This is the conclusion of a one hour speech recorded in May 2015 in Seattle, not far from Stamets' home near Olympia, WA. Stamets begins with the story of the rarest mushroom in the Pacific Old Growth forest, the Agarikon; and how the Department of Health bio-defense program had to acknowledge the extraordinary healing power of that mushroom. That's followed by a groundbreaking recently concluded analysis of the deaths of honey bees and what can be done about it.
Paul Stamets has studied mushrooms for over 40 years. He discovered new species of fungi, saved ancient ones from extinction, and pioneered countless techniques of mushroom cultivation. Along the way he found many ways how fungi can be healers of people and of the the environment.
Stamets is the founder of Fungi Perfecti www.fungi.com/, a family-owned company specializing in mushroom cultivation and research. Much of the financial resources generated from Fungi Perfecti sales are used to preserve and protect ancestral strains of mushrooms from the endangered Old Growth forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Paul Stamets is the author of many books, among them: Mycelium Running, a manual for the mycological rescue of the planet.
Stamets was recorded by Mike McCormick on May 4, 2015, in Seattle, WA. Mike is the host of Mind Over Matters on KEXP radio. Thanks to Paul Stamets for allowing me to rebroadcast.