Secrets of the Bees with Dr. Sammy Ramsey

Chris welcomes Dr. Sammy Ramsey (“Dr. Bugs”), entomologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, to discuss Secrets of the Bees (National Geographic, Disney+/Hulu). They explore surprising bee intelligence—from navigation using the sun to puzzle-solving, teaching, and even play—alongside fascinating behaviours like the waggle dance and swarm decision-making. Ramsey debunks common myths about honeybees and explains why they’re less aggressive than wasps. The episode also tackles colony collapse, ongoing hive losses, and the impact of varroa mites. He shares simple, practical ways people can help protect pollinators at home. Tune in on Nat Gro March 31, 2026 Disney+/HULU April 1, 2026 Dr. Ramey's website and socials can be found HERE Timeline 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:12 Why Bees Amaze Us 01:46 Tiny Brains Big Intelligence 02:52 Secrets of the Bees Visuals 04:03 Bees vs Wasps Misconceptions 07:24 Colony Collapse Explained 09:58 Annual Losses and Data Confusion 14:09 Bumblebee Lab Play and Puzzles 18:42 Insect Culture and Conservation 20:25 Inspiring Future Scientists 21:46 Why Bees Deserve Spotlight 22:01 Secrets Series Perspective Shift 23:39 Waggle Dance Explained 25:21 Honeybee Democracy Swarms 28:04 Varroa Mites Threat 31:41 Fighting Mites With Genetics 32:24 Help Pollinators At Home 35:51 Hope And Final Plug 37:19 Where To Follow Dr Sammy =========================================================== Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation.  Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE. We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to advertise on our podcast You can also visit our website HERE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices