Honey Bee Obscura Podcast

Jim Tew is back from a long drive through Michigan's autumn beauty—and while the leaves have changed, his thoughts haven't strayed far from bees or smoke. In this week's Honey Bee Obscura, Jim explores one of beekeeping's oldest tools—the smoker—and how this essential companion has become both a help and a health concern.

From his makeshift recording spot at his daughter's home to a chat wi...

In this reflective episode, Jim Tew takes listeners on a journey through his years as a traveling beekeeper, visiting apiaries and researchers around the world. From the early days of Africanized "killer" bees in Venezuela to disciplined Burmese military trainees in Myanmar, Jim recounts how these experiences shaped his understanding of honey bees and the people who care for them.

Jim descr...

In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew reflects on one of beekeeping's most underrated tools—instinct. Beekeepers make hundreds of small decisions in the apiary, many of them guided by experience and that unspoken "gut feeling." But how do you know when to trust it?

Jim shares a story from helping his grandson's neglected hive in Michigan that appeared doomed by American foulbrood. Everything ...

In this Archive Special from October 2021, we revisit a conversation with the late Kim Flottum and Jim Tew as they discuss the many ways beekeepers prepare colonies for the cold months ahead. From simple windbreaks to traditional tar paper wraps, insulated hive covers, and quilt boxes filled with wood shavings, Jim and Kim explore techniques both old and new.

The discussion highlights how w...

This milestone episode marks 250 installments of Honey Bee Obscura. Jim reflects on more than 5,000 minutes of plain talk beekeeping, the early days recording with the late Kim Flottum, and the ongoing joy of talking bees every Thursday morning.

With autumn closing in, Jim turns to a practical and urgent subject: your last chance winter prep for bees. He discusses how to evaluate queens in ...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores the challenges of fall honey and testy bees during the autumn flow. What begins as a calm reflection on goldenrod and fall asters quickly turns into an unexpectedly lively encounter with defensive bees. Jim describes multiple stings, determined pursuit by guard bees, and how hive temperament can shift overnight—even in colonies that had been calm the day be...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares his fascination with old beekeeping books, particularly a rare two-volume set titled Beekeeping, New and Old: Described with Pen and Camera by W. Herrod-Hempsall. Jim first found Volume 1 nearly 40 years ago in poor condition, but recently added the elusive Volume 2 to his collection. With nearly 2,600 pages combined, the books are a window into the forgotten...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Jeff Ott (from Beekeeping Today Podcast) wrestle with the idea of bare bones beekeeping. After a few false starts with recording equipment, the two dive into what it really means to keep bees with minimal effort, tools, and energy—especially as age, time, or physical limits change how one approaches the craft.

Jim reflects...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew recounts an unexpected August swarm that turned a normal day into a beekeeping puzzle. What began as a routine check for a groundhog problem quickly spiraled into a surprise discovery: a swarm squeezed into the narrow space beneath his barn.

Jim shares the challenges of coaxing the bees out of an impossible location, from using honey as bait to ...

As summer winds down, Jim Tew sits down with fellow beekeeper Anne Frey to talk through what August reveals about colonies heading into winter. Their conversation explores the signs that point to how well bees are prepared, from brood nest patterns and queen performance to food reserves and mite levels.

Anne and Jim discuss how local conditions shape management decisions and how preparation...

Late season swarms can puzzle even experienced beekeepers. In this episode, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey of Betterbee to explore why colonies sometimes issue swarms in August—or even September—long after the spring swarming season has passed. Are these "suicidal swarms" driven by genetics, overcrowded brood nests, or something else entirely?

Jim and Anne share stories of catching these late s...

When it comes time to remove honey from your colonies, the job can feel like one of the most physically demanding tasks of the beekeeping season. In this Honey Bee Obscura archive special from September 2022, hosts Kim Flottum and Jim Tew revisit their practical—and often humorous—discussion about getting honey supers off the hives without losing your mind, your back, or your bees.

Kim desc...

In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores what it really means to call ourselves "beekeepers." After more than fifty years with bees, Jim questions whether we truly "keep" them—or if we're simply borrowing space in their world. He draws comparisons to birdhouses, backyard chickens, and monarch butterflies, observing that bees remain fundamentally wild, even when living in our boxes.

In this week's episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew takes a thoughtful walk through history, sparked by a humble but enduring piece of equipment found in nearly every beekeeper's supply box—the Boardman feeder. What begins as a practical look at feeding honey bee colonies becomes a fascinating exploration of beekeeping lore, forgotten innovators, and personal reflections on how ideas shape generations.

In this reflective and personal episode, Jim Tew explores a question many beekeepers may not think much about—why are so many bee yards hidden from view? Fresh off a long solo road trip, Jim shares how, despite driving over 2,000 miles, he didn't spot a single beehive. This observation launches a deeper discussion about the reasons beekeepers often keep their hives out of sight: privacy, safety, neighbor concerns, theft prevention—...

In this episode, Jim Tew welcomes back Anne Frey of Betterbee to unpack the troubling die-offs many beekeepers experienced this past winter and spring. From unexplained colony declines to puzzling symptoms that didn't respond to brood boosts or pollen patties, Jim and Anne share firsthand observations of a season marked by confusion, frustration, and difficult decisions.

Anne describes colo...

In this episode, Jim Tew shares a messy and mysterious beekeeping challenge that begins with two unrelated problems—a failing observation hive and a suspected drone-laying queen. The result is a tangle of questions, classic troubleshooting, and a fair bit of head scratching.

Jim walks listeners through his efforts to identify whether he's dealing with a drone-laying queen, laying workers, o...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey of Betterbee to talk locust flows—and the puzzling question of why these spectacular blooms don't always result in a honey crop. From the sweet scent of black locust trees to the realities of nectar availability, Jim and Anne explore the unpredictable connection between what we see in the landscape and what actually ends up in the supers.

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew recounts an unexpected turn during what was supposed to be a simple walk through his bee yard. When a hive erupts in swarm-like intensity, Jim finds himself in the middle of a classic beekeeping challenge—spotting and catching a queen mid-swarm. What follows is a fast-paced reflection on instincts, experience, and an old piece of equipment: the queen and drone trap.