The World of Native Bees with Researcher Nicholas Dorian (012)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
Release Date: 08/05/2021
How Pollinators Help Connect To Nature with Dr. Alister Clay (031)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Dr. Alister Clay, an engineer at Bosch with a fascinating journey into psychology and nature. Alister shares how his personal experiences led him to pursue a degree in psychology and focus on how humans connect to nature. They delve into the Biophilia Hypothesis, which suggests that humans have an innate need to connect with nature, and how this connection impacts well-being. Through the lens of psychology, Alister explores how fostering a deeper relationship with the natural world, particularly through observing pollinators like bees, can improve mental...
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Anke Dietzsch: Effects of Pesticides on Native Bees and Honey Bees (030)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Dr. Anke Dietzsch from the Institute for Bee Protection at the Julius Kühn Institute, Germany's Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants. Anke discusses her extensive research on the effects of pesticides on bee health, focusing on both honey bees and native wild bees. She discusses the challenges of conducting field experiments across various habitats in Germany and highlights the importance of using diverse monitoring techniques to accurately assess bee populations. Anke also shares her insights on the...
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Keeping Bees in Cameroon with Dr. Mazi Sanda (029)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this episode, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor welcomes bee scientist Dr. Mazi Sanda from Cameroon. Dr. Sanda, who currently resides in Germany as part of the PLAN4BEE project, shares his journey into the world of bees, starting from his childhood fascination with insects to his professional research at the University of Ngaoundere. He provides a captivating overview of beekeeping traditions in Cameroon, discussing the prevalent use of traditional woven hives and the gradual shift towards modern Kenyan Top Bar Hives. Dr. Sanda delves into the rich diversity of honey flavors and the challenges faced...
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Dr. Marla Spivak on Conquering Beekeeping Challenges (028)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor is joined by Dr. Marla Spivak, a renowned bee scientist and MacArthur Genius Award recipient. Together, they delve into the pivotal changes in beekeeping ushered in by the Varroa mite's arrival and explore the ongoing challenges it poses. Dr. Spivak shares insights from her decades of experience, particularly on the impact of Varroa on bee health and the subsequent adaptations in beekeeping practices. The conversation also covers innovative strategies for managing these challenges, including minimizing chemical treatments and...
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Honey Bees and the Varroa Mite with Dr. David Peck (027)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this captivating episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Dr. David Peck, Director of Research and Education at Betterbee, to explore the intricate world of bees and the persistent challenge posed by varroa mites. Peck shares insights from his groundbreaking research, including his astonishing discovery of , showcasing the agility and adaptability of these parasites. This discussion delves into varroa mites' evolutionary prowess, their impact on bee colonies, and effective strategies for managing this persistent threat. Through engaging storytelling and expert...
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Flemming Vejsnæs - Beekeeping and Apimondia 2025 in Denmark
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Flemming Vejsnæs, a bee biologist and beekeeper from Denmark, to delve into bees and beekeeping in Denmark. Drawing on their long-standing friendship and Flemming's extensive experience, they explore the evolution of beekeeping, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration and knowledge exchange in overcoming challenges like the varroa mite and the small hive beetle. Flemming shares his journey from a budding biologist fascinated by pollination to a pivotal figure in Denmark's beekeeping community. His...
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2 Million Blossoms Podcast - 2024 Relaunch (025)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
Welcome back to the 2 Million Blossoms Podcast! In this special relaunch episode, host Kirsten Traynor sits down with Jeff Ott from the Beekeeping Today Podcast. They delve into Kirsten's recent adventures in Germany and the fascinating honey bee research she's been involved in. During the tumultuous times of the Covid pandemic, Kirsten seized an exciting opportunity to advance her research in apiculture and moved to Germany. Now based at the University of Hohenheim in Baden-Württemberg, she serves as the Director of the State Institute of Bee Research. In her conversation with Jeff, Kirsten...
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Adrian Fisher - Sub-Lethal Exposure to Pesticides and Fungicides (024)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
Adrian Fisher has been investigating the impacts of fungicides on honey bee health. Fungicides are often considered bee safe, because they don’t outright kill adult bees. But Adrian has found some troubling sub-lethal effects, especially on honey bee lifespan. In today’s show we chat about how Pristine, a common pesticide used in almonds leads to precocious foraging and shorter-lived bees. We also delve into his earlier research where he investigated how varroacide residues in beeswax reduce the sperm viability of the drones reared in those cells. Finally, we talk about some of the hurdles...
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The Mind of the Bee - Lars Chittka (023)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a bee? How they perceive the world and learn to understand the landscape? On today’s episode, Kirsten talks with noted neurobiologist and bee scientist Lars Chittka from the University of London, whose new book The Mind of a Bee is a fascinating exploration of how bees think. They delve into how the barren landscape outside Berlin let him manipulate the landscape and see that bees could count. Bees are fast learners and can gleam details about how to survive from watching other bees. Also in today’s show, Kirsten and Lars delve into the...
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Wild Bees Across Canada with Jess Vickruck (022)
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast
Today’s episode features Jess Vickruck, a wild bee scientist working in New Brunswick in Canada. In addition to converting the sunny spots in her garden into bee habitat, she studies competition in wild bee communities. She’s studied carpenter bees in detail, finding that when nest sites become rare, competition drives females to share nests. But there’s a unique catch. They preferentially select unrelated females. She also investigates the important role that grasslands play in maintaining the function of wild bee diversity across Canada. We chat about her career in pollinator science...
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Tufts University PhD student Nicholas Dorian, who is a frequent contributor to 2 Million Blossoms, is always on the search for bees in urban spaces. His research focuses on cellophane bees, but he’s a well-rounded naturalist and ecologist. He helped found the Tufts Pollinator Initiative, which turned the university campus into a Xerces Bee Campus. You can find his fabulous photos and interesting posts on social media, where he tweets and shares under the name 'bee searcher' (Twitter @bee_searcher, Instagram - beesearcher).
We recently had a chance to chat about the critical need for science education, his work with undergraduate students on how bees forage in urban areas, why birds and pollinators are closely intertwined, and the weird things bees collect like perfume oils and meat.
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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/
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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer 
service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott
2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC
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