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The podcast for the latest beekeeping news, information and entertainment for today's beekeeper. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring you conversations with researchers, beekeepers and industry leaders to help you become a more informed and knowledgeable beekeeper.
Beekeeping is more than a hobby—it’s a rewarding adventure that connects you to nature, supports pollinators, and brings the sweet satisfaction of harvesting your own honey. Whether you’re passionate about environmental stewardship, curious about the fascinating world of honey bees, or eager to start your first hive, our multi-part podcast series, “How To Get Started in Beekeeping" is here to guide you on every step along the way!
Beekeeping has evolved significantly over the years, and few innovations have sparked as much conversation Flow Hive's SuperLifter. In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back Flow Hive co-founder, Cedar Anderson, who shares exciting updates on their latest...
In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky welcome an extraordinary young researcher, Vince Wu, a high school senior and Davidson Fellow Scholarship winner. Vince’s groundbreaking research combines artificial intelligence and honey...
Spring is here, and if you haven’t thought about your packages and queens yet, it’s time to act! In this episode, Beekeeping Today Podcast welcomes Ray Olivarez of Olivarez Honey Bees (OHB) to discuss the intricacies of raising high-quality queens...
Scaling a beekeeping operation comes with unique challenges and opportunities, and in this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Minnesota beekeeper Ritchie Schaeffer shares his firsthand experience moving from hobbyist to sideliner. Starting in 2018...
![[Bonus] Short - Colony and USDA Losses with AHPA's President Steve Coy](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/5/b/0/f/5b0ff40a2eb7356116c3140a3186d450/BTP-Short-20250224-98h6v5d65t.jpg "[Bonus] Short - Colony and USDA Losses with AHPA's President Steve Coy")
The U.S. beekeeping industry is facing a crisis. Honey bee losses have skyrocketed, with commercial beekeepers reporting an average of 62% colony losses since June, as reported by Project Apis m. At the same time, critical USDA bee research programs...
In this episode of the Upscaling from Hobbyist to Sideliner series, we explore the business side of beekeeping with two beekeepers who successfully made the leap. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman are joined by Tara Dawn Chapman of Two Hives Honey in...
I have to admit, my gateway insect to the world of beekeeping wasn’t the honey bee. It wasn’t even the ants I followed as they made their way through my mother’s rose garden, although ants’ social behavior fascinated me. No, …
As beekeepers, we know that robbing happens—probably more often than we think. It’s those little "petty thefts" that happen every day, as bees from neighboring colonies test the defenses of nearby hives. If feral colonies were scattered …
Introduction Embarking on beekeeping can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it's not without its challenges. To ensure your first year as a beekeeper is a success, it's crucial to prepare properly and be informed about the realities of beek…
Cohost, Producer, Editor & Audio Engineer... Chief Cook, Bottle Washer, Errand Boy
Jeff Ott's journey with honey bees began in childhood with a fascination for flying and crawling creatures. He first kept an observation hive on his bedroom desk, sparking a lifelong passion for beekeeping. Over the years, Jeff grew from a hobbyist to a sideliner, managing honey bee colonies and providing local pollination services. His involvement with the Medina County and Ohio State Beekeepers Associations, along with his role as president of the Medina association, deepened his knowledge and network within the beekeeping community.
Today, Jeff lives in Olympia, Washington, and is a Master Beekeeper certified by the University of Montana and the Washington State Beekeepers Association. He founded the popular Beekeeping Today Podcast with the late Kim Flottum, reaching thousands of listeners each week. Jeff also produces two additional podcasts, Honey Bee Obscura and 2 Million Blossoms, under his media company, Growing Planet Media. His work continues to educate and inspire beekeepers worldwide.
PhD, Cohost, Columnist
Becky Masterman became a beekeeper when hired by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab as an undergraduate lab technician in 1992. She stayed on to earn a Ph.D. studying the neuroethology of honey bee hygienic behavior under the direction of Dr. Marla Spivak.
After a career detour in real estate, Becky returned to the Bee Lab in 2012 and led their Bee Squad program until 2019. Becky also served the Minnesota Honey Producers Association Board as a Director from 2016-2022 and currently heads their Habitat Committee and Habitat Hour webinar series. She has co-written the Minding Your Bees and Cues column with Bridget Mendel for Bee Culture Magazine since 2020.
Residing in Saint Paul with her husband and cat, Becky spends her free time managing her own bees and short-term rental properties across the Twin Cities metro area.
Cohost, Author
Kim Flottum attended the University Of Wisconsin, Madison, receiving a BS in Horticulture Production. While an undergrad he worked for the UW Entomology Department, researching insect control in green houses and gardens, and writing Extension Bulletins about those pests.
After graduation, he worked for the USDA Honey Bee Research Lab in Madison for four years, studying crop pollination, pesticide problems with honey bees and using honey plants in the home landscape. Later he moved to Connecticut where he was a farm manager, producing row crop vegetables and managing an apple orchard. While there he joined the CT Beekeepers Association, became President and then CT Director to Eastern Apicultural Society. John Root was also on the EAS Board at the time, and after a year offered the job of Publications Manager and Editor of Gleanings In Bee Culture, A.I. Root’s monthly beekeeping magazine.
During his tenure at A. I. Root, he created a new magazine, BEEKeeping, Your First Three Years, and also published several books, by multiple authors, along with editing three editions of The ABC and XYZ Of Bee Culture. He designed the first of Root’s beekeeping web pages, and started the daily email blast CATCH THE BUZZ.
Kim also served in leadership positions with The Ohio State Beekeeper's Assn and EAS.
During his 33 years as Bee Culture Editor, he produced five books of his own, including five editions of "The Backyard Beekeeper", plus In "Business With Bees", "The Honey Handbook", "First Time Beekeeping", "The Honey Connoisseur with Marina Marchese", and "Common Sense Natural Beekeeping", with Stephanie Bruneau.
He officially retired from Root in 2019 and continued writing and recording the Beekeeping Today Podcast with Jeff Ott and Honey Bee Obscura podcast with Jim Tew.
Sadly, Kim passed away after a short battle with cancer, December 10, 2023 at home in Medina, Ohio, surrounded by his family.
