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PODCAST

Lichen The Vibe

District Podcasts

Lichen the Vibe is the mycology podcast that makes fungi fun and fascinating. We dive into mushrooms, lichens, and mycelium—covering mushroom identification, safe foraging, home cultivation, fungal ecology, ethnomycology, and lichen symbioses. From psychedelic and medicinal mushrooms to gourmet edibles and decomposer heroes, get expert insights, captivating stories, and chill vibes for beginners and seasoned mycophiles. Your go-to mushroom podcast for science, culture, and wonder. Subscribe and

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All Episodes

00:08:10

Spore Sized: Why Does Phyllotopsis nidulans Smell So...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/09/03

Phyllotopsis nidulans is a striking wood-decaying mushroom that can be surprisingly unpleasant to smell. Its bright orange-to-yellow fruiting bodies may look inviting, but the odor has earned this species a reputation for being one of the less pleasant-smelling fungi encountered in forests.In this episode of Spore Sized, we explore what may be happening biologically when P. nidulans produces its distinctive odor. Mushroom smells are created by volatile chemical compounds released from fungal

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00:35:19

Orange, Fuzzy, and Foul-Smelling: Meet Phyllotopsis...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/09/03

One of the Northern Hemisphere’s most recognizable wood-inhabiting mushrooms looks vaguely like an oyster mushroom—but its powerful skunk-cabbage or rotten-egg odor quickly gives it away. Phyllotopsis nidulans also produces unusual carotenoid pigments and a rare furan-containing amino acid found in very few organisms.Two hosts explore this species exclusively, beginning with its distinctive appearance: fuzzy, fan-shaped to shell-like caps ranging from light orange to apricot, crowded orange gills,

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00:05:59

Spore Sized: Lichens Are Chemical Factories Hiding in...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/09/01

Lichens can look like little patches of moss, stains or crust growing quietly on rocks and trees. But they are something far stranger. They are not plants and not single organisms in the conventional sense, but complex partnerships involving fungi and photosynthetic partners such as algae or cyanobacteria. Some can withstand extreme dehydration, radiation, heat and cold, while certain lichens have survived controlled space-exposure experiments.Two hosts explore what makes these organisms so unusual,

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00:47:13

Lichens Aren’t Plants: The Strange Partnership Behind...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/09/01

Lichens may look like simple patches of growth on rocks and trees, but they are among Earth’s most unusual organisms. They are not plants and not single organisms, but complex partnerships involving fungi and photosynthetic partners such as algae or cyanobacteria — and some can survive extreme environments, persist for centuries or millennia, and help transform bare rock into developing soil.This episode explores what makes lichens such extraordinary survivors, beginning with the fundamental biology

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00:06:10

Spore Sized: The Tiny Lectin Inside a Shaggy Scaly...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/27

Pholiota squarrosa is a familiar woodland mushroom, but its chemistry has made it surprisingly important to modern fungal research.This episode explores the species' distinctive dry, heavily scaled appearance, its white-rot lifestyle, and its unusual relationship with weakened trees. The hosts then examine compounds such as squarrosidine and pinillidine, which have demonstrated xanthine oxidase inhibition in laboratory research.The centerpiece is PhoSL, an exceptionally small 40-amino-acid

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00:28:26

Pholiota squarrosa: The Mushroom Scientists Keep...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/27

A familiar cluster of dry, shaggy yellowish mushrooms growing around the base of a tree might not look extraordinary. Yet Pholiota squarrosa produces unusual phenylpropanoid compounds and an exceptionally small lectin that has become valuable in glycobiology and biomedical research.This long-form podcast focuses exclusively on Pholiota squarrosa, the type species of the genus Pholiota. Two hosts approach the species as curious mycologists and glycobiologists, separating established research from

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00:04:54

Spore Sized: The Sticky Yellow Pholiota With a Hidden...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/25

Pholiota limonella may look like a straightforward yellow woodland mushroom, but identifying it accurately can require much closer examination. Its sticky, scale-covered cap places it among a group of visually similar Pholiota species where microscopic details become far more important than color alone.This short deep-dive podcast brings two hosts together for a focused examination of Pholiota limonella, looking specifically at the characteristics that define the species and distinguish it from its

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00:33:37

Why Pholiota limonella Is More Complicated Than It Looks

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/25

Pholiota limonella is an easily overlooked member of the scalycap fungi, producing lemon-yellow to yellowish caps that can become intensely slimy and are often covered with darker scales. Although it resembles several other members of the Pholiota group, its microscopic characteristics provide some of the most important clues for separating it from closely related species.In this short deep-dive episode, two hosts approach Pholiota limonella as mycologists, focusing specifically on its morphology,

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00:31:33

Pholiota lenta: The Scalycap Hidden Beneath the...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/20

At first glance, Pholiota lenta may not look like the dramatic scalycaps many mushroom hunters associate with the genus. Its pale creamy-to-pinkish cap can become extraordinarily glutinous, collecting leaves, needles and other forest debris across its surface.In this short deep-dive episode, two hosts examine the species through its morphology, ecology and microscopy, focusing on the details that distinguish P. lenta from its more conspicuous relatives.The discussion explores its remarkably slimy

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00:06:52

Spore Sized: Small Spores, Strange Cystidia and a...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/20

Pholiota lenta is an understated member of the scalycap genus, but its appearance tells an unusual ecological story. Rather than displaying the bright colors and obvious clusters associated with some better-known Pholiota, this species can appear pale, subdued and almost completely coated in slime.This episode takes a focused look at the Sticky Scalycap, examining the physical characteristics that make it recognizable and the ecological habits that set it apart.Two hosts explore the creamy, pinkish

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00:05:03

Spore Sized: Inside the Strange Biology of the Golden...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/18

At first glance, Pholiota aurivella looks like a classic autumn woodland mushroom: golden caps, darker scales and dense clusters emerging from trunks, logs and stumps. But beneath that familiar appearance is a fungus with an unusual combination of ecological importance, chemical compounds and unresolved taxonomic questions.This episode takes a focused look at the Golden Scalycap without sensational claims. Two hosts explore how its sticky cap, disappearing scales and distinctive fruiting habit help

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00:46:11

Pholiota aurivella: Inside the Biology of the Golden...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/18

One of the most eye-catching late-summer and autumn mushrooms of northern forests coats itself in a golden, sticky glaze and dark scales, grows in dense clusters on living and dead wood, and recent laboratory research has found an extract dominated by linoleic acid with measurable antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity.In this episode, two hosts take a close scientific look at Pholiota aurivella, commonly known as the Golden Scalycap or Golden Pholiota, focusing exclusively on the species and

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00:06:20

Spore Sized: The Hidden Science Behind the Alder...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/14

Bright yellow mushrooms are common in autumn woodlands, but few have a story quite like Pholiota alnicola. Growing on damp logs, fallen branches, and dying alder trees, this understated species has become increasingly interesting to mycologists because of its specialized habitat, difficult identification, and changing distribution as wetland forests evolve.In this episode, we explore the Alder Scalycap's glossy golden cap, rusty spore print, bitter flavor, and the subtle microscopic features

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00:46:43

The Secret Life of the Alder Scalycap: More Than Just...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/14

At first glance, Pholiota alnicola looks like just another bright yellow mushroom growing from damp wood, but a closer look reveals a fungus with an unexpectedly specialized lifestyle. Closely associated with alder trees and wet woodland habitats, this species is helping researchers better understand forest succession, wood decay, and even the ecological consequences of widespread alder dieback.This episode explores the Alder Scalycap from the ground up, explaining its glossy golden cap, unusually

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00:05:54

Spore Sized: This Mushroom Doesn't Have Gills... It...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/11

Most hikers walk right past Phellodon tomentosus without realizing they're looking at one of the most informative fungi in the forest. Its soft tooth-like spines, fuzzy brown cap, and tendency to grow in fused mats make it unlike typical mushrooms, while its underground partnerships with pine and spruce trees make it an essential part of healthy conifer ecosystems.This episode explores the hidden life of the Woolly Tooth, from its unusual spore-producing teeth to the surprising maple syrup and

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00:22:08

Phellodon tomentosus: The Forgotten Mushroom That...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/11

At first glance, Phellodon tomentosus looks like an unremarkable brown fungus blending into the mossy floor of a conifer forest. But beneath its woolly, concentrically zoned cap lies one of the most fascinating ecological specialists in temperate woodlands. Instead of gills, it produces soft spines that release spores, forms extensive underground partnerships with pine and spruce roots, and develops a surprisingly rich maple syrup or fenugreek fragrance as it dries.This episode explores the

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00:06:16

Spore Sized: This Red Fungus Looks Alien — The Hidden...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/07

Phallus rubicundus, commonly known as the Devil’s Stinkhorn, is one of the most visually unforgettable fungi found in warm climates. Emerging suddenly from a buried fungal egg, this bright red stinkhorn can transform an ordinary garden, lawn, or mulch bed into a brief display of rapid growth, unusual chemistry, and insect-driven reproduction.This episode explores the real science behind Phallus rubicundus, focusing on how this fungus grows, survives, and spreads without relying on traditional

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00:40:29

The Devil’s Stinkhorn Mystery: A Fungus Built for...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/07

Some fungi spend years hidden underground before revealing themselves, but Phallus rubicundus takes a completely different approach. Known as the Devil’s Stinkhorn, this striking reddish fungus can appear almost overnight in gardens, lawns, and woodchip beds, releasing a powerful odor designed to attract insects and complete its short but highly efficient reproductive cycle.This episode explores the biology, ecology, and unusual natural history of Phallus rubicundus, one of the most visually

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00:05:59

Spore Sized: Phallus indusiatus: The Most Beautiful...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/04

Hidden beneath tropical forest floors, Phallus indusiatus begins its life as an ordinary-looking fungal egg before transforming into one of the most visually remarkable mushrooms on Earth. Within a short period, it develops a tall stalk, a delicate white net-like veil, and a chemical strategy designed to attract insects that help spread its spores.This episode explores the science behind the Bridal Veil Stinkhorn, also known as the Veiled Lady or Bamboo Mushroom, focusing on its unusual appearance,

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00:42:19

The Bridal Veil Stinkhorn: The Mushroom That Turns...

Lichen The Vibe ·

2026/08/04

A fungus unlike almost anything else in the forest begins life as a small underground egg before transforming into a delicate white structure covered by a flowing lace-like veil. Phallus indusiatus, known as the Basket Stinkhorn, Bridal Veil Stinkhorn, or Veiled Lady, combines extraordinary appearance, specialized chemistry, and a highly efficient insect-assisted reproductive strategy.This episode explores the biology and ecology of this remarkable tropical fungus, focusing on what makes Phallus

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449 results

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