I’m so excited to share a link to PolliNation, the fantastic podcast about . . . Pollination!  This podcast episode features the show’s host in conversation with me!

Dr Andony Melathopoulos, the bee scientist running The PolliNation Podcast, invited me to discuss honey bee pollination – past, present, future.   Andony is a very knowledgeable beekeeper and a scientist at Oregon State where he works in pollination extension, research, and education.  Because of his experiences, he deftly leads this discussion about (1) the old days of pollination (before hives on pallets, bee nets, and freeways), (2) the current state of commercial pollination (which I dub ‘unsustainable’), and (3) a possible future where drone bees will be robots and cherished crops might be ‘self-fruitful’ and no longer need our bees.

I have two regrets about the podcast. This is a great subject to discuss so it would have been nice to have had a 10-hour podcast marathon. Though we got deep into it, the topic lends itself to considerable deliberation.  My second regret is technical – in this podcast, I am speaking through my computer in Calgary, Canada, and the sound (from my end only) is not crisp.  That was entirely my fault. Next time I do a podcast with Andony (hopefully there will be a next time) I’ll find a better microphone!  Having said that, I’ll hasten to add that the sound quality improved as the show went on and it’s never so bad that you’ll miss the message.

Here’s the link to PolliNation. You can listen through I-Tunes (Episode 54 – top of the charts this week!), Soundcloud, or directly through your computer by going here.