{"id":11899,"date":"2026-04-03T13:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/?p=11899"},"modified":"2026-04-03T13:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:30:43","slug":"secrets-of-the-bees-why-tiny-bees-are-charismatic-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/reelfaith\/2026\/04\/secrets-of-the-bees-why-tiny-bees-are-charismatic-heroes.html","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Secrets of the Bees\u2019: Why Tiny Bees Are Charismatic Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In a recent interview with Reel Faith, National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory said the new docuseries \u201cSecrets of the Bees,\u201d now on Disney+ and Hulu and produced by James Cameron, aims to change the way viewers look at one of nature\u2019s smallest yet most vital creatures.<\/p>\n

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Bertie Gregory walking in a field in Dorset, UK. (credit: National Geographic\/Nadege Laici) Courtesy of National Geogrphic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cPeople think they\u2019re familiar with bees. They\u2019re a big part of our popular culture, but actually, we know basically nothing about them,\u201d Gregory said. \u201cThere\u2019s a huge opportunity to deliver on the promise that we\u2019re going to show you some secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shot with the latest high-definition equipment that places the camera at insect level, the series offers intimate portraits of bees that Gregory said rival the charisma of larger, traditionally celebrated animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhilst they are definitely not big, they are just as charismatic and characterful as any of those, those bigger, more traditionally charismatic animals,\u201d he said. \u201cThe key is that you need to get on their level, and we utilize some amazing new technology to allow us to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gregory, a longtime wildlife filmmaker who has worked around the globe for National Geographic, said the project shifted his own perspective on insects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve realized that, yes, the big, more traditionally charismatic animals, are amazing to follow around. I\u2019ve learned a lot about the power of sitting down and just taking the time to look at, you know, even a small patch of flowers,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing, the drama that is happening right under our noses that we walk past.\u201d<\/p>\n

The series connects microscopic detail to broad ecological consequences. Gregory pointed out the critical role bees play in sustaining human food supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne-third of the food we eat bees are responsible for pollinating. And so, you know, yes, we should want to look after the bees. But aside from that, if you help bees, we\u2019re helping ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

That pragmatic appeal\u2014protecting bees to protect human food security\u2014runs alongside the show\u2019s aesthetic ambitions. Gregory described footage that captured previously unseen behavior and striking close-ups of bee anatomy.<\/p>\n

The series also blends conservation messaging with accessible calls to action. Gregory emphasized how easy it can be for individuals to make a difference: \u201cIf you do decide to help bees, is that it\u2019s phenomenally easy. You just have to plant native wildflowers, and that can be in a little windowsill in your apartment. You will see the change that you make.\u201d<\/p>\n

That combination of wonder and empowerment is central to the series\u2019 inspirational tone. Gregory reflected on his own path into wildlife media\u2014how early photography led him to a career of sharing nature\u2019s stories\u2014and framed storytelling as a means of sparking stewardship.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you show someone a picture of something that you like, you\u2019re actually get them excited about the thing that you\u2019re excited about. And that basically what I do now as a job,\u201d he said. \u201cMy job is literally to get other people excited about the thing that I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gregory\u2019s resum\u00e9 includes expeditions to polar regions and dramatic encounters with large marine species. He cited an Antarctic shoot as a career highlight.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see 300 whales all in a big feeding party with tens of thousands of penguins and seals and albatross in front of big 9,000-foot snowy mountains, it doesn\u2019t get better than that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The filmmaker also acknowledged the risks and realities of working with wild animals. He admitted to being stung during filming, a reminder that even careful contact can have consequences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got stung in the face and couldn\u2019t see out my right eye for about three days, which was suboptimal.\u201d Still, Gregory said bees are not aggressive by nature and sting only in defense: \u201cThey\u2019re just trying to protect their family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the specifics of bees, Gregory stressed a conservation ethic centered on human responsibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn every case, if you want to look after animals and people, you don\u2019t need to change animal behavior. You need to change human behavior,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re not separate to nature. We\u2019re part of it, and we really need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSecrets of the Bees,\u201d hosted by Bertie Gregory, produced by Silverback Films, and executive produced James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm for Lightstorm Earth, released April 1 and is now streaming on Disney+<\/a> and Hulu.<\/a><\/p>\n