Lecture Series

Keynote Speakers

All talks are held at BCP Studio, Brush Creek Pavilion, 909 Capitol St, Eagle, CO.

Friday — John Michelotti — Mushroom Marveling: Plug into the MycoBliss

The fungal awakening has sporulated within people of all interests across the United States and around the world. As an infected and inspired populace, we are applying these new tools to grow healthier lives. We are creating solutions to pollution, growing food where there was garbage, making medicine from bumps on logs, changing minds where there were malicious laws, and making magic where there was mystery. We look to explore other planets with our new allies and, on this one, we grow together with the gifts they have to offer. In return, we are mobilizing to conserve and preserve habitats. Let’s get this foray started with some funky fungi facts and mind-bending discoveries as we look to myceliate and celebrate together in the service of the fungi.

John Michelotti founded Catskill Fungi in 2014, which empowers people through ID walks, cultivation courses, mushroom art, and mushroom health extracts. He serves as Chair of the Medicinal Mushroom Committee for the North American Mycological Association (NAMA), is a Poison Control Consultant for NAMA, and an identification specialist for the NYC Poison Control Center. He is the former President of the Mid-Hudson Mycological Association, has organized forays for the Northeastern Mycological Federation, and has taught the Wild Mushroom Food Safety Certification Course. He was chosen by the Catskill Center as a “Steward of the Catskills.”

Saturday — Martha Montemayor — Psilocybin Microdosing 101: Neuroscience & Practical Tips

Martha Montemayor, CNC, is Executive Director of HCU Education Ltd. She has produced 50+ hours of CME/CNE-certified medical education in cannabis and psychedelics, and runs a 2024 psilocybin microdosing brain-scan pilot study.

Sunday (Closing) — Hamilton Pevec — Red, White and Eternal: Amanita muscaria — Myth & Medicine

Hamilton Pevec is the founder of Hamilton’s Mushrooms and Executive Director of the Eagle Mushroom & Wild Food Festival. He has studied and worked with mushrooms for more than 25 years, with a focus on functional mushroom extraction, sourcing, and education. His closing keynote explores the myth, history, and traditional uses of Amanita muscaria.

Pecha Kucha Night — Sunday 4:00 PM

Five speakers · 20 slides · 20 seconds each.

Jeff Ravage — Myco-forestry: The State of the Art. Chief Technology & Science Officer for Coalitions and Collaboratives (Colorado NGO). Researches forest mycology with Denver Botanic Gardens; consults on carbon policy.

Amy Honan — Tales from the Spore Force. Mycologist studying fungal biodiversity, evolution, ecology, and biogeography. Co-founded the Crested Butte Botanic Gardens; teaches mycology for Oregon State University.

Christopher Pauli — Frontiers of Fungal Testing. Pioneer in medicinal plant and fungal science for 12+ years; co-founder of Tryptomics, a Colorado lab examining the chemistry and genetics of fungi.

Shane Schoolman — Extractions.