177: Tero Isokauppila – All Things Mushrooms & Creativity

“Mushrooms are more playful, more loving, and more nurturing…”

- Tero Isokauppila

Welcome back to ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio)!  In this podcast, we explore the mind, body, and soul of the creative entrepreneur, bringing you awe-inspiring guests to help take your business, creativity, and life to the next level.

Today, we've got another exciting episode with one of my favorite people. His name is Tero Isokauppila, the founder of the mushroom brand Four Sigmatic. He’s a mushroom guru who took me on an epic trip to Finnish Lapland last January 2021. 

Tero knows all about mushrooms  — everything from regular mushrooms you can find outside to psilocybin. Mushrooms are his passion — he writes and speaks about mushrooms, particularly their role in enhancing creativity. He is also an outspoken advocate for the resurgence of non-addictive substances as an outlet for self-exploration.

Mushrooms have been a part of many cultures for centuries, and they are still used in rituals today. They can take you on a mystical journey to another place, enhance creativity, and help you through transformative inner work. That kind of Identity Alchemy is what I work and live for, and I really want to inspire you to do the same.

In today’s episode, Tero talks about his calling in exploring mushrooms, what these mushrooms can do for your health, how mushrooms promote creativity, and so much more. So there are lots of things that we talk about that are super fascinating.  I myself experienced a lot of healing through mushrooms, so I’m excited to get into this episode. . 

Which Mushroom Varieties Can Help Boost Your Health

Did you know that there are more than 50,000 species of mushrooms, including molds and yeasts? We all know about the common white mushroom, but there's a whole world of fungi out there! From shiitake to chanterelles and morels, mushrooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different textures. Not only do they have huge health benefits, but they also provide an interesting change from traditional side dishes for dinner. But we’ll focus more on the ones with healthy benefits.

Mushrooms have been a major part of many cultures for thousands of years. They have been used in medicine, cuisine, and even magic. Today, mushrooms can be found on almost any restaurant menu or at your local supermarket. Of course, the most common mushroom is the white button variety that you grow in your own backyard. While not nearly as exciting as some other varieties, they are still healthy and full of benefits including their potential to boost creativity.

“When people think of mushrooms, they often think of portabella mushrooms, which are known as culinary mushrooms — things that you eat for flavor and they have fiber and protein and … vitamins. So … a lot of people think they are like vegetables because they … [have] low calories [and] no cholesterol.”

- Tero Isokauppila

People often think of mushrooms as food and not medicine, but they can be more than just a delicious side dish. There are many different types with various benefits for your health —Tero shared his top 3 favorite varieties that you can add to your menu.

“When we talk about these functional mushrooms, … superfood mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, and Lion's Mane tend to grow on trees, and they're not bioavailable, like you shouldn't eat mushrooms raw in general  — you really have to cook [them].”

- Tero Isokauppila

Reishi, Chaga, and Lion's Mane are easy to use in your everyday cooking. . All three have been found to be powerful anti-inflammatory agents, and they are considered medicinal mushrooms that can aid in weight loss, boost the immune system, ease depression, and so much more. These mushrooms will make your life healthier if taken regularly at the right dosage.

“[One] of the top three are Chaga mushrooms — known as...