02: From Chef to Mycologist - Dr. Monika Fischer

What can fungi teach us about the hidden systems that keep forests alive?

In this episode, Dean Rob Kozak sits down with mycologist Dr. Monika Fischer to explore her unconventional journey from professional chef to academic.

Together, they uncover the remarkable world beneath our feet: how fungal networks connect forest ecosystems, cycle nutrients, and help landscapes recover after wildfire.

Dr. Fischer also shares insights from her work in the Fischer Fire Fungi Lab at the University of British Columbia, where researchers are studying the fire-loving fungi that emerge in the wake of wildfires.