Shows / Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
The weekly podcast exploring the joys, challenges, and curiosities of keeping honey bees. Hosted by Dr. Jim Tew and produced by Jeff Ott, Honey Bee Obscura delivers short, focused conversations that dive into the details of beekeeping—from practical how-tos to quirky observations. Perfect for learning something new on the way to the apiary, at home, or wherever your bees take you.
Episodes
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastLife in the Dark Bee Yard: A Halloween Encore (307)
The bee yard is a familiar place during daylight. After midnight on Halloween? That's a different story. For this special episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Plastics in Beekeeping (306)
Plastic is now so common in beekeeping that it's easy to forget there was a time when virtually everything in the bee yard and honey house was made from wood…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: A Flooded Smoker & Failed Queen (305)
A beautiful autumn day in the bee yard begins with an unexpected discovery for Dr. Jim Tew: his normally reliable smoker-storage system has failed…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastA Beekeeper's Cookbook (305)
What happens when decades of beekeeping, family recipes, and curiosity about cooking with honey come together in one book? In this episode of Honey Bee…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Autumn Walkabout (303)
Sometimes, the best beekeeping activity is simply taking a walk and watching the bees. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew heads into a nearby…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Other Stinging Insects (302)
Fall has arrived, and Dr. Jim Tew is taking listeners on another walk through his bee yard. But this week, the conversation wanders beyond honey bees. It…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastSmall-Scale Honey Extraction with Anne Frey (301)
Honey extraction can be rewarding, but for a small operation it can also be sticky, awkward, and surprisingly hard on the wrists. In this episode of Honey Bee…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastReflections on the 300th Episode
In this special 300th episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew heads back to his bee yard for a thoughtful look at where the podcast began, where it has taken…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastSmall Late-Summer Colonies with Anne Frey (299)
Late summer can expose the colonies that simply haven't kept pace. Maybe they're late splits, small nucs, colonies recovering from swarming, or colonies that…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special: Fall Feeding with Kim Flottum (298)
When should you feed your honey bees—and when is feeding simply masking another problem? In this Honey Bee Obscura Archive Special, we revisit a conversation…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastEasy Bee Plants with Anne Frey (297)
What can the average beekeeper realistically plant to help honey bees and other pollinators? Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey of Betterbee for a practical and…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Old Beekeeping Books (296)
On a quiet, rainy morning, Jim Tew opens a few fragile old beekeeping books and takes us on an unscripted trip through the practices, tools, and ideas of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastTiny Hives Update with Sherry (295)
Not every colony survives—and sometimes the best lesson comes from the colonies that don't. This week on Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew provides tiny hives update…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastMemorable Stings with Anne Frey (294)
Every beekeeper remembers a few stings that stand out above all the rest. This week on Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew and Anne Frey share some of their most…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastBeekeeping in Hot Weather with Anne Frey (293)
Summer heat changes the way both beekeepers and honey bee colonies operate. In this episode, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey of Betterbee to explore what…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special: Removing Honey (292)
Removing honey from a hive sounds simple until the supers are full. In this Honey Bee Obscura Archive Special, the late Kim Flottum and Dr. Jim Tew revisit one…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Hot Bees, Ants and Weeds (291)
As summer temperatures climb across much of North America, Dr. Jim Tew reflects on what extreme heat means for both honey bees and the people who care for…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastA Small Open Colony (290)
Sometimes honey bees choose unusual places to live. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew visits the property of longtime bee lab colleague Sherry to…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Hot Bees (289)
Summer heat brings a familiar sight to many beekeepers: honey bees clustered outside the hive entrance, hanging from the landing board, and covering the front…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special: Working Bees in the Heat (288)
In this Honey Bee Obscura Archive Special, Jim Tew and Kim Flottum revisit an important topic that becomes increasingly relevant as summer progresses: working…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Tall Grass In The Bee Yard (287)
In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew walks back to his bee yard after several days of rain and immediately confronts a familiar…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Five Nice Hives (286)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew heads into the bee yard to check on five package colonies installed earlier in the spring. What begins as a…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastA Novice Teaches Beekeeping (285)
Jim Tew welcomes his grandson, Will Laditka, back to Honey Bee Obscura for a candid conversation about the realities of learning beekeeping as a young…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastThe Wayward Swarm, Part 4 (284)
In this final installment of the "Wayward Swarm" saga, Dr. Jim Tew and Jason Ferrell return to the colony that has caused more trouble, worry, and excitement…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastThe Wayward Swarm, Part 3 (283)
In this third installment of The Wayward Swarm, Jim Tew returns to the now-infamous swarm hanging high in a tree after days of cold rain and falling…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Wayward Swarm, Part 2 (282)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew delivers a candid, field-side reflection on the challenges—and realities—of swarm management when conditions…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Packages and Swarms (281)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew brings listeners along for a raw, unfiltered walk through his apiary during one of beekeeping's most…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastInstalling Packaged Bees with Anne Frey, Part 2 (280)
Jim Tew and Anne Frey return for Part 2 of their discussion on honey bee packages, continuing a practical and often humorous look at the realities of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastInstalling Packaged Bees with Anne Frey, Part 1 (279)
Package bee installation is one of the most common ways new beekeepers start a colony, and in this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Seeing The Light (278)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on the contrast between light and darkness—both in beekeeping and in life. Recorded in the bee yard on a…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastNucs & Wax Production with Anne Frey (277)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey for a wide-ranging discussion on nucleus colonies, wax production, and the practical…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: BSI - Bee Scene Investigation (276)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew takes listeners into the bee yard for what he calls a "bee scene investigation"—a hands-on look at two colonies…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Old Hives, New Bees (275)
What does it really mean to put new bees into old equipment—and what does that decision say about how we keep bees? In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Tri-County (274)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on attending a recent Tri-County beekeeping meeting—one he helped organize years ago while working at…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Late Winter Robbing (273)
On a cold, soggy walk back to the bee yard, Jim reflects on an uncomfortable but important topic: robbing. With temperatures hovering around 40°F and only a…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastGeorgia Winter Visit with Anne Frey (272)
This week on Honey Bee Obscura, Jim and Anne take listeners south — to Georgia — for a mid-winter comparison of beekeeping realities. Anne recently visited…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Miracle Bees (271)
In this reflective winter walk-through, Jim Tew returns to the bee yard expecting discouraging losses—but instead finds surprising signs of life. Colonies he…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPackage Bees with Anne Frey (270)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey to explore the practical and often uncertain process of preparing for spring package bees…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Plain Talk: A Cold Bee Yard (269)
Winter doesn't always offer tidy lessons, and in this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew takes listeners with him into a brutally cold Ohio bee yard. Standing among…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Hive Tops and Winter Thoughts (268)
In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew records from his shop as a major winter storm approaches, using the moment to reflect on beekeeping, weather, and long-term…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: NAHBE Reflections (267)
In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares thoughtful reflections following his recent experience at the North American Honey Bee Expo…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: NAHBE Walkabout (266)
In this special, on-the-floor episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew records live from the bustling floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastBeekeeping Invasions with Anne Frey (265)
Beekeeping today looks very different than it did just a few decades ago, largely because of the steady arrival of invasive pests and pathogens. In this…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastWintering with Anne Frey (264)
In this New Year's Day episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey for a timely and practical conversation about wintering honey bee colonies…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Christmas Day Stories (263)
In this Christmas Day Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew offers listeners something intentionally different. Rather than focusing on hive…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Beekeeping Oddities (262)
In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew settles into his shop on a cold winter day to reflect on the many ways beekeeping appears odd to those…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Apiary Winter Wonderland (261)
In this week's episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew invites listeners into an apiary winter wonderland, where a fresh blanket of snow becomes one of the…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Fishing for Beekeepers (260)
This week on Honey Bee Obscura, Jim reflects on a familiar challenge in the beekeeping world: How do we find new beekeepers? A winter snowstorm derailed his…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Slipshod Beekeeping (259)
Sometimes beekeeping doesn't look polished, tidy, or picture-perfect—and in this week's episode, Jim leans right into that truth with a candid look at what he…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Artistry in Beekeeping (258)
Jim Tew returns with a reflective look at artistry in beekeeping—a part of the craft that may not appear in manuals but lives vividly in the memories and…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: A Fall Hive Check (257)
In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew heads out to the bee yard for a quiet, reflective fall inspection. As the days shorten and the…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastSpring Prep Now with Anne Frey (256)
Winter may have a firm grip on the landscape, but beekeepers can still get ready for the season ahead. In this Honey Bee Obscura episode, Jim Tew sits down…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastBeekeeping Efficiency with Anne Frey (255)
What does "efficiency" really mean in beekeeping—and can it go too far? In this Honey Bee Obscura episode, Jim Tew welcomes back Anne Frey of Betterbee for a…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Smoked Beekeeper (254)
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…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Traveling Beekeeper (253)
In this reflective episode, Jim Tew takes listeners on a journey through his years as a traveling beekeeper, visiting apiaries and researchers around the…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Trusting Your Gut (252)
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…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special: Preparing for Winter (251)
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…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Last Chance Winter Prep (250)
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…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Sting of Fall Honey (249)
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…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Old Beekeeping Books (248)
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…