(Editor’s Note: Today’s Mycopreneur Newsletter is a guest post from our esteemed colleague and celebrated mushroom scientist Ian Bollinger of the Center for Mycological Analytics. He is hosting today’s Mycopreneur Incubator, the invite to which is at the bottom of today’s newsletter)

We are in the infancy of understanding mushrooms, and with that in mind our goal is to provide a vetted resource for understanding and accessing curated information grounded in research and experience. The Hericium Digest is our three-part series bringing the best knowledge of cultivation, culture, and science of Hericium species fungi to the forefront.

In 2025 we released Part 1, in which we explored the cultural and ecological roles that Lion's Mane mushrooms have evolved alongside humans. From the 山伏 (Yamabushi), Japanese mountain sages, to the culinary traditions of eastern Europe, the breadth of historical and cultural knowledge around these fantastic fungi reaches far. We brought together global insights: foraging techniques, traditional uses, and cultural importance, always centering the context of origin so that the knowledge lands with the perspective it deserves.

The just-released Part 2 takes a complementary approach, investigating Hericium species fungi through the lens of hard sciences. We build a foundation in ecology, biology, and chemistry, covering how these white-rot fungi decompose hardwood, how they build their compounds through metabolic pathways, and how we differentiate between species using genetics, chemistry, and physical traits. We dive into erinacines and hericenones, and yes, some compounds you likely haven't heard of including corallocins, erinacerins, hericioic acids, and ergothioneine! We discuss where in the mushroom these compounds are found in greatest abundance and how to extract the most from each. We close with an honest look at the current testing landscape: the tools that exist, the reference materials that don't yet, and what that means for anyone making or evaluating Hericium products today.

Part 3 is a special feature for those that purchase all three parts together! Featuring two long-form interviews with members of our community that cultivate both Hericium fungi and the culture around them. We can't wait to share those conversations!

The Center for Mycological Analytics (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building a community of leaders, researchers, and citizen scientists dedicated to making mycology accessible. Through creating lab spaces and educational resources, CMA breaks down barriers in the scientific study of mushrooms, including their ecosystems, metabolisms, bioactive compounds, and human interactions. Contact and consulting information available at our website: https://centerformycoanalytics.org

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87575277676?pwd=w5k1GGlfZ22I3SOtolZbZokYnxpUi8.1

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Passcode: 038704

Thanks for reading today’s Mycopreneur Newsletter and see you at the Incubator,

DW