Beekeeping Today Podcast

Growing Planet Media
  • 4.7 (287)
  • HOBBIES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The weekly podcast bringing beekeepers the latest news, research, and insights on honey bees. Hosted by Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman, each episode features conversations with beekeepers, scientists, authors, and industry leaders. Whether you're just starting your first hive or managing hundreds, you'll find practical tips, fresh perspectives, and engaging stories to inspire your beekeeping journey.

  1. Holiday Special with Jim Tew - The Promise of Bees

    4D AGO

    Holiday Special with Jim Tew - The Promise of Bees

    This Holiday Special episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast brings together Jeff Ott, Becky Masterman, and Dr. Jim Tew from Honey Bee Obscura, for a warm, thoughtful conversation about bees, beekeeping, and reflection during Christmas week. With a special Santa Claus opener returning for another year, the episode sets a festive tone before settling into practical winter-season observations and the deeper meaning beekeeping brings this time of year. Jim shares insights into what honey bees are doing right now in winter clusters, how beekeepers can read subtle signs of life without opening hives, and why snow can sometimes be one of the best indicators of colony survival. Becky adds perspective from northern beekeeping, discussing winter brood patterns, cleansing flights, and emerging research on winter brood rearing across the U.S. Jeff rounds out the discussion with observations from sensor data and technology-assisted hive monitoring, prompting a lively exchange on tradition versus modern tools. The episode also explores the emotional side of winter losses, beekeeper intuition, and the responsibility felt when colonies don't survive. Listener questions spark deeper discussion about how bees sense temperature and make life-or-death decisions in cold weather, reminding us how much there is still to learn about the superorganism. To close, the hosts look ahead to the North American Honey Bee Expo, thank the sponsors who make the podcast possible, and reflect on the "promise of bees" as a symbol of renewal, resilience, and hope heading into the new year. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: North American Honey Bee Expo (NAHBE): https://https://www.nahbexpo.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    43 min
  2. [Bonus] Short - Hive Debris Analysis with Dr. Dewey Caron

    DEC 17 · BONUS

    [Bonus] Short - Hive Debris Analysis with Dr. Dewey Caron

    In this December Beekeeping Today Short, Dr. Dewey Caron offers a fascinating look at what our bees communicate through something we often ignore: hive debris. This episode continues Dewey's ongoing monthly exploration of honey bee communication—bridging bee science, beekeeper decisions, and the bees' own intricate signals. Drawing from his upcoming American Bee Journal review and the new book Bottom-Up Beekeeping by Ray Baxter, Dewey explains how debris boards can reveal far more than mite counts. From colony size and cluster position to brood activity, queen events, moisture issues, pollen usage, and even pest signatures, hive "trash" becomes a rich source of insights. Dewey also highlights practical techniques taught by Christine Kurtz, the "Petaluma Bee Lady," whose debris-reading presentations have inspired many beekeepers to add this tool to their regular management. The episode closes with a deep dive into undertaker bees—how they detect death inside the hive, the chemical cues involved, and the essential role these workers play in colony hygiene. This Short offers a thoughtful preview of what listeners can expect when Dewey launches his new monthly mini-series Bee Science with Dr. Dewey Caron in January. It's practical, insightful, and rooted in research—perfect for beekeepers looking to understand their colonies from the bottom up. Links and references mentioned in this episode: Petaluma Bee Lady:  https://www.alamedabees.org/event/april-2024-meeting/ Paul Seifert Hive Recordings: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247323 Ray Baxte, Bottom-Up Beekeeping: Learning from the Debris on the Hive Floor, 2025 Northern Bee Books. https://amzn.to/3XNuCrT Undertaker Bee Study: https://www.science.org/content/article/how-undertaker-bees-recognize-dead-comrades  Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping. ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    19 min

  3. DEC 15

    Bees First, Honey Second with AJ & Chryssa Gardner

    This week on Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome AJ and Chryssa Gardner of REBEL44 to discuss an approach to beekeeping rooted in stewardship rather than production. What began as a small garden project quickly evolved into a carefully managed sideline operation now spanning multiple apiaries and more than a hundred colonies. AJ shares how observing bee behavior—and listening closely to what the bees "tell you"—shaped his management philosophy. Rather than focusing on maximizing honey yields, AJ emphasizes nutrition, gentle genetics, low mite pressure, and allowing colonies to overwinter on their own terms. That mindset has led to remarkable overwintering success and strong, resilient colonies. Chryssa adds an important perspective on food systems, honey authenticity, and why knowing the beekeeper behind the honey matters. Together, they explain how REBEL44 produces hyper-local, varietal honeys, harvested in short nectar windows that capture the unique character of specific plants, locations, and seasons. From blackberry to Japanese knotweed, each harvest tells a story. The conversation also explores their immersive educational experiences, where families, beginners, and even corporate groups suit up, step into the apiary, and reconnect with nature. AJ describes how these hands-on visits often change how people think about bees, food, and stewardship. This episode is a reminder that when beekeepers slow down, observe, and put bees first, the rewards—healthy colonies, meaningful education, and exceptional honey—follow naturally. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Rebel44 Website: https://rebel44.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    58 min

  4. DEC 8

    Changes at BroodMinder

    BroodMinder has become one of the most trusted names in hive monitoring, and in this episode the team joins Jeff and Becky to share big news, new directions, and surprising insights from the field. Founder Rich Morris, software lead Amanda Stoltz, and global collaborator Lorenzo Pons sit down together during the BroodMinder Global Summit to talk about how the company has evolved, how beekeepers use hive data today, and what's ahead for sensor-based management.  Rich reflects on nearly a decade of development—from early temperature sensors to today's multi-sensor hive ecosystem. Amanda, stepping into a new leadership role, talks about improving the user experience, the move toward mobile-first viewing, and how BroodMinder is balancing innovation with accessibility for beekeepers at all levels. Lorenzo brings a global perspective, describing how sensors help European beekeepers manage pollination services and adapt to rising hornet pressure.  Together, the team explains why simple temperature sensors remain one of the most valuable tools for understanding colony health, how hive scales help track forage conditions, and how new technologies may soon support beekeepers in detecting varroa and hornet threats in real time. They also offer a candid look at designing products beekeepers can trust, balancing subscription models with affordability, and the humorous but real "Chart Addiction Club" that forms once beekeepers start watching their colonies' data more closely than ever.  Whether you're considering your first sensor or already monitoring colonies remotely, this conversation offers a clear, grounded look at how data tools are expanding what beekeepers can understand without opening a hive—and introduces the people shaping that future. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: BroodMinder website: https://broodminder.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    55 min

  5. DEC 1

    Honey Bee Viruses with Declan Schroeder

    This week on Beekeeping Today Podcast, Becky welcomes guest co-host Bridget Mendel as they sit down with virologist Dr. Declan Schroeder from the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. Together, they explore the unseen world of honey bee viruses—how they evolve, how they spread, and why understanding them is essential for modern beekeeping. Declan brings a fresh perspective to virus ecology, sharing how his early research on marine viruses led him into honey bee health just as colony losses began escalating worldwide. He describes why viruses were overlooked for so long and how the arrival of Varroa shifted viral dynamics from background agents to major colony-level threats. Becky and Bridget dig into what this means for beekeepers: why Varroa management remains the cornerstone of reducing virus pressure, how viruses move within and between colonies, and what new research is revealing about potential spillover concerns between honey bees and native bees. Declan discusses findings from a multi-year Minnesota study showing that while bumblebees may encounter honey bee viruses, they are rarely infected—an important distinction in ongoing conservation conversations. The discussion wraps with a look ahead: evolving virus–vector interactions, improved surveillance efforts, and the growing role of researchers and veterinarians in supporting beekeeper decision-making. It's an engaging, approachable dive into a complex subject—one that every beekeeper will benefit from hearing. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: University of Minnesota Schroeder Bee Lab: https://vetmed.umn.edu/bio/college-of-veterinary-medicine/declan-schroeder Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    51 min

  6. NOV 24

    BeeCAUSE Alliance with Charlie Linder

    This week, we're taking a close look at the future of beekeeping advocacy with BeeCAUSE Alliance, a new organization focused on industry collaboration, communication, and support. Our guest, Charlie Linder, shares how his years in commercial beekeeping, queen breeding, and honey production shaped his perspective on what beekeepers need most—and why building stronger relationships across the industry is becoming increasingly important. In this conversation, Charlie explains BeeCAUSE Alliance's mission, its role alongside longstanding groups, and how their work aims to strengthen beekeeper education, legislative awareness, and the public's understanding of honey bees. The focus keyphrase BeeCAUSE Alliance sits at the heart of the episode, as Charlie talks through the motivation behind forming the group, the challenges facing today's beekeepers, and the opportunities to unite voices across beekeeping's many sectors. We also explore Charlie's personal path into beekeeping, the operations he runs today, and how he balances time in the bee yard with a growing leadership role. For anyone curious about how organizations shape the future of our industry—or what it really takes to launch a new national initiative—this conversation offers insight and thoughtful perspective. As always, thanks for listening. We appreciate your support of the Beekeeping Today Podcast and the work we do to inform, educate, and connect beekeepers everywhere. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: BeeCAUSE Alliance: https://beecausealliance.org Beekeeping Today: The Book - Photo Requests - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/p/beekeeping-today-the-book. Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Give your bees a boost with HiveAlive! Proven to increase bee health, honey yield, and overwinter survival, HiveAlive's unique formula includes seaweed, thyme, and lemongrass, making it easy to feed. Choose from HiveAlive's Fondant Patties, High-Performance Pollen Patties, or EZ Feed Super Syrup—ready-to-use options for busy beekeepers. Buy locally or online. HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    56 min

  7. NOV 17

    Molly Quade: Fighting Varroa with Fungi (360)

    Honey bees continue to face shifting pressures from pests, and few are as relentless as varroa mites. In this episode, Jeff and Becky talk with Washington State University graduate student Molly Quade, whose research into fighting varroa with fungi offers a promising biological alternative to traditional mite treatments. Molly studies entomopathogenic fungi—especially Metarhizium species—which naturally infect arthropods and are already used in agriculture for pest management. Her work centers on finding fungal strains that can tolerate the warm environment of a honey bee colony, one of the biggest barriers to making fungus-based varroa control viable. Through strain selection and thermal tolerance testing, Molly and her colleagues are working toward biological tools that could function inside a living hive. The conversation breaks down how fungi infect varroa without harming bees, why biological treatments may reduce resistance issues, and the practical challenges of delivering fungal spores inside the hive. Molly also shares insights on fungal interactions with bee immunity and how wax moth larvae unexpectedly support early-stage testing. For beekeepers searching for future tools to manage mites more sustainably, this episode offers a clear, engaging look at one of the most innovative research directions underway today. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Washington State University Honey Bees & Pollinator Program:  https://bees.wsu.edu Molly's WSU Presentation, "Entomopathogenic Metarhizium for Varroa Control" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSndz3Z39gw&t=139s Beekeeping Today: The Book - Photo Requests - https://www.beekeepingtodaypodcast.com/p/beekeeping-today-the-book. Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is the creator of innovative, modular and interchangeable hive systems made in the USA using recycled and American sourced materials. Bee Smart Designs - Simply better beekeeping for the modern beekeeper. Give your bees a boost with HiveAlive! Proven to increase bee health, honey yield, and overwinter survival, HiveAlive's unique formula includes seaweed, thyme, and lemongrass, making it easy to feed. Choose from HiveAlive's Fondant Patties, High-Performance Pollen Patties, or EZ Feed Super Syrup—ready-to-use options for busy beekeepers. Buy locally or online. HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    52 min
  8. [Bonus] Short: Communication in Bees and Beekeepers with Dr. Dewey Caron

    NOV 14 · BONUS

    [Bonus] Short: Communication in Bees and Beekeepers with Dr. Dewey Caron

    In this month's Beekeeping Today Podcast Short with Dr. Dewey Caron, he reflects on the many ways communication connects us — from human language to honey bee behavior. Recorded following the Oregon State Beekeepers Association's annual meeting, Dewey explores communication on three levels: between bee scientists and beekeepers, between beekeepers and their bees, and among bees themselves. He compares human verbal, nonverbal, and written communication to the complex systems found in honey bee societies, including the famous waggle dance and the chemical cues that govern colony behavior. Dewey also shares new research from the University of Minnesota, which suggests that the protein vitellogenin may play a role in how colonies prepare to swarm — possibly acting as part of their "language" of reproduction. The discussion underscores how understanding bee communication helps us become better communicators as beekeepers, recognizing the cues our colonies send before swarming begins. As Dewey reminds us, communication is a two-way street: "We need to understand what our bees are saying and better refine what we're asking of them." Links and references mentioned in this episode: Klett, Katrina, Kate Ihie, Michael Simone-Finstrome and Marla Spivak. 2025. Vitellogenin plays a role in regulating honey bee swarming. Scientific Reports  15,  36569. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-20547-z ) Note: Kate Ihir and Michael Simone-Finstrome now at USDA Baton Rouge Bee lab) Seeley, Thomas D. 2024. Piping Hot Bees and Boisterous Buzz Runners. Princeton Univ Press The Language Doctors - https://thelanguagedoctors.org/blog/language-and-communication-2/ University of Minnesota Bee Research Lab – https://beelab.umn.edu Brought to you by Betterbee – your partners in better beekeeping. ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

    14 min
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About

The weekly podcast bringing beekeepers the latest news, research, and insights on honey bees. Hosted by Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman, each episode features conversations with beekeepers, scientists, authors, and industry leaders. Whether you're just starting your first hive or managing hundreds, you'll find practical tips, fresh perspectives, and engaging stories to inspire your beekeeping journey.

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