158. Mycelium On, Sound Off: How GOB's Lauryn Menard Makes Biomaterials Feel Like Culture

Lauryn Menard, co-founder of Gob, joins us to discuss how she's tackling the 40 billion petroleum-based earplugs produced annually by creating the first biodegradable, mycelium-based alternative. Named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies of 2025 and featured in Time Magazine's Best Inventions, Lauryn shares her journey from industrial designer to biotech entrepreneur. She explains why she chose mycelium over other biomaterials, how she scaled production without building a factory from scratch, and her strategy for bringing sustainable products to mainstream consumers through cultural relevance—partnering with artists like Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan at major music venues. Lauryn also reveals her vision for Gob's future: replacing an entire category of single-use products, from cotton pads to condoms, with materials that return to the earth. This conversation explores the intersection of design, biomaterials, entrepreneurship, and the urgent need for better infrastructure to support a regenerative economy.

Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?

Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Introduction: Lauryn's favorite subject - nature's zero waste system
• (00:06:00) - Lauryn's journey from luxury design to founding Gob
• (00:09:00) - The 40 billion earplug problem and material innovation
• (00:11:00) - Beginning with the end in mind: designing for product end-of-life
• (00:13:00) - Why mycelium? Finding the perfect material match
• (00:17:00) - Scale and volume: why small products have massive impact
• (00:22:00) - From concept to cylinder: the design process and user testing
• (00:24:00) - Cultural relevance over sustainability marketing
• (00:30:00) - Teaching the next generation of bio-designers at CCA
• (00:42:00) - Gob's future: replacing entire categories of single-use products

Links and Resources:

• GOB
• Ecovative
• 138. Living Textures, Wild Pigments: Suzanne Lee on Nature’s New Aesthetic Toolbox
• 126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic
• Facts Machine - Science, comedy & trivia show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Topics Covered: 

biomaterials, single use goods, FCMG, mycelium, ear plugs, entrepreneurship, branding, storytelling, biofabrication

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