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Podcast #024 - Sacred Mushrooms of Mexico - An Interview with Dr. Brian Akers
March 30, 2009 12:31 AM PDT
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Today’s guest is Dr. Brian Akers the author of The Sacred Mushrooms of Mexico.

What were the mushroom traditions of ancient Mexico? Was there just one "mushroom cult"? Or were there diverse practices spread across many cultures? What were some of Gordon Wasson's most important contributions to ethnomycology? What is the importance of the mystic, or transpersonal experience? From mycology to anthropology to mystical experiences, this conversation is an intellectual feast.

Dr. Brian Akers earned his Ph.D. in Mycology from Southern Illinois University, specializing in mushrooms, especially the Lepiota group (parasol mushroom and allies), and also possesses a Masters in anthropology and a Bachelors in comparative religion from Western Michigan University. He is the author of "The Sacred Mushrooms of Mexico: Assorted Texts" (2007, Univ. Press of America), and a series of journal publications on fungi and ethnomycology. He served a ten year term as biology professor at several colleges and universities including University of Minnesota-Morris.

He was born and raised in Detroit and currently resides in the Tampa Bay area.

Order The Sacred Mushrooms of Mexico: http://astore.amazon.com/gnosmedi-20/detail/0761835822