Thinking about trying psychedelics for the first time? Golden Teacher Mushrooms—affectionately known as GT—might be your best first step. In this episode of SetSet, host April Pride takes us deep into the golden glow of this beginner-friendly strain. With insights from psychedelic guide Natasha Lannerd, April shares what makes Golden Teacher the “Fisher Price” of psilocybin mushrooms: not too strong, not too long, but just right. Expect grounded wisdom on safe dosing, spiritual intention-setting, and how Seattle’s shifting psychedelic policy is creating space for a more open, informed, and inclusive community. Whether you're microdosing for emotional clarity or planning your first full trip, this episode offers practical tips and soulful reflection for midlife women navigating new frontiers in mental health.
🔵 Key Takeaways
Golden Teacher is the most beginner-friendly strain due to its moderate potency, gentle effects, and manageable trip length.
A typical beginner dose is 1–2 grams; trips often last 2–4 hours and include visuals, emotional clarity, and spiritual insight.
GT can support microdosing goals like grounding, reflection, and emotional release—aka “happy cries.”
Seattle’s decriminalization policy allows April to legally share her own psilocybin brand, Rae Rae, at community events.
Set and setting are crucial: make sure your mindset is stable and your environment is safe before consuming.
🔵 Timestamps
[00:11] April recalls GT’s role in guiding sister trippers’ journeys in season 3
[01:32] Why sourcing psychedelics is the new cannabis-era question
[02:49] April introduces Rae Rae and Seattle’s legal gray zone for gifting mushrooms
[04:21] Golden Teacher’s history, cultivation, and visual characteristics
[05:31] What to expect from 2g: visuals, emotional release, spiritual openness
[06:51] Golden Teacher for anxiety, depression, and creative insight
[07:54] Mushroom anatomy: gills, cap shape, stem, and how they bruise blue
[09:25] Onset timing, trip duration, and why beginners can dose slightly higher
[10:15] Trip tips: start small, go slow, and always have a sitter
🔵 Additional Resources
SetSet Blog: “Golden Teacher Mushroom”
SetSet Blog: “The Science and Safety of Microdosing Mushrooms for Women”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: “Psilocybin Mushroom Strains Explained”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: “How to Identify Psychedelic Mushrooms”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: “Psilocybin Mushrooms 101: Effects, Dosing & Tips”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: “Psychedelic Trip Setting Tips”
How did your first trip go—or what are you still curious about before taking the plunge? 👇 Let’s talk about it in the comments after the transcript below.
🔵 Transcript
[00:00] Natasha Lannerd:
I feel like the [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s are like the tried and true, they can have more of a visual feeling you forge spiritually into.
[00:11] April Pride:
The [Golden Teacher Mushroom], [shroom strain], is one of the more popular [psilocybin mushroom varieties]. We just heard from Natasha Lannerd, our high guide or psychedelic facilitator in season three of this podcast. If you're a long time listener of the show, then you may recall she prescribed two grams of [Golden Teacher Mushroom] to each of our three sister trippers that season. While each woman had her own set of intentions and experience with [psilocybin], this strain in this dose, suited each. In part, [Golden Teacher Mushroom]'s relatively low potency and its ease of cultivation, make it an excellent choice for the beginning [psychonaut]. I recommend this kind of low potency [shroom], before you dive into the deep end of something like Penis Envy or Ghost, both [shroom strains] we'll explore more later in this series. Also, before we get into [Golden Teacher Mushroom], today's [shroom strain], I want to tell you something else I'm working on. When I started working in cannabis in 2015, the number one question I got from anyone I encountered as the one cannabis expert they knew was, "What should I buy?" When dispensaries are almost as plentiful as coffee shops, at least here in Seattle, where to buy weed was no longer a challenge.
[01:32] April Pride:
But with [psilocybin], all [psychedelics] impact, the question I get now is, "Where do I get them?" If you are considering taking [psychedelics], it's important to research their effects and potential risks thoroughly and to only obtain them from a trusted source. So wanting to make sure I was pointing close friends and curious sister trippers toward a trusted source, I early shared a trusted source. Then I started thinking, "What if I could be a trusted source?" So last year, I created Rae Rae, a [psilocybin brand] available in Seattle only. In 2021, Seattle City Council voted to approve a referendum proclaiming the investigation, arrest and prosecution of anyone engaging in [entheogen]-related activities should be among the City of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priorities. In a word, Seattle decriminalized, among other things, [psilocybin], so I can legitimately gift [magic mushroom products] to attendees of events that I will start hosting this summer. These new experiences are created to inspire all. And I incubated them in my home with small groups this spring. I'll share more of what came out of these evenings as the episodes progress.
[02:49] April Pride:
And if after listening to a couple or a few of these [shroom strain] episodes, you still have questions, and you happen to live in Seattle, starting on May 16th, again, on May 30th, June 13th and June 27th, at the Cloud Room on Capitol Hill, for Q&As, expert guests and the 411 on how to find a trusted source for [psilocybin mushrooms] in Seattle, stay tuned for more information. And for now, listen on, as we get into [Golden Teacher Mushroom], the perfect first [shroom] for any first-time [psychonaut]. [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s are a gentle, profound entry point into the world of [psychedelics], so let's learn more about the [Psilocybe cubensis variety]. When choosing a strain of [magic mushrooms], the most important factor is strength or potency. Some strains are considered stronger than others, but overall, the effects are more or less the same in these species. There is an expression, "a cube is a cube is a cube," meaning, with few exceptions, the various strains of [Psilocybe cubensis] have very little differences in their potency and effect. [Golden Teacher Mushroom] is, as I like to say, Fisher Price, “my first mushroom trip,” type of strain. [Golden Teacher Mushroom], also known as [Golden Emperor], is perhaps the most well-known [Psilocybe cubensis strain], consistently in the top five of most recommended desired strains.
[04:21] April Pride:
[Golden Teacher Mushroom] again, or GT, was first classified in the 1980s, but the specifics around its discovery are shrouded in mystery. Most reports have [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s first discovered in the late 1980s and were first identified as a unique strain by [mushroom expert] Steven Pollock. The origins of this strain are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in Southeastern Asia, possibly in the region around Thailand and Cambodia, although an earlier episode of this podcast stated that it was believed to have come from Florida. Often referred to as GT, this strain’s Golden Moniker is inspired by its bell-shaped caps that resemble tanned leather-like skin, atop medium to large-size [fruiting bodies]. That’s what we call these whole mushrooms, they are whole fruiting bodies. Although [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s have average potency, it produces trips that are very calm and relaxing with [mild visuals] and strong [body sensations]. GT trips are often shorter than average, only two to four hours, which is an advantage for beginners.
[05:31] April Pride:
In line with the expected effects of a standard [trip dose], two to three and a half grams—and what many consider to be a classic [psychedelic trip dose] of [psilocybin mushrooms]—[Golden Teacher Mushroom]s produce a high characterized by [visual distortions], [enhanced colors], [lightness] or giddiness, powerful emotions including [feelings of euphoria] and enhanced [spiritual connection]. [Macro-dosing], which is not [microdosing], can both be done with strong and weaker strains, but you might want to consider a mushroom like [Golden Teacher Mushroom] for [microdosing]. Feedback among those who [microdose] with [Golden Teacher Mushroom] include the following results: [introspection], [reflection], [grounding], [awareness], [lightness], [emotional clearing] and happy cries. The potency of [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s can vary depending on the growing conditions, such as substrate, temperature and humidity. Considered to be a [moderately potent strain] of [psilocybin mushrooms], [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s are the perfect variety for first-time [psychonauts]. The [Golden Teacher Mushroom] variety will take you on a comfortable, euphoric journey through both your environment and your mind. The intention for taking [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s can vary depending on the individual, and not everyone likes to set an intention, but many people use them for [spiritual] or [therapeutic purposes].
[06:51] April Pride:
Some users report that [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s can help to alleviate symptoms of [depression], [anxiety], and [PTSD], and can promote a sense of [emotional healing] and [self-discovery]. Some people use them to enhance [creativity], improve mood, and reduce [anxiety] or [depression]. Others use them for [introspection], [self-discovery], and [personal growth]. It is important to approach the use of [psilocybin mushrooms] with intention and respect for the substance. It is recommended to approach the use of [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s with a clear intention in mind, such as exploring personal issues, gaining insight or connecting with nature. If it’s your first time, regardless of what your intention is going into the trip, the mushroom might have other ideas. All [magic mushroom experiences] benefit from thinking through your reasons for consuming, as well as from paying attention to your internal mindset and external setting. If you’re in a bad head space or less than optimal physical environment, perhaps set [Golden Teacher Mushroom] aside until you can be sure of a more comfortable setting. In short, you gotta make sure you’re golden, right?
[07:54] April Pride:
The effects of [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s are often described as gentle and uplifting with a sense of clarity and insight. The moderate potency of the [Golden Teacher Mushroom] variety means that it errs more on the side of typical [psychedelic effects]—[visual hallucinations] such as [visual distortions], vivid colors, increased [sensory awareness], perhaps [auditory hallucinations], and [altered perceptions of time and space]. Users may experience [feelings of euphoria], [introspection], heightened [creativity], and a [feeling of connectedness] to the world and the universe. Unsurprisingly, [Golden Teacher Mushroom] is named for the yellow or golden center on a mature cap. The [Golden Teacher Mushroom] strain has a golden-colored cap that can range from light yellow to golden brown. The cap has a convex shape that becomes more flattened as the mushroom matures. It has a distinctive nipple-like shape that can make it easy to identify. Caps tend to be medium-sized in the first crop of [mushrooms], but can reach larger sizes up to five centimeters in diameter in subsequent flashes of growth.
[09:00] April Pride:
The gills underneath the cap are initially pale yellow but turn darker as the [mushroom] matures. The stem is white, usually thicker towards the base, and can grow up to 10 centimeters in length. As with most [psilocybin-containing mushrooms], the stems bruise blue when picked or damaged. And for more information on exactly what that means, check out episode 43, The Medicine, in this podcast.
[09:25] April Pride:
Let’s talk about the duration. As I mentioned earlier, [Psilocybe cubensis] [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s share many characteristics with other members of the species. Effects of the [shroom] should come up within the usual 30 to 60 minutes after consumption. Like I mentioned earlier in this episode, the lower potency of [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s means that the trip can be a little shorter than more potent varieties. You should expect to be feeling the effects of the [mushroom] for two to four hours. With more potent varieties, we may suggest low doses—0.5 grams to 1 gram—when starting off. Most information about [Golden Teacher Mushroom] suggests a larger dose of up to two grams, even for beginning [psychonauts]. This is due to the lower levels of [psilocybin] in the [mushroom]. A two-gram dose will provide all the introductory effects of a [psychedelic trip].
[10:15] April Pride:
That said, if it’s your first time, it’s always a good idea to have someone be offered to them—most people do—as a [trip sitter], close at hand, just in case things get too intense. Again, a typical beginner dose for [Golden Teacher Mushroom]s is between one and two grams for a mild to moderate experience, while a more experienced user may take two to three and a half grams for a stronger trip. As we finish up this episode, here are trip tips: Start with a low dose—0.5 to 1.5 grams for beginners. Be patient and allow time for the effects to fully kick in, wait 45 minutes, work your way up gradually, take more in 0.5 to full one-gram increments. Be sure to prepare a comfortable and safe environment and avoid taking them in unfamiliar or public spaces.
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