The Future is Fungi

Dive into the captivating world of fungi with the "The Future is Fungi" podcast, where we explore groundbreaking discoveries and innovations in the mycological universe. Join us as we converse with leading scientists and trailblazers whose visionary work is steering our planet towards a sustainable future by leveraging the fungal kingdom. This podcast is for everyone interested to learn about the potential to leverage fungi for environmental solutions, but also specifically scientists who are interested to walk the route of commercializing their research and fungi focused startups looking to grow their companies and learn from other fungal startup peers.

The Future is Fungi is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 13 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Future is Fungi, a business show with 13 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #2

  From Petri Dish to Beauty: Transforming Cosmetics with Fungi

  Mar 11, 202639 minS2

  <p>In this episode, we sit down with Brita, molecular biologist and co-founder of Mycolever, a biotech startup unlocking the potential of fungi to create sustainable ingredients for everyday products. As a top two finalist out of 187 startups in The Future is Fungi Award, Mycolever is developing fungal-based alternatives to petrochemical and deforestation-linked ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care.</p><p>Brita shares her journey from academic research to entrepreneurship and explains how Mycolever’s bioinformatics platform connects fungal genomes to valuable compounds—opening the door to thousands of new bio-based ingredients.</p><p>We explore how fungal emulsifiers and...

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  Episode #1

  Startup Award Winner 2025 - Michroma

  Feb 1, 202643 minS2

  <p><b>From lab to market: building the future of food with fungi</b></p><p>In the first episode of the season, we speak with <b>Ricky Cassini</b>, founder of <b>Michroma</b> and winner of <b>The Future is Fungi Startup Award 2025</b>, about how fungal biology and precision fermentation are being used to replace synthetic food dyes with natural, high-performance alternatives.</p><p>Ricky shares what it really takes to turn deep science into real-world impact — from navigating regulation and scale to building resilience over a seven-year biotech journey. We explore why replacing petrochemical dyes is su...

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  Episode #11

  Fungi and the Future of Space Exploration w/ Dr. Rothschild & Haveman from NASA

  Jul 30, 202548 minS1

  <p><b>"Science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact"</b></p><p>In this episode, we journey beyond Earth with Dr. Lynn J. Rothschild, an astrobiologist pioneering the use of mycelium materials to build structures on the Moon and Mars. Alongside her is Natasha Haveman, a NASA researcher exploring how fungi can sustain astronauts with food on deep space missions.</p><p>Together, they reveal how fungi could transform space exploration, from producing sustainable food and building “mycotecture” habitats to converting waste into vital resources. We also dive into the challenges of growing fungi in microgravity, explore other fungal applications, and...

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  Episode #10

  From Peer Review to Pitch Decks: Building Funga with Colin Averill

  Jun 23, 202545 minS1

  <p>What if restoring the forest microbiome could help scale reforestation, a healthy forest and build a new kind of climate tech? In this episode, we speak with Dr.Colin Averill, founder of Funga, about translating decades of ecology research into a bold startup vision.</p><p>Funga uses cutting‑edge DNA sequencing, machine learning, and decades of mycology research to restore fungal biodiversity in forest soils, accelerating tree growth, building healthier ecosystems, and creating high-quality carbon credits</p><p>Colin shares what it’s like to go from scientist to founder, and why jumping in before you're fully ready can...

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  Episode #9

  Mycoremediation and Its Fungal Powers with Dr. Oona Snoeyenbos-West

  May 27, 20251 hourS1

  <p>In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Oona Snoeyenbos-West, an environmental microbiologist and co-founder of MycoMine, a pioneering startup using fungi to clean up pollution. With over two decades of experience, Oona is at the forefront of mycoremediation — the process of using fungi’s mycelium networks to break down environmental pollutants like oil spills, heavy metals, and plastics.</p><p>We discuss her journey from a childhood fascination with dinosaurs to building a company that bridges the gap between lab science and real-world impact. Oona shares the challenges of scaling fungal solutions, navigating regulatory hurdles, and the potential of f...

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