
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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