Millions of Miles of Mycelium - The Mushroom Show Episode #11 with Toby Kiers

We are honored to have Dr. Toby Kiers here to enlighten us on the incredible fungal networks that span the globe, enriching our lives without ever being seen. Dr. Kiers is the co-founder and executive director of SPUN - the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, whose mission is to map mycorrhizal fungal networks and advocate for their protection. They propose that these vast networks that extend all over the world are analogous to clean air and water in terms of sustaining the planet.
In our conversation, we begin to connect the dots between plants and fungi, the role that fungi plays in soil and forests around the world, how these fungi have evolved to be "nutrient merchants", carbon sequestration, the incredible field work that Dr. Kiers and her team are conducting in Patagonia, and how to be a myconaut. Enjoy!
0:00 - Framing the Conversation
1:30 - Thinking About Soils Before Thinking About Fungi
3:50 - Mycorrhizal Fungal Networks - Arbuscular vs Ectomycorrhizal
11:11 - "Intelligent" Networks (Labelling Nutrients with Nanodots)
14:05 - Carbon Sequestering in Soil & Nutrient Systems
17:19 - SPUN - Mapping the Networks Around the World
22:21 - Field Work in Patagonia
24:00 - Conservation Efforts
26:25 - Upcoming Hotspots
32:26 - SPUN's Forging Connections with Local Communities (Anti-Helicopter Research)
33:29 - Threats Facing Fungal Networks
36:43 - Mindshift Towards Conserving Things We Cannot See
41:24 - Visualizing Nutrient Flows (Fungal Soundscapes)
42:00 - How People Can Get Involved - 3 F's Initiative
43:21 - How to be a Myconaut (Citizen Science)
47:47 - Where to Connect and Learn
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