Vikram Baliga

Guests: Amanda McLoughlin, Julia Schifini

Topics covered

  • mushrooms
  • folklore
  • mycelial networks
  • ecology
  • myth
  • body horror

Keywords

  • mushrooms
  • folklore
  • mycelial networks
  • ecology
  • cordyceps
  • fairy rings
  • body horror

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Spirits

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