The Buzz About Bees: Why They Matter More Than You Think with June Smalls

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins welcomes June Smalls, an author with a keen interest in honeybees. June discusses her fascination with bees, sparked by serendipitous conversations with her dental hygienist, who is also a beekeeper. Through this dialogue, June shares intriguing bee behaviors, such as their unique way of navigating and the multiple roles they undertake throughout their lifetimes. The podcast also touches on how individuals can learn more about bees and their significant role in pollination. June discusses her latest book, They Work: Honeybees, Nature's Pollinators Episode Highlights 00:00:09: Introduction to the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and today's guest, June Smalls. 00:01:37: June expresses her enthusiasm and gratitude for being on the podcast. 00:01:38: Christopher asks June about her initial interest in bees. 00:01:44: June talks about her early fascination with bees and her dental hygienist's influence. 00:02:32: Christopher comments on the correct terminology for beekeepers. 00:02:37: June explains how her dental hygienist uses honeybee products. 00:02:54: Christopher inquires about providing water to bees and how it's done. 00:03:05: June describes how to set up a bee-friendly water source. 00:03:23: Christopher shares his appreciation for bees and how he uses honey. 00:03:37: June and Christopher bond over their shared love for peanut butter and honey. 00:03:45: Christopher shares a tip for making a less messy peanut butter and honey sandwich. 00:04:04: June explains the broader importance of bees beyond honey production. 00:04:47: Christopher reflects on the importance of pollinators in agriculture. 00:05:00: June suggests working with local beekeepers for mutual benefit. 00:05:25: They discuss how honey flavor varies based on what flowers the bees pollinate. 00:05:45: Christopher asks June about what she found most interesting about honeybees. 00:06:08: June shares her new insights into the life and roles of worker bees. 00:07:11: They discuss how bees' developmental roles relate to children's development. 00:07:26: June shares more insights into bee behavior and hive dynamics. 00:07:31: Christopher asks for additional interesting facts about bees. 00:08:33: June describes the architectural and navigational genius of bees. 00:09:07: Christopher marvels at bees' navigational abilities. 00:09:15: Christopher asks for other resources to learn more about bees. 00:09:33: June recommends resources for learning about bees and mentions her educator guide. 00:10:23: Christopher concludes with June's book recommendation and encourages bee exploration. 00:10:44: June shares her website information for further contact. 00:10:59: Podcast conclusion with appreciation for the sponsor and encouragement to subscribe. Key Takeaways Honeybees play a crucial role in the pollination of approximately one-third of the food we eat. Worker bees perform different roles throughout their lives, showing a natural progression similar to human growth. Local beekeepers can be valuable allies for communities, offering knowledge and services that support agriculture and education. Despite their small size, bees display sophisticated engineering and navigational skills, such as creating hexagonal combs and performing precise dances for communication. Shareable Quotes "Bees perform all tasks of the hive throughout their lives, showcasing a natural progression much like human growth." "Without bees, we'd have to manually pollinate our crops, making food more labor-intensive and expensive." "Bees are engineering and navigation geniuses, with their hexagon combs and mathematically precise waggle dances." Show Notes by Barevalue.