Beekeeping Today Podcast

By Jeff Ott, Kim Fottum, Becky Masterman

Natural Sciences Hobbies

What's Beekeeping Today Podcast about?

The podcast for the latest beekeeping news, information and entertainment for today's beekeeper. Hosts Jeff Ott, Kim Flottum and Becky Masterman bring you conversations with beekeepers, researchers and industry leaders, helping you become a more informed and knowledgeable beekeeper.

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LAST EPISODE

Mission Beelieve with Monic...

12.04.2023

In this episode, we're joined by Monica Schmitt, Director of Mission Beelieve, an organization dedicated to using beekeeping as a therapeutic and vocational resource for veterans and first responders. Monica, talks about how her enjoyment of beekeeping led her to ...

Beekeeping Today Podcast episodes:

12.04.2023 Mission Beelieve with Monica Schmitt (S6, E25) In this episode, we're joined by Monica Schmitt, Director of Mission Beelieve, an organization dedicated to using beekeeping as a therapeutic and vocational resource for veterans and first responders. Monica, talks about how her enjoyment of beekeeping led her to ...
11.27.2023 Exploring the Native and Non-Native Bee Debate with Ron Miksha (S6, E24) In this episode, we talk with Ron Miksha, a former commercial beekeeper now living in Calgary, Alberta. Ron was on the podcast back in August of this year talking about the Western Apiculture Society conference with Étienne Tardiff. At the ...
11.20.2023 Varroa and Tropilaelaps Updates with Dr. Sammy Ramsey (S6, E23) In this enlightening episode, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Samuel Ramsey for his fifth appearance on the podcast. Renowned for his groundbreaking work on honey bee parasites, ‘Dr. Sammy’ brings his wealth of knowledge and passion for bee health to ...
11.13.2023 European Foulbrood with Dr. Meghan Milbrath (S6, E22) On today’s episode, Jeff and Becky talk with Dr. Meghan Milbrath, assistant professor at Michigan State University. Meghan splits her time between teaching at the MSU veterinary school, extension and research. On today’s episode, Meghan discusses the impact European foulbrood ...
11.06.2023 Pesticides and Honey Bees with Dr. Judy Wu-Smart (S6, E21) In today’s episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we delve deep into the intricate world of honey bees and the environmental challenges they face. Today, we are honored to chat with Dr. Judy Wu-Smart, who leads the bee lab at the ...
10.30.2023 American Honey Producers Assn with Chris Hiatt (S6, E20) In today’s episode, Jeff and Becky chat with Chris Hiatt, the President of the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA). AHPA, with a history dating back to its establishment in 1969, has been a cornerstone of the beekeeping community. Their mission ...
10.23.2023 Bee Conspiracy with Author David Boito (S6, E19) In pop culture, beekeepers are generally portrayed as quirky side characters. There are exceptions, of course. The movie Ullee's Gold with Peter Fonda, comes to mind, as does The Secret Life of Bees, first as a novel and later a ...
10.16.2023 Honey Labeling and Native vs. Non-Native with Eugene Makovec (S6, E18) On today’s show, Jeff and Becky welcome back Eugene Makovec, editor of the American Bee Journal! Honey labeling laws vary widely across the US, creating a complex patchwork of regulations that can be challenging for both new and experienced beekeepers. ...
10.09.2023 Rooftop Beekeeping with the Bee Buddies in Chicago (S6, E17) On today's episode, guest cohost Becky Masterman, PhD, joins Jeff to talk with Al Renslow, who lives at a Chicago senior living community, The Admiral at the Lake. Al, a retired schoolteacher turned beekeeper, has assembled a corp of like-minded ...
10.02.2023 Deterring Bears using Electric Fencing with John Rath (S6, E16) Fall is here. No amount of denial no longer can hide that fact, now. There is lots to do to prep the bees for the coming cold months. You should be well down that task list of colony preparation. In ...
09.25.2023 The American Beekeeping Federation with President Dan Winter (S6, E15) There are two organizations shaping the American beekeeping industry: the American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) and the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA). On today’s episode, we talk with Dan Winter, President of the American Beekeeping Federation. The ABF takes comprehensive approach ...
09.18.2023 The North American Honey Bee Expo with Kamon Reynolds (S6, E14) On this week’s episode we welcome beekeeper, YouTube influencer and conference organizer Kamon Reynolds. Kamon’s YouTube channel provides viewers factual and entertaining looks at managing honey bees, product reviews and interviews. There are many different beekeeping Youtube channels, and Kamon’s ...
09.11.2023 Raising Resilient Bees with Eric and Joy McEwen (S6, E13) Welcome to another episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast! This week, we're excited to host Joy and Eric McEwen, the authors behind the recently released book, “Raising Resilient Bees.” The McEwens offer a natural and sustainable model that focuses on hive ...
09.04.2023 Archive Special: Long Hives with Tina Sebestyen (S6, E12) While Jeff and Kim are taking time this week to tend their bees, we bring you this Archive Special from May of 2021. In this third installment of our five-part Hive Types Series, we talk with Colorado Master Beekeeper and ...
08.28.2023 Archive Special: HBHC Varroa Management Updates with Dr. Dewey Caron (S6, E11) On today’s episode we are joined by professor, author and noted speaker Dr. Dewey Caron. Dewey is an active member of the Honey Bee Health Coalition where he helps with the creation and maintenance of the Coalition’s Hive Management program. ...
08.21.2023 Bee and Butterfly Fund and the US Farm Bill with Beck Masterman and John Miller (S6, E10) Thanks to Jennifer Keller, opening this episode! Jennifer stopped at the Betterbee booth during EAS and left us that greeting! You too can record an opening for an upcoming episode! Simply record one on your phone and send it to ...
08.14.2023 Western Apicultural Society Annual Conference with Etienne Tardiff and Ron Miksha (S6, E09) Etienne Tardif and Ron Miksha join us today to talk about the Western Apicultural Society 2023 Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Listen in as they talk about all that’s going to be happening and everything you wanted to know about ...
08.07.2023 The New HiveIQ with Victor Croker (S6, E08) On today’s podcast, we talk with third generation Australian commercial beekeeper, Victor Croker. When we caught up with Victor, he was in the States promoting his new EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) hive system developed with his experience of over the past ...
07.31.2023 Amiflex with Véto-Pharma's Amber Leach and Miguel Rodriguez (S6, E07) In this episode we talk with Amber Leach, North American Sales Manager, and Dr. Miguel Angel Rodriguez, DVM, and Business Development Head, from Véto-Pharma. Véto-Pharma is just rolling out and the distribution of their newest varroa control compound called Amiflex. ...
07.24.2023 The Mind of a Bee with Dr. Lars Chittka (S6, E06) We are excited to bring you this packed episode. We start with Jeff talking with Becky Masterman, from the Minnesota Honey Producers Assn. about the USDA-ARS National Publication 305 (NP-305) and its importance. Next Jeff and Kim talk with Dr. ...
07.17.2023 The National Honey Board, American Honey Princess & more! (S6, E05) In today's episode, we have two guests, both deep in the promotion of honey and honey bees. First up, Jeff talks with Allison Hager, the 2023 American Honey Princess, and then we talk with Keith Seiz, of the National Honey ...
07.10.2023 EFB, Native v. Apis m. and More with Dr. Andony Melathopoulos (S6, E04) In today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Andony Melathopoulos of Oregon State University. In this episode, Andony talks about the dual concerns surrounding European Foulbrood (EFB) and the ongoing debate between native bees and honey bees on public lands. EFB, ...
07.03.2023 Precision Beekeeping with Nectar Technologies' Max Cherney & Nico Coallier (S6, E03) On today’s show, Jeff chats with Max Cherney and Nico Coallier. Max is the Chief Operating Officer and Nico the Principal Data Scientist of Nectar Technologies. Max joined us back in Season 4, along with Washington State University’s Dr. Rae ...
06.26.2023 Using "Mating Disruption" To Reduce Pesticide Use with Amelia Cadwell (S6, E02) In today’s episode we talk with Amelia Cadwell who grew up with a grandfather who kept bees, which lead to time spent working for a commercial beekeeper and today, keeps bees herself. She also works with Suterra, a global pest ...
06.19.2023 Pollinator Week with Kelly Bills and Start of Our 6th Year! (S6, E01) Welcome to Season 6 of Beekeeping Today Podcast! When we launched this podcast on the first day of Pollinator Week in 2018, we had no idea where the podcast would go, or how long it would continue. It is fun ...
06.12.2023 Banking Queens with Dr. Brandon Hopkins (S5, E52) On today’s episode, we welcome Dr Brandon Hopkins of Washington State University back to the podcast to talk about his recent research on the benefits of indoor banking of honey bee queens in temperature-controlled storage facilities. Traditionally, queens are banked ...
06.05.2023 Late Spring Regional Beekeepers Update (S5, E51) “All beekeeping is local” so the saying goes. On today’s episode, we welcome back our Regional Beekeepers, all from different parts of the country, to see just how localized beekeeping can be. And how much it can be the same, ...
05.29.2023 The Spotted Lantern Fly and Bad Honey with Dr. Robyn Underwood (S5, E50) In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Robyn Underwood of Penn State’s Lopez-Uribe Lab. We’ve invited Robyn as she has researched and written about the Spotted Lantern Fly and how its presence can impact honey production. Have you ever tasted ...
05.22.2023 Amy Vu - University of Florida Extension (S5, E49) Amy Vu is the State Extension Entomologist for the State of Florida. She works out of the University Of Florida’s Honey Bee Research Lab, headed by Dr. Jamie Ellis. As part of the Research Lab she is involved in the ...
05.15.2023 Varroa Control with Bill Hesbach (S5, E48) On today's show, we invite Connecticut Master Beekeeper, Bill Hesbach back to the show to talk about the latest developments in practical varroa management. Whether you are a long time beekeeper, aka BVD beekeeper (Before Varroa Destructor) or a new ...
05.08.2023 What A Bee Knows with Stephen Buchmann (S5, E47) Anyone who's watch the front entrance of a hive or watched honey bee gathering nectar and pollen from flowers on a tree or a field of flowers has wondered about the life of a bee. That ultimately leads to the ...
05.01.2023 Beekeeper Confidential with Mandy Shaw (S5, E46) On today’s episode, Jeff and Kim talk with Mandy Shaw of the Beekeeper Confidential podcast. Mandy is a Portland, OR, beekeeper, active with the Portland Urban Beekeepers Association as President and other roles. We talk with her today about her ...
04.24.2023 Honey Bee Longevity with Dr. Anthony Nearman (S5, E45) In today's episode, we talk with Dr. Anthony Nearman on his recently published research on honey bee longivity in the lab. In fact, his research indicates that caged bees in the lab are only living half as long as bees ...
04.17.2023 Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) with Mary Duane and Lou Naylor (S5, E44) On today's episode, we welcome Mary Duane and Eloise (Lou) Naylor of the Eastern Apicultural Society. EAS was founded in 1955 for the "promotion of bees, education of beekeepers, certification of Master Beekeepers and excellence in bee research. EAS Master ...
04.10.2023 2023 Almond Season Updates and Tropilaelaps with John Miller (S5, E43) John Miller, a commercial beekeeper with Miller Honey Company in North Dakota, just finished his almond pollination season. In this episode, John returns to talk about the weather before and during his time in the orchards, the water issues almond ...
04.03.2023 Drones and Mapping Drone Congregation Areas with Julia Mahood (S5, E42) Today, we talk with Julia Mahood, a Master Beekeeper in Georgia. Julia is fascinated with drone honey bees and especially Drone Congregation Areas. To find out more about DCA’s, she is on a quest to find as many as she ...
03.27.2023 Beekeeping with Fred Dunn (S5, E41) There was one time when one mentioned YouTube beekeepers, the immdiate image was one of misinformation, mockery, and mistakes. But that is no longer the rule. There are great beekeepers producing great YouTube content, one of them is our guest ...
03.20.2023 Beekeeping in Arizona (S5, E40) When you think of Arizona, beekeeping typically does not come to mind. On today's episode, we talk about beekeeping in Arizona with three Arizona beekeepers: Duane Combs, Joc Rawls, and Monica King. Duane has been on the podcast in the ...
03.13.2023 Honey Bees and Golf At The University of Georgia with Jennifer Berry and Scott Griffith (S5, E39) Close your eyes and think of a gold course. We’re pretty sure that when you think of the landscape and maintenance of a typical golf course, with lots trim flat greens, schedules of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and other chemicals - ...
03.06.2023 Nina Bagley - Women in Beekeeping's Past (S5, E38) Today we talk with Nina Bagley. Nina lives in Columbus, Ohio, and has a profound interest in the role women have played in beekeeping in this country. She is a county bee inspector, runs about 50 colonies in and around ...
02.27.2023 HiveTracks: Bees as Biosensors with James Wilkes and Max Rünzel (S5, E37) Today we meet up again with James Wilkes, founder, and Max Rünzel, CEO, of Hive Tracks. The people at HiveTracks have raised the bar when it come to gathering data about your bees, your bee yards, the environment in which ...
02.20.2023 Russian Bee Program Update with Dan Conlon (S5, E36) Returning today is Dan Conlon, vice president of the Russian Bee Breeders Association. Dan updates us on how the Russian bee breeding program, the status of the association and how the Covid shutdowns impacted the USDA Baton Rouge Bee Lab, ...
02.13.2023 Seeds for Bees with Project Apis m. (S5, E35) Density, Diversity and Duration. These are the three Project Apis m. objectives when selecting the best Seeds For Bees plantings. Today, Rory Crowley and Stetcyn Malonado join us to talk about the importance of planting ground cover in the fall ...
02.06.2023 The Drayton Hive with Author Andrew Bax (S5, E34) Joining us today is beekeeper and author, Andrew Bax. Andrew lives in the UK and has been keeping bees for decades. Like many of us ‘older beekeepers’, he has sought out better means of managing his colonies. Andrew switched from ...
01.30.2023 Bee Research Update In Germany with Dr. Kirsten Traynor (S5, E33) The last time we talked with Dr. Kirsten Traynor she had just started her new role in Germany. On today's episode we catch up with Kirsten and learn what research her students are conducting in Germany, at the University of ...
01.23.2023 How To Taste Honey with Marina Marchese (S5, E32) Returning to the podcast in this episode is Marina Marchese. Marina is back from a recent trip to Italy taking advanced courses from the Food Institute there in both learning, and teaching the skills necessary to claim the title of ...
01.16.2023 Overwintering Bees - Experiences Of A Yukon Beekeeper: Etienne Tardif (S5, E31) Joining us today is Etienne Tardif. Etienne keeps his bees in the Yukon Territory, where he works as a mining consultant. His data driven approach to keeping bees relies a lot on the technology he uses, plus his study of ...
01.09.2023 AFB Vaccine for Honey Bees with Dr. Keith Delaplane (S5, E30) A vaccine for American Foulbrood? Really? Yes, really! We sit down with Dr. Keith Delaplane at the University of Georgia as he explains why his honey bee research lab is involved in this project, how this vaccine works, when it ...
01.02.2023 Bee Weaver Queens with Danny Weaver (S5, E29) Today, I welcome Danny Weaver to the show. Danny comes from a long line of queen breeders and beekeepers in the Navasota, Texas area. Danny’s father, Binford, was instrumental working with Congress to establish the National Honey Board in 1987. ...
12.26.2022 The Pollinators with Director Peter Nelson - 2022 Holiday Replay (S5, E28) Peter Nelson is a filmmaker, director and beekeeper. This combination of skills and passions lead to a documentary film about the business and lives of pollinators - both the two legged and six legged kind! The documentary, The Pollinators is ...

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