It is only with the deepest gratitude that we announce the departure of our beloved “Team Coops” Co-Directors, Matthew Guertin and Teal Stetson-Lee, at the end of 2024.
For the past three years, Teal has been at the helm of the Telluride Mushroom Festival (TMF), organizing and co-creating some of the most well-executed and memorable festivals in our history. Her passion for empowering others and her organizational vision have left a mark on the inner workings of the festival.
Matt’s relationship with the festival spans six years, which started as an attendee, then became a security volunteer (who famously camped in the ID tent, when Art Goodtimes convinced us that someone had to protect the mushrooms from bears!) he then stepped into his role as Co-Director beginning at the 40th annual festival and will be wrapping up his time as Co-Director just after the 44th annual TMF. Matt’s journey tells a story of his dedication to keeping our quirky festival alive.
Together, Matt and Teal formed a powerhouse team. They guided TMF through some of its most vulnerable years, establishing a more sustainable structure to ensure a successful future. Under their leadership, our core team (Team Co-ops) grew from two members to five, and the festival flourished in exciting new ways.
In preparing for an inevitable tear-filled goodbye, we had the opportunity to interview Matt and Teal about their time with TMF. Their reflections are a beautiful reminder of the impact they’ve made.
While are excited to see what unfolds next for Matt and Teal, we feel equally as excited to watch the new team step up and shape the festival’s future with the same care, love, and passion.
How were you introduced to Telluride Mushroom Festival?
Matt: I had a bunch of mycophiles walk into a bar that I was working at in Telluride during the festival, they told me it was TMF and I was like whaaaat was that. 2 years later I was asked by Ashley Coady Smith to help her in 2019. I said, ya, I love mushrooms, which started a 6 year long journey.
Teal: I learned about the Festival through a film that featured Art Goodtimes while I was living in Quincy, CA and just getting into mushrooms, burn morels. The wild mushroom foraging and quirky, costume-wearing characters featured in the movie made me curious.
Can you tell us a bit about your story with mushrooms and TMF and how your role evolved within the organization?
Matt: I attended in 2018 then started working in 2019. My role was very made up when we first started, I was in charge of vendors, the VIP dinner, and the Transfer Warehouse. We all just made it up since it was a fully new crew of staff that had not worked the festival before. We had so much fun and then 2020 hit. Ashley asked me to come on in a bigger role and that started our co-operation director role. We did a full virtual and partial physical festival. The TMF wouldn’t had survived past 2020 if it wasn’t for so many people gifting their pass to TMF. I had made so many connections and really bonded with the community and knew I was going to be with TMF for a long time. 6 years later I couldn’t be more grateful for the whole experience.
Teal: My first year of attendance was 2021 when my partner was helping with a virtual festival. I made a sign that said “Imagination is Proof of the Divine” and I walked in the parade and giggled and enjoyed every minute of it. I watched the African drumming circle at the park and I was hooked. The next year I was asked by my friend Matt if I wanted to help manage operations. I previously managed bike races and festivals for 6 years and was not sure I wanted to get back into the complexity of event management….. But, because it was the Mushroom Festival, an iconic and precious earth-centric, legacy event of 44 years, I said, yes. Starting in 2022 I supported Matt and Ashley in whatever areas they needed support, which ended up being 3-4 different areas of management. In 2023, Matt and I became the Co-Operations Directors and had the honor of building out Team Coops with Mariah, the original Communications Manager.
How has your work and experience with TMF impacted you personally and professionally?
Matt: The array of people that TMF attracts and engages with is unlike any other job, place, life experience that I’ve had. The most unique people, doing very counterculture and sometimes outrageous things is a normal encounter with people attracted to TMF. These people have helped reshape the way I think about life and interact with the world.
What are some noteworthy changes you’ve seen the festival go through over the years?
Matt: By far the costumes have just become amazing, and sometimes absurd the amount of effort and time people have been putting into curating a 2 hour long event. It’s truly taken on a life of its own.
Teal: In the short 3 years that I worked for the Festival, I saw an incredible team of core festival management grow and contribute new, fresh creativity to an already very beautiful and well-loved festival. I saw a strong bridge between generations form to fortify the future of the festival. I saw the arts and culture portion of the festival expand to balance the amazing science and academic presenters. The Puff Ball, the Media Team, the Integration Space, the drumming float in the Parade, the voices of men, athletes and first responders finding peace and healing…. So many things to name.
When you look at the overall history of TMF, what do you believe is our legacy, and what would you say has been our most significant impact on the mycological community?
Teal: The legacy of TMF is that it is an over 40yr-old earth connected festival. We are a dynamic collaboration between the young and the old. Connecting the past and the origin story of the Mushroom Festival to the modern renaissance. The celebration of mushrooms is representative of the honoring of other vital beings on this planet on which we rely for our own human existence. The celebration, the ritual, the study and understanding of our natural world has never been more urgent than the times we are living in. I think the fact that the messaging of the mushrooms is going mainstream global, gives me hope for the future and the most significant impact from the mycological community is sharing the message beyond academia so it’s accessible and can be celebrated by all.
What is a favorite memory or particularly meaningful moment you’d like to share?
Matt: In 2021 (I think) we had the Wild Foods Dinner outside at the Transfer Warehouse. It absolutely poured yet Katrina made the night so unbelievable with her stories, songs and food that everyone just had an absolute blast. Everyone was soaking wet and happy.
Teal: Just hanging out with Team Co-Operation around the breakfast table at the staff house in the morning each day before splitting up into our separate roles of management at the venues for the day. The pause and the pure celebration of what we accomplished together that so many others were able to enjoy.
Do you have any final thoughts or reflections to share with the community?
Matt: Trust your gut, don’t sweat anything.
Teal: Don’t underestimate the significance of coming together in celebration of mother nature. Mushrooms are our mentors, nature is our mentor. When we move beyond the profit-focused, commodification of the natural world and we see and hear and feel and know the magic, we return to a place of peace within ourselves and peace within the collective because we come home to our connection to the living, breathing planet.
Are you tearing up too, or is it just us?
Whether you’ve been part of the festival family over the past six years or are just now learning about the incredible journey of Matt and Teal, we hope this gave a glimpse into the magic they wove into the Telluride Mushroom Festival.
We are forever grateful for Matt and Teal’s fierce dedication, vision, and heart. They have built a foundation of strength and resilience that will carry TMF into the future. Their leadership over the past three years have shaped the festival into something extraordinary and left a lasting impression on our organization, our team, and the vibrant community we serve.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Matt and Teal by replying to this email or reaching out to them directly with your love, gratitude, and blessings for the beautiful journeys that lie ahead.
