What’s Happening to America’s Bees? The Hidden Cost of Our Food System | Jennie Durant

What’s Happening to America’s Bees? The Hidden Cost of Our Food System | Jennie Durant

From Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips by Diane Boden

June 10, 2026 · 33 min

About this episode

Diane Boden interviews Jennie Durant about the challenges facing honey bees and the impact of industrial agriculture on their survival.

Every year, millions of honey bees are transported across the country to pollinate the crops that fill our grocery stores - but few of us ever stop to consider the toll this takes on the bees themselves. In this episode, I sit down with author Jennie Durant to discuss the surprising and often unseen realities of modern beekeeping and industrial agriculture. We explore the challenges facing honey bees today, including pesticide exposure, disease, climate pressures, and the demands of large-scale farming. Jennie shares what she learned while researching Bitter Honey and introduces us to the beekeepers, farmers, and advocates working to create a healthier future for pollinators. Whether you're passionate about food, sustainability, gardening, or simply living more intentionally, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the interconnected systems that support our daily lives - and why the future of bees matters to all of us. Links Discussed in This Episode | Checkout the podcast storefront for recommendations from Diane. Subscribe to the Minimalist Moms Youtube Channel Book: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Previous Episode: Buzzing with Purpose: Teaching Kids to…

People in this episode

Host: Diane Boden

Guest: Jennie Durant

Topics covered

  • beekeeping
  • sustainability
  • food system
  • pollinators
  • agriculture

Keywords

  • honey bees
  • pollination
  • pesticides
  • climate change
  • industrial agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership

Books & works: Bitter Honey, The Secret Life of Bees

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