finland

Finland, a land of breathtaking landscapes and rich history, is home to a captivating array of mythical creatures and tales.
From the depths of the sea to the heart of the forest, these legends have been woven into the fabric of Finnish culture for centuries. The malevolent Iku-Turso, known as the "ox of death" and "father of diseases," lurks in the ocean's depths, while the mischievous Menninkäinen, reminiscent of hobbits and gnomes, dance in the woods and delight in riddles and shiny treasures. 
In the vast forests, one may encounter the shape-shifting Peikko, giant trolls feared as bogeymen who kidnap and torture children.
The enchanting Keiju, delicate fairy-like beings, grace the skies and woodlands in three distinct forms: Luonnotar, Ilmatar, and Metsänneito. The enigmatic Hiisi, towering humanoid creatures, dwell in the mountains and forests, marking sacred sites and challenging those who dare to enter their domain.
These powerful spirits can be both malevolent and beneficial, causing harm or offering aid when summoned by skilled shamans. The Näkki, a seaweed-clad immortal water demon, haunts the depths of ponds and rivers, luring unsuspecting children to their watery graves. Only through the utterance of magical incantations can one hope to escape its grasp.
Lastly, the majestic Otso, the king of the forest and bear spirit, is revered as a friend, brother, or even a transformed human, symbolizing the deep connection between the Finnish people and the natural world.
These mythical beings, each with their unique characteristics and stories, continue to capture the imagination and inspire awe in those who explore the fascinating realm of Finnish mythology.

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1:06 Jason intros the Pegasus concept & Yousician's Chris Thür
3:52 Chris explains Yousician
5:22 How did Yousician start and what did Guitar Hero have to do with it?
11:02 Capitalizing on Apple's inclusion of subscriptions
16:00 What were the early days of Yousician like, and was it hard to raise $?
20:32 Is being based in Finland an asset?
27:00 Chris gives his best advice for founders
29:34 Does Chris feel pressure to take $ off the table through secondary shares?
30:45 What does Chris look for in investors and what motivates Finnish employees?
34:55 Jason & Chris talk speeding tickets in Finland
42:19 Chris demos Yousician and Jason sings along
45:25 Jason tries to get on the Yousician Cap Table
47:21 Why Jason believes Yousician will get to 10 million subscribers in the next few years

We tend to think of mushrooms as a pizza topping. Something we toss in a salad. Or a psychedelic to alter consciousness. But that's pretty much where the inquiry ends. However, mushrooms are so much more. In fact, they comprise an entire kingdom. Invisibly surrounding us, they underpin the very foundation of our ecology, impacting us in ways far beyond our appreciation. It may surprise you to learn that mushrooms account for an astonishing 25% of the Earth's total biomass. 92% of all plants are dependent upon mushrooms for their survival. 40% of all pharmaceuticals contain some form of mushroom. And, quite incredibly, 85% of human RNA and 50% of human DNA is shared with fungi. Mushrooms are also woefully under-appreciated when it comes to promoting health, fighting illness, buttressing longevity, enhancing memory and even boosting libido. Indeed, when properly understood and utilized, mushrooms hold the capacity to change your life in an immediate, powerful, and exponentially beneficial manner. To walk us through the magical and mysterious world of mushrooms, I sat down with my long-time friend Tero Isokauppila, the original fun-guy himself. (behind the scenes of my podcast with Tero) A life-long student of nutrition and expert on natural health hailing from Finland, Tero is the co-founder, president and marketing director of Four Sigmatic, the company behind a wide variety of very popular (and globally available) medicinal mushroom coffees, hot cacaos and elixir products that has successfully begun to introduce the health-promoting benefits of mushrooms to the mainstream. I’m not talking about mind-bending psychedelics. And I’m not talking about garden variety portobellos or even gourmet truffles. I’m talking about adaptogenic, superfood varieties most people have never previously heard of or know little to nothing about. I'm talking about less-understood immunity, longevity, and energy boosting fungi like reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, and my all-time favorite, cordyceps. Tero has been a featured speaker at events like Summit Series and Wanderlust, was chosen as one of the world's Top 50 Food Activists by the Academy of Culinary Nutrition and both he and the work of Four Sigmatic have been profiled everywhere, including Vogue, Time, Forbes, W Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, BuzzFeed, Bon Appétit, Goop, Well+Good, and MindBodyGreen. In addition, Tero is also the author of Healing Mushrooms: A Practical and Culinary Guide to Using Adaptogenic Mushrooms For Whole Body Health*, which hits bookstores everywhere Oct. 10. If today's conversation sparks deeper interest, I highly suggest picking it up. Not only is it highly instructive, it include 50+ recipes sure to expand your culinary horizon. This is a phenomenal conversation that tracks Tero's unique path from a kid foraging mushrooms in a 13th generation Finnish farming family to the entrepreneurial success he is today. It’s also fascinating deep dive into this mysterious mushroom kingdom and how these fungi can support human health. More specifically, we get granular on the individual adaptogenic properties of the most prominent superfood varieties and how incorporating them into your daily routine can take your health, longevity and performance to the next level. Enjoy! Rich