PODCAST EPISODE 9: Warm Winter Greetings and Gratitude from Ben

PODCAST EPISODE 9: Warm Winter Greetings and Gratitude from Ben

In this episode, I send out my warmest hellos and thank you’s to all the incredible people that make the BEES WITH BEN beekeeping podcast a reality. It’s one thing to have a podcast, but it’s a very different thing for that podcast to be a successful place for the sharing of information and stories; a very different reality and pleasure to make a podcast that builds community in a way that is enriching and pushes past geographical boundaries. As many of you know, a podcast is a project I wanted to pursue for a really long time – for ages, friends, family and colleagues told me, “Ben, you NEED a podcast!”, and I have no doubt this is because I tend to talk…a lot. I love talking, I love sharing. I love people. And I am so thankful for all the listeners who tune in every week to hear me discuss bees with talented and passionate bee-lovers and beekeepers from all over the world. This is especially true in this time of isolation and I feel uplifted to know that I am producing something that might bring a little joy to someone’s day when the times feel tinged with uncertainty. I can see from the number of people listening that that is actually happening! Amazing. Secondly, I want to say an equally big thank you to the incredible and generous contributors to my beekeeping podcast – to the friends, old colleagues and new connections that give up their valuable time to talk to me and the broader Ben’s Bees community about what they do, how they got to where they are today, and how they keep that fire burning. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

On top of much love and thanks, episode 9 features a yarn about what I have been up to in this chilly weather – mainly jarring honey and making hives and frames ready for spring. However, I also just finished an amazing book called ‘Interviews with Beekeepers’ by Steve Donohoe, which I review. It features a wonderful chat with the lovely Richard Noel, who I was lucky enough to meet and hang out with in the north of France a couple of years ago – what a small world it is! This book is a real page turner for any beekeeper and is available online at Book Depository.

Lastly, I wanted to shout out and ask the Ben’s Bees community and listeners of the BEES WITH BEN beekeeping podcast to help me make this podcast an even greater success. First, please leave a review of my podcast on iTunes – for people working online (which is many of us at the moment), a positive review really helps more people find out about projects such as mine. Second, please follow on Spotify. And third, I love a friendly text message to +61437077792, so go ahead, send me some love! Let’s make the Ben’s Bees community bigger than ever! Big thanks in advance for your reviews, follows and texts. Love Ben