Best Backyard Beekeeping Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 178 – The Bee Buzz (30): Winter Prep, Ventilation & Varroa Reality Check 🐝💭 34:10

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1d ago34:10

34:10

In this Bee Buzz episode I tackle common late-season questions about treating Varroa mites before winter, dealing with moisture and ventilation, replacing old comb, wrapping hives, and whether it’s safe to move colonies near a windbreak this time of year. We also look at what “too much insulation” really means, how to manage condensation safely, an…

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913: Everything Garden a Permaculture Principle 41:30

3d ago41:30

41:30

Garden Chat with Don Titmus In this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus dive into the Permaculture Principle Everything Gardens, focusing on the beneficial relationships within an ecosystem, particularly soil, food webs, and the role of different plants and animals. They explore how weeds, chickens as soil tillers, water as a sculptor, and the role of…

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Episode 177 – The Bee Buzz (29): Drone Comb, Plastic Foundation & Late-Season Hive Tips 🐝 38:50

5d ago38:50

38:50

In this Bee Buzz episode I answer listener questions about using drone comb to reduce Varroa without chemicals, getting bees to accept plastic foundation, managing weak colonies before winter, handling late season queen loss, and how to think about brood frames, pollen patties, and uncapped nectar as the season winds down. What’s Inside This Episod…

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912: Community Farming the Wave of the Future 34:24

6d ago34:24

34:24

A Rosie On The House Replay In this episode join Romey Romero & Farmer Greg on Rosie on the House's Outdoor Living Hour with special guests Sowan Thai and Bryant Cruz from Spaces of Opportunity, a 19-acre community farming project in South Phoenix. We dive into the origins and development of the farm, the unique model of community and urban farming…

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911: Mastering the Art and Craft of Seed Saving 30:34

10d ago30:34

30:34

Our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org In This Podcast: In this months Seed Chat Greg Peterson and Bill McDorman, discuss the art and craft of harvesting seeds. They cover the basics of seed saving, including observation, threshing, and water winnowing, with a focus on tomatoes. The chat also delves into various resources, books, and historical prac…

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Episode 176 – Winter Hive Survival (Part 2): Smarter Insulation for Stronger Colonies 🧊🐝 42:03

12d ago42:03

42:03

In part two of my conversation with Minnesota beekeeper Peg DeSanto, we continue unpacking the science of overwintering and explore the research behind condensation, CO₂ balance, and hive insulation. Peg explains why matching hive size to colony strength matters, how smaller overwintering spaces improve survival, and how her Hive Hugger project was…

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Episode 175 – Winter Hive Survival: Science, Insulation, and the Condensing Hive 🧊🐝 42:09

16d ago42:09

42:09

In this episode I talk with Minnesota beekeeper Peg DeSanto about one of the biggest challenges in beekeeping, getting colonies through winter. Peg explains how she became determined to stop winter losses and what she learned about insulation, moisture control, and the science behind the condensing hive approach. What’s Inside This Episode: Why 50 …

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910: From Urban Living to Homesteading. 48:00

18d ago48:00

48:00

Elizabeth Bruckner's Journey of Resilience and Self-Sufficiency In this podcast, Greg interviews Elizabeth Bruckner, the accidental suburban homesteader and author of 'The Homesteader Mindset.' Elizabeth shares her journey of cultivating resilience through intentional living, influenced by her family's World War II experiences and her education in …

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Episode 174 - Bees In The News (28): Parasites, Organics & Alaska Hive Beetles 🐝🗞️ 26:28

20d ago26:28

26:28

Bees In The News is back with a fresh format and more commentary. Instead of just reading headlines, I dive into what these stories really mean for beekeepers. In this episode, we explore the surprising discovery of natural bacteria in pollen that may protect bees, the growing concerns about native bee loss in Missouri and Kansas, and a Penn State …

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Episode 173 – Building a Hive Monitoring System: Sensors, Heat Maps, and Real Data 🖥️🐝 33:50

23d ago33:50

33:50

Every beekeeper wonders how their colonies are doing in the middle of winter. Are they clustered? Do they have enough food? Is it safe to open the hive? In this episode, I walk through the new project I have been teasing for months, a hive monitoring system that uses temperature probes, humidity sensors, and data collectors to create real-time heat…

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909: Exploring Microbial Marvels with Melissa Booth 38:32

26d ago38:32

38:32

In This Podcast: We chat with Melissa Booth, a microbiologist and creator of the course 'The Hidden Powers of Microbes.' Melissa speaks about her journey from Oklahoma's semi-arid deserts to her passion for research. Initially interested in becoming a physician, her path changed after engaging in research in marine microbiology. She eventually purs…

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Episode 172 – The Bee Buzz (28): Winter Hive Questions, Feeding, and Moisture Boards ❄️🐝 34:08

27d ago34:08

34:08

It is Bee Buzz time again, and in this Q&A session I answer listener questions on winter prep, feeding, and hive management. We talk about whether to reduce colonies from two brood boxes to one, how to handle screened bottom boards, what to know about moisture boards, and when to stop feeding syrup. I also cover queen excluders in winter, protectin…

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Episode 171 – Inside the Winter Cluster: How Bees Heat and Survive the Cold ❄️🐝 25:34

30d ago25:34

25:34

When temperatures drop, bees form the winter cluster to stay alive. In this episode, we dig into what triggers clustering, how bees rotate between the mantle and the core, and the muscle power that generates heat without flight. We also look at how the cluster moves as a unit to consume honey, why frame arrangement matters, and what not to do when …

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908: Veteran and Firefighter Transforms Agriculture 39:12

1M ago39:12

39:12

Sam Cooke on creating a non profit cattle farm, In This Podcast: Host Greg Peterson chats with Sam Cooke, founder and CEO of CC Cattle Company, a nonprofit cattle farm aimed at combating food insecurity in Wisconsin. Sam shares his journey from a small dairy farm in northern Wisconsin to his roles in the US Navy and as a firefighter, which led him …

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Episode 170 – Tree Cavities vs. Langstroth Hives: How Bees Really Survive Winter ❄️🐝 40:40

1M ago40:40

40:40

When bees overwinter in a tree cavity, they enjoy thick insulation, controlled airflow, and condensation that actually helps them survive. In a Langstroth hive, things look very different, and without adjustments, those differences can cost colonies dearly. In this episode, I break down what happens inside a natural cavity and compare it to the equ…

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907: Permaculture Principle, The yield of system is potentially unlimited 45:52

1M ago45:52

45:52

A Garden Chat with Don Titmus In this garden chat, Greg and Don Titmus start be discussing the importance of naming your farm and then dive deep into permaculture principle number six: the yield of a system is potentially unlimited. They touch upon Don's synergized version of permaculture principles, emphasizing multi-functional elements in farming…

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Episode 169 – Winter Prep for Your Hives: Feeding, Merging, and Insulating ❄️🐝 38:59

1M ago38:59

38:59

Winter is coming, and the way you prepare your hives now will determine how strong your colonies are in the spring. In this episode, we go step by step through assessing colony strength, when to combine hives, and what kind of feeding really works. We also break down insulation and ventilation, weighing your hives, and why candy boards and sugar br…

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906: Exploring Grains and the Wealth in Wildflowers 38:38

2M ago38:38

38:38

A seed chat with Bill McDorman Our monthly Seed Chat at SeedChat.org In This Podcast: Farmer Greg and Bill McDorman chat about the transition from summer gardening to planting wildflowers, cover crops, and grains. The conversation covers the benefits of wildflowers, emphasizing their role in permaculture and ecological wealth. They highlight succes…

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Episode 168 – Spring vs Fall Pollen: What Bees Really Need (And When) 🐝🌼🍂 53:01

2M ago53:01

53:01

This episode focuses on the difference between spring and fall pollen and how seasonal shifts impact bee nutrition. We look at what bees need to raise brood, how they build fat reserves for winter, and why feeding is not the same in every season. At the end of the episode, I share my personal story of 9/11, where I was that day in DC, what I saw, a…

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905: Growing Fruit Trees Successfully with Farmer Greg 35:52

2M ago35:52

35:52

A Rosie On The House Replay In this episode of 'Rosie on the House,' Farmer Greg and Romey Romero discuss essential tips for growing fruit trees. They highlight the optimal time for planting, common mistakes homeowners make—such as planting in gravel or lawns and improper drip irrigation—and advises on best practices. Greg also shares his unique 's…

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904: The Return of the Paw Paw with Michael Judd 36:36

2M ago36:36

36:36

In This Podcast: Greg reconnects with Michael Judd, an expert in permaculture and sustainable living. They discuss the illusive fruit the Paw Paw, and Michael's involvement in creating Maryland's first natural green burial site. Michael then shares his passion for pawpaws, detailing their unique adaptation as a tropical fruit that thrives in colder…

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Episode 167 – The Beltsville Bee Lab Shutdown: What’s Really Going On 🏛️🐝 23:03

2M ago23:03

23:03

News of the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab closing has sparked controversy, but what’s fact and what’s fearmongering? In this episode, we dig into the proposed relocation of the nation’s oldest bee research lab and what it means for diagnostics, research, and beekeepers like you. We also take a hard look at the usual claims about bee declines, climate bla…

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Episode 166 – Oxalic Acid and Mite Madness: What’s Changing, What’s Not 🧪🐝 33:18

2M ago33:18

33:18

Oxalic acid has long been a trusted treatment for Varroa mites, but recent label updates are causing confusion about dosage, legality, and safety. In this episode, we talk through what the updated EPA labels for Api-Bioxal and EZ-OX actually say, why generic wood bleach is not a legal alternative, and how much is too much when vaporizing OA. We als…

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903: Becoming a 'Real' Organic Farmer with Linley Dixon 41:44

2M ago41:44

41:44

Sustainable Farming Insights with Linley In This Podcast: Greg interviews Linley Dixon, a small-scale organic vegetable farmer in southwest Colorado. Linley specializes in soil-grown greenhouse tomatoes and has been farming since 2010. She shares her path to farming, including the challenges faced in finding suitable farmland with water rights, and…

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902: All about the Real Organic Project with Linley Dixon 37:49

2M ago37:49

37:49

What it means to advocate for organic certification In This Podcast: Greg interviews Linley Dixon from The Real Organic Project to discuss the organization's efforts to maintain the true integrity of organic farming. Linley recounts her journey from farming in Colorado to working with the National Organic Standards Board and witnessing regulatory b…

Backyard Beekeeping Podcasts

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Beekeeping For Newbees

Beekeeping For Newbees

1
The Urban Farm Podcast with Greg Peterson

Urban Farm Team

1
Beekeeping Stories on the Apiary Chronicles Podcast

Grazing Grass

1
Episode 178 – The Bee Buzz (30): Winter Prep, Ventilation & Varroa Reality Check 🐝💭 34:10

1
913: Everything Garden a Permaculture Principle 41:30

1
Episode 177 – The Bee Buzz (29): Drone Comb, Plastic Foundation & Late-Season Hive Tips 🐝 38:50

1
912: Community Farming the Wave of the Future 34:24

1
911: Mastering the Art and Craft of Seed Saving 30:34

1
Episode 176 – Winter Hive Survival (Part 2): Smarter Insulation for Stronger Colonies 🧊🐝 42:03

1
Episode 175 – Winter Hive Survival: Science, Insulation, and the Condensing Hive 🧊🐝 42:09

1
910: From Urban Living to Homesteading. 48:00

1
Episode 174 - Bees In The News (28): Parasites, Organics & Alaska Hive Beetles 🐝🗞️ 26:28

1
Episode 173 – Building a Hive Monitoring System: Sensors, Heat Maps, and Real Data 🖥️🐝 33:50

1
909: Exploring Microbial Marvels with Melissa Booth 38:32

1
Episode 172 – The Bee Buzz (28): Winter Hive Questions, Feeding, and Moisture Boards ❄️🐝 34:08

1
Episode 171 – Inside the Winter Cluster: How Bees Heat and Survive the Cold ❄️🐝 25:34

1
908: Veteran and Firefighter Transforms Agriculture 39:12

1
Episode 170 – Tree Cavities vs. Langstroth Hives: How Bees Really Survive Winter ❄️🐝 40:40

1
907: Permaculture Principle, The yield of system is potentially unlimited 45:52

1
Episode 169 – Winter Prep for Your Hives: Feeding, Merging, and Insulating ❄️🐝 38:59

1
906: Exploring Grains and the Wealth in Wildflowers 38:38

1
Episode 168 – Spring vs Fall Pollen: What Bees Really Need (And When) 🐝🌼🍂 53:01

1
905: Growing Fruit Trees Successfully with Farmer Greg 35:52

1
904: The Return of the Paw Paw with Michael Judd 36:36

1
Episode 167 – The Beltsville Bee Lab Shutdown: What’s Really Going On 🏛️🐝 23:03

1
Episode 166 – Oxalic Acid and Mite Madness: What’s Changing, What’s Not 🧪🐝 33:18

1
903: Becoming a 'Real' Organic Farmer with Linley Dixon 41:44

1
902: All about the Real Organic Project with Linley Dixon 37:49