PODCAST · education
Beekeeping For Newbees®
by Beekeeping For Newbees
Welcome to Beekeeping For Newbees! This podcast is your ultimate resource for learning how to keep honeybees. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, we cover everything you need to know: essential tools, hive components, seasonal tasks, and all the tricks of the trade to help you succeed. If you’re new to beekeeping, this is the perfect place to begin your journey." 🐝
Episodes
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Episode 208 – Tracking Hive Health Smarter: An Interview With the Founder of APiLOG 🐝📋
Good record keeping sits right behind your IPM strategy as one of the most important things you can do as a beekeeper. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Kyle, a web developer and beekeeper from the far north, to talk about APiLOG, a hive inspection tracking app built by a beekeeper for...
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Episode 207 – Listener's Choice: Bear Fences, Box Reversals, and Choosing Frames for a Split 🐝
Last week wrapped up Varroa Week, and two listeners took us up on the offer to submit topics for further elaboration. This episode honors both of them. We also have a hive report on Colony 61, a packed four-frame nuc that needed immediate expansion, plus a quick tip about prepping your gear…
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Episode 206 – Varroa Week Wrap-Up: Norroa Explained and Is It Worth It? 🐝🛡️
In this final episode of Varroa Week, we cover Norroa, a newer treatment approach designed to disrupt mite reproduction rather than kill mites directly. We also recap the week, talk through real-world cost and use considerations, and look ahead to the next round of spring episodes. The new app is...
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Episode 205 – Varroa Week: Treatment Options Every Beekeeper Should Know 🐝🛡️
In this episode we continue Varroa Week by breaking down the most common mite treatment options on the market. We cover how they work, when they are used, key limitations, and how to think through building a treatment strategy that fits your own apiary. The new app is officially live:...
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Episode 204 – Varroa Week Continues: How to Test Mite Levels 🐝🛡️
In this episode we continue Varroa Week by getting practical with mite testing. We cover alcohol washes, dish soap washes, sticky boards, sugar shakes, and how to build a monthly testing routine that helps you stay ahead of trouble before colonies begin to fail. The new app is officially live:...
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Episode 203 – Varroa Week Continues: How Mites Reproduce and Spread 🐝🛡️
In this episode we continue Varroa Week with a closer look at how mites reproduce inside capped brood cells and why drone brood can accelerate mite growth. We also kick things off with a real hive inspection report from Colony 61 and talk through expansion decisions happening in the apiary right...
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Episode 202 – Varroa Week Begins: Your Spring Mite Plan Starts Now 🐝🛡️
In this episode we kick off Varroa Week and a new run of shorter spring episodes focused on helping you make better decisions in real time. We talk about why mite management needs to be part of every beekeeper’s plan, what is coming over the next five episodes, and how listeners can help shape…
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Episode 201 – Catching a Swarm and What Drives the Urge 🐝
In this episode: the swarm trap finally paid off. I also discuss what I saw at the trap when the feral colony moved in, including a trophylaxis moment at the entrance that most people would miss. Then we dig into swarming itself, what's driving it, what to look for, and how to get ahead of it....
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Episode 200 - The 5 Questions Every Hive Inspection Should Answer (Part 2 of 2) 🐝
In this episode we continue breaking down your first 30 to 60 days of hive inspections and what you should be looking for. We walk through warning signs, growth expectations, and how to track what’s happening inside your hive without overcomplicating the process. This wraps up the inspection...
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Episode 199 - The 5 Questions Every Hive Inspection Should Answer (Part 1 of 2) 🐝
Most new beekeepers open their hives too much or not nearly enough, and both create real problems. In this episode we build a simple, repeatable inspection framework around five questions that will focus every hive visit and cut out the guesswork. We also cover what to expect in those first one…
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Episode 198 – Installing Packages and Nucs, Part 2: What I Did Wrong and What to Do Next 🐝
In this episode we pick up right where we left off and continue the install process, including a mistake I made and how to handle it if it happens to you. We also walk through what to do after installation, how to handle feeding, and what to expect in those first few days. This wraps up the…
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Episode 197 – Installing Packages and Nucs, Part 1: Step-by-Step Setup and Mistakes to Avoid 🐝
In this episode we walk through the process of installing package bees and what to expect on day one. We break down the differences between packages and nucs, how to prepare your hive, and the exact steps to get your bees settled in safely. This is part one of a two-part series, focusing on setup...
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Episode 196 – The Bee Buzz (33): Answering Your Beekeeping Questions 🐝💡
In this episode we jump into a Bee Buzz and work through a series of listener questions from around the country. We cover a range of real-world scenarios including equipment cleanup, feeding decisions, splits, brood development, and adding space. This is a practical Q&A focused on what beekeepers...
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Episode 195 – Big Updates: Thank You, MBK Program Changes, and the New Beekeeping App 🐝📱
In this episode we take a step back from the hive and talk about some important updates. We start with a big thank you to the community and supporters who help keep everything going, then dive into the Master Beekeeper program, what it was designed to do, and why things have shifted. We also...
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Episode 194 – Feeding Bees: When, Why, and How to Do It Right 🐝
In this episode we walk through feeding bees during the active season and when it actually makes sense to step in and help. We cover sugar syrup, protein sources, common feeding scenarios, and the mistakes that can cause more harm than good. If you have ever wondered when to feed and when to…
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Episode 193 – Frames, Foundation, and Bringing It All Together 🐝
In this episode we break down one of the most overlooked parts of beekeeping: frames and foundation. We walk through the different frame styles, foundation options, and how each choice impacts how your bees build comb and how you manage your hives. Whether you are brand new or just want to…
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Episode 192 – Choosing Your Hive Setup 🐝
In this episode we walk through how to choose and configure a Langstroth hive setup and what decisions you need to make before installing bees. We talk through box sizes, equipment options, and how standardizing your setup can make management easier as your apiary grows. What’s Inside This…
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Episode 191 – Getting Ready for Bee Season 🐝
In this episode we talk about getting ready for the upcoming bee season and the things every beekeeper should have prepared before the first inspections begin. We walk through personal gear, hive tools, smokers, checking equipment from last season, preparing frames and boxes, and thinking ahead...
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Episode 190 – The Bee Buzz (32): Spring Hive Questions from Beekeepers 🐝💡
This week we jump into another Bee Buzz episode and answer a new round of listener questions from around the world. We talk through several early-spring scenarios including cleansing flights, brood removal, feeding decisions, swarm preparation, and signs of potential queen or mite problems. These...
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Episode 189 – Swarm Traps Part 2: Catching Free Bees with Swarm Traps 🐝
Swarm trapping is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to grow your apiary, and in this second part of the discussion we move from theory to real-world execution. In this episode we talk about where to place your traps, when they should go up in different regions, and what to do after you...
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Episode 188 – Swarm Traps Part 1: Catching Free Bees with Swarm Traps 🐝
Swarm season is one of the most exciting times of the year for beekeepers. In this episode we begin a two-part discussion about swarm traps, what they are, why they work, and how you can use them to capture free bees during the spring swarm season. We walk through the biology of swarming, why…
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Episode 187 – The Bee Buzz (31): Winter Bee Activity and Early Spring Hive Checks 🐝
Spring is getting closer, which means the questions from beekeepers are starting to pour in again. In this Bee Buzz episode, I work through a lightning round of listener questions covering late winter hive activity, feeding decisions, early inspections, and what normal colony behavior looks like…
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Episode 186 – March Beekeeping Decisions That Can Make or Break Your Season 🐝🌱
March is one of the most critical transition points in the beekeeping year. Colonies are expanding, winter bees are aging off, brood production is ramping up, and nectar flows are just beginning. In this episode, I walk through the key management decisions that can determine whether your colonies...
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Episode 185 – Cold Weather, Winter Feeding, and Seasonal Beekeeping Updates ❄️🐝
Cold weather has a way of making even experienced beekeepers second guess everything. With unusually low temperatures showing up across large parts of the country, I wanted to take some time to walk through what cold actually means for overwintering colonies, how much additional honey they may...
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Episode 184 – Laying Workers: Why It Happens and How to Fix It 🐝🧠
Laying workers are one of those beekeeping problems that feel intimidating until you understand what is actually happening inside the hive. After a listener reached out asking where to find guidance on laying workers and realizing it deserved its own episode, I finally sat down to break the topic...
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Episode 183 – Africanized Honeybees: Are They Coming for You? 🐝⚠️
Africanized honeybees are one of the most misunderstood topics in beekeeping. In this episode, I cut through the fear driven headlines and talk honestly about what Africanized bees are, where they actually pose a risk, and how much of what we hear is grounded in biology versus social media panic....
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Episode 182 – American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, and the Fear Factor 🐝🧪
American foulbrood gets a lot of attention in beekeeping circles, often accompanied by fear and worst-case scenarios. In this episode, I walk through what AFB and EFB actually are, how they differ, how they spread, and why severity does not always equal likelihood. We also talk about realistic...
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Episode 181 – Bees in the News (29): Horned Devil Bees, Smart Bees & Vaccine Breakthroughs 🐝🗞️
This Bees in the News edition covers four fascinating stories from around the world, from new species discoveries to the first honeybee vaccine. We look at how research and innovation continue to change our understanding of bees, their intelligence, and the threats they face. What’s Inside This...
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Episode 180 – The Pennsylvania Bee Law (Part 2) HB 1277: Plant and Pollinator Protection Act 🐝⚖️
This episode is a follow-up to last week’s discussion about Pennsylvania’s proposed bee legislation. We move from the 2024 Senate Bill 1198 to the newly filed 2025 House Bill 1277, breaking down what changed, why it matters, and how the bill expands the state’s authority over beekeepers. What’s...
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Episode 179 – The Pennsylvania Bee Law: What Beekeepers Need to Know 🐝⚖️
This episode takes a closer look at Pennsylvania’s proposed Plant and Pollinator Protection Act (SB 1198) and why it’s raising concerns among beekeepers across the country. I break down how it rewrites the long-standing Bee Law, what new powers it gives the Department of Agriculture, and why even...
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Episode 178 – The Bee Buzz (30): Winter Prep, Ventilation & Varroa Reality Check 🐝💭
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…
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Episode 177 – The Bee Buzz (29): Drone Comb, Plastic Foundation & Late-Season Hive Tips 🐝
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…
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Episode 176 – Winter Hive Survival (Part 2): Smarter Insulation for Stronger Colonies 🧊🐝
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...
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Episode 175 – Winter Hive Survival: Science, Insulation, and the Condensing Hive 🧊🐝
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…
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Episode 174 - Bees In The News (28): Parasites, Organics & Alaska Hive Beetles 🐝🗞️
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…
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Episode 173 – Building a Hive Monitoring System: Sensors, Heat Maps, and Real Data 🖥️🐝
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...
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Episode 172 – The Bee Buzz (28): Winter Hive Questions, Feeding, and Moisture Boards ❄️🐝
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...
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Episode 171 – Inside the Winter Cluster: How Bees Heat and Survive the Cold ❄️🐝
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…
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Episode 170 – Tree Cavities vs. Langstroth Hives: How Bees Really Survive Winter ❄️🐝
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...
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Episode 169 – Winter Prep for Your Hives: Feeding, Merging, and Insulating ❄️🐝
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,...
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Episode 168 – Spring vs Fall Pollen: What Bees Really Need (And When) 🐝🌼🍂
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…
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Episode 167 – The Beltsville Bee Lab Shutdown: What’s Really Going On 🏛️🐝
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…
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Episode 166 – Oxalic Acid and Mite Madness: What’s Changing, What’s Not 🧪🐝
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…
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Episode 165 – Fall Swarming: Why You Still Need to Watch Closely 🍂🐝
Fall swarms aren’t just a myth, and in some areas, they’re happening right now. While most beekeepers associate swarming with spring, certain late-season conditions can trigger it all over again. In this episode, we break down what those triggers are, how to recognize the signs, and what to do if...
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Episode 164 – Fall Flow and Winter Bees: How Nature Prepares the Colony for the Cold 🐝🍂
As the summer bees finish their work and the fall flow begins, the colony shifts gears. In this episode, we explore how the biology of the honey bee changes for winter, why the nutritional profile of fall forage is different from spring, and what that means for feeding decisions. We talk about...
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Episode 163 – Bearding, Fanning, and Heat Shields: How Bees Actually Cool the Hive 🔥🐝
Record-breaking heatwaves aren’t just hard on humans — they challenge your colonies too. In this episode, we talk through ways to support your bees during extreme summer temperatures. You’ll learn how hive ventilation works, what role water plays in cooling the colony, and why some popular summer...
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Episode 162 – What to Expect When You’re Expecting… Bees 🐝🍼
Thinking about starting beekeeping next spring? This lighthearted but information-packed episode walks you through the full “gestation” process, from the initial idea of getting bees to the big delivery day. Whether you're still dreaming or already placing your order, we’ll break the season into...
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Episode 161 – Beekeeping Myths, Course Updates, and 2026 Experiments 🧪🐝
What’s the real deal with summer ventilation hacks? Should you remove entrance reducers? In this episode, I break down some bad advice floating around YouTube, walk through key updates to the online course platform, and share the growing list of experiments I’ll be running in 2026. If you’ve...
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Episode 160 – Alternative Hive Types: Top Bar, Horizontal, and Warre Explained 🐝📦
In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the most common alternatives to the Langstroth hive, including Top Bar, Horizontal (Long Langstroth and Layens), and Warre hives. Each of these styles offers something different, from lower lifting demands to more natural comb construction. We…
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Episode 159 – Honey Extraction Methods: What to Know Before You Harvest 🍯🐝
In this episode, we walk through practical honey extraction methods for beekeepers of all levels. If you're new to harvesting or just looking to improve your setup, this episode covers when and how to take honey, how to test moisture content, what to avoid during treatment windows, and how to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Beekeeping For Newbees! This podcast is your ultimate resource for learning how to keep honeybees. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, we cover everything you need to know: essential tools, hive components, seasonal tasks, and all the tricks of the trade to help you succeed. If you’re new to beekeeping, this is the perfect place to begin your journey." 🐝
HOSTED BY
Beekeeping For Newbees
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Beekeeping For Newbees® have?
Beekeeping For Newbees® currently has 210 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Beekeeping For Newbees® about?
Welcome to Beekeeping For Newbees! This podcast is your ultimate resource for learning how to keep honeybees. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your knowledge, we cover everything you need to know: essential tools, hive components, seasonal tasks, and all the tricks of the trade...
How often does Beekeeping For Newbees® release new episodes?
Beekeeping For Newbees® publishes regularly with 210 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Beekeeping For Newbees®?
You can listen to Beekeeping For Newbees® on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Beekeeping For Newbees®?
Beekeeping For Newbees® is created and hosted by Beekeeping For Newbees.
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