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Texas-based US Marine veteran Steve Jiminez and a small team started the originally US-based charity Hives For Heroes in 2018. After being introduced to beekeeping through a friend Steve realised the positive effect the practice of tending to hives and time in the apiary had on the personal issues he was dealing with since leaving active service and wanted to share the experience with other veterans. Since 2018 the support network has grown faster than Steve could have imagined and is now supporting veterans in every state in the US and crossing borders, and continents, to Australia. Join me a ..read more

Is the buzz of the hive language or music? Beekeepers and scholars have pondered this question for centuries but my guest took this question a step further and studied the frequencies of bee buzz and matched it to musical notes.. creating orchestral music. In this episode, I'm Hive Talkin with acclaimed Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist Rae Howell.  Also the founding director of Sunwrae: a touring ensemble, label, and sheet music publisher,  she works across a broad range of genres in collaboration with performing and visual artists and has been a visiting composer for n ..read more

In this inaugural episode we’re Hive Talkin with Dr Jeff Pettis, President of APIMONDIA  the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations and gain an insight into where beekeeping is globally. As an award winning Entomologist Dr Jeff is ideally placed to guide us through the current issues facing honeybees and pollinators world wide and advise on what we as both fellow residents of our planet and beekeepers can do to support our buzzing friends.  Who knew we'd end up talkin about badgers but hey... it's still all about the bees! Find out more about current Apimondia research ..read more

In this episode I'm Hive Talkin all things flowers with Helen Rogers of Highgate Honey in North London who used her lockdown time to really observe what plants the bees were attracted to at certain times. During the last year of off and on lockdowns, like many of us, Helen and her mother Eva were unable to meet but they’d chat regularly about what plants in Eva’s established Oxfordshire garden the bees were attracted to. Over the months Helen kept detailed notes which she has now turned into an easy to use guide book - 80 Flowers For Bees.  Perfect for everyone who wants to support our b ..read more

In this episode I'm Hive Talkin with Prof. David Evans AKA The Apiarist Blog as we attempt to understand what a honeybee swarm is, why it happens, how it happens and how we can all benefit from this amazing (and harmless) spectacular of nature. David is a Scottish based beekeeper and professor of virology currently at St Andrews University.  His research interests include the replication and evolution of important human and animal viral pathogens including Poliovirus, HIV, Zika virus and both Deformed Wing Virus  and Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus of honeybees. You can follow David on ..read more

When all around us is a whirl of change, solace can be found in an apiary and mindfulness in the company of bees. Im joined by Elizabeth Barton of Oakdale Bees. Elizabeth runs an apiary set in 4 acres of wild meadow bordering the Royal Windsor Forrest in Berkshire.  In addition to producing delicious local honey and beeswax products Oakdale Bees also run Beekeeping Experience Days built around the practice of Mindfulness. Join us as we discuss how the Principals of Mindfulness fit perfectly with beekeeping and how being outdoors and connecting with nature is so beneficial to our mental he ..read more

Come with me as we peek under the surface of the business of honey with an insight into the beekeeping journey and working life of Sarah Wyndham Lewis who you may know as The Honey Sommelier.  Sarah was introduced to the bee world by her husband Dale Gibson and together they created the London based sustainable beekeeping practice Bermondsey Street Bees (Insta @Bstreetbees). Sarah is a professional Honey Sommelier, working with chefs, bartenders and honey producers around the world. A regular contributor to TV, radio and print media, her book  ‘Planting for Honeybees’ is published in ..read more

In this episode, I’m Hive Talkin all things cosmetics with UK-based specialist Dr. Sara Robb. You’ve seen the products on the shelves and probably noticed that so many of them contain beeswax and honey and that’s not just for marketing purposes. Both are proven to have amazing health benefits and you could be making your own sustainable small-batch products in no time - with just a little guidance from Dr. Sara! Dr. Sara Robb began making honey soaps and beeswax creams back in 2003. With 20 years of formulating experience and numerous books and journal articles under her belt, she now writes a ..read more

I’m delighted to be Hive Talkin all things honey with Howland Blackieston and C.Marina Marchese co-authors of the new book Honey For Dummies. Howland is an experience backyard beekeeper, entertaining public speaker, and a dab hand at building beehives. He’s also the author of Beekeeping for Dummies. The very first beekeeping book I ever bought and which I still keep in my apiary for reference.  And C.Marina Marchese who you may know as the Honey Sommelier. Marina is the first US citizen to be accepted as a member of the Italian National Register of Honey Experts and is the founder and pre ..read more