The Boys and the Bees with Nehemiah Ray (394) — Beekeeping Today Podcast

Sometimes the most memorable beekeeping stories have very little to do with honey production.

This week, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Nehemiah Ray, a Georgia beekeeper whose family's everyday life inspired the Sundance Award-winning documentary The Boys and the Bees. What began as a pest control assignment to remove honey bees from a home unexpectedly launched Nehemiah into beekeeping, live honey bee removals, and eventually a life centered around teaching others about nature, family, and stewardship.

Nehemiah recounts learning beekeeping almost entirely through books, YouTube, and experience before joining the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers Association. He discusses the challenges of managing honey bee removals, maintaining survivor stock with an emphasis on naturally selected Varroa-resistant genetics, coping with Georgia's difficult weather extremes, and balancing beekeeping with family life and business ownership.

The conversation then turns to The Boys and the Bees, the award-winning documentary that follows Nehemiah, his wife Eliza, and their two sons. Rather than simply documenting beekeeping, the film beautifully captures the relationship between a father and his children, the lessons learned from honey bees, and the importance of curiosity, courage, and spending meaningful time together outdoors.

Jeff and Becky reflect on one particularly moving scene in which Nehemiah carefully guides his son through receiving his first honey bee sting—a moment that has resonated deeply with audiences and fathers around the world.

Whether you're a beekeeper, parent, educator, or simply appreciate stories about family and nature, this episode offers a thoughtful reminder that honey bees often teach us as much about ourselves as they do about beekeeping.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

The Boys and the Bees Website: https://www.raysdwild.com
Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
The National Honey Board: https://honey.com
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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