2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast

How Pollinators Help Connect To Nature with Dr. Alister Clay (031) Sep 17, 2024

In this episode, Kirsten sits down with Dr. Alister Clay, an engineer at Bosch with a fascinating journey into psychology and nature. Alister shares how his personal experiences led him to pursue a degree in psychology and focus on how humans connect to nature. They delve into the Biophilia Hypothesis, which suggests that humans have an innate need to connect with nature, and how this connection impacts well-being.

Through the lens of psychology, Alister explores how fostering a deeper relationship with the natural world, particularly through observing pollinators like bees, can improve mental health and resilience. Alister also introduces the concept of nature connectedness pathways, highlighting how compassion, senses, and meaning can deepen our bond with the environment. His research examines how even small interactions with nature, like watching a bee pollinate a flower, can have profound effects on our mental well-being.

Tune in to discover how rethinking our relationship with nature can offer simple yet powerful ways to enhance personal growth and global sustainability.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Anke Dietzsch: Effects of Pesticides on Native Bees and Honey Bees (030) Jul 10, 2024

In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Dr. Anke Dietzsch from the Institute for Bee Protection at the Julius Kühn Institute, Germany's Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants. Anke discusses her extensive research on the effects of pesticides on bee health, focusing on both honey bees and native wild bees. She discusses the challenges of conducting field experiments across various habitats in Germany and highlights the importance of using diverse monitoring techniques to accurately assess bee populations.

Anke also shares her insights on the complexities of working with solitary bees, particularly in understanding their unique behaviors and how these species interact with invasive plants. Her work emphasizes the critical need to broaden our understanding of different bee species to ensure effective risk assessments and conservation efforts.

Listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for the nuanced world of bee research and the vital role these pollinators play in our ecosystems. Tune in to explore the fascinating intersections of agroecology, toxicology, and pollinator protection with one of the leading experts in the field.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Keeping Bees in Cameroon with Dr. Mazi Sanda (029) May 29, 2024

In this episode, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor welcomes bee scientist Dr. Mazi Sanda from Cameroon. Dr. Sanda, who currently resides in Germany as part of the PLAN4BEE project, shares his journey into the world of bees, starting from his childhood fascination with insects to his professional research at the University of Ngaoundere. He provides a captivating overview of beekeeping traditions in Cameroon, discussing the prevalent use of traditional woven hives and the gradual shift towards modern Kenyan Top Bar Hives.

Dr. Sanda delves into the rich diversity of honey flavors and the challenges faced by Cameroonian beekeepers, including habitat loss, agricultural intensification, and predation by honey badgers. He also highlights the unique cultural relationship between humans and the greater honeyguide bird, a tradition that is now fading.

This episode offers listeners a deep dive into the practices, challenges, and cultural aspects of beekeeping in Cameroon, underscoring the importance of preserving these traditions and supporting local beekeepers.

Listen today!

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Dr. Marla Spivak on Conquering Beekeeping Challenges (028) Apr 24, 2024

In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor is joined by Dr. Marla Spivak, a renowned bee scientist and MacArthur Genius Award recipient. Together, they delve into the pivotal changes in beekeeping ushered in by the Varroa mite's arrival and explore the ongoing challenges it poses.

Dr. Spivak shares insights from her decades of experience, particularly on the impact of Varroa on bee health and the subsequent adaptations in beekeeping practices. The conversation also covers innovative strategies for managing these challenges, including minimizing chemical treatments and fostering bee resilience through selective breeding.

As a passionate advocate for bees, Dr. Spivak discusses the broader issues affecting bee populations, such as pesticide exposure and habitat loss, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices. This episode not only sheds light on the complexities of modern beekeeping but also inspires with solutions that can lead to healthier bee populations and ecosystems.

Listen today!

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Honey Bees and the Varroa Mite with Dr. David Peck (027) Mar 14, 2024

In this captivating episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Dr. David Peck, Director of Research and Education at Betterbee, to explore the intricate world of bees and the persistent challenge posed by varroa mites. Peck shares insights from his groundbreaking research, including his astonishing discovery of varroa mites' ability to jump onto honeybees from flowers, showcasing the agility and adaptability of these parasites.

This discussion delves into varroa mites' evolutionary prowess, their impact on bee colonies, and effective strategies for managing this persistent threat. Through engaging storytelling and expert analysis, this episode sheds light on the sophisticated behaviors of varroa mites and underscores the importance of integrated pest management in safeguarding bee populations.

Join us to uncover the dynamic between bees and their most formidable adversary, the varroa mite, in a conversation that is both enlightening and essential for anyone invested in the health of pollinators.

Link to David's video of a varroa jumping onto a foraging honey bee: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2016/12/devastating-mites-jump-nimbly-flowers-honeybees

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios; Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott; Faraday by BeGun;

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Flemming Vejsnæs - Beekeeping and Apimondia 2025 in Denmark Feb 19, 2024

In this episode of 2 Million Blossoms, host Dr. Kirsten Traynor sits down with Flemming Vejsnæs, a bee biologist and beekeeper from Denmark, to delve into bees and beekeeping in Denmark. Drawing on their long-standing friendship and Flemming's extensive experience, they explore the evolution of beekeeping, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration and knowledge exchange in overcoming challenges like the varroa mite and the small hive beetle.

Flemming shares his journey from a budding biologist fascinated by pollination to a pivotal figure in Denmark's beekeeping community. His career, spanning over three decades with the Danish Beekeepers Association, underscores the significance of adaptive strategies and international cooperation in advancing beekeeping practices and pollinator protection.

Kirsten and Flemming talk about his role and plans for Apimondia, 2025, in Denmark. Flemming and the Apimondia team are deep in the plans for this world-wide conference, featuring the top bee researchers from around the world, vendors and the largest honey show, featuring 500 to 600 different honeys.

Listeners will be captivated by the passion and expertise that Flemming brings to the discussion, offering valuable insights and practical advice for both new and experienced beekeepers. His vision for a future where beekeeping adapts to changing environmental and market conditions, supported by a strong community of informed and engaged beekeepers, is both hopeful and motivating.

Don't miss this deep dive into the heart of beekeeping in Denmark and the lessons it holds for pollinator protection worldwide.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

2 Million Blossoms Podcast - 2024 Relaunch (025) Jan 08, 2024

Welcome back to the 2 Million Blossoms Podcast! In this special relaunch episode, host Kirsten Traynor sits down with Jeff Ott from the Beekeeping Today Podcast. They delve into Kirsten's recent adventures in Germany and the fascinating honey bee research she's been involved in.

During the tumultuous times of the Covid pandemic, Kirsten seized an exciting opportunity to advance her research in apiculture and moved to Germany. Now based at the University of Hohenheim in Baden-Württemberg, she serves as the Director of the State Institute of Bee Research. In her conversation with Jeff, Kirsten shares insights into the groundbreaking research she and her team are conducting, offering a glimpse into the world of honey bee science.

This week marks a special occasion as Kirsten returns to the United States to attend the American Beekeeping Federation Annual Conference. She will also be presenting with her students at the American Bee Research Conference, showcasing their latest findings.

Tune in to this episode to catch up with Kirsten and gear up for the upcoming episodes of the 2 Million Blossoms Podcast, where the world of pollinators is explored like never before!

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Adrian Fisher - Sub-Lethal Exposure to Pesticides and Fungicides (024) Sep 11, 2022

Adrian Fisher has been investigating the impacts of fungicides on honey bee health. Fungicides are often considered bee safe, because they don’t outright kill adult bees. But Adrian has found some troubling sub-lethal effects, especially on honey bee lifespan. In today’s show we chat about how Pristine, a common pesticide used in almonds leads to precocious foraging and shorter-lived bees.

We also delve into his earlier research where he investigated how varroacide residues in beeswax reduce the sperm viability of the drones reared in those cells.

Finally, we talk about some of the hurdles minorities face when trying to enter the field of science and Adrian gives kudos to the many mentors, who have helped him make a career in science and how he has used his postdoc time to become a more well-rounded scientist.

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

The Mind of the Bee - Lars Chittka (023) Jun 29, 2022

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a bee? How they perceive the world and learn to understand the landscape? On today’s episode, Kirsten talks with noted neurobiologist and bee scientist Lars Chittka from the University of London, whose new book The Mind of a Bee is a fascinating exploration of how bees think. They delve into how the barren landscape outside Berlin let him manipulate the landscape and see that bees could count. Bees are fast learners and can gleam details about how to survive from watching other bees.

Also in today’s show, Kirsten and Lars delve into the darker side of science and the toll it can take on human lives when career expectations and reality collide. Preorder your copy of the book today, set to release late in July, 2022.

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Wild Bees Across Canada with Jess Vickruck (022) May 24, 2022

Today’s episode features Jess Vickruck, a wild bee scientist working in New Brunswick in Canada. In addition to converting the sunny spots in her garden into bee habitat, she studies competition in wild bee communities. She’s studied carpenter bees in detail, finding that when nest sites become rare, competition drives females to share nests. But there’s a unique catch. They preferentially select unrelated females.

She also investigates the important role that grasslands play in maintaining the function of wild bee diversity across Canada. We chat about her career in pollinator science and how her work with conservation groups has allowed access to unique long-term data about changes in habitat.

Tune in to learn more about the importance of nesting sites and how bees help shape our landscapes.

Jess Vickruck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessvickruck

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Updates, News and What Makes and Good Scientist (021) Mar 28, 2022

In this episode, podcast host Kirsten Traynor reflects on what are the characteristics of a great scientist and the mentors, who have helped her succeed in her own career. She discusses some of her early failures, how she questions her own place in science, how women face certain biases, and why she is once again switching jobs. Additionally, she digs into a recent paper on pesticide residues in urban and suburban environments.

To read the Twitter moment mentioned in the episode, where a male and female colleague swap email signatures for two weeks with (un)surprising results, visit: https://twitter.com/i/events/839950218099576832

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Monika Maeckle - Texas Butterlies (020) Feb 25, 2022

In this episode, Kirsten talks with Monika Maeckle. Monika runs the Texas Butterfly Ranch, which is more a state-of-mind than a physical place. She is a writer, Master Gardener, pollinator enthusiast and has tagged countless Monarchs that pass through the famous Texas funnel on their journey south. Monika and Kirsten chat about the migratory path of monarchs, how their incredible journey turned into an inspiration during the Covid pandemic, and how we can all improve the plight of these beautiful butterflies.

Note, we briefly discussed the incredible rebound of the western population, which migrates along the California coast. The population had crashed to about 2,000 butterflies in 2020, but miraculously leapt back up to viability with almost 250,000 butterflies in 2021. No one is quite sure why and if the population will hold steady, as insect populations are notoriously volatile. Tune in to learn more.

For more information, check out:

If you liked today’s episode, click on the link to follow us and never miss an episode!

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Wild Survivors - African Elephants and Honey Bees (019) Dec 28, 2021

Fran Mahoney is crazy about elephants. And to help protect elephants, she’s enlisted the help of over 144 honey bee colonies. In Tanzania, elephants face massive poaching threats. Subsistence farmers often turn in elephants to poachers, because they fear the hungry mammals will destroy their crops. Fran Mahoney founded Wild Survivors to create sustainable solutions to human-elephant conflict.

In today’s show, learn more about her creative solution using honey bees that is turning farmers into elephant advocates and beekeepers.

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

American Foulbrood & Deformed Wing Virus Research with Elke Genersch (018) Dec 14, 2021

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Elke Genersch a microbiologist from the Institute for Bee Research in Hohen Neuendorf outside Berlin, Germany. She switched from cancer research into honey bee diseases about 20 years ago and has made a name for herself investigating how American Foulbrood and Deformed Wing Virus function. We delve into the details of this bacterial disease and how varroa mites have allowed viruses to change, using the current Corona pandemic to help explain parallels.

So, if you geek out on detailed scientific explanations and want to understand a bit more about molecular biology, tune into this detailed episode with one of Europe’s leading honey bee virologists.

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

When One Door Closes (017) Nov 12, 2021

Dear Listeners:

As you may know, I launched my print magazine 2 Million Blossoms with exuberance and crazy enthusiasm. Since I first dreamt up the magazine in 2019, I have produced two years of magazines, four issues in 2020 and another four issues in 2021. All together over 800 pages entirely about pollinators. Many late nights after I stopped working on my “real job”, the one that pays my bills, I spent countless hours to hone, smooth, and delineate the content of 2 Million Blossoms. My goal always to help authors clearly communicate their stories. Judging from reader reactions, the magazine has been hugely successful, often read cover to cover.

Despite my best efforts, multiple forces have worked against me resulting in the difficult decision that the autumn issue is my final quarterly issue.

But don’t despair! When one door closes, another opens. And I am taking some time to reflect and reboot.

2 Million Blossoms won’t disappear. Rather I plan to refocus and restrategize. Unlike newspapers, the content we publish is timeless. Instead of seeking annual subscribers, I will instead focus on creating standalone issues and books on specific themes.

This podcast will definitely continue, as I believe we need more discussions on sustainability and how we can green our planet. In addition to refocusing on the podcast, I will build out my 2 Million Blossoms email newsletter, working to bring you relevant content and my own interpretation of the latest pollinator science every month.

My hope with both the Newsletter and 2 Million Blossoms – The Podcast was and continues to be to build a bridge between science and practice, to distill complicated topics into entertaining stories that don’t dumb down the detail. What I try to bring to both my readers and listeners is an eclectic mix of science, art, and culture. I try to highlight the diverse voices involved in protecting our pollinators and our planet, often reaching out to up and coming scientists, less heard voices, and people with unique backgrounds.

We need diverse perspectives because we all approach fact finding with our own inherent biases. When the only ones asking the questions share a similar background, the blinders of their upbringing cause them to miss out on different interpretations.

I thank you sincerely for joining me in this journey thus far. Here is to a revamped version of 2 Million Blossoms, where we can celebrate the many ways we are helping pollinators survive and thrive.

Don’t be afraid to dig in the dirt!

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We thank Betterbee for their sponsorship of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Taxonomist & Ecologist Michael Orr (016) Oct 30, 2021

Have you ever wondered about the bee biodiversity in other countries? In this episode, meet Dr. Michael Orr, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, where he has worked for the last three years. Michael is a taxonomist and ecologist, who has studied the aggregations of the sandstone excavating bee, the tiny Anthophora pueblo.

Listen as Kirsten talks with Michael and learn why these bees spend so much time and energy to create nest holes in the pueblo walls.

He just recently published an important paper on global bee distribution and on the show, we discuss how our collection strategies both historically and currently contain inherent biases. Many species sit in drawers waiting to be fully described as type species.

Listen today and learn how bee taxonomists and digitization of collections is moving our understanding of bee diversity forward.

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Kirsten Talks with Commercial Beekeeper, Cindy Moore (015) Oct 07, 2021

In this episode, Kirsten chats with Cindy Moore, owner of Sweet Cindy’s Honey Farm, a commercial beekeeping operation in upstate New York and Florida. She runs bees with her husband on the east coast and they ship out bees to California for almond pollination. She’s sweet, sassy, and makes commercial beekeeping look glamourous. On this episode we chat about how her not-yet-husband lured her away from a farm stand to help work bees, the effort and care she puts into marketing her products, and the inspiration her grandmother is to her work ethic.

Listen today for a perspective on commercial beekeeping from a woman who fell into the profession and now can’t let go.

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

From Our Pages, Botanical Illustrator Erin Hunter (014) Sep 10, 2021

Meet botanical artist and scientific illustrator Erin E. Hunter, who splits her time between her own fine art paintings that capture the magic of the natural world and technical illustrations for the academic science journal Annual Reviews. She’s been quite successful, snagging a few artist-in-residency stays at our National Parks. One of her most enjoyable subjects to draw are pollinators on their favorite plants and so of course, we chatted at length about how she became dazzled by these flower visitors.

Her friend Erika Beyer first introduced her to the book The Forgotten Pollinators during grad school. She’s been greatly inspired by John Cody, whose paintings force people to stop and admire giant moths.

In this episode, we chat about artists, books, and appreciating the natural world, how art differs from assignment, and what ends up in her sketchbooks. Tune in for a little inspiration.

Links to Erin Hunter’s website, examples of her painting, and artists that inspire her:

http://www.eehunter.com

https://www.instagram.com/erinhunterart/

Her artist friend from grad school who introduced her to The Forgotten Pollinators:

https://erikabeyer.com

John Cody, who paints the giant moths:

https://www.johncodygallery.net/product-category/prints/

Margaret Mee, botanical artist:

https://www.botanicalartandartists.com/about-margaret-mee.html

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Thoughts: What Can We Do (013) Aug 20, 2021

Thank you so much for downloading this episode – our 13th. While some people are superstitious about such numbers, we’re here to celebrate this “luckiest” of episodes. It’s hard to know when you start a new journey, where it will lead. In this episode, I talk about what we’ve learned so far, some of the beauty we’ve seen and the challenges that lay ahead. Climate change is arguably the biggest – impacting everyone and everything on the planet. From you and me, to the tightly woven relationship between plants and pollinators.

What can you do? There is much and all it takes is awareness and some sacrifice of the some of the things we believe we ‘need’. I challenge you to think about that…what is really needed. Is it worth the cost… the environmental cost?

Thank you for listening and for reading our 2 Million Blossoms magazine. Share both!

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

The World of Native Bees with Researcher Nicholas Dorian (012) Aug 05, 2021

Tufts University PhD student Nicholas Dorian, who is a frequent contributor to 2 Million Blossoms, is always on the search for bees in urban spaces. His research focuses on cellophane bees, but he’s a well-rounded naturalist and ecologist. He helped found the Tufts Pollinator Initiative, which turned the university campus into a Xerces Bee Campus. You can find his fabulous photos and interesting posts on social media, where he tweets and shares under the name 'bee searcher' (Twitter @bee_searcher, Instagram - beesearcher).

We recently had a chance to chat about the critical need for science education, his work with undergraduate students on how bees forage in urban areas, why birds and pollinators are closely intertwined, and the weird things bees collect like perfume oils and meat.

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

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Sarah Red-Laird & Oregon DOT 'Re-Wild' Programs (011) Jul 22, 2021

Sarah Red-Laird is the founder of The Bee Girl Organization. You might know her from her fabulous and informative posts on social media. Or perhaps you’ve heard of her Kids for Bees program. But this dynamic woman has an endlessly curious mind and is a scientist at heart.

Sarah has been working closely with the Department of Transportation in Oregon to help re-wild 200 acres and monitor the pollinators that show up. We had a chance to talk in-depth about her work with the DOT vernal pool restoration project. She’s been visiting the site for almost half a decade and has witnessed some incredible changes to the landscape.

Competition, fire, restoration, insect surveying—we cover it all. Listen today to learn more.

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Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

A Natural History of Insects in 100 Limericks with Richard Jones (010) Jul 08, 2021

Richard Jones, an entomologist and writer who has penned a delightful and ridiculous volume of 100 limericks. A Natural History of Insects in 100 Limericks is illustrated by Richard’s son Calvin and right below the limerick is a wonderful paragraph introducing the subject’s quirky personality and biology.

In this podcast, Kirsten talks with Richard about the different insects and their limericks. Richard explains how he uses the comical nature of limericks to help explain some of the quirky behaviors of insects. The book has been deemed “An addictive and jolly read.” Pollination expert Jeff Ollerton, who has also been a guest on this show, called it “Entertaining and educational in equal measure.”

Listen today!

Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Honey Bee Researcher & Author, Dr. Mark Winston (009) Jun 24, 2021

Dr. Mark Winston wrote the definitive book on honey bee biology in 1987 and is a science communicator extraordinaire. His writings have appeared in the New York Times, Orion Magazine, and the Globe, and he’s a regular contributor to 2 Million Blossoms. He’s currently the Simon Fraser University Library Nonfiction Writer in Residence where he emphasizes the power of non-fiction writing to share knowledge.

Listen and hear his bee origin story and why his book on honey bee biology has endured through the ages. He has seen a lot of changes to the beekeeping industry throughout the years. We talk about some surprises he’s witnessed along the way and the future of pollination.

Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Nature Photographer - Jake Mosher (008) Jun 14, 2021

In this episode, Kirsten speaks with award-winning nature photographer Jake Mosher. If you’re a subscriber to the magazine, you’ve seen his stunning landscapes and detailed macro photography in our April and Autumn issues last year.

Jake grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, right near the Quebec border. He spent his childhood immersed in nature, often taking off to fish, hunt and explore the great outdoors and develop his survival instinct. But the Vermont landscape was changing, and so immediately after finishing college he headed west to Montana. As he says “I believe that perhaps now more than ever, as our world hurtles along with technology none of us could have imaged even a decade ago, there's great value in viewing and trying hard to preserve the wilder places around us.”

They chat about the wild places he’s been and the changes in Vermont that drove him West. Jake discusses how development is changing the landscape of Montana, the grit it takes to reach some of the remote locations he likes to photograph, and some of the misadventures that have hit him while out alone in the field. Tune in to learn more about the hidden places through a photographer’s eye.

Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Butterflies, Pollination and Kim Pegram with Kirsten (007) May 27, 2021

Can you make a career out of studying butterflies? Kim Pegram from the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, AZ sure did. She fell in love with butterflies as a child and never let go. She’s an expert in butterfly coloration, which the butterflies form during the chrysalis stage via pigments and structural coloration—a specific way of layering cuticle to reflect light. Just like traffic signs catch our attention with bright colors, making them easy to spot, butterflies warn off predators with the same types of warning signals.

At the desert botanical garden, she works on plant propagation. Plant natives has become a rallying cry, but seed sources can be difficult to find. The Desert Botanical Garden has been trialing how to best grow out native milkweeds. 30 species of milkweed grow in Arizona. The team has expanded into other native plants, experimenting with how to best cultivate them. Tune in to learn more about how research can be channeled into practice.

Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Pollinators & Pollination with Jeff Ollerton (006) May 13, 2021

Jeff Ollerton is one of the leading experts on pollinators, which has culminated in his new book “Pollinators & Pollination.” In its pages, he delves deep into how plants manipulate, coax, and charm pollinators into spreading their genetic material. Listen as he explains how 87.5% of all flowering plants depend on pollination, how hummingbirds once existed in Europe, and how pollinators help create that caffeinated buzz from your morning coffee.

Jeff tells us about how he created an urban pollinator oasis in his home garden, and how we can all help pollinators thrive.

What to read the book? Here is a 2 Million Blossoms – The Podcast special: Use the discount code BLOSSOMS30 on www.pelagicpublishing.com to receive a 30% discount on Jeff Ollerton’s book, Pollinators & Pollination! Go there directly here: https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/pollinators-and-pollination-ollerton-9781784272289

Learn more about the 2 Million Blossoms and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Wasps & Pollination with Heather Holm (005) Apr 29, 2021

Award-winning author Heather Holm chats with 2 Million Blossoms about her new book on wasps, the drastic changes in our landscapes, and the importance of observing nature as a child. She’s an avid naturalist with a horticultural background. When she moved to Minnesota 18 years ago, she started exploring native landscapes and the transition between oak dominated forests and prairie. She got sucked into protecting pollinators because of the huge diversity she witnessed on these native plantings and has never looked back.

She’s active in restoration efforts, fighting off garlic mustard and European buckthorn, which chokes out woodlands. We also had a chance to talk about the efforts to protect the rusty patched bumble bee, the state insect of Minnesota. Be sure to check out her books and her upcoming author events at https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/.

Learn more about the magazine and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Shevaun Doherty - Artistry in Native Irish Bees (004) Apr 14, 2021

Shevaun Doherty is a botanical artist, who volunteered to help the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and designed a bumble bee logo for them. Her accuracy, detail, and beautiful style of drawing led to the creation of a set of Irish postage stamps. And while the stamps feature four different native Irish bees, a garden bumble bee, the ashy mining bee, the tawny mining bee, and the heather bee, she managed to sneak a honey bee onto the minisheet first day cover. You can watch her paint a bumble bee on lavender at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtFlDncin2A

We had a chance to chat about how Shevaun became an artist, why she finds pollinators make good subjects, and her penchant for using vellum—animal skin—as her painting surface, reminiscent of old illuminated manuscripts. You can find examples of her wide-ranging work on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/shevaundohertyartist/

Learn more about the magazine and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Music: Original 2 Million Blossoms Theme, by Oscar Morante / Mooi Studios. Guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Dave Goulson - A Sting In The Tale (003) Mar 30, 2021

On today’s show, I chat with bumble bee scientist and author Dave Goulson about hairy-footed flower bees Anthophora plumipes, one of the first bees to emerge in spring, and how to make our gardens more friendly to pollinators.

As humans we have a tidy streak that extends to our home gardens and our farm fields. But our tendency to chop away the dead and keep everything trim and orderly works against pollinator survival.

We also discuss how his landmark letter in Science called for a re-evaluation of neonicotinoids. This was the rallying cry that resulted in a ban of this class of pesticide in many countries. Although its use has been severely limited, chemical companies have quickly rolled out replacements. Banning harmful chemicals, Goulson reports, is a bit like playing whack-a-mole with new versions cropping up as soon as one is removed from the market.

Tune in and learn about the many issues impacting pollinator health and how we can make our landscapes more hospitable.

Learn more about the magazine and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

Why 2 Million Blossoms? (002) Mar 30, 2021

Dr. Kirsten Traynor introduces us to 2 Million Blossoms. First the quarterly publication of the same name and now this podcast. How did she get started with honey bees and how did this expand to cover all pollinators great and small? Why?

Listen as Kirsten explains in her own words, why she is taking on spreading the message of protecting our pollinators and what direction she is going with her lineup of authors, illustrators and guests on the podcast.

Learn more about the magazine and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast: A Welcome! (001) Mar 30, 2021

The very first 2 Million Blossoms podcast.

Pollinators flit, chirp and buzz. Because of them, we enjoy delectable food and incredible biodiversity. The creatures that feed us often face starvation themselves, encountering food deserts in our modern, fragmented landscape. Join us on 2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast, a new show from the publication of the same name, dedicated to protecting our pollinators - both wild and managed, before they disappear.

Learn more about the magazine and about protecting our pollinators at: https://www.2millionblossoms.com/

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2 Million Blossoms - The Podcast is a joint audio production of Protect Our Pollinators, LLC and Growing Planet Media, LLC

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