Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Mcspadden. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for Mother Mycelium wasn’t something I sat down and planned. It was something that grew naturally from my dedication to mushroom cultivation and the fungal world. My journey into mushroom farming and foraging began as a hobby, but the more I learned, the deeper I went down the mycology rabbit hole.
I started growing mushrooms as another crop in my garden. As my interest in the hobby progressed, I began selling supplies and cultures for growing mushrooms to friends and family. So many were interested in growing mushrooms, but they didn’t know where to start. The information out there was often too scattered, overwhelming, or technical. There wasn’t a clear, engaging way for beginners to get started without feeling lost.
I realized that my passion wasn’t just growing mushrooms—it was teaching others how to grow them, identify them in the wild, and integrate fungi into their lives. I saw a gap in the way people were interacting with this fascinating world, and I knew I could bridge it with a practical, hands-on approach.
That’s how Mother Mycelium was born. My goal is to make mushroom growing accessible, to simplify it, and to show people how fungi are intertwined with every part of the natural world. What excites me the most is providing knowledge and inspiration for people to explore the world of mycology.
I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor because every time I shared what I was doing, the response was the same. People wanted this knowledge, they were naturally interested in mycology, and they loved the idea of integrating fungi into their lives in a meaningful way. This business isn’t just about selling another mushroom product. It is about growing an appreciation for the natural world and helping people reconnect with it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Chris, a full-time mushroom farmer, forager, educator, and founder of Mother Mycelium, a brand dedicated to providing a space where knowledge, community, and sustainability can thrive together. My journey into the mushroom world started with a love for nature. I enjoy exploring the outdoors and I have always been fascinated by the hidden web of fungi beneath our feet. I was drawn to fungi because they are the ultimate connectors in nature, breaking down organic matter, forming symbiotic relationships, and balancing ecosystems in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
My fascination turned into a hands-on practice when I started growing mushrooms, both for food and for their ecological benefits. I quickly realized that while many people were interested in mushrooms, they often found the learning process overwhelming. The information was usually overly technical or otherwise unapproachable for beginners. That’s where I saw an opportunity to bridge the gap. My approach simplifies the process, breaking it down into clear, actionable steps so anyone can successfully cultivate fungi, from home gardeners to small-scale farmers. And for those simply curious about fungi, I provide engaging, accessible content that makes learning about mushrooms exciting rather than daunting.
Through Mother Mycelium, I teach people how to cultivate mushrooms at home and forage for wild fungi. My content spans multiple platforms, including my YouTube channel, where I create free educational videos on everything mycology related. I also host live workshops and guide mushroom forays, providing hands-on learning experiences where people can dive deeper into the world of mushrooms.
What makes my work unique is the way I connect fungi to a larger story—one that includes ecology, sustainability, and creativity. My teaching style is hands-on, practical, and designed to make the learning process fun rather than intimidating. It’s not just about growing mushrooms; it’s about reconnecting with nature, learning practical skills, and appreciating how fungi fit into the broader world of ecological balance.
I’m most proud of the growing community that’s formed around Mother Mycelium. Seeing people succeed in growing their first mushrooms, hearing how they’ve gained confidence in identifying mushrooms, or watching them integrate fungi into their daily routines. These moments are incredibly rewarding. I love knowing that my work is helping people build a closer relationship with nature in a way that’s educational and deeply fulfilling.
I truly believe fungi hold the key to many of the challenges we face as individuals and as a planet, and I hope to connect as many people as possible with the fungal world and its powerful relationship to nature. The fungal world brings me so much joy and I have a burning passion to share it with anyone and everyone-one spore at a time!
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Yes, my side hustle eventually became my full-time career, but it wasn’t an overnight transformation. It was a long process of dedication, persistence, and realizing that what I loved doing had real value for others.
My journey with fungi began as a personal obsession. I was already passionate about nature, but mushrooms fascinated me in a way nothing else did. I started foraging for wild mushrooms, learning their ecology, and eventually experimenting with growing my own. At first, it was just something I did in my spare time, alongside other work.
Eventually, I started talking to other gardeners, farmers, and nature enthusiasts, and I saw people were intrigued by mushrooms, but they didn’t know how to grow or identify them. That’s when I decided to start teaching and creating content. I began by teaching friends and local growers and then expanding into videos and workshops.
As I refined my skills in mushroom cultivation and foraging, I began offering more workshops, selling spawn, and sharing my knowledge online. Some key milestones that helped me turn this from a side hustle into my full-time career included:
• Launching My YouTube Channel – This was a huge step in reaching a broader audience. People were eager for clear, hands-on instruction on growing and foraging mushrooms, and my channel gave them that in an approachable, engaging way.
• Hosting Live Workshops – Seeing people succeed in growing mushrooms after just one workshop showed me there was a real demand for this knowledge.
• Developing Simple, Accessible Learning Methods – I broke down the complexities of mushroom cultivation into easy, step-by-step processes, making it possible for anyone to start growing, even with minimal equipment. This accessibility became a cornerstone of my teaching style.
• Building a Community – One of the biggest signs that this could be a full-time career was the response from the community. Whether through live event feedback, YouTube comments, or direct messages from people sharing their successes, I saw that my work was making an impact. That motivation pushed me to commit fully and continues to do so.
Now, Mother Mycelium is my full-time business. I host live events, create YouTube content, cultivate gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, and continue to expand my offerings to help more people connect with fungi. The journey from side hustle to career wasn’t instant, but it was fueled by a deep passion for what I do and the belief that more people could benefit from learning about mushrooms in a practical and fulfilling way.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of new clients for Mother Mycelium has been a combination of YouTube (and other social media platforms), farmer’s markets, and other live events. Each plays an important role in growing my audience and attracting people who are genuinely interested in learning about fungi.
YouTube has been one of the most powerful ways to reach new people. By creating clear, engaging, and practical videos on mushroom cultivation, foraging, and other mycology topics, I’ve been able to connect with viewers worldwide. Viewers who engage with my videos often follow up by reaching out or exploring other resources I offer.
Live events have been another fantastic way to build connections and foster a thriving community of fungi lovers. Workshops, outdoor foraging adventures, and farmer’s markets help me engage with people in the local community in a meaningful way.
Overall, the key has been providing real value. Whether it’s a free tutorial on YouTube or an in-depth workshop, when people see results, they’re excited to share and learn more about mycology.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mothermycelium.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mother_mycelium/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mothermycelium
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mother_mycelium
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MotherMycelium
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_mycelium
Image Credits
Chris McSpadden