About this podcast
Bees are astonishingly intelligent, deeply connected little beings whose work keeps ecosystems thriving and our communities fed. They help power sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and healthy landscapes. On The Bee’s Knees, we invite you into their world — a place full of wonder, surprises, and quiet brilliance — and share simple, meaningful ways you can support the real busy bees of our planet.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 89 episodes
- The Secret Life of Bee Microclimates: How nesting choices shape bees’ chances in a warming world · 12 min · Season 4 Episode 88What if the key to understanding bee vulnerability isn’t just how hot the world gets—but where bees choose to call home? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Carmen da Silva, whose…
- As Cities Grow, Bees Decline: How urban development reshapes bee communities · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 87How does urban densification reshape pollinator life in our cities? Dr. Merin Reji Chacko shares research from Zurich that showed how solitary bees, social bees, hoverflies, and…
- When Spring Comes Too Soon: The effects of warm springs on bees · 17 min · Season 4 Episode 86Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average—and wild bees are running out of time. When spring arrives early or scorching hot, it triggers a survival crisis. We speak…
- Perennials, Pollen & the Future of Urban Bee Habitat · 15 min · Season 4 Episode 85What if we designed gardens with bees in mind—not just flowers, but the right flowers for the specific bee species that need them? In this episode, Jessica Gabler, an ecologist…
- It's Not Just About the Flowers: The important role of sand and soil in where bees thrive · 16 min · Season 4 Episode 84Soil might not be the first thing you think of when you think about bees—but for most species, it’s home. In this episode, Dr. Marissa Chase shares new research from Minnesota…
- Designing Better Wildflower Mixes · 16 min · Season 4 Episode 83Wildflower seed mixes are a go‑to strategy for supporting pollinators — but designing one that actually performs is more complex than it looks. Dr. Uta Müller shares her research…
- How Bumblebees Make Smart Decisions: Inside their flexible learning strategies · 18 min · Season 4 Episode 82How do bumblebees decide which flowers to visit? They weigh colors, shapes, and patterns—but not all at once. In this episode, Dr. Anna Stöckl shares surprising research…
- The Bees Beneath Our Feet: Exploring the hidden world of pavement‑nesting bees · 15 min · Season 4 Episode 81Cities may look sealed and sterile, but Berlin’s sidewalks tell a different story. Dr. Sophie Lokatis reveals how pavement cracks host thriving communities of ground‑nesting…
- The Bees We Haven't Met Yet: Exploring the world’s uncounted wild bee diversity · 19 min · Season 4 Episode 80What if one of the most important numbers in nature has been wrong this whole time? Dr. James Dorey joins us to unpack his team’s groundbreaking global estimate of bee diversity…
- Backyard Bee Threats: How everyday bug‑repellent vapors can disrupt bumblebees · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 79A common household mosquito repellent may be silently harming the bees in your garden. Dr. Kimmo Kaakinen shares his study on how volatilized prallethrin—used in household…
- When the Buzz Stops: Europe’s Wild Pollinator Collapse · 17 min · Season 4 Episode 78What happens if the essential work of Europe’s wild pollinators suddenly disappears? Dr. Arndt Feuerbacher joins us to share insights from his study on how wild bees underpin…
- Finding the Unseen Bees: Take Action This World Bee Day · 18 min · Season 4 Episode 77This World Bee Day, discover the gentle ground‑nesting bees powering our ecosystems. Dr. Jordan Kueneman explains how the GNBee project uses community science to map their nests…
- Gut Check for Urban Bees: Hidden pollinator pressures in cities · 13 min · Season 4 Episode 76As cities grow, wild bees are finding surprising ways to cope with urban life. In this episode, Dr. Min Tang joins us to explore how a bee’s gut microbiome can reveal what’s…
- From Landfill to Pollinator Paradise: Rewilding a forgotten space · 16 min · Season 4 Episode 75How can creativity, collaboration, and ecological know‑how turn even the most unlikely landscapes into thriving habitats for pollinators and people? We visit Indian Lake, New…
- A Wild Bee Squeeze: A study in bee conservation · 17 min · Season 4 Episode 74We head to the quiet Mediterranean island of Giannutri, where researchers ran a rare experiment to understand how managed honey bee colonies affect wild bees. By temporarily…
- RePollinate: Hands-on Help for Native Pollinators · 15 min · Season 4 Episode 73Small steps can reshape entire landscapes. In this episode, we feature RePollinate, a Scottish charity mobilizing communities and businesses to safeguard the UK’s pollinators…
- How Pesticides Endanger Wild Bees · 11 min · Season 4 Episode 72Think pesticide assessments protect wild bees? Think again. Dr. Sabrina Rondeau uncovers how soil pesticide exposure threatens ground‑nesting bees; risks overlooked by current…
- Bees in the Fast Lane: Roadsides as Pollinator Havens · 9 min · Season 4 Episode 71Today’s episode takes us to the Brazilian savanna — for a bit of capybara spotting, but for a surprising discovery along the roadside. Dr. Monize Altomare’s recent study shows…
- The Digital Climate Footprint: What AI Means for Bees · 23 min · Season 4 Episode 70What does your daily AI query have to do with bees? We explore the hidden connections between digital growth and ecological resilience with Dr. Rob Nicholls. His research found…
- Season 4: Bee a Hero · 2 min · Season 4 Episode 69Season 4 of The Bee’s Knees buzzes in this February with a new call to action: Bee a Hero. This season dives into the surprising ways native bees connect to our lives—from the…
