Marketing & Sales Episodes

Michael Mahar of 21st Bee joins Jeff and Becky for a wide-ranging conversation about designing durable plastic bee frames, communication passages in comb, small-cell bees, drone brood, genetics, and his unconventional treatment-free approach to Varroa management. Then Michael explains his elaborate process for creating bourbon-infused honey using bourbon-soaked oak, different toast and char levels, temperature cycling, and months of careful tasting and adjustment.

Beekeepers from across North America reunite for the Spring 2026 Regional Beekeepers Roundtable. Ang Roell, Bonnie Morse, Duane Combs, Jay Williams, and Paul Longwell compare regional honey flows, Varroa management strategies, small hive beetle challenges, queen breeding efforts, honey marketing, and innovative beekeeping projects. The discussion includes practical lessons, field observations, and plenty of entertaining stories from the bee yard.

It’s harvest season—and for many beekeepers, that means it’s time to sell honey! In this week’s episode, Jeff Ott and Dr. Becky Masterman dig into the rewarding (and sometimes sticky) process of marketing and selling your honey crop. From fall festivals to farm stands, Becky shares her experiences at local events, state fairs, and new retail partnerships, including the launch of her own MastermanApiaries.com website. Jeff talks about scaling Olympia Honey Company and how local markets, brandi...

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Delaney Dameron, CEO of Best Bees, to explore the growing field of corporate beekeeping. Delaney shares how Best Bees manages nearly 2,000 hives across 24 cities, installing colonies on rooftops and properties for businesses, universities, and homeowners committed to sustainability and pollinator health. Delaney explains how Best Bees uses its proprietary data system, Bzzz, to collect and analyze the world’s lar...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome Dave Mullins of Bee Great, based in Churubusco, Indiana. Dave shares how a hobby with his father in 2014 grew into a dynamic beekeeping business now managing 150 hives, a thriving retail store, and a diverse line of honey and bee-inspired products. From flavored honeys and goat milk soaps to international exports, Bee Great has become a model of creativity and adaptability in the beekeeping world . Dave describes his journey from professor to full-time ...

In this special episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, we launch our eighth season with a celebration of Pollinator Week and a conversation with Kelly Bills, Executive Director of Pollinator Partnership. Kelly returns to share exciting updates on their growing programs, from the BeeMD diagnostic tool relaunch to the expansion of Bee Friendly Farming and Gardening certifications. She also discusses the Pollinator Steward Certification, a program educating people across professions to become effecti...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky sit down with Jim Hartman, the 2024 North Carolina Small Farmer of the Year and a dedicated honey producer. Jim shares his journey from military service and corporate life to becoming a full-time “honey farmer” and entrepreneur. His passion for beekeeping and veteran advocacy shines through as he discusses building a farm business from the ground up—debt-free and focused on sustainable growth. Jim offers practical insights into treating a beekeeping operation a...

Scaling a beekeeping operation comes with unique challenges and opportunities, and in this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Minnesota beekeeper Ritchie Schaeffer shares his firsthand experience moving from hobbyist to sideliner. Starting in 2018...

In this episode, Jeff and Becky welcome back Marina Marchese, celebrated honey sommelier and author of The World Atlas of Honey. Marina shares her journey from backyard beekeeper to internationally recognized honey expert and educator. She discusses...

(#274) Welcome to this informative episode of the "Beekeeping Today Podcast," featuring a detailed discussion with Christy Payne from Collinsville, Oklahoma. This episode is designed to provide both new and experienced beekeepers with insights...

In this episode, we delve into a pivotal event in the North American beekeeping calendar: the annual migration of over two million honey bee colonies to California's almond orchards. This massive movement, spanning mid-February to mid-March, marks the...

On today’s show, Jeff and Becky welcome back Eugene Makovec, editor of the American Bee Journal! Honey labeling laws vary widely across the US, creating a complex patchwork of regulations that can be challenging for both new and experienced...

In today's episode, we have two guests, both deep in the promotion of honey and honey bees.  First up, Jeff talks with Allison Hager, the 2023 American Honey Princess, and then we talk with Keith Seiz, of the National Honey Board (NHB) and how...

Welcome to Season 6 of Beekeeping Today Podcast! When we launched this podcast on the first day of Pollinator Week in 2018, we had no idea where the podcast would go, or how long it would continue. It is fun to see that we are still going strong and...

“All beekeeping is local” so the saying goes.  On today’s episode, we welcome back our Regional Beekeepers, all from different parts of the country, to see just how localized beekeeping can be. And how much it can be the same, too. Today...

Today, I welcome Danny Weaver to the show. Danny comes from a long line of queen breeders and beekeepers in the Navasota, Texas area. Danny’s father, Binford, was instrumental working with Congress to establish the National Honey Board in 1987....

Today, we invite back Brian Peterson-Roest from Bees In The D. Bees In The D is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create a cooperative effort between residents, schools, organizations, and businesses in the city of Detroit and Southeast...

On today’s show, we welcome back Jay Williams of and . Right off, Jay, who was with us in December, talked about preparing and entering the contest for Honey Has WON this very prestigious award for this year. You heard him here first! This time,...

Last year, we talked with The Good Food Foundation about their annual honey contest . This year, we bring you four of the 15 finalists to talk about their entries and their beekeeping operation. Winners will be announced the week of the episode’s...

We welcome back Dr. Brittney Goodrich, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of California, Davis. Brittney joined us originally on October 5, 2020 to talk about her research on the importance of . Today, she joins us to discuss...

In this episode, we talk with Ben and Kimberly Carpenter of Hungry Bear Farms, current owners of Ross Rounds Honey Supers and Sundance Pollen Traps. Ross Rounds Honey Supers were created by Tom Ross several years ago, then the business was purchased...

In this episode, we talk with Margaret Lombard (CEO) and Catherine Barry (Dir. of Marketing) from the National Honey Board. The NHB is an organization designed with the express purpose of marketing honey. There are 10 Board Members, consisting of...

is a Germany based company that is in the business of testing honey for anything. Their US lab in Corona, California is led by Tobias Wiezorek, and employs about 35 scientists looking at the biochemical, microbiology, chemical and pollen aspects...

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Matthew Pettersson of , who fell into beekeeping after a chance encounter with a giant jar of honey in a New York City apartment. Fascinated by honey bees and the golden honey they create, he ended up working...