Dr. Gordon Walker (FunGuy)

In honor of season 2 of The Last Of Us on HBO, here’s a quick teaser compilation of Cordyceps clips and other fungal/slime mold motifs that are featured in the show (eg Chicken of the Wood “Clickersl) . The first season of #TLOU was riddled with inaccurate science, fostering negative attitudes towards mushrooms (mycophobia). Regardless, I enjoyed the show and sci-fi universe in which it’s set, however I spend much of my time online working to correct the misconceptions caused by this show. My goal is to educate people through my content rather than stoke their irrational fears. . Below is an excerpt from my book “Passport to Kingdom Fungi”, which will be released on April 22nd. . WILL MUSHROOMS START A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE? Cordyceps have entered the collective cultural consciousness through the popularity of the videogame and TV series The Last of Us, in which a fictional Ophiocordyceps jumps from insect to human, quickly initiating a worldwide apocalypse of infected mycelium-controlled “zombies” pitted against the uninfected survivors. Thankfully, cordyceps are not capable of taking over the human body as they do with insects. Humans have fundamentally different physiology than insects. Our immune system can handle most forms of fungal pathogens, and we have drugs to treat infections that get out of hand. A few species of cordyceps can infect humans, but manifest as a rash on skin. It is virtually impossible for cordyceps to evolve or be genetically manipulated to the point that they would be able to systemically infect and control humans. The Last of Us is a phenomenal work of sci-fi but is purely fictional There are however other mushrooms with spores that can opportunistically infect humans and cause respiratory infections. Examples include: puffballs (Lycoperdon), silver leaf disease (Chondrostereum purpureum), and splitgills (Schizophyllum).These types of infections are rare, but falling human body temperatures and rising global temperatures mean that more fungal pathogens will emerge in unpredictable ways. . . . #thelastofus #thelastofusseries #thelastofushbo #thelastofusedit #parasite #pathogen #disease #mycoses #clickers #spores @HBO @TLOU

Q: Why do you "tap" the mushrooms? A: When out mushroom hunting, you often find mushrooms in various states of maturity/decay. Tapping a mushroom is a quick way to judge the density of a mushroom. The more dense/solid sounding the mushroom, the better. More hollow sounding mushrooms are often infested with bugs or have matured past the point of wanting to harvest them as food. Additionally, tapping a mushroom helps to dislodge dirt, forest litter, and critters (bugs, slugs, etc...). Tapping the mushroom can help disperse a significant amount of spores, never a bad thing if you are taking the mushroom out of it's environment and putting it in your basket. However, mushrooms are fully capable of spreading spores on their own. My primary reason for tapping mushrooms is not to release spores (despite what people say in the comments). I wasn't aware of it until people on social media started comment on it, but tapping mushrooms produces some wonderful sounds. Each mushroom has it's own unique resonance. I love to listen to the range of sounds produced by different mushrooms, although boletes tend to provide the best "beats" of all. Much of the tapping I do is as intentional ASMR content. Tapping a mushroom has also become a tool for engaging my audience. It is a simple way for me to interact with a mushroom that increases the number of comments a video will receive (mostly from people asking me why I tap mushrooms). The more comments I get, the more people see my videos. My hope is that people will read my captions and learn something from watching my educational content. It might seem annoying to some, but the truth is that tapping a mushroom is a fun and effective way to get more views and engagement (even from people who say it’s stupid). . . . #fascinatedbyfungi

#onthisday

Here’s a pimple popping compilation of Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold #Lycogala (Latin name translates as “wolf nipples”). These brilliant pinkish/orange cushions are aethelia, the reproductive spore producing structure formed by this species (structurally different from sporangia). These start out as a slime that forms into distinct globs that turn dark purple/brown as they mature and eventually become little dusty poofs of spores that continue to disperse for an extended period of time. . This kind of slime content can be polarizing. Some people love the gross out pimple popping aspect while others feel anger and revulsion. From a biological standpoint, these slime molds are extremely common (found growing on wet decaying logs world wide) and popping the cushion just delays their life cycle (but doesn’t “kill” or “destroy” them). I personally hate popping these because my hands, phone, pants, face can get splashed with the pink goo (it’s so gross, ew) - but I do it for those who love this content. I hope you enjoy this compilation from the @telluridemushroomfest and please be kind with your feedback. All hail the slime. . . . . #wolfsmilkslimemold #lycogalaepidendrum #pimplepoppersunite #pimplepopping #drpimplepopper #slimemold #slimemolds #poppingasmr

Happy #ValentinesDay from the #fungi 🍄❤️ #lovefool

#BlackTrumpets #Craterellus calicornucopiodes

Tapping the mushrooms of #NorthCarolina #mushroomasmr #asmrtapping #fascinatedbyfungi

Dreaming of New England summers, this is a throw back to when I was in Massachusetts last July. Behold, the milkiest of mushrooms, the #CorrugatedMilkcap #Lactifluuscorrugis. This is a gorgeous mycorrhizal mushroom that grows in association with deciduous trees and conifers. When young it has a domed fuzzy purple-ish brownish cap and gorgeous copper colored gills. When nicked or cut, this mushroom exudes a tremendous amount of sticky white milky latex as a defense against bugs and slugs trying to eat the mushroom before it’s spores have matured. In maturity, the cap turns upwards and the gills drop a heavy load of white spores onto the ground beneath. The milky latex is astringent, bitter, tacky, and fishy smelling - it quickly turns brown and stains your hands (I get it all over myself when making these videos). I do not recommend you drink it. If you ask if you can drink, I will ask you to read the caption. . This is an excellent edible mushroom, my favorite way to prepare it is as a “conserva” or quick pickle, boil them in court boullion, then add vinegar and oil before storing in the fridge. They make a great cold summer snack, topping for pizza, or addition to salads. . . . . #milkcap #lactarius #milky #latex #mycology #mushroomasmr #opinel #naturevideos #relaxing #lactifluus #mycology #natureasmr #oddlysatisfyingvideo

Happy St. Patrick’s Day fungi friends, hope you’re wearing green so you can become one with the forest and camouflage yourself in the moss and lichens. Fungi do not produce chlorophyll or do photosynthesis (like plants) so green mushrooms are relatively rare compared to other colors, but they do occur! Featured in this video are parrot mushrooms, green coral, a green lobster (Hypomyces), green earth tongue, and more! Enjoy celebrating the day while being safe and conscientious of others, please 🍄🙏🍀 . . . . #stpatricksday #stpatricksday☘️ #🍀 #mycology #fascinatedbyfungi #dropkickmurphys #greenmushroom

How is my book “Passport to Kingdom Fungi” different from other mushroom books and foraging guides? . My book is a resource that will help you not only recognize mushrooms in the field, but can also help you navigate other books (a guide book to guidebooks). Very intentionally I decided to focus on the big picture and help people recognize general categories of edible mushrooms (at the genus level) rather than getting caught up in the nuances of species. I present the taxonomy and basic info like habitat, association, growth pattern, and spore color. My descriptions are easy to read, using common language to describe mushrooms. I offer side by side comparisons with look alike mushrooms and list the toxic lookalikes, to help you avoid making dangerous mistakes. The photos are great, but often you need more to accurately identify mushrooms, so I have provided QR codes that link you directly to iNaturalist, allowing you to see thousands of mushroom photos and learn more about the time of year they appear. . My book covers so much more than just edible mushrooms, but if you’re anything like me, the chance of finding food in the forest is what motivates you to get outside. Hope you enjoy this sneak peak of “Passport to Kingdom Fungi” now available for pre-order from all major book retailers. . . . #passporttokingdomfungi #whereismymind #mycology #pixies #ediblemushrooms #wildmushrooms #foraging #foragingbooks #fascinatedbyfungi

Starting to get really excited about presenting at the Santa Cruz Mountain Mushroom Festival May 3rd and 4th in Felton, CA hosted by @farwestfungievents. I had a fantastic time last year attending talks, checking out all the incredible art, eating delicious food, participating in hands on demos, all while hanging out with fellow fungi friends. So excited to do it again this year! Use the code “FASCINATEDBYFUNGI25” to save 10% on 1 and 2 day passes! . Set amid towering old growth Redwood groves at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, CA, the event will feature educational sessions and demos from some of the country’s leading voices in the mushroom world – plus live music, hands-on workshops, and an array of mushroom-forward foods, drinks, and artisan crafts. . @Far West Fungi is a family-run business committed to providing a full and consistent array of mushrooms, mushroom food products and educational information to the Santa Cruz and Bay Area communities. Established in 1982, Far West Fungi is a premier provider of gourmet mushrooms and culinary experiences. With sustainability and quality at the forefront, Far West Fungi offers a wide range of mushrooms, mushroom-based products, and educational resources to inspire creativity in the kitchen. With an unwavering dedication to exceptional taste and a passion for mushrooms, Far West Fungi continues to delight and amaze food enthusiasts, chefs, and nature lovers alike. The company is dedicated to providing locally grown, organic specialty mushrooms at a reasonable rate and making them readily available to our community. . . . #santacruzmountainmushroomfestival #scmmf #farwestfungi #mushroomfestival

Blue colors are relatively rare in nature, but there are a significant number of mushrooms that are blue or stain blue. Some mushrooms contain azulene, an unstable blue pigments while boletes contain an organic acid that turns blue when the tissue is injured. Order my new book “Passport to Kingdom Fungi” to learn more about the colors and edibility of mushrooms! . . . #passporttokingdomfungi #blue #mushrooms #mycology #fascinatedbyfungi

Holy Moly #Morchella! Check out this ASMR compilation of harvesting morel mushrooms. These are absolutely delicious edible Asco mushrooms associated with spring time, but they must be cooked well (at least 10-15m of heat) otherwise they can be hazardous to consume. If you want to learn more about morels, how to identify them, their ecology, and how hunt for them, pick up my book “Passport to Kingdom Fungi”. You can also check out episode 15 of my podcast “Fascinates By Fungi” on Spotify and YouTube. . My personal preference is to cut morels rather than pick them from the ground. This is partially due to the types of fragile soil and habitats that morels grow in and because it helps me to pick them cleanly into my basket. The best edible part of a morel is the cap, while the stem is less desirable, so I have no problem leaving that behind (as opposed to porcini where I want the whole thing). . In this video, I am tapping the mushroom because I like the noise it makes, not to disperse spores. The spores of morels are in the inside of the pits on the cap and can be released by blowing on the morel or exposing them to direct sunshine. . . . . #mushroomasmr #morel #morels #morelmushrooms #morelmushroom #morelmushroomhunting #tappingasmr #asmrtapping #ascomycota #passporttokingdomfungi

I found it, the caviar of mushrooms! #commonsideeffects @HBO @[adult swim] . . Here I am demonstrating the role of ultraviolet in characterizing and photographing mushrooms. Many species of mushrooms contain chemical compounds that fluoresce (absorb UV light then emit light at another wavelength we can see). Observing the fluorescence of a given mushroom helps to identify the species and family, specifically many Entolomas (subgenus/section Leptonia) will fluoresce a ghostly blue color in response to UV 365 nm. . None of these mushrooms are magic, they will not make you tr!p nor will they magically heal you - but taking pictures of them sure is fun. Please be safe and responsible when interacting with nature. . . . #mycology #fluorescent #ultraviolet #adultswim #hbomax #fascinatedbyfungi