Inner Circle - Finn Hall of Headstrong
Finn Hall is the main man behind Headstrong, a business born out of his desire to stay sharp and keep competitive. The use of functional mushrooms is something we've been following keenly here at Hikerdelic, so when we crossed paths recently it made sense for us to catch up and find out more.First of all tell us about yourself and how you came up with Headstrong. My childhood and adolescent years revolved solely around sport, namely BMX racing. I first got on a bike when I was 5, and didn’t leave one until I was 18. After a big injury I called it a day, but it’s hard to shake the training routine engrained in you over 13 years when one day it all stops. I put my energy into other forms of training whilst at university, and it was there that I began to experiment with functional mushrooms after coming across them online. At first it was just a personal endeavor, but after experiencing the benefits for myself I had a lightbulb moment and knew I needed to share this with the world. Some opportunities are too good to ignore and after that, my dissertation stood no chance. I launched two months before the end of final year.What do you think it is about mushrooms that has made them so prominent in a number of ways in recent years? There has been a huge shift away from mass-produced, lab-made products in recent years. People are naturally sceptical of large corporations in the supplement space and rightfully so, because more often than not, the quality of the product comes secondary to increased profit margins. As humans we are closely connected to mushrooms, sharing over 50% of our DNA with them, and when people realise they can supplement using something grown by the earth, it all just seems to click.What do you say to the cynics who suggest it's a fad?I think the cynicism towards functional mushrooms comes from people using them out of curiosity rather than necessity. This is something that I think is always important to touch on. Functional mushrooms are seen in a different light to other supplements because they are still relatively niche in the Western world, and therefore a little novel and exciting. Mushrooms have some genuinely incredible benefits but ultimately, they are intended to supplement in areas that you feel you may need support, and work alongside an already healthy and balanced diet - not replace. What they aren’t is a miracle cure and something to be used without intention, as it is then that people won’t experience their full potential.You've worked with some clothing brands on collaborative stuff. How did that come about?We worked with Hiking Patrol on a bespoke product to release alongside their FW24 collection. This initially came about from one of the guys at Diemme Footwear purchasing our Lion’s Mane in-store at Goodhood. They loved the brand, connected us with Hiking Patrol and we took it from there. It’s a great partnership and something both parties look to expand on in the future. We’ve also supported a number of brands such as Hoka, 66 North, Soho House and Healf at events/activations. I think the brand is well-positioned to move within these circles. I don’t want to be restricted by the stereotype of how a ‘Health & Wellness’ brand should act, so we will continue to push these cross-industry partnerships. Describe a typical day for yourself.I wake up and make myself useful. What would be your advice to a newcomer to mushrooms?Use when necessary, not when curious. Don’t just buy what's cheapest, chances are you’ll be left disappointed. Invest in quality products that show proof of being dual-extracted, organic, sufficiently dosed (1,500mg+), free from fillers, use only 100% mushroom fruiting body and are third-party tested. Due to a lack of regulation, the mushroom space is a bit of a minefield, with a lot of sub-standard products flooding the market. This might all sound a bit daunting to a newcomer, but if you’re serious about supplementing naturally with mushrooms, these checks are worth making to avoid being ripped off. To find out more about Headstrong, head to their website here
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