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Critters, Spores & Storytelling: Eva Gordon on Animal Mycophiles and Fungal Literacy
🎙 Heal With Mushrooms Podcast
Episode Title: Critters, Spores & Storytelling: Eva Gordon on Animal Mycophiles and Fungal Literacy
Host: Cassandra Beaumont
Guest: Eva Gordon
Air Date: August 9st 2025
🌿 Episode Summary:
In this joyful and knowledge-rich episode, Cassandra welcomes science educator turned storyteller Eva Gordon—a self-described fungal zoologist—to explore the captivating world of animal mycophiles: creatures that forage, farm, self-medicate, and even get high on fungi.
With over 20 years teaching AP Biology and Chemistry, Eva now blends zoology, evolutionary biology, and mycology into engaging talks and written works that illuminate the overlooked ecological relationships between animals and fungi. Her upcoming book, Animal Mycophiles: Critters That Hunt, Farm, Self-Medicate, and Get High on Fungi, is now available for preorder, offering both rigorous science and whimsical delight.
Together, Cassandra and Eva discuss mushroom-eating slugs, truffle-digging pigs, medicinal fungi for bees, and frog-mushroom symbiosis. Eva also shares her vision for Mycelium Mindful Meditation, fungal education through NAMA, and a growing movement to establish an international World Fungi Day.
🍄 Topics Covered:
Eva’s journey from naturalist child to “fungal zoologist”
The moment mushrooms captured her heart
Why animal-fungal interactions are underexplored (and why that matters)
Snails, squirrels, and pigs as fungal dispersers
Medicinal mushroom use by animals (and implications for humans)
Frogs on Amanitas: aesthetics, ecology, and the rise of Cottagecore
How fungi show up in Eva’s fantasy fiction
The power of storytelling in science education
Eva’s work as Co-Chair of the NAMA Education Committee
Vision for World Fungi Day in classrooms nationwide
Her upcoming talk at the Olympic Peninsula Mushroom Festival (Oct 19, 2025)
Mycelium Mindful Meditation as ecological wellness practice
📚 Preorder Eva’s New Book:
Title: Animal Mycophiles: Critters That Hunt, Farm, Self-Medicate, and Get High on Fungi
Release Date: August 19, 2025
đź”— Preorder Link: tevagordon.blogspot.com
Publisher: Green Writers Press
đź“Ś Connect with Eva Gordon:
Instagram: @evagordonauthor
Facebook: Eva Gordon
Substack: egordon56.substack.com
Contact: [email protected]
đź’« Like What You Heard?
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review Heal With Mushrooms
🌱 Share this episode with a fellow fungi lover
📸 Tag us on Instagram @healwithmushrooms and use #AnimalMycophiles
View all episodes
By Cassandra Beaumont🎙 Heal With Mushrooms Podcast
Episode Title: Critters, Spores & Storytelling: Eva Gordon on Animal Mycophiles and Fungal Literacy
Host: Cassandra Beaumont
Guest: Eva Gordon
Air Date: August 9st 2025
🌿 Episode Summary:
In this joyful and knowledge-rich episode, Cassandra welcomes science educator turned storyteller Eva Gordon—a self-described fungal zoologist—to explore the captivating world of animal mycophiles: creatures that forage, farm, self-medicate, and even get high on fungi.
With over 20 years teaching AP Biology and Chemistry, Eva now blends zoology, evolutionary biology, and mycology into engaging talks and written works that illuminate the overlooked ecological relationships between animals and fungi. Her upcoming book, Animal Mycophiles: Critters That Hunt, Farm, Self-Medicate, and Get High on Fungi, is now available for preorder, offering both rigorous science and whimsical delight.
Together, Cassandra and Eva discuss mushroom-eating slugs, truffle-digging pigs, medicinal fungi for bees, and frog-mushroom symbiosis. Eva also shares her vision for Mycelium Mindful Meditation, fungal education through NAMA, and a growing movement to establish an international World Fungi Day.
🍄 Topics Covered:
Eva’s journey from naturalist child to “fungal zoologist”
The moment mushrooms captured her heart
Why animal-fungal interactions are underexplored (and why that matters)
Snails, squirrels, and pigs as fungal dispersers
Medicinal mushroom use by animals (and implications for humans)
Frogs on Amanitas: aesthetics, ecology, and the rise of Cottagecore
How fungi show up in Eva’s fantasy fiction
The power of storytelling in science education
Eva’s work as Co-Chair of the NAMA Education Committee
Vision for World Fungi Day in classrooms nationwide
Her upcoming talk at the Olympic Peninsula Mushroom Festival (Oct 19, 2025)
Mycelium Mindful Meditation as ecological wellness practice
📚 Preorder Eva’s New Book:
Title: Animal Mycophiles: Critters That Hunt, Farm, Self-Medicate, and Get High on Fungi
Release Date: August 19, 2025
đź”— Preorder Link: tevagordon.blogspot.com
Publisher: Green Writers Press
đź“Ś Connect with Eva Gordon:
Instagram: @evagordonauthor
Facebook: Eva Gordon
Substack: egordon56.substack.com
Contact: [email protected]
đź’« Like What You Heard?
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and review Heal With Mushrooms
🌱 Share this episode with a fellow fungi lover
📸 Tag us on Instagram @healwithmushrooms and use #AnimalMycophiles