Fungi, mycelium, floods, fire and food systems – what if the quiet stuff under our feet is holding far more together than we realise?Life & Depth – Season 2: Nature, Seeds & Growth: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp2syVpW_daYjm6lY9I_qG0WuEm0K0e6CBig Questions, Real Stories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp2syVpW_daYHYo8sp7kF-LrwJJEU26VkWhen Life Knocks You Sideways: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp2syVpW_daZa6hx5q_5KTAYXxzikQpvXIn this episode I sit down with facilitator and food‑sovereignty advocate Joanne to explore fungi as the “connective tissue of the earth”, how mycelial networks work with plants and microbes, and why they matter for climate resilience and community life.If you’re curious about mushrooms beyond psychedelics – soil health, decomposition, remediation, grief and belonging – this one is for you.What we uncover togetherHow fungal networks partner with plant roots to move nutrients, pull carbon into soils and turn dirt into a living sponge that can actually hold water.Why some mycorrhizal fungi act like underground “infrastructure”, connecting trees and crops while we walk above them with no idea.Joanne’s story of being caught in a Greek wildfire, watching locals mask their fear, and how that moment changed how she sees fire, risk and climate‑driven disasters.How fungi can help remediate polluted or burnt land, from California fire grounds to flood‑damaged fields in Ireland.The emotional layer: feeling small inside planetary crises, processing eco‑anxiety and grief, and finding steadier ground through land‑based community work.Practical entry points if you want to work with fungi where you live – from soil observation and simple experiments to plugging into global underground‑network projects.Who this episode is forPeople who feel the climate crisis in their body but don’t know what to do with that feeling.Growers, gardeners, farmers and land‑workers curious about soil life, mycelium and living infrastructure.Anyone drawn to mushrooms, ecology or food sovereignty who wants stories as well as science.Why this might help youInstead of only doom or only tech‑fixes, this conversation leans into relationship – between fungi and plants, land and people, floods and fire and the ways communities respond. Joanne brings grounded stories, not hype, and points towards work that is already happening quietly beneath our feet.Micro‑FAQAre we talking about psychedelic mushrooms?Mostly no. We focus on ecological and soil fungi – mycorrhizal networks, decomposers and remediation work – with just brief mentions of wider fungal culture.What exactly do fungi do in soil?They help decompose and recompose organic matter, move nutrients to roots, pull carbon into the ground and create sponge‑like soil structure that holds water.Can fungi really help with floods and fire?Certain species and practices can stabilise soil, capture water and support post‑fire recovery and pollution clean‑up. Joanne shares real projects and early results.How can I start learning without a lab?Begin with paying attention: local soil, simple cultivation, community workshops, and following organisations mapping underground networks globally.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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