In this episode of Talons of Hope, we travel to the windswept tundras of Alaska to explore the frontline of polar raptor conservation. Host Munir Virani, of the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund (MBZRCF), speaks with Michael Henderson—field biologist with The Peregrine Fund and PhD candidate at Boise State University—whose groundbreaking research on Gyrfalcons, the Arctic’s apex raptors, is offering urgent insights into a rapidly changing world.
Why should you tune in?
Because polar raptors like the Gyrfalcon are telling us stories about the fate of the Arctic—and of our planet itself.
The Gyrfalcon is an iconic predator of the far north. But as climate change disrupts prey populations, introduces new disease threats, and reshapes Arctic ecosystems, these magnificent birds face an uncertain future. Michael’s mission is to understand how they are adapting—and what we can do to help.
Michael shares his remarkable journey from a career in construction to scaling cliffs in pursuit of raptor science. In this episode, you’ll learn:
This work is part of a bold initiative supported by MBZRCF to advance understanding and conservation of polar raptors in an era of unprecedented ecological change.
As the host notes, this is more than a story about falcons—it is a story about how the Arctic itself is changing, and how raptors can serve as sentinels of planetary health.
If you care about:
...then this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!