Beekeeping Buddies

Beekeeping Buddies brings together practical beekeeping experience, scientific curiosity, and a healthy dose of humor!

Join hosts Steve Schmidt and Luke Harvey, two experienced beekeepers from the Peoria, Illinois area, each with over a decade of hands-on experience managing honey bee colonies. Luke is a Certified Master Beekeeper through the University of Montana with a background in biomedical engineering, while Steve brings his mechanical engineering expertise to the conversation. Together, they approach beekeeping with curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.

Each episode features four familiar segments:

Around the Yard: Follow along as Steve and Luke share what's happening in their apiaries, from seasonal colony management and honey production to queen rearing, swarm control, and the occasional unexpected adventure.

In the News: Explore the latest honey bee research, scientific discoveries, and developments affecting beekeepers. We break down the science and discuss what it actually means for managing colonies.

Honeybee Hotline: Real questions from real beekeepers. Steve and Luke share practical advice, personal experiences, and lessons learned from years of working with bees.

Droning On: A little of everything! Stories, observations, opinions, and the occasional tangent from two friends who love talking about bees.

Whether you're preparing for your first hive or managing hundreds of colonies, Beekeeping Buddies offers honest conversations about the successes, failures, science, and everyday realities of keeping honey bees.

Pull up a chair, join the conversation, and become one of our Beekeeping Buddies!