Beekeeping Today Podcast

In this episode of our BTP Shorts series on varroa treatments, Jeff and Becky welcome back Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to explore VarroxSan—an extended-release oxalic acid strip used to manage varroa mites. David explains how this USDA-registered product works, its origins in South American formulations like Aluen CAP, and why its slow-release delivery makes it a valuable tool for maintaining mite levels throug...

In this first episode of our Beekeeping Today Podcast Shorts series on varroa mites, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Dr. David Peck of Betterbee to lay the foundation for an important multi-part series. Varroa mites continue to be the most damaging pest to honey bee colonies worldwide. In this introduction, the trio covers the biology and lifecycle of varroa, the damage they inflict, and why routine ...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back Jerry Hayes, renowned honey bee advocate, author, and researcher, for a wide-ranging conversation on bee health, industry change, and the future of beekeeping. ...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky dive into the fascinating world of two-queen hive systems with guests Alan Wade and Dannielle Harden. Alan, an Australian researcher and longtime contributor to The Austra...

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we welcome an inspiring young voice in honey bee research—Atreya Manaswi, a high school senior and top 40 finalist in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. Atreya shares the fascinating journey that began with a fishing trip and led to a multi-year research project aimed at controlling one of the most damaging pests of honey bees: the small hive beetle.

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns with his latest “audio postcard,” diving into summer apiary management. As the season heats up, Dewey asks: are we unknowingly stressing our bees through our supering choices?

Drawing from a recent Brazilian study led by Dr. David De Jong, Dewey explores the physiological impacts of over-supering on honey bee colonies. The rese...

In this special episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we launch our eighth season with a celebration of Pollinator Week and a conversation with Kelly Bills, Executive Director of Pollinator Partnership. ...

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Jeff sits down with Jenna York, founder of Jeometry Beewear, a new line of protective beekeeping clothing designed specifically for women. Combining her 10 years of beekeeping experience with two decades in fashion design, Jenna shares how frustration with ill-fitting gear inspired her to create a solution from the ground up.

Based in Charleston, Sout...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down with Jim Hartman, the 2024 North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year and a dedicated honey producer. Jim shares his journey from military service and corporate life to ...

In this lively episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back Dr. Jim Tew, host of Honey Bee Obscura and longtime beekeeper, for an unscripted conversation on the quirks, questions, and quiet joys of summer beekeeping. With decades of experience and a healthy dose of humor, Jim reflects on managing colonies during the busy season—when things rarely go to plan.

From ants nesting under hive covers to q...

What do honey bee genetics mean for the everyday beekeeper—and how do researchers untangle traits like foraging behavior, hygienic tendencies, and even pollen hoarding? In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down with Dr. ...

On this special World Bee Day edition of Beekeeping Today Podcast Shorts, Dr. Dewey Caron shares another “audio postcard” exploring the vital role of communication in supering—adding boxes to a hive for nectar storage and honey production. Dewey explains how supering is a message to the bees: “Fill it up!”

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky welcome U.S. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District for a lively and inspiring conversation—not about politics, but about bees. A h...

In this 2025 spring beekeeping update, Jeff and Becky gather beekeepers from across the country for a timely check-in on seasonal progress, survival rates, and challenges. Joining the table are Ang Roell (MA/FL), Bonnie Morse (CA), Duane Combs (AZ), and Jay Williams (TN), each offering a candid look at their spring buildup after a winter marked by extremes.

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Dr. Humberto Boncristiani, bee biologist, educator, and founder of InsideTheHive.TV. Humberto shares his compelling journey from growing up with Africanized bees in Brazil to becoming a lead...

In this Beekeeping Today Podcast Short, Dr. Dewey Caron returns with an “audio postcard” on one of spring’s biggest challenges: swarming. In less than 20 minutes, Dewey breaks down the science and management strategies of swarming across three communication levels—bee scientist to beekeeper, beekeeper to bees, and bee to bee.

Dr. Samuel Ramsey returns to the podcast with jaw-dropping updates from his global research into Tropilaelaps and Varroa mites. In this fast-paced and eye-opening conversation, Sammy shares the latest findings from his Hon...

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky talk with Rowdy Freeman, a deputy sheriff from California who has become a leading figure in the fight against beehive theft. What began as a criminal investigation...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Amy Floyd and Everett Hendrixon of Dalan Animal Health back to the podcast to discuss the latest developments surrounding honey bee vaccination. With spring queen orders underway, many beekeepers are exploring the option of vaccinated queens to help protect their colonies from brood diseases and beyond.