Recently Paul Stamets returned to the Joe Rogan podcast, and coincidentally full episodes of Joe’s conversations are available on YouTube again.
A few minutes in, and while half listening to Paul’s first words, I scroll down to the comments section.
With very little delay, there were several comments about the Portobello Mushroom Controversy.
I had no idea what they were talking about, but I did remember this particular moment.
During his last appearance in Joe’s studio in 2017, Paul abruptly refused to discuss the Portobello mushroom in any way.
He said something about a potential threat to his life. It was a very brief moment in a long conversation, but it definitely got my attention.
Fast-forward to 2024, I’ve gone down this Portobello rabbit hole and taking you guys with me.
As far as I understand it, here’s what happened.
The Root of the Rumour
It all started when Paul Stamets, a rock star in the mycology world, dropped a culinary bombshell about our beloved Portobellos.
During Joe’s podcast, he mentioned agaritine, a compound in these mushrooms that can transform into hydrazine—a chemical, according to TikTok that is also used in rocket fuel and therefore a carcinogen.
Although there’s just a trace amount of agaritine in Portobello mushroom, Paul’s reaction to the mere mention of it was enough to stir up a storm of speculation.
A Plot Twist or Just Food for Thought?
Further down the rabbit hole, there were even whispers of Portobello’s connection to organized crime—yup, odd.
Speculations flew around about big mushroom moguls dabbling in dark dealings, and even threats to Stamets for lifting the veil on these studies.
They were called the “Portobello Mafia”.
References to the “Mushroom Mafia” in the Angelfire article and the Reddit posts are more of a creative or satirical take rather than a factual association with criminal activities.
Much Ado About Nothing
What is not often mentioned is that cooking these mushrooms significantly reduces any potential risks linked to agaritine.
Which begs the question, how many of us eat raw Portobellos anyway?
So, whether you’re roasting, grilling, or sautéing, cooking the mushroom thoroughly reduces assumed risks regarding agaritine.
Here are a few Portobello recipes to get you cooking.
As for Paul, I would love to know the backstory of his very serious reaction to Rogan’s 2017 podcast episode.
We may never know the answer, but we can definitely speculate and deliberate over some deliciously grilled mushrooms.
Did you already know about all this drama? Am I late to this party?
Let me know in the comments below.
As always,
Flow strong.
Asha ✨
2 Comments. Leave new
Beautifully written … and you certainly made me 🧐 curious!
Haha, thank you, Esther!
Did you go down the rabbit hole and investigate further? Did you find any other juicy details?