Speakers & Workshops
Alan Rockefeller
Alan has been studying fungal diversity for more than two decades and is a world authority on the psychedelic mushroom genus Psilocybe. His contributions to community science have been widespread, and his dedication to teaching thousands of people how to extract and amplify the DNA of their mushrooms for sequencing is remarkable, and remains unparalleled. Nothing short of a powerhouse, Alan Rockefeller is an authority on the leading edge of mycology, who is beloved by his community for the knowledge and value he contributes to the field.
Dusty Rose Miller
Ph.D.
Dusty studies the chemical composition of Psilocybe mushrooms as an Assistant Research Professor at Vanderbilt University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program in 2015. Dusty views science as a frontier between what is known and what is unknown, not what is true and untrue, keeping her humble and curious. To her, science is like a child reaching for what the mystical traditions have already touched. The standard science holds – requiring that we measure phenomena before they can enter its’ halls – is a game Dusty enjoys playing.
Founder and CEO of MycoSymbiotics, William Padilla-Brown is a Multidisciplinary Citizen Scientist practicing mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and additive manufacturing. William holds permaculture design certificates from Susquehanna Permaculture and NGOZI, and is certified in algal culturing by the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. He pioneered Cordyceps cultivation and published the first ever English-language books on cultivating Cordyceps. William also founded MycoFest, one of the largest mushroom and arts festivals in North America, now on its tenth year!
William Padilla-Brown
Sidnee has spent many years undertaking ongoing research and teaching in both a professional and amateur fashion on a wide range of subjects in mycology. His special interests are fungal genetics and mating, morel ecology, fluorescence microscopy. Sidnee shows how applied biotechnology can be used in cultivation, myco-remediation, cellulosics, and diverse metabolites, which includes dyeing!
He loves finding new uses for fungi that no one has thought of before. Sidnee’s work with UV fluorescent fungal dyes will be featured here.
Sidnee Ober-Singleton
Lorelle Sherman
Lorelle is a forest ecologist, mushroom enthusiast and wild foods forager, local to western Oregon. Lorelle has her B.S. Degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University. Lorelle has been foraging for mushrooms and edible plants for over a decade in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. She now studies the interconnections between trees, fungi, and wildlife in her home state.
Jordan Jacobs
Portland local Jordan Jacobs is a chemist and mycologist who collects, cultivates, and chemically analyzes mushrooms. the Founder of Tryp Labs, a research and quality control laboratory. Their focus is to elucidate the chemical composition of wild and cultivated fungi, as well as consumer products. Jordan is also a member of the Entheogen Genome Project and a staff writer for psychedelics.com. Whether under the trees or at the lab bench, Jordan spends his precious time dissecting the flesh and molecules which make up our fungal friends.
Zachary Owen Heidemann
Zachary is a visionary and modern day medicine man living in Austin TX, who considers himself a sacred friend to all. He is a sacred ceremony leader, published author, certified Holistic Health and Life Coach, and a certified Herbalist. It is Zachary’s highest excitement to authentically help others reach joyous states of being, ultimately toward realizing their greatest potential. Zachary combines the power of nature and ancient indigenous wisdom, offering a safe sacred space for group facilitation and transformational ceremonies.
Jason Scott
Born and raised in Oregon, Jason Scott is a Mycologist, Ethnobotanist and Spagyricist with a background in Ethnobotany and Plant Medicine that was sparked by living in the vibrant ecosystems of the PNW. He has studied medicinal mushrooms and traditional Hermetic Alchemy, from history and philosophy to practice, for over a decade. Jason is the Founder and Owner of Feral Fungi where he produces Mushroom Spagyric Tinctures, and curator of AlcheMycology.com where he shares his teachings, alongside other fascinating discoveries in the world of fungi.
Jack Cyan
Considered one of the top woodlover cultivators in the world, Jack Cyan fell in love with fungi a decade ago when he moved to the central Oregon coast. After he found his first wild patches of wood loving Psilocybe, he was hooked. His first cultivation attempts were contaminated, so he made the fateful choice to put them to wood chips, and fruited his first patches. Now, Jack throws a yearly event to spread Psilocybe azurescens along its native coastal habitat to help combat human activities. Jack is heavily involved in the myco community, particularly in Oregon. His life’s work involves making wood loving Psilocybe species easy for anyone to grow, with no experience necessary.
Megan Serhan
Megan Serhan is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Functional Mobility Therapist. Megan is also a Reiki Master and a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with over five years of experience, currently studying for more advanced certifications. Her classes offer a balanced experience of practice, always with a combination of breath work, meditation, and accessible asana poses with modifications for any level yogi. At Trout Creek Wilderness Lodge she will be providing live slow flow vinyasa classes on the sky deck that everyone can enjoy.
Mandie Quark
Co-host of this event and molecular mycologist by training, Mandie Quark is a researcher, writer, and editor with a passion for the advancement of community science. Currently Mandie is the only person working for all the leading community mycology organizations in North America: Fungal Diversity Survey, Ohio Mushroom DNA Lab, and Mycota Lab. Co-Founder of Mycena LLC alongside Alan Rockefeller, Mandie lives and works in the California Bay Area, while continuing to tour the world as a speaker, photographer, and field collector during mushroom season.
Jess Starwood
Jess Starwood is a co-host of this event as well as an established author, naturalist, chef, herbalist and educator. She is also the founder of SunRaven Apothecary which offers small-batch handcrafted herbal goods for the journey of the body and mind. Jess currently teaches foraging, wild foods and nature education classes for children and adults. With a Master’s of Science degree in Herbal Medicine, Jess is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Science in Integrative Health from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. She has earned the Integrative Psilocybin Mushroom Specialist and Integrative Cannabis Specialist certifications.