Global News Podcast: The Happy Pod – “Donating my kidney transformed a child's life”

Date: November 22, 2025
Host: Vanessa Heaney, BBC World Service

Episode Overview

This edition of the Happy Pod celebrates transformative acts of kindness, innovations in organ transplantation, and uplifting stories from around the world. The central theme is the life-saving impact of organ donation, illustrated through the moving meeting between a kidney donor and the young boy whose life she saved. The episode also explores technology boosting transplant success, empowerment in disability media by young people, a unique Alpine cow race, the rediscovery of musical works by Bach, and the growing community of male knitters.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A Life-Saving Gift: The Meeting Between Kidney Donor and Recipient

(Begins ~00:45)

• Ali Coyle, a pilot from Northern Ireland, donated her kidney to 5-year-old Xavier, a stranger at the time.
• Unusual Connection: Normally, donor-recipient meetings are rare due to privacy, but Ali contacted Xavier's family by mail—sending a card and a toy plane, which enabled his parents to find her on social media.
• Xavier’s Parents (Hira Zahir and Umar Saeed): Recap Xavier’s pre-transplant struggles (“He used to not eat well... life changed after the transplant. He is here, all healthy, happy, running around. No one can tell by looking at him that he got his kidney transplant just this year.” [03:10])
• Emotional Encounter: Both families met in person—an experience charged with gratitude and tears. Ali is now described as “part of our family now. She was an angel to us, to be honest.” [04:05]
• Ripple Effect: Ali’s act not only saved Xavier but transformed his family's entire life. Xavier’s father, Umar, also donated a kidney to another patient.
• Ali’s Motivation: Originally inspired by not being a match for a friend, Ali wanted to help a family like her own. “If it was someone in my family who needed a kidney and someone could donate... I would want them to do that.” [06:10]

Notable Quotes:

• “My tears could not stop. I could not stop giving her a hug instantly. It felt like I’m meeting a sister.” – Hira Zahir (Xavier’s mother) [04:13]
• “It was just lovely to see him so happy and healthy... just wonderful to see him living a normal life.” – Ali Coyle [08:05]
• “To be honest with you, it has had such a minimal impact on my life compared to the huge impact that it's had on his life and his family's life.” – Ali Coyle [09:10]

2. Transformer Organs: Innovative Technology Expanding Transplants

(~10:50)

• Organox, a UK-based company, has developed a machine that keeps livers at body temperature, nourishing them with blood and nutrients so they remain viable for longer outside the body.
• Impact: Hospitals using these machines have seen a 20–30% increase in successful organ transplants.
• Process: The machine restores the organ after refrigeration, visibly bringing it “back to life.” [12:25]
• Medical Perspective: Surgeon David Nasrallah emphasizes that the technology provides objective measurements of organ quality, reducing subjective guesswork.
• Patient Story: Lisa Pengelli describes how her successful transplant—supported by Organox technology—restored her health and quality of life.

Notable Quotes:

• “The impact of this product is typically increasing the number of organs that are being transplanted, something between 20 and 30%.” – Craig Marshall, Organox CEO [13:00]
• “It genuinely makes it easier to go through life having that thing to do with my hands and it has made it so much easier for me to connect with a society.” – Jonathan Berner (from next segment, knitting) [40:18]

3. Grand Prix for Cows: Swiss Alpine Tradition

(~18:20)

• Location: Flummeberg, Swiss Alps
• Event: Annual Cow Grand Prix—female jockeys race cows adorned with bridles of feathers and flowers.
• Heritage: Started by local women as part of a cheese market festival; only women are allowed as riders (“The men weren’t keen on the idea... So the women secretly trained their own.” [20:47])
• Fun & Welfare: Only willing cows participate and the event is as much about community spirit as competition.

Notable Quotes:

• “Riding a cow is completely different from riding a horse. It’s far more unpredictable.” – Selina, jockey [19:35]
• “The most important thing isn’t to win, but to take part.” – Leah, winning rider [21:38]

4. Cripple Media: Young, Disabled, and Leading the Narrative

(~25:50)

• Guest: Emily Flores, Mexican-American journalist, founder-editor of Cripple Media—a platform run by and for young people with disabilities.
• Purpose: To challenge misconceptions, offer representation and reframe disability as cultural identity.
• Name Choice: “Cripple” intentionally (and controversially) reclaimed by Gen Z, reflecting boldness and agency. “It’s about putting young disabled people... at the center.” [26:05]
• Personal Journey: Emily’s media journey began as a One Direction fan page administrator, sparking an early passion for community and writing.

Notable Quotes:

• “Disability is not seen as a cultural identity. And the reason why we named it Cripple Media was 90% of it was a straight up value from our generation... Gen Z is unafraid to kind of change narratives and confront hard realities.” – Emily Flores [26:54]
• “Representation is so important. It changes the way that we think. It changes the way we treat each other.” – Emily Flores [28:17]

5. Musical Rediscovery: Lost Bach Works Played After 300 Years

(~33:05)

• Discovery: Two long-lost organ works by a young Johann Sebastian Bach authenticated after decades of research.
• Performance: Played at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, where Bach is buried, for the first time in over three centuries.
• Musicology: Peter Wolney, director of the Bach Archive, details the excitement of authentication and insights into Bach’s evolution as a composer.

Notable Quotes:

• “Still you could feel that there was a young musician who was trying to find his own personal voice in music.” – Peter Wolney [34:15]
• “We have this language right there. We know from the first note that this can only be jazz. Bach.” – Peter Wolney [36:40]

6. Knitting Brotherhood: Men Gather in the Shetlands

(~38:10)

• Story: 25 men from the US travel to the Shetlands to deepen their knitting skills and bond over craft.
• Guest: Jonathan Berner (“Yarn Dragon”), who found solace and social connection through knitting, especially during substance recovery.
• Cultural Connection: The Shetlands are described as a knitting “holy place.” Locals and visitors bond through workshops and learning traditional techniques.
• Social Impact: Retreats for men have fostered community, reducing feelings of being the “token guy” in otherwise female-dominated spaces.

Notable Quotes:

• “We talk about wool being part of a culture, but in Shetland, wool is the people and the people are wool and the land is made for yarn and the people have merged with this land in an incredibly beautiful way.” – Jonathan Berner [40:50]
• “I think more men should knit because it makes you slow down, builds patience... and it sort of makes you have appreciation for how difficult it is to create a garment.” – Michael Wade [43:20]

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

| Time | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |:--------:|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:10 | Xavier’s parents | “No one can tell by looking at him that he got his kidney transplant just this year. He is very energetic after the transplant.” | | 04:13 | Hira Zahir | “My tears could not stop. I could not stop giving her a hug instantly. It felt like I’m meeting a sister.” | | 09:10 | Ali Coyle | “It has had such a minimal impact on my life compared to the huge impact it’s had on his life and his family’s life.” | | 13:00 | Craig Marshall | “The impact of this product is typically increasing the number of organs that are being transplanted, something between 20 and 30%.” | | 19:35 | Selina | “Riding a cow is completely different from riding a horse. It’s far more unpredictable.” | | 26:54 | Emily Flores | “Gen Z is unafraid to kind of change narratives and confront hard realities.” | | 34:15 | Peter Wolney | “You could feel that there was a young musician who was trying to find his own personal voice in music.” | | 40:18 | Jonathan Berner | “It genuinely makes it easier to go through life having that thing to do with my hands and it has made it so much easier for me to connect with a society.” | | 43:20 | Michael Wade | “I think the world would be better if more men knit.” |

Structure of the Episode

1. Heroic Kidney Donation & Meeting (~00:45–11:40)
2. Transplant Technology Innovation (~11:40–17:45)
3. Swiss Cow Grand Prix (~18:20–23:30)
4. Media By & For Young Disabled People (~25:50–33:00)
5. Rediscovered Bach Works Performed (~33:05–37:00)
6. Male Knitters’ Shetland Retreat (~38:10–44:00)

Tone and Style

The episode is heartfelt, optimistic, and inclusive—amplifying stories of resilience, ingenuity, and joy. The tone remains accessible, blending emotional interviews and soft-spoken wonder with lighthearted dispatches and personal reflection.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

This episode of The Happy Pod exemplifies the life-transforming impact of generosity—whether through selfless medical donations, technological progress, creative community, or cultural revival. The conversations are honest, often emotional, and always uplifting, providing memorable insight, warmth, and a sense of global connectedness.