Please comment below for any guests that you would like to see on the show. We'd love to hear from you!

A mushroom scientist named Merlin. You can't make this up.

And I want to to say something: he has also a wonderful voice. He plays occasionally with his musician brother, Cosmo Sheldrake.

Wow ! in recent years a TED speaker once said that " there is no single scientist on the planet that fully understands what is going on in a single centimetre of soil ". It's info like this that confirms it. This stuff about mycology and the wood wide web is so mind boggling that comprehending the entire process of soil technology would require knowledge of a wider range of sciences.What a challenge for any one interested in soil and associated organisms. However, just consider the impact of applying this knowledge !! I imagine it could change our planet into a plant paradise.

The Sheldrake legacy continues. Perfectly splendid speech 👏👏👏

Ok so now i'm convinced that the Sheldrake family is not coming from this world

Imagine a population flooded with information like this everyday....

The Sheldrake family are so fascinating! Merlin's book was a nice way to hide this winter for me! Didn't even know Rupert had a son and when I saw Entangled Life for sale at my local book seller I knew instinctively to pick pick it up when I saw the name! Thanks for the interview UnHerd! You guys do great work!

Amazing interview. Merlin's voice is oddly relaxing, almost fell asleep....

As an amateur mycologist myself I have found this a wonderful interview. I shall certainly be ordering the book! Thank You!

Every time I hear a Merlin Sheldrake interview, I’m calmed, my eyes see things clearer and I learn so much; and I can assure you I’ve seen a lot of his interviews. I’ve always been interested in the natural world, I love it’s mysticism and how it keeps revealing snippets, and the people who find them. Thank you for a very thought provoking and great intellectual discussion, both. ❤

Freddy, I have run out of qualifiers to describe your eclectic interests. Keep up the diversified and incisive interviews. Thanks so much!

This is one of the most fascinating interviews I've heard in a long time. Truly thought inducing on a very deep level. Thank you so much! So appreciated.

"Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm". Bravo, Merlin and thanks Freddie.

A fascinating interview. Merlin's book is apparently selling like hot cakes and will hopefully inspire respect and an increased interest in the world of fungi.

The mysterious atmosphere in which this interview is held perfectly matches the topic. Great job by the set designers.

Nice to see Frodo branching out into new disciplines

This was fascinating and a welcome respite, thank you for sharing Merlin’s perspective and knowledge with us! I am ALWAYS fascinated by the true miracles of nature and, as humans, our small part in this world. As always, great work.

An intelligent, non-screaming host and an intelligent guest - how refreshing! The parallels between mycelium and the internet would be an interesting discussion.

This guy is everything you'd expect from a guy named Merlin Sheldrake 😄 Super interesting subject and great interview!

I just love this guy...and his father and his brother too! They all seem to possess a particular flavor of intelligence that I appreciat immensely. Maybe their my "brothers from a fungi mother"! 😊

This is facinating. Having studied horticulture I am aware of the benefit that micorrhizal symbiosis to plants but I had no idea of the complexity. This book will be my next read. It strikes me that the only way we are going to see any sort of logic on this current "pandemic" is if we have some sort of unbiased international think tank involving experts from a wide range of the academic world. Putting all our trust in the likes of the WHO is a monumental error that we will all pay dearly for.

Yet another Sheldrake connection-to-widening-horizons. Thanks for the posting, the interview. I've known about Merlin for some time, but finally getting a chance to explore what he has to say in yet another "wider view" of all things great and small.

I predict this will be the most fascinating vid I shall watch this year.

Parenting done right!!!

This was truly fascinating. By far the best interviewee you have enticed onto your show. Now I need to acquire a copy of “Entangled Life”. Great fun 😀 Thank you Freddie & Melvin.

You should definitely invite Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi. A vocal corona critic from Germany who gets ignored and censored. Angela Spelsberg should be interesting too, she studied in Harvard and is another epidemiologist critical of the measures.

The Sheldrake family are all so amazing and talented

Wholeheartedly enjoyable. I nurtured a fascination with marine invertebrates and ecosystems early in my career and find many points of agreement and interest in the field of mycology. This knowledge also forms the basis for my economic model. Thank you.

Wonderful. Humbling. Exciting.

I love to see different perspectives on how to look at the scientific world. This guy's way of rationalising things is both cerebral and mystical.

I loved every minute of this.

Smart questions, smart answers - great!

His voice is perfect for the topic. Fantastic book, fantastic subject. Cant suggest anyone else for you to interview, I’m afraid you peaked here.

What a great guest... thanks guys. Super awesome to hear other fields getting involved into the discussion.

Fascinating. Really excellent conversation facilitated by Freddie.

I struugle to understand some of this , but am in awe all the same. Freddie and Merlin would make a better job of running the world than the current batch of detached, inentangled muppets. Thank you Freddie, what a great way to start a day.

I love fungi! Thank you for the video. The manner of Merlin's speech, the look of some facial features, especially his eyes, and his scientific wonder, exploration, and intelligence reminds me of Rupert Sheldrake and I am wondering if Merlin is his son or if they are related. EDITED: I read the comments and realized Rupert must be his father. Very inspiring family. To encourage joy of learning in whatever fields their children and each other are passionate.

It’s always good to put the word “politics” before the word “fungi”.

I wonder what his thoughts are about hydroponic growing which avoids any fungal interaction. Does this mean that hydroponic grown vegetables are lacking in some nutrients that soil grown plants have. Just a thought.

Love these interviews - so edifying and entertaining!

Excellent answers ! Really enlightening summarisation of the realtionship found in nature. One of the important or rather central points that the interviewee is making is that from a biological sustainability perspective it is not a biological individual that makes life work in all its complexity, but the visible and invisible, tangible and intangible, and concrete and abstract relationships that are formed between countless biological individuals, that are the motive force of all the activities within and outside cellular structures that make up the symphony of life. If we become aware of this reality, i.e. we are not kicking and thriving because we have some special abilities within us (in the Darwinian sense), but because of the symbiotic, rather assistive help of the microbial world, which in turn goes through its life-cycle assisted by plants and vegetations, and vice-versa, then we would find ourselves relating differently (sensitively, intimately) to the ecological base we are unintentionally eroding. It is not often that I one comes across such rigorously dialectical and humanistically scientific formulation of a complex subject like the relationship between microbial world and the world at large, in such simple and everyday language, without the use of jargons. A very artistic presentation!

This was great! It shows the exact difference between the person who studies physical world observation ( true definition of scientist) philosophy of science (phd) and the supposed administrative 'scientist' who gets all the attention and is given all the credit of understanding and being 'right' when they are truly those who completely mis understand science studies...government specialists.

Underestimated group. No fungi, no forests! Absolutely essential to life. We have only a handful of mycologists in tbe UK (taxonomy & systematics really low on experts across the board as not generally taught anymore in universities). Havent read the book yet, but hope its as good as appears.

I found this topic and interview quite interesting and educational. I was a "conservationist" before most people knew what it meant growing up on a farm and watching erosion from wind and water take away so much good soil. The plants and animals need each other obviously but this offers an in-depth explanation of how close and intimate that relationship is.

Thank you to the sheldrake family

that ant story is the scariest story i have heard in a long time

Thank you so much for the clear sighted wisdom that you express..fells likes food for the Soul! May your words be heard by the many...!

Watching these guys talk about fungi is very relaxing. I'm transported into The Dune-like world of subterranean networks of burrowing fungi. Why am I listening to this? No idea. I'm hypnotised with this guy's idiosyncratic obsession. He could easily start a cult and preach the gospel of the fungi. He certainly has the looks and the demeanour for it.

Great stuff thanks for this , looking forward to picking up the book! I have read his fathers books and massively enjoyed them. Incredibly thought provoking.

The Sheldrakes are a wonderfull gift to the world

I read his book. It was great and nicely illustrated. On a side note. "Merlin Sheldrake" has to be one of the most British names possible. lol

Regarding morphic resonance, in addition to fungus in ants clothing.. Cordyceps also like to wear beetles! There was a great episode of "Stuff to blow your mind podcast" on the history of mushroom foraging! BTW, regarding how plants are also tribal.. they will help those similar, before other types, it seems shedding it from human-nature will be difficult!

When I first saw this new video post I didn’t think it would be interesting. Boy was I wrong. Thanks both.

Michael Yeadon on Talk Radio had a lot to say.....An absolute must

Freddy, the BEST journalist worldwide. Smart and handsome. How is it possible 😍😍

I've never seen Freddy so enamored of a guest. Has he finally met his match? :)

Fantastic subject. Terrain vs germ theories of medicine

Excellent!

Great interview. Fungi are fun. I have always been curious about how fungi & other organisms like lichens and algae are so intertwined.

Great book, great clarity. Thanks guys

Beautifull people, both of you!!

I think alot of what is discussed here in part demonstrates how Western Science (and the individual-focussed ideology in which its embedded) seems to have a hard time understanding and articulating the cooperative / mutually dependent relationships that natural science continues to observes in nature). However, these ideas do seem to join up very well with the relational-focussed philosophy, theory, and thought of American Indigenous cultures. I recomend this book for an interesting read that thoroughly discusses this view, as well as critiques these aspects of Western beliefs and knowledge: Pierotti, Raymond. Indigenous Knowledge, Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology, 2010

There is a guest that will be very interesting is Yanis Yarouvakis, his extensive knowledge in economic can help people to understand capitalism. and it’s ramifications. He has a wide view of what we are going through right now. Just a suggestion.

Beautiful and brilliant Merlin 💖 “fungi are promiscuous” fucking love you man 🙏

Well, we could consider individual humans as plants nested in a fungal network. As long as the benefits of being connected to that network are greater than the costs, we remain connected, but as animals, we can go nestle elsewhere if the costs are too great.

I‘ve learned so much from this channel, amazing .

THANK YOU

Very cool. Always great guests

He has elegant hands and gestures.

Fascinating topic ! Thanks Freddie!

Merlin you are blessed with multifaceted brilliance...oh man, work it hard.. We need Help.

Excellent insightful discussion as always. Thanks 😊

Pleasure for ears, always!

Do you think that viruses and fungi have anything in common? (RE: some scientists and MDs believe viruses are shed in response to distress in the body, that this a way to communicate a threat to others.) When I first heard this idea I couldn't help but think of how trees communicate exposure to disease and/or distress with other trees. One mode of tree "communication" is to utilize fungal networks to share information. Does this happen in humans with viruses? Hmmmm....

This helps me appreciate the magic of fungi even more

Lovely inteligent conversation despite the huge amount of diplomacy and indirect questions and answers.

Best. Name. Ever.

Marvelous!!!

I'd wager young Merlin has been sampling the merchandise.😍

Thumbs up for the most decorative middle earth moniker on-line.

Thank you. Brilliant.

Nicely paced and most enjoyable interview. I always suspected that 2016 UK referendum was a fungal event ... :)) Thanks.

I am loving the book so far

Of course, those "in power" don't want to do anything that might threaten the power and greed of their puppet masters. Public health is not the issue; profit is the issue. Our "leaders" have no more autonomy than the cordyceps infected ants. The Sheldrake family are wonderful. Thanks to all.

Really like Rupert Sheldrake and I’ve seen Merlins fungi book. Very interesting talk thanks

That was a fantastic interview with really exceptional individual. I’d love to see Jackson Katz in conversation.

I loved the interview...fascinating ....just like his dad

this is so cool

This researcher's discussions goes well with a documentary about how fungi are chemical fixers- pulling excesses of a mineral and binding it so that specific species if plants can take hold in an environment.

He's SO interesting

Gonna go out on a limb and guess that he’s Rupert’s son. I mean, he kinda looks just like him. And then there’s the name. Just call me Sherlock.

Mushrooms are amazing but I don't have an in-depth understanding of them. They look quite pretty, like umbrellas. Do find the concept of morphic resonnance quite compelling and worth exploring..brings to mind entangled protons in quantum physics from the Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 which is fascinating. It's way beyond the realm of full human comprehension but a glimpse of it is endlessly enlightening. ~ X

Didn't he play the Longshanks' gentle son in Braveheart?

Another excellent interview.

This should be on a podcast

I wish I can be this articulate someday

It’s underground self organising anarchism.

When I was a child I was very concerned with compost also , as a baby Potting compost was my favourite .

Just read the book. Really fascinating man.