Beekeeping Today

Jeff Ott is a master beekeeper certified by the University of Montana and the Washington State Beekeepers Association, and co-founder and co-host of the internationally recognized Beekeeping Today podcast. He began keeping honey bees as a child, inspired by an observation hive in his bedroom, and has managed colonies for honey production and local pollination while serving in leadership roles within regional beekeeping associations, including as a past president of the Medina County Beekeepers Association in Ohio. Through Growing Planet Media, Jeff produces Beekeeping Today podcast and Honey Bee Obscura, blending science, storytelling, and practical experience to support beekeepers at every stage. He has written for American Bee Journal, was a regular contributor to Bee Culture, and contributes to The Beekeeper’s Quarterly, a UK-based beekeeping journal. Based in Olympia, Washington, Jeff continues to educate and connect the beekeeping community through speaking, writing, and media.

Becky Masterman received a PhD studying honey bee hygienic behavior in Dr. Marla Spivak's University of Minnesota Bee Lab. She led the UMN Bee Squad from 2013 to 2020 and currently supports the Minnesota Extension Apiculture Program with honey bee sampling, teaching beekeeping, and writing about management. She has had a monthly Bee Culture magazine column since 2020 and has been the co-host of the Beekeeping Today podcast since 2024. Active in the Minnesota Honey Producers Association, she is a former board member and currently chairs their Habitat Committee. Becky manages over seventy colonies in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.