EPISODE · Apr 12, 2026 · 54 MIN
The bees are dying again and the rise of 'slopaganda'
from Life Matters - Full program podcast · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
In an attempt to save the bees, thousands of people set up colonies of the European honeybee in their backyard. But for many, an outbreak of the parasitic varroa mite has brought this low-stakes eco-hobby to an emotionally devastating end. Backyard beekeeper Mike Allerton and Professor Sasha Mikheyev unpack the spread of varroa mite. We know the internet is full of slop, but what happens when the powers that be combine this deeply online phenomenon with their own propaganda? Mark Alfano is one of the people who coined the term 'slopaganda', so how do you spot it before you fall for it?A new report has found the creation of new businesses has been steadily declining, with the proportion of business owners as a share of the workforce at an all-time low. What's behind this downward trend?
What this episode covers
In an attempt to save the bees, thousands of people set up colonies of the European honeybee in their backyard. But for many, an outbreak of the parasitic varroa mite has brought this low-stakes eco-hobby to an emotionally devastating end. Backyard beekeeper Mike Allerton and Professor Sasha Mikheyev unpack the spread of varroa mite. We know the internet is full of slop, but what happens when the powers that be combine this deeply online phenomenon with their own propaganda? Mark Alfano is one of the people who coined the term 'slopaganda', so how do you spot it before you fall for it? A new report has found the creation of new businesses has been steadily declining, with the proportion of business owners as a share of the workforce at an all-time low. What's behind this downward trend?
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The bees are dying again and the rise of 'slopaganda'
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