213: Why this Mushroom Drink is Changing Everything Ft. Mycopop

Allen L. Davies III, known as Allen the Fun Guy, has spent over 15 years immersed in mushrooms, fermentation, and culinary innovation. With a deep respect for food as a cultural cornerstone, he views it as both sustenance and medicine—capable of nourishing, healing, and driving meaningful change through sustainability and accessibility.

An expert in Koji (Aspergillus oryzae), Allen has expanded its use far beyond traditional applications. Since 2020, he has cultivated over seven tons of Koji across diverse substrates, exploring its enzymatic potential in miso, amazake, garum, and functional extractions. His work bridges fermentation, mycology, and bioactive mushroom extraction, pushing Koji into new territory.

Through fermentation and functional fungi, Allen is on a mission to make mushrooms more accessible and shift how they’re perceived.

That vision comes to life with Mycopop—a mycofunctional beverage blending cordyceps and lion’s mane with the refreshment of an energy drink or seltzer. Inspired by his collaboration with citizen scientist William Padilla Brown, Mycopop bridges function and flavor, making mushroom-powered wellness part of everyday life.

From pioneering fermentation techniques to crafting functional foods and beverages, Allen continues to redefine fungi—not just as food, but as tools for nourishment, transformation, and cultural evolution.