Oct. 21, 2025
A Visit to the Heart of American Beekeeping: The A.I. Root Company
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The podcast for the latest beekeeping news, information and entertainment for today's beekeeper. Hosts Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman bring you conversations with researchers, beekeepers and industry leaders to help you become a more informed and knowledgeable beekeeper.
Beekeeping is more than a hobby—it’s a rewarding adventure that connects you to nature, supports pollinators, and brings the sweet satisfaction of harvesting your own honey. Whether you’re passionate about environmental stewardship, curious about the fascinating world of honey bees, or eager to start your first hive, our multi-part podcast series, “How To Get Started in Beekeeping" is here to guide you on every step along the way!
A revisited beginner classic on how to get started in beekeeping, covering mentors, hive location, expectations, and first-year success.
Returning guests Dr. Chip Taylor and Dr. Gard Otis revisit queen mating, DCAs, and Africanized honey bees—exploring what we know, what we still don’t, and how decades of research have reshaped long-held assumptions.
Jeff and Becky answer listener questions on mentorship, overwintering, feeding bees, hive tools, monitoring systems, and common beekeeping myths in this wide-ranging Q&A episode.
How do honey bees survive winter — and what role does clustering really play? In this first episode of Bee Science with Dewey, Dr. Dewey Caron explains the biology behind winter clustering and what it means for colony survival.
What really happens inside a hive during extreme winter conditions? Etienne Tardif joins the podcast to share cold-climate insights on feeding, insulation, brood timing, and how data can reveal what bees need to survive winter.
![[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 3 (Saturday)](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/2/1/c/8/21c8ae411ad3495216c3140a3186d450/BTP-NAHBE_Bonus.jpg "[Bonus] North American Honey Bee Expo 2026, Day 3 (Saturday)")
Join us for a special series of episodes recorded live from the floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, KY, January 8–10, 2026. Jeff and Becky bring you the latest beekeeping insights, trends, and innovation...
Cohost, Producer, Editor & Audio Engineer... Chief Cook, Bottle Washer, Errand Boy
Jeff Ott blends science, storytelling, and hands-on experience into one buzz-worthy package. His journey with honey bees began as a kid, captivated by an observation hive on his bedroom desk—a fascination that sparked a lifelong passion for beekeeping. Over the years, Jeff grew from a hobbyist to a sideliner, managing colonies for honey production and local pollination, and serving as president of the Medina County Beekeepers Association in Ohio.
Now based in Olympia, Washington, Jeff is a Master Beekeeper certified by both the University of Montana and the Washington State Beekeepers Association. He is the co-founder, host, and producer of Beekeeping Today Podcast, which he launched in 2018 with the late Kim Flottum. Through his media company, Growing Planet Media, LLC, Jeff also produces Honey Bee Obscura with Dr. Jim Tew.
Whether he’s interviewing Congressmen, breaking down varroa resistance, or spotlighting sideliners scaling up their game, Jeff delivers clarity with calm authority and genuine curiosity. His goal is to inform and inspire beekeepers at all stages, from first-year beginners to seasoned professionals.
When he’s not behind the mic or tending to bees, Jeff works in IT services, cycles the scenic roads of the Pacific Northwest, and shares his home with Sherry Jennings and their quick-witted African Grey parrot, Frisco G. Byrd.
PhD, Cohost, Columnist
Becky Masterman became a beekeeper when hired by the University of Minnesota Bee Lab as an undergraduate lab technician in 1992. She stayed on to earn a Ph.D. studying the neuroethology of honey bee hygienic behavior under the direction of Dr. Marla Spivak.
After a career detour in real estate, Becky returned to the Bee Lab in 2012 and led their Bee Squad program until 2019. Becky also served the Minnesota Honey Producers Association Board as a Director from 2016-2022 and currently heads their Habitat Committee and Habitat Hour webinar series. She has co-written the Minding Your Bees and Cues column with Bridget Mendel for Bee Culture Magazine since 2020.
Residing in Saint Paul with her husband and cat, Becky spends her free time managing her own bees and short-term rental properties across the Twin Cities metro area.
Co-Host, Author
Kim Flottum, spent his early career at the USDA Honey Bee Research Lab before becoming Editor of Bee Culture magazine, a position he held for 33 years. After retiring in 2019, Kim continued to share his knowledge as cohost of the Beekeeping Today Podcast and Honey Bee Obscura. He passed away on December 10, 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in the beekeeping community.
