(Airdate: January 3, 2023) Author Gene Helfman joins Cris Wilson to talk about his new novel Beyond the Human Realm, winner of the 2022 NIEA and Readers Favorite Award for Animal Fiction. Gene is himself a retired animal behaviorist and has written a novel from the Orcas’ point of view set partially here in the Salish Sea with our own beloved J pod. A fascinating story taken from recent news and research. The story follows a captive male orca, Makai, as a human-caused tragedy upends his world. Seeking revenge, he is accepted into Orca society and his success hinges on these fellow orcas, whale researchers, and a runaway teenager with Orca Clan roots.