The Bee's Knees
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
78 episodes
Finding the Unseen Bees: Take Action This World Bee Day
This 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 and how you can get involved.
Gut Check for Urban Bees: Hidden pollinator pressures in cities
As 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 really happening in our city environments, from floral diversity to po...
From Landfill to Pollinator Paradise: Rewilding a forgotten space
How 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 York, where a capped landfill is being transformed into a vibrant pol...
A Wild Bee Squeeze: A study in bee conservation
We 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 closing the island’s honey bee hives, they watched nectar and pollen l...
RePollinate: Hands-on Help for Native Pollinators
Small steps can reshape entire landscapes. In this episode, we feature RePollinate, a Scottish charity mobilizing communities and businesses to safeguard the UK’s pollinators. Nick Trull walks us through the charity’s hands‑on projects that bre...
How Pesticides Endanger Wild Bees
Think pesticide assessments protect wild bees? Think again. Dr. Sabrina Rondeau uncovers how soil pesticide exposure threatens ground‑nesting bees; risks overlooked by current regulations that focus only on honey bees. Her research reveals why ...
Bees in the Fast Lane: Roadsides as Pollinator Havens
Today’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 that even narrow strips of vegetation beside highways can support ri...
The Digital Climate Footprint: What AI Means for Bees
What 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 fractional warming from AI‑driven data centers translates into real...
Season 4: Bee a Hero
Season 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 hidden impacts of technology and pesticides to the hopeful stories o...
Pollinators in Orbit: How NASA is Helping Map Bee Landscape
In this episode, we’re exploring a fresh approach to bee research. Gwen Kirschke is combining remote sensing technology with ecological research to map floral resources across large landscapes. Supported by a NASA space grant, Gwen's research a...
Pollination Overload: Why More Honey Bees Don't Always Mean Better Crops
Can having too many honeybee hives in our landscapes be detrimental? Dr. Ainhoa Magrach led a comprehensive review that brings fresh clarity to a long-standing question—how does the number of honeybee hives in a landscape affect wild pollinator...
The Nutrient Niche: What Bumble Bees Eat
Are we planting the right flowers for bees? We’re talking about the surprising dietary habits of wild bumble bees with Dr. Justin Bain who shares fascinating insights into how bumble bees choose their food and why it's essential for their survi...
Living with Bees: Urban Harmony & Habitat
What does it mean to live with wild bees in an urban setting? Today we speak with Matthew Donahue who shares insights on how cities can be adapted to support bee populations. We discuss the differences between urban and wild habitats, the impac...
Beyond the Bloom: What Really Attracts Bees to Gardens
Why do some gardens buzz with life while others fall silent? In this episode, Dr. Laura Russo shares surprising findings from her research on floral diversity and bee populations. From urban parks to cattle fields, her team discovered that poll...
A Bee Buffet: Surprising Insights into What Bees Choose to Eat
What happens when bees don't eat their greens? We explore Dr. Etya Amsalem's intriguing research on bee dietary patterns and their implications for fitness and sustainability. Find out why even bees sometimes opt for sweets over sustenance and ...
Between Asphalt and Agriculture: Where Bees Find a Home
How can we enhance biodiversity in our cities and what is the vital role of urban green spaces in supporting pollinators? We’re exploring the relationship between urban sprawl and native bees with researcher Leonardo Lorenzato. Discover how urb...
Rethinking Urban Green Space for Bees: Meadowscaping
In this episode of ‘The Bees Knees', Shishir Paudel joins to discuss the implications of managing urban greenery as manicured lawns versus letting them flourish as diverse meadows. We cover biodiversity, ecosystem services and disservice...
Planting Change: Leigh Biagi’s Path to Pollinators
We speak with Leigh Biagi, a dedicated environmental advocate and founder of On the Verge. Discover how Leigh transformed her passion for change into a community-focused bee conservation project, learn about the challenges and successes of her ...
Toxic Nectar: How Pollinators are Exposed to Metals in Urban Landscapes
Delve into the critical issue of toxic metals in urban nectar with Dr. Sarah Scott. The conversation reveals how contaminated pollen and nectar pose significant risks to bees, affecting their health and productivity. Dr. Scott shares insights f...
Birds, Bees, and Big Data: Rethinking Conservation
Native bees are essential for biodiversity but face significant threats. In this episode, Dr. Josée Rousseau discusses her research, which uses bird data to predict wild bee richness. Learn about the data sources used, why birds are excellent i...
Unearthing Habitats: Transforming Sand Mines into Bee Havens
Are sand mines hidden gems for bee conservation? Dr. Nicola Seitz shares the surprising role of reclaimed sand mines as vital habitats for wild bee populations. Despite their industrial origins, these landscapes host a diverse array of bee spec...
The Quarry Connection: Linking Habitat Restoration and Bee Biodiversity
Discover how abandoned quarries can become thriving bee habitats! Dr. Felix Kirsch unveils the surprising role these landscapes play in bee conservation. By fostering natural habitats within these sites and ensuring strategic connectivity with ...
Bees, Biodiversity, and the Future of Food
Uncover the hidden heroes of pollination—wild and native bees—and their crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and food security. Dr. Natalie Lemanski shares fascinating research on seasonal shifts in bee communities and their impact on ...
Honoring Bees and Biodiversity
In this episode of The Bee’s Knees, we’re buzzing about two global celebrations: World Bee Day and the International Day for Biodiversity. Discover the vital role of wild and native bees in preserving ecosystems, maintaining biodiversity, and s...
The Secrets of Bee Foraging: How Flower Choices Affect Bee Behavior and Biodiversity
We’re exploring the fascinating world of flower foraging by bees with Dr. Jaya Mokkapati. How do different bee species decide between the quantity of flowers and the nutritional quality of pollen? What drives these choices, and what can they te...