On this episode of The Children’s Hour we explore mushrooms with mycology educator and author, Peter McCoy. We’ll learn about how the fruits of fungi are the smallest parts of these incredible organisms, which can be found everywhere in nature from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the sea, and how they are a part of all living and dead creatures on Earth.

This episode comes with a free Learn-Along Guide that meets and cites US National Education Standards.

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Fungi is much more than just a food for humans and others, it’s quite possibly the reason life is so abundant here on planet Earth. Using complex chemical signals, mycelium can communicate with one another, and scientists are exploring how they interact with plants and soils.

Peter McCoy will explain what the role of fungus is in our environment, and how it’s the great transformer of chemicals into nutrition for plants around the world.

We will also find out about myco-remediation experiments using fungi to help clean up pollutants in rivers, the ocean, on land, and in our soils. You can learn more about myco-remediation in this video from the Biomimicry Institute.

Understanding Microremediation by the Biomimicry Institute

With poetry by Sylvia Plath, and a playlist celebrating all things fungi, join us as we learn about the fungus among us.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone, Executive Producer of The Children’s Hour. Our Learn-Along guides are written by Jonathan Dunski. Many thanks to Dr. Peter McCoy for being with us on The Children’s Hour.

© 2021-2023 The Children’s Hour Inc.

Playlist Fungus Among Us

titleartistalbumlabelduration
What in the WorldThe Happy RacersReady Set Go2017 SpinBoxClub02:38
Mycelium Around YaFormidable VegetableGrow Do It2016 8 POUND GORILLA RECORDS02:48
Church of the WoodsThe Okee Dokee BrothersSongs for Singin'2020 Okee Dokee Music LLC02:19
Like a Hobbit in a Mushroom FieldBrobdingnagian BardsMemories of Middle Earth2003 Mage Records00:59
Mushrooms, Blue Cheese, Mold, Bacteria, FungusBram Barkersingle2010 Bram Barker03:05
Gentle ChasePodington BearBackground2014 HUSH01:23
FungiPeter WeatherallBasic Biology2004 Peter Weatherall02:17
We're All ConnectedMedeski, Martin & WoodLet's Go Everywhere2014 Little Monster Records01:25
Portobello MushroomsKB WhirlyGreetings from Cloud 92016 Kb Whirly02:16
The Fungus SongRichard Bullsingle2013 Richard Bull01:31
I Hear EchoesKetsaSingle2011 Ketsa Reiki Music01:17
The Mushroom SongBob LaBoubeUp On the Hill2012 Bob LaBoube02:44