Ep. 126: microbiomes, mycology, and the next major pandemic. | Mahmoud Ghannoum

Fungus. 

It may not be the sexiest futurist topic, but it's occupied Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum for the past 40 years. 

He's one of the top mycologists (fungus researchers) in the world, and he joined us this past week on the Futurati Podcast to talk about mycology and its connection to human health. 

He believes that fungus is in the same position that bacteria was once in. Just as we used to think all bacteria were bad before we learned about probiotics and gut health, so too are we underestimating the important role that fungi play in longevity.

In this wide-ranging interview, we talk about Dr. Ghannoum's theses on the relationship between mycology and psychological health, the interaction of the micro- and mycobiome, and the possibility that a drug-resistant strain of Candida Auris might give rise to a future global pandemic (in case you haven't had enough of those yet). 

He is a remarkably lucid and cheerful man, and I enjoyed discussing his research and hearing stories about his escape from Saddam Hussein's armies during the invasion of Kuwait. I hope you enjoy them, too.