How can honey bee venom, honey and other hive products help with our health and wellness? On this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping we learn all about the health benefits of products from the hive. Our guest is Vermont beekeeper and apitherapy expert, Ross Conrad. Ross discusses his beekeeping adventure in Vermont. Then we dive into an informative discussion about the benefits of raw honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, bee venom, and even 'bee air.' This is an informative episode that will help u...
Apr 03, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 214
In this episode, we're joined by Paulo Mielgo and David Westervelt from Vita Bee Health. Our discussion is focused on varroa testing and treatment for honey bees. We discuss the pros and cons of Apiguard, Apistan, and the new VarroxSan oxalic acid strips. "Resistance" build up is always an issue with treating for varroa as they build up a resistance to specific chemicals over time, necessitating the rotation of different treatments. Beekeepers know that it's not so much the mites, as the viruses...
Mar 27, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 213
In this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping we explore everything related to single brood chamber management, including the Demaree method. Our interview features George Datto and Nat Wolfe from The Keeper's Hive. They are experts in Demaree beekeeping and have invented a new hive design that makes it easy, with less lifting of heavy boxes. The show kicks off with more fun from the Not Real Jeff Foxworthy and bees in the news from around the world. It's all about having fun while we learn about beeke...
Mar 20, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 212
The Not Real Jeff Foxworthy is back with all new material, much of it sent in by our listeners! Our featured guest on this episode is Jenna Prososki, Director of Sales & Marketing, Mann Lake. We discuss the essentials of spring beekeeping, feeding bees, dead-outs, the importance of testing and treating for mites, and much more! Learn about wax-dipped woodenware, how to know if you're buying quality equipment, Mann Lake's history, and new beekeeping products. Of course we top if off with a co...
Mar 13, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 211
Heard any good honey bee 'dad jokes' lately? We start off with more of those than you could ever want :) Then we travel to Switzerland to have a discussion with 4th generation beekeeper, Pascal Brunner. His company, Life Hive, has created a chemical-free treatment for varroa mites using heat in a hi-tech way. We also discuss beekeeping in Switzerland, personal joys of beekeeping, and end with a wild & crazy beekeeping story. Beekeeping and the beekeepers, it's all about he love of honey bees...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 210
On this episode we learn about a fun new beekeeping product in development, an electric smoker that works as easy as the push of a button. Our guest is Michael Erpenbeck from Technically Beekeeping. We discuss beekeeping in the Chicago area, new inventions for beekeepers, wild & crazy beekeeping stories, and much more! In our bees in the news section, we discuss a new study that highlights the dangers of fertilizers to honey bees and other pollinators. Also discussed, apiaries in solar power...
Feb 27, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 209
Our guest on this episode is Chris Hiatt, commercial beekeeper and past president of the American Honey Producers Association. The topic of conversation is this winter's severe colony loss, especially with commercial beekeepers. We discuss the amount of losses, possible causes and prevention techniques. Other topics include the annual schedule of commercial beekeepers, the love of honey bees and the business, a wild & crazy beekeeping story, plus much much more. Beekeeping and the beekeepers...
Feb 21, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 208
The U.S. is experiencing "Sudden and Severe Losses" to honey bee colonies, anywhere from 50% - 100%. Is it time to panic? In today's episode we discuss those bee losses, hear some wild & crazy beekeeping stories, and have a discussion with James Wheeldon, a beekeeper in Warblington, Hampshire, England. We also learn about James' new charity organization, Beekeeping For Hope. It's a way for beekeepers to give back through donating a small portion of their honey harvest to people around the wo...
Feb 14, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 207
Why are honey bees covered in hair? How do bees navigate? These, and more answers to questions you never thought to ask, in this episode's Fun Facts. Then we have a great discussion with 4th generation beekeeper, Steven Stewart. We discuss overwintering techniques, beehive ventilation, problems with water in the hive, and what beekeepers can do mid-winter to help their bees survive. Steven had a successful career as an engineer, and in retirement he has developed the solar powered Hive Heater. B...
Feb 07, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 206
Our guest on this episode is Dr. Mathieu Lihoreau, an Animal Cognition Researcher from France. We discuss how bees play, what they think about, learned behavior vs. instinct, yellow legged hornets, and much more! Beekeeping News features U.S. research which includes attaching QR codes to 32,000 honey bees. There is an island in Ireland where you can spend time on a "bee bed," which has 5 full beehives under it. Beekeeping and the beekeepers, it's all about he love of honey bees! Special thanks t...
Jan 31, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 205
200 Pounds of Honey per hive in 6 weeks! What's the difference between a beekeeping veil and a wedding veil? Ask our stand-up comedian. This episode crosses the full spectrum from honey bee biology to crazy beekeeping stories, and great advice about becoming a small commercial beekeeper. Plus how to keep bees in the cold British Columbia climate. Our guest is Christine McDonald, a former forest firefighter and school teacher. She and her husband run Rushing River Apiaries. In our discussion, we ...
Jan 23, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 204
This episode of Bee Love Beekeeping features a discussion with master beekeeper, Patrick Hardy. Patrick is the founder of Bee Platoon, dedicated to helping beekeepers in disasters. Patrick has been an emergency and disaster professional for 25 years. In this discussion we cover preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and how to help beekeepers in the Southern California wildfire area. Patrick's time as a swarm removal specialist helps him bring special insights to the safety aspects of swarm remov...
Jan 16, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 203
This episode of Bee Love Beekeeping begins with our favorite (not) Jeff Foxworthy comedian telling us why YOU might be a beekeeper! We then discuss Apitherapy, also known as Bee Venom Therapy (BVT) and some of it's possible medical benefits. Before trying apitherapy, make sure that you have done your homework, are not allergic to bee stings, and always have an EpiPen nearby. Our guest on this episode is Justin Sanchez, Founder and CTO of Terra Vera. We discuss varroa mites and their new amino ac...
Jan 10, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 202
In this engaging episode, we explore the vibrant world of beekeeping and honey bees. From humorous anecdotes about Texas beekeepers to deep dives into challenges faced by modern apiculture, this episode has it all. Host Eric Bennett welcomes Jerry Hayes, editor of Bee Culture Magazine , to discuss pressing issues like, who can you trust for beekeeping advice on social media. Key Topics Discussed: Why you might be a beekeeper! Murder Hornets. UK outlawing neonics. Honey Bee Health Coalition. Prac...
Jan 02, 2025•43 min•Season 2Ep. 201
In this episode, we’re diving into the joys, challenges, and surprises of life with honey bees. From listener stories to an inspiring interview, it’s a wild ride in the world of beekeeping. We kick things off with a fun “You might be a beekeeper if…” segment that’ll have you nodding (and laughing) along. Ever get stung through your suit or realize fondant isn’t just for cakes? Yeah, you’re one of us. Listener Wild & Crazy Beekeeping Stories Grab your smoker and settle in because you won’t be...
Dec 19, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 109
After seeing the headlines for months, we had to find out for ourselves, is the bee vaccine for real or just a gimmick? Can we really vaccinate honey bees, and how does it work? Will beekeepers embrace it? In this episode, we discuss all of this with Everett Hendrixon and Phoebe Snyder from Dalan Animal Health... AND we do it in plain English, without too much scientific jargon. In our not Jeff Foxworthy opener, we learn why you might be a beekeeper. Plus, crazy and painful beekeeping stories, a...
Dec 12, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 108
The not-real Jeff Foxworthy is back with more "... You Might Be A Beekeeper" examples! In this episode we travel to Edinburgh, Scotland for a discussion with Dr. Gino Jabbar, beekeeper and "honey sensory analyst." We learn about beekeeping in the Scottish climate, what a honey sensory analyst is and does, and much more! Plus of course, a wild beekeeping story. Then we check the latest honey bee/beekeeper news and hear about the affects of adulterated honey in Europe, and a newly discovered blue ...
Dec 06, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 107
The not-real Jeff Foxworthy is back with more "... You Might Be A Beekeeper" examples! Our Wild & Crazy beekeeping story of the week comes from Christine in Canada who had cold bees come to life in a middle school science classroom. Panic ensued! Rob Wright, CEO of Mann Lake, joins the show to discuss his beekeeping journey and he finishes with one of the most beautiful honey bee stories you have ever heard. It's all about the love of beekeeping and honey bees! Please follow this podcast and...
Nov 29, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 106
This episodes begins with the not-real Jeff Foxworthy's intro and he's in rare form with his "You Might Be A Beekeeper" monologue! Our first discussion features Eli Barkanov (Eli The Bee Guy) talking about beekeeping and Africanized bee removals in Southern California. Then we go as far across the continent as we can, all the way to Newfoundland to discuss beekeeping in a cold Atlantic climate, with Andrea Doucette. Please follow this podcast and share it with a friend! ______________________ Sp...
Nov 21, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 105
In this episode we are going all the way to Hawaii to meet with beekeeper Jasmine Joy. Jasmine has been a beekeeper for 13 years and spends most of her time doing swarm removals and teaching classes. She is a treatment-free beekeeper and has advice on how they control Varroa and SHB. The not real Jeff Foxworthy is back with more reasons why "you might be a beekeeper!" We also have beekeeping news, the tip-of-the-day, and a question for all to respond to. Please follow this episode and share it w...
Nov 14, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 104
The not real Jeff Foxworthy is back with more reasons why 'you might be a beekeeper!' This episode also features a new beekeeping product review of Hive Heater and how it might save your bees this winter. Then we have a fun conversation with Kamon Reynolds to learn all about beekeeping in Tennessee, what it's like to be a YouTube celebrity, and details about the North American Honey Bee Expo. Plus, Kamon describes two of his most unusual beekeeping incidents, one of which includes thousands of b...
Nov 07, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 103
In Arizona it can get so hot that beehives actually have "meltdowns" in which melting wax and honey ooze from the hive entrance. How to avoid meltdown and help honey bees through extreme heat is the theme of our guest interview with Arizona beekeeper, Monica King. In our discussion, Monica also explains how she "rehabs" honey bees. She is a third generation beekeeper and has loads of wisdom to share. You'll enjoy what 'not Jeff Foxworthy' has to say about beekeepers in this episode. We also go t...
Oct 31, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Get in the Bee Love mood with a fun intro from the not real Jeff Foxworthy! "...You might be a beekeeper!" How have Hurricanes Helene and Milton affected bees and beekeepers in the Southeastern U.S.? We'll take a deep dive in our interview with Andrew Wagner, a prominent Florida beekeeper. We discuss how many beehives have been lost, how forage loss will affect bees in the future, and what you can do to help. The Bees-In-The-News segment highlights the 'cool factor' of beekeeping and how celebri...
Oct 24, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 101
