Episodes

Dr. Jim Tew reflects on the practice of putting new bees into old hives, exploring not just equipment decisions but the mindset and judgment behind everyday beekeeping choices.

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on attending a recent Tri-County beekeeping meeting—one he helped organize years ago while working at the OSU Research Center in Wooster, Ohio. His plan was to record conversations with beekeepers at the event and capture some of the voices and stories from the meeting. But sometimes plans change. A packed room, wind, and background noise made recording nearly impossible. Back at the bee yard, Jim shares his impressions of the day instead...

On a chilly late-winter walk through the bee yard, Jim reflects on late winter robbing behavior and whether we’ve misunderstood it. Is robbing simply theft—or a natural survival strategy when forage is scarce? A thoughtful Plain Talk episode on instinct, survival, and perspective.

Anne visits Georgia in mid-winter and compares southern beekeeping practices with northern management. Jim and Anne discuss syrup feeding, nectar dearths, small hive beetles, varroa control differences, and why climate shapes every beekeeping decision.

Jim returns to the winter bee yard expecting losses but finds surprising survival. A reflective Plain Talk on cleansing flights, resilience, and the emotional return of spring hope for beekeepers.

As spring approaches, Jim Tew and Anne Frey talk through the real-world decisions behind ordering, transporting, and installing honey bee packages. From how many colonies to buy to the risks of overheating during travel, this episode offers practical, experience-driven guidance for beekeepers preparing for the new season.

In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew records live from a snow-covered bee yard during one of the coldest stretches of winter he can remember. With deep snow, sub-zero temperatures, and uncertainty hanging over every colony, Jim reflects on what winter loss really feels like—and why beekeepers keep going anyway.

As winter storms move across much of North America, Jim Tew reflects on beekeeping, weather, and the realities of starting over. From insulation choices and equipment decisions to aging as a beekeeper and adjusting expectations, this episode offers thoughtful, honest plain talk for anyone managing bees in cold conditions.

What happens when a lifelong beekeeper walks the floor of a modern beekeeping expo and realizes just how much the craft has changed? In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew reflects on NAHBE, innovation fatigue, and finding renewed meaning in simplicity and community.

Jim Tew records live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo, sharing first impressions, observations on modern beekeeping, and the energy of one of the industry’s largest gatherings.

Episode 265 – Beekeeping Invasions with Anne Frey Beekeeping today looks very different than it did just a few decades ago, largely because of the steady arrival of invasive pests and pathogens. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey for a thoughtful, experience-based discussion on how beekeepers have responded to these challenges over time. Jim and Anne reflect on the early days of tracheal mites, the arrival of Varroa, and the emergency treatments that once domi...

Jim Tew and Anne Frey talk plainly about wintering bees—insulation, emergency feeding, ventilation myths, and what actually helps colonies survive deep winter cold as the new year begins.

On Christmas Day, Jim Tew steps away from technical beekeeping talk to share personal stories, reflections, and memories shaped by family, work, and a lifetime of making things by hand.

Why does beekeeping look so strange to people on the outside—and perfectly normal to those who do it? Jim Tew reflects on the habits, language, risks, and philosophies that make beekeeping one of the most unusual and rewarding pursuits around.

Jim Tew takes listeners on a quiet winter walk through his snowy bee yard, using tracks, hive debris, and even a stethoscope to understand how colonies are faring. A reflective, observant look at winter beekeeping and what a frozen apiary reveals.

Jim Tew explores the idea of fishing for beekeepers—why some people instantly feel the spark of beekeeping while others don’t. Through personal stories and reflection, he explains how new beekeepers discover their interest and why nurturing curiosity helps keep the craft thriving.

Sometimes beekeeping doesn’t look polished, tidy, or picture-perfect—and in this week’s episode, Jim leans right into that truth with a candid look at what he calls slipshod beekeeping. After visiting beekeepers and listeners at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Assn, he returns home to a bee yard that reflects the realities of taking several years off to care for family. With winter approaching and the colonies not quite where he wants them, Jim takes listeners along as he makes quick, imperfect, b...

Jim Tew returns with a reflective look at artistry in beekeeping—a part of the craft that may not appear in manuals but lives vividly in the memories and creative expressions of beekeepers everywhere. In this week’s episode, Jim shares the story of a remarkable young artist he taught during his early years at the University of Maryland. Her detailed drawings of honey bees—rendered in graphite, colored pencil, and ink—left a lasting impression that still hangs on his office wall decades later. ...

In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew heads out to the bee yard for a quiet, reflective fall inspection. As the days shorten and the goldenrod fades, Jim shares what he looks for when evaluating his colonies’ readiness for winter. He discusses the telltale signs of healthy late-season activity, how to spot the early warning flags of robbing, and when it’s best to step back and simply observe. Jim talks through practical steps such as checking hive weight, watching for moist...

Winter may have a firm grip on the landscape, but beekeepers can still get ready for the season ahead. In this Honey Bee Obscura episode, Jim Tew sits down with Anne Frey of Betterbee to talk about how to make the most of cold months by planning for spring. Anne and Jim share practical ideas to ensure you’re not scrambling once the weather breaks — from repairing and assembling hive equipment to mapping out management tasks on your beekeeping calendar. Anne suggests using past notes or calend...

What does "efficiency" really mean in beekeeping—and can it go too far? In this Honey Bee Obscura episode, Jim Tew welcomes back Anne Frey of Betterbee for a lively, down-to-earth talk about working smarter in the bee yard without losing the joy of beekeeping. Anne shares her insights from running a small commercial operation in upstate New York, where rainy days and heavy supers are a constant challenge. Together, she and Jim discuss practical ways to save time, reduce lifting, and improve w...

Jim Tew is back from a long drive through Michigan’s autumn beauty—and while the leaves have changed, his thoughts haven’t strayed far from bees or smoke. In this week’s Honey Bee Obscura, Jim explores one of beekeeping’s oldest tools—the smoker—and how this essential companion has become both a help and a health concern. From his makeshift recording spot at his daughter’s home to a chat with a firefighter friend, Jim dives into the effects of smoke on both beekeepers and bees. He reflects on...

In this reflective episode, Jim Tew takes listeners on a journey through his years as a traveling beekeeper, visiting apiaries and researchers around the world. From the early days of Africanized “killer” bees in Venezuela to disciplined Burmese military trainees in Myanmar, Jim recounts how these experiences shaped his understanding of honey bees and the people who care for them. Jim describes the sobering reality of working with hyper-defensive bees in Venezuela and the evolution of those c...

In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew reflects on one of beekeeping’s most underrated tools—instinct. Beekeepers make hundreds of small decisions in the apiary, many of them guided by experience and that unspoken “gut feeling.” But how do you know when to trust it? Jim shares a story from helping his grandson’s neglected hive in Michigan that appeared doomed by American foulbrood. Everything looked and smelled like the dreaded disease, and his first instinct was to destroy the colony. But somet...