The ABCs of California Native Bees with Krystle Hickman, Conservation Photographer and National Geographic Explorer

The ABCs of California Native Bees with Krystle Hickman, Conservation Photographer and National Geographic Explorer

Author: KSQD 90.7 FM in Santa Cruz & KSQD.org November 23, 2025 Duration: 53:30

If you venture out into parks, farms and gardens with various flowering species, you are almost sure to see European honeybees flying about.  When we think of bees, those are the ones that usually come to mind.  But there are more than 1,600 native bee species in California alone, and many of those are threatened with extinction.  Krystle Hickman is a National Geographic Explorer, conservation photographer, and native bee expert who uses her photography to raise awareness about the decline of native bee species and their complex ecosystems.  Her new book, The ABCs of California Native Bees, a compendium of text about and stunning photos of native bees in their California habitats, has just been published by Berkeley's Heyday Books.  Learn how a conservation photographer goes about her work and how she finds those bees.


Every other Sunday, Sustainability Now! on KSQD.org offers a thoughtful space to explore the complex questions facing our planet. Born from the community airwaves of KSQD 90.7 FM in Santa Cruz, this podcast connects the local environmental pulse of Northern California to global conversations. Since its launch in 2019 by host Ronnie Lipschutz, the program has built a reputation for deep, engaging dialogues that refuse to simplify the challenges at hand. You’ll hear from a compelling mix of voices-field researchers detailing ecological shifts, philosophers examining our relationship with nature, community organizers building practical solutions, and authors framing new narratives for society. The discussions naturally weave between science, culture, and policy, reflecting a belief that true sustainability is as much about philosophy and community as it is about data. This isn’t about alarmism or easy answers; it’s about informed, nuanced exploration. Tuning in means listening to people who are actively thinking, studying, and working on the front lines of change. Each episode of this KSQD podcast provides substance and perspective, whether the topic is regenerative agriculture, conservation ethics, technological innovation, or social justice. It’s for anyone ready to move beyond headlines and engage with the ideas and actions shaping a viable future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Sustainability Now! on KSQD.org
Podcast Episodes
An Hour Wasted with Tom Lehrer A Tribute to the Man and His Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:03
Tom Lehrer, the musical satirist par excellence of the 1950s and 1960s, died this past July at age 97. Many listeners and their progeny grew up listening to and singing his compelling compositions: easy to remember, easy…