Episode 59

A Morel Dilemma Bonus Radio Co-Broadcast: Ryan Feldman on WTMJ Conversations — Morels, Mushroom Poisoning, and the Story Behind A Morel Dilemma

In this bonus episode of A Morel Dilemma, Ryan shares his recent interview on WTMJ Conversations with Libby Collins.

The conversation goes behind the scenes of the series and explores why Ryan spent two years investigating the 2023 Bozeman, Montana morel mushroom outbreak, one of the strangest poisoning outbreaks in recent history. Ryan discusses how the outbreak challenged long-held assumptions about morels, why mushroom poisonings are not all the same, and how public health investigators work through uncertainty when people become seriously ill from a shared exposure.

The episode also covers mushroom foraging safety, the difference between true and false morels, why raw or undercooked morels can be dangerous, and what Wisconsin poison center toxicologists commonly see during mushroom season. Ryan also talks about broader poisoning outbreaks, including vape-associated lung injury, contaminated synthetic cannabinoids, pediatric exploratory ingestions, THC edibles, and other toxicology problems that show up far more often than mushrooms.

This is a good episode for anyone who wants a more conversational introduction to A Morel Dilemma, the public health stakes behind poisoning outbreaks, and the strange world of mushroom toxicology.

Topics covered include:

Why foraging is becoming more popular
Why you should never eat a mushroom unless you are 100% sure of its identification
True morels vs. false morels
Why morels should never be eaten raw or undercooked
The Bozeman morel mushroom outbreak
How investigators think through foodborne poisoning mysteries
Mushroom poisonings seen by poison centers in Wisconsin
Death caps, destroying angels, and amatoxin poisoning
Pediatric poisoning risks, including laundry pods, THC edibles, and household chemicals
Why poisoning outbreaks are difficult to recognize and investigate
What A Morel Dilemma is really trying to uncover

You can learn more about the series at ThePoisonLab.com or TheMorelDilemma.com.