The Happy Pod: Getting engaged in the ashes of our home

Summary

Global News Podcast – Episode: The Happy Pod: Getting Engaged in the Ashes of Our Home Release Date: March 8, 2025
Host/Author: BBC World Service

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1. A Fiery Proposal: Brian and Stephanie’s Unconventional Engagement

Overview:
Brian McShane and Stephanie Rayner’s engagement story is one of resilience and love amidst disaster. While their home in the San Gabriel Valley succumbed to the LA fires, their engagement ring miraculously survived, turning a potential tragedy into a cherished memory.

Key Highlights:

• The Moment of Despair and Joy:

  • Andrew Peach introduces the story, highlighting the couple's struggle to retrieve the engagement ring after their home was destroyed.
  • Brian McShane recounts, “I just thought that, like, if I'm super lucky, I'll be able to find a literal diamond in the rough” (02:11).

• Stephanie’s Emotional Journey:

  • Stephanie Rayner describes the devastation, “It's just completely leveled and I think both of us basically instantly were in tears” (02:17).

• The Discovery of the Ring:

  • Amidst the rubble, Brian finds the ring, leading to an impromptu proposal: “I heard myself say, hey, showing her, will you marry me?” (02:42).

• Community and Resilience:

  • The couple emphasizes the supportive community spirit, with Brian stating, “The community is trying real hard... they've become places for the larger charities to have distribution points” (05:04).
  • Stephanie adds, “It's been super nice to see so much kindness in today's, you know, current climate” (05:37).

Conclusion:
Despite losing their home, Brian and Stephanie found a silver lining in their engagement, symbolizing hope and community strength in the face of adversity.

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2. Empowering Grandmas: Solar Power in Madagascar

Overview:
In Madagascar, grandmothers are becoming pillars of renewable energy, bringing electricity to remote villages through solar panel installation training programs.

Key Highlights:

• Training Initiatives:

  • Cira Thierry reports on grandmothers learning to install solar panels, with support from the World Wildlife Fund and Barefoot College.

• Impact on Communities:

  • Participants like Nelvo observe significant changes: “Now we can eat without worrying about insects in our food... it really changed a lot for us” (09:55).

• Environmental Benefits:

  • The shift from petrol lamps to solar panels has reduced deforestation and environmental waste, as Cira explains, “People are now cutting fewer trees because we get our light from solar panels” (09:59).

Conclusion:
This initiative not only provides sustainable energy solutions but also empowers women, fostering economic and social growth in Madagascar’s rural areas.

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3. Bunny's Adventure: Reuniting a Lost Cuddly Friend with Its Owner

Overview:
A lost soft toy named Bunny became an airport celebrity at Pittsburgh International Airport, leading to a heartwarming reunion with its young owner, Waylon.

Key Highlights:

• Social Media Strategy:

  • Rachel Carlson details the creative efforts to find Bunny’s owner: “We went into our martini bar. Bunny was denied the martini” (11:00).

• Community Engagement:

  • The airport staff’s dedication paid off as the story went viral, eventually connecting with Waylon’s family through social media interactions.

• Emotional Reunion:

  • Rachel Carlson shares the emotional moment: “Her great grandmother came and picked up the bunny and she was just so emotional” (13:06).

Conclusion:
Bunny’s journey underscores the power of community and social media in reuniting lost items with their loved ones, bringing joy and relief to both the child and his family.

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4. Sailing Against the Odds: Craig Wood’s Pacific Voyage

Overview:
Craig Wood, a former British soldier and triple amputee, is set to become the first triple amputee to sail solo nonstop across the Pacific Ocean. His mission is to inspire and challenge perceptions of disability.

Key Highlights:

• Motivation and Purpose:

  • Craig Wood states, “I want to try and change people's perception on what people with disability are capable of achieving” (15:14).

• Life on the Boat:

  • Craig shares his life aboard the boat: “We've been sailing around the world for the past eight years now” (15:31).

• Emotional and Physical Challenges:

  • Preparing for the journey involves confronting the unknowns, with Craig expressing concern over health, safety, and missing his family: “My biggest fear really is the unknowns” (17:52).

• Inspiration and Legacy:

  • Beyond personal achievement, Craig aims to inspire others: “If someone said, I didn't know if I could sail until I saw you... that's where I'd be like, oh, wow” (18:00).

Conclusion:
Craig Wood’s ambitious endeavor is more than a personal challenge; it’s a statement against limiting beliefs, showcasing determination and the human spirit's capacity to overcome.

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5. Love in the Aftermath: A Romance Born from a Car Accident

Overview:
An unexpected love story unfolds in China’s Hunan province, where Mr. Li’s car accident leads to a blossoming romance with the woman he inadvertently injured.

Key Highlights:

• The Accident:

  • Celia Hatton describes the incident where Mr. Li crashes into a young woman on an E-bike, noting her calm demeanor despite the pain (20:47).

• Developing Relationship:

  • Committed to making amends, Mr. Li regularly visits her in the hospital, bringing breakfast and support, which fosters a deeper connection.

• Growing Affection:

  • After weeks of interaction, the woman expresses romantic interest, and the couple decides to pursue a relationship despite the age difference.

• Marriage and Support:

  • The couple recently married, with Mr. Li’s in-laws providing financial support to help him overcome his debts, strengthening their bond (21:52).

Conclusion:
This story highlights how compassion and consistent support can transform a tragic event into a foundation for love and mutual growth.

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6. Walking to Wellness: Combating Loneliness Through Community Strolls

Overview:
A Scottish initiative addresses loneliness and mental health by organizing group walks, facilitating both physical activity and social connections.

Key Highlights:

• Foundation of the Group:

  • Founded by Jack Glass and Billy Allen Mandeville, the group emerged from the isolation felt during the COVID-19 pandemic (24:27).

• Personal Testimonials:

  • Craig Wood shares, “Making that first step to come out and connect with others is incredibly important to me” (23:35).
  • Sam emphasizes the group's impact on his mental health and social life (25:07).

• Accessibility and Inclusivity:

  • Cira Thierry explains the group’s commitment to accessibility: “It's something easily accessible for all... it's free” (25:07).

• Health Benefits:

  • Regular walking improves both mental and physical health, enhancing sleep quality and fostering meaningful conversations (26:07).

Conclusion:
By promoting regular outdoor activity and fostering social interactions, the group effectively addresses loneliness and enhances overall well-being within the community.

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7. Nature’s Embrace: Jean Lanham’s Garden Sanctuary

Overview:
Jean Lanham, a garden designer from Ayrshire, delights in the changing seasons through her meticulously curated garden, finding joy in the natural rhythms and wildlife.

Key Highlights:

• Garden Details:

  • Jean Lanham describes her garden’s features, including a pear tree, bird box, and blossoming flowers, creating a serene and vibrant environment.

• Seasonal Joys:

  • The return of blue tits and the active bird box symbolize the renewal brought by spring, bringing immense satisfaction to Jean (28:10).

Conclusion:
Jean’s garden serves as a personal haven, reflecting the beauty and tranquility of nature, and inspiring others to find joy in their surroundings.

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Final Remarks

This episode of The Happy Pod weaves together stories of love, resilience, community spirit, and personal triumphs, illustrating the myriad ways people find happiness and hope in challenging circumstances. From miraculous engagements in the face of disaster to empowering initiatives in remote communities, each narrative underscores the enduring human capacity for positivity and connection.

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Notable Quotes:

• Brian McShane on finding the ring: “I just thought that, like, if I'm super lucky, I'll be able to find a literal diamond in the rough” (02:11).
• Craig Wood on his sailing mission: “I want to try and change people's perception on what people with disability are capable of achieving” (15:14).
• Rachel Carlson on Bunny’s adventures: “We went into our martini bar. Bunny was denied the martini” (11:00).

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This summary captures the essence of the Global News Podcast's episode, providing a comprehensive overview of each segment for listeners seeking to stay informed on inspiring global stories.

Transcript

[Andrew Peach]

If you leave something behind at an airport, what are the chances you'll ever see it again?

[Rachel Carlson]

So we have over 10,000 items that are lost yearly and only 30% that actually end up making it back to the owner.

[Andrew Peach]

But what if it's something really important, like a much loved soft toy? Stay with us.

[Stephanie Rayner]

Hi, I'm Stephanie Raynor.

[Brian McShane]

And I'm Brian McShane.

[Stephanie Rayner]

And you're listening to the Happy Pod.

[Brian McShane]

On the BBC World Service.

[Andrew Peach]

This is Andrew Peach. And on the way, how Stephanie and Brian's engagement ring survived the LA fires.

[Stephanie Rayner]

We're both kind of in the mess of our home. My tears under my goggles and glasses. I remember saying, at least we got engaged in this house.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

We did.

[Brian McShane]

We were inside the house.

[Andrew Peach]

The grandma's bringing solar power to parts of Madagascar.

[Cira Thierry]

My daughter goes to school and now.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

She has enough light to study after class. Is really changed a lot for us.

[Andrew Peach]

And why a former soldier and triple amputee wants to set a solo sailing record.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

If someone said, I didn't know if I could sail or I didn't know I could do something until I saw you and you really helped, I think that's where I'd be like, oh, wow. I really did what I wanted.

[Andrew Peach]

Let's start with the story of a man who feared his marriage proposal plans had gone up in smoke in the LA fires. Brian McShay had been planning to pop the question to Stephanie Rayner and had hidden the engagement ring at their home in San Gabriel Valley until the right moment. But when their house and all their belongings were destroyed, he assumed the ring had been lost. The couple, who met at Music College in 2013, told their story to my colleague Harry Bly.

[Brian McShane]

I had bought the ring a little less than a month earlier. It had been a big thing I've been planning all year trying to find the ring. I went shopping with her best friend to get the ring, and it was stashed in the corner of my desk drawer in my music studio. When the house went up, I was really scared about being back to square one on the proposal. I just thought that, like, if I'm super lucky, I'll be able to find a literal diamond in the rough.

[Craig Wood]

Stephanie, can you tell me what it.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

Was like to return to the house.

[Andrew Peach]

Or rather the remains of the house that day?

[Stephanie Rayner]

It's just completely leveled and I think both of us basically instantly were in tears. It was pretty unreal, even though we're looking at it. Just to see everything you own, everything you've gathered, you know, I've Had I had stuff since childhood that was in there. Just gone was an unreal experience.

[Brian McShane]

We had kitchen colanders from Target, like, not even real sifters. We had just kitchen colanders. And we had all the PPE that the National Guard was giving out these checkpoints in our house. And I went straight to the spot where my desk was. I'm digging through and you find. You see, like, a ring hanging out from something. You pull it out and it's a washer and there's just all these, like, false alarms and weeds to dig through. But just really, just one time, you just pull in the ring and on the end there's a diamond. And I mean, it's all black except for the diamond. I was just in disbelief and I was already on my knees and I heard myself say, hey, showing her, will you marry me? And I also remember, and I remember being like, ah, dude. Hey, I had a big plan for this originally. Like, you get one chance. I had a whole thought of how I was going to say this, and hey was not what I had imagined presenting the ring with.

[Stephanie Rayner]

But that's what you did.

[Brian McShane]

That's what came from the heart. It did, absolutely. I just knew that I couldn't wait. So I am glad that it was automatic.

[Stephanie Rayner]

Yeah, well, I did hear him gasp first. And then, hey, you know, we're both kind of in the mess of our home and we kind of immediately hug. And I obviously say yes, my tears under my goggles and glasses. It was a special. It was a really special moment.

[Andrew Peach]

Perhaps not quite the proposal you were.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

Planning, Brian, but a very, very special one nonetheless.

[Brian McShane]

It was, in addition to being wonderful just because we're engaged now. That day could have been of digging through our house, could have just been so morose. It really changed the mood of the whole day. And just weeks after, because it had just been this numb feeling for a couple weeks at that point, and it really just changed everything.

[Stephanie Rayner]

I remember saying, at least we got engaged in this house.

[Brian McShane]

At least we got engaged in this house. Yeah, we did. We were inside the house.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

That's a lovely way of thinking about it. And.

[Andrew Peach]

And how are things now?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

You've said that your landlord is rebuilding your house, but how is.

[Andrew Peach]

How are you guys, first of all? And how is your community?

[Brian McShane]

Community is spirited. The community is trying real hard, which is one of the things that we love about them. The businesses that have survived, they've become places for the larger charities to have distribution points. They've been making food themselves and giving it away, which is Just insane and just becoming venues for community meetings and whatnot. Steph and I are living with my parents in Sierra Madre.

[Stephanie Rayner]

We're very close, super fortunate.

[Brian McShane]

We see the same mountains in the background. Yeah, we're super for. I mean, of all things, we really are fortunate to feel very grateful for a lot of things.

[Stephanie Rayner]

I would say it's been super nice to see so much kindness in today's, you know, current climate. It's really hard to see good in people and kindness and helping others. And we've seen a lot of that, which is really encouraging.

[Brian McShane]

When the time comes, people, people do want to do good, which is a great feeling.

[Andrew Peach]

Congratulations to Brian and Stephanie. We've been hearing recently about great advice people have had from their grandparents. But in the African island nation of Madagascar, a group of grandmas are also helping to bring electricity to their families and villages. They're being trained to install solar panels in remote areas, and grandmothers were chosen for this as they were thought to be the most likely to return and then stay in their villages after learning these. The scheme hopes to train more than 700 by 2030, bringing electricity to around 630,000 homes. Syra Thierry has been to meet some of those who benefited.

[Cira Thierry]

The teacher is holding up different objects. A screwdriver, cables, lamps, and the students repeat after her to name them. This is a classroom full of grandmothers who are learning how to install lamps and solar panels. Most of the women never went to school or know how to read or write, but soon they will bring electricity to their villages. These classes are run by the World Wildlife Fund and an international NGO called Barefoot College, which trains communities worldwide to be self sufficient. Nearly a hundred women have been trained here to install and fix solar panels, but they also learn about women's and children's rights, micro entrepreneurship and health. Before the training, I didn't have a real job, but now I know how to spell my name. I learned how to read or write other words as well. That's really changed my life. When I came back from the training center, the other women admired me and I've become an inspiration for them. At 43, mum has four children and two grandchildren. I visit her at home in Kivalu while she's peeling vegetables for dinner. The fishing village can only be reached with small wooden boats and only in the morning when the water between the mangroves is high enough to traverse it. Like most villages in Madagascar, it's very far off from the electricity grid. After finishing her training at the college, Mum has come back here to bring Power to her community. So mom is now installing a small solar panel on the top of a wooden hut. She can't climb up there herself, so she's instructing all the boys and men around her. And she knows exactly what she's doing. Before the WWF and the Barefoot College started training grandmothers in this village, people use petrol lamps, candles and torches to have at least a little bit of light after the sun sets. One family would easily burn through 30 batteries a month. That's expensive and creates a lot of waste. But that wasn't the only harm to the environment. People are now cutting fewer trees because we get our light from solar panels. Before, we often made fires to have enough light to prepare fish for dinner. The sun is shining all year round, even during the rainy season, so using solar panels is really good for us. Mom's neighbor Nivo, a teacher, received a solar panel in May. It can only charge phones and small electronic devices. Yet for this family, having a reliable power source has been life changing. Nevo tells me as she's preparing dinner for her family.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

My daughter goes to.

[Celia Hatton]

School and now she has enough light.

[Cira Thierry]

To study after class.

[Celia Hatton]

And we can now eat without worrying about insects in our food or things like that. It makes my work easier too. I can prepare classes in the evenings. It's really changed a lot for us.

[Andrew Peach]

That report from Cira Thierry and you can hear more about renewable energy projects on People fixing the world wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Now we all know how upsetting it can be for children to lose a much loved soft toy. So when a cuddly rabbit got left behind at Pittsburgh International Airport, staff there were determined to reunite it with its young owner rather than simply adding it to the lost property pile. They made Bunny a social media star, documenting adventures from exploring bag claim to taking escalator rides. Word soon spread and reached the relatives of six year old Waylon, who dropped Bunny on the way home from Florida. Rachel Carlson from the airport social media team talked to my colleague Tony Livesey.

[Rachel Carlson]

It's crazy because we have over 10,000 items that are lost yearly and only 30% that actually end up making it back to the owner. And so when my customer service team reached out to me and said we should really put this on social and Bunny should go on some adventures, I was like, yeah, let's do this. So in my mind I'm like, how can we do this in the most eye catching, creative way possible? So Bunny lived his best life. His or her best life went out on the baggage claim where they were found. We went into our martini bar. Bunny was denied the martini.

[Andrew Peach]

I will say how good you're glad to hear that. Kind of.

[Rachel Carlson]

Yes, underage. Underage. And then went around an airplane and just had a ton of fun all around the airport. And then I posted it on social media and it was just incredible to see our community really rally around it. Comment after comment was, I am so invested in the story. I need to find. We need to find this owner. I kept seeing it on the news. I saw it being shared by even parent Facebook groups that I'm a part of. Like, it was just a really special thing to be able to be a part of.

[Andrew Peach]

So what clues did you have? You knew that the owner lived in the Pittsburgh area because they'd landed there from holiday.

[Rachel Carlson]

I had nothing.

[Andrew Peach]

Oh, I see.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

Yeah.

[Rachel Carlson]

My customer service rep said, this Bunny looks so loved. We really need to find its owner if we can. But I had no clue if they lived in the Pittsburgh area, which they ended up living about an hour and a half outside of the Pittsburgh area. The great grandparents who called and was like, do you have this Bunny? We, we had. They had relatives that were commenting on the social feed and she had left her phone there too and was like, I have this phone. Do you have this Bunny? You know, her son in law was seeing someone that was commenting on it. So it was really. It was a magical affair.

[Andrew Peach]

So. But has Bunny been presumably been reunited with Waylon?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

Yes.

[Rachel Carlson]

Yeah. So her great grandmother came and picked up the bunny and she was just so emotional in terms of she never thought that we would be able to reunite her with this Bunny again. She wasn't even sure if it was left in Orlando. She had no idea that it had been dropped in the baggage claim area. And you know, I was showing her all the comments about how invested people were and she got really emotional in terms of just how much people gravitated to this positive story and were just wanted it back in little Waylon's arms.

[Andrew Peach]

Yeah. So Bunny effectively is retired now then Rachel Bunny won't be doing as. As much as he. He. She was at the airport then.

[Rachel Carlson]

Quiet life retired for now. Happy home with the little owner. But I mean, who knows what adventures will have people go on or have stuffies going again. I mean, I as a parent would be horrified if we left a stuffy at the airport.

[Andrew Peach]

So as has Bunny been in touch.

[Rachel Carlson]

Since Bunny has sent photos of little Wylan with the Bunny. Yes, yes. We are all very invested in the story still, but really happy that the Bunny was reunited with her owner Rachel.

[Andrew Peach]

Carlson on the Adventures of Bunny the cuddly rabbit. On the way in the happy pod. How going for a walk can improve your mental health.

[Craig Wood]

There are so many studies to show going on like a 20 to 30 minute walk. The difference it has on mental health, but also your physical health. When you're walking, you feel more inclined to talk about stuff.

[Andrew Peach]

Craig wood was just 18 when he lost both of his lower legs and his left hand in a roadside bomb while serving with the British army in Afghanistan. Sixteen years later, he's hoping to become the first triple amputee to sail solo non stop across the Pacific Ocean from Mexico to Japan. Before setting sail, Craig talked to my colleague Shabnam Yunus Jewell and told her why he decided to take on this challenge.

[Unnamed Interviewee]

I want to try and change people's perception on what people with disability are capable of achieving. And when people look at me, they might not think that I could sail across an ocean, never mind on my own. So I'm hoping to dispel some of them thoughts.

[Celia Hatton]

Yeah.

[Andrew Peach]

So why sailing then in particular, was it something that's already been part of your life then?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

Yes, sailing was a really logical choice for me because I actually live on the boat that I'm sailing across the ocean. So I've been sailing around the world for the past eight years now. It just made so much sense. For example, we just did a 600 nautical mile passage from Costa Rica to Mexico as the sun was setting. My son and daughter would sit next to me, we'd watch the sunset, dolphins in the background. It really is so magical. We got to the marina and the guys in the marina were asking what planet it was amongst themselves and my son was three. Oh, it's Venus. Because we've been looking at stars for the last six days and pointing out each one. Yeah. So he's like learning it pirate fashion, but he's learning it.

[Andrew Peach]

Why is it that you decided to spend so much time on a boat then basically living your life out there? What does it give you?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

For me specifically, it's a, it's a leveling platform. My skill set may equal able bodied person's skill set. So that completely levels the playing field for me. It means I don't have to walk very far, do do any of that sort of stuff. I'm, I'm a water baby anyway, so it all really just suits my lifestyle. I like minimalist things and I don't feel like I need a 10 bedroom house to feel like I'm winning. I've got A four room catamaran and purely content for this challenge, you're going.

[Andrew Peach]

To be on your own for quite a long time. So how are you preparing for that?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

I haven't been, basically, because I don't think you really can. The only way you can prepare for it is do a little bit longer each time you're away. But I'm quite like, well, I may as well just stick it out and do the, do the passage and then take it as it comes. I'm quite fortunate enough to be able to. When I feel like I'm missing my parents, for example, I'll just call them on video and that eases all that feeling. However, when it's with my children, it is very much, you know, daddy, where are you? I want to hug you. You know, when they're sad, it really pulls on the heartstrings. I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to them off of the dock one bit because, yeah, I'll probably be a blubbering mess. But, yeah, I'm very much looking forward to seeing them when I arrive 70 days later. But it's going to be difficult. Yeah.

[Andrew Peach]

What do you think will be your biggest challenge then? Will it be missing the family or is there anything else that you think that is really going to test you out there?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

My biggest fear really is the, the unknowns. I think health and safety is probably the biggest thing. And then it's probably weather. If I hit some bad weather that's not being forecast and, and then, yeah, then it'll be the, the pure emotional missing my family. And, well, that, that just gives me more incentive to get there quicker and, and doing one piece, you know, and do things correctly to be able to get there and see my family. So I think that's more of a positive driver.

[Andrew Peach]

Just how much of an achievement will you feel when you've completed it?

[Unnamed Interviewee]

I think that's specific part would be more feeding my ego and, and it will be a great sense of achievement, don't get me wrong, but I'm, I'm not aiming for that. I think I'd feel a lot better and a lot more like I've achieved what I set out for. If someone said, I didn't know if I could sell until I saw you, and then I tried saying, oh, I didn't know I could do something until I saw you and you really helped, I think that's where I'd be like, oh, wow. I really, I really did what I wanted to. I mean, hopefully I am inspiring and, yeah, it's really important. If I can inspire people, then I want to be able to do that effectively and inspire as many as possible. Yeah, for sure. It's quite important, I think.

[Andrew Peach]

Craig Wood talking to the BBC Sports Hour program, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. We heard earlier about Brian and Stephanie getting engaged in the unusual surroundings of their burnt out home. Our next story also involves a couple who found love in circumstances not normally associated with romance, a car accident. Our Asia Pacific editor, Celia Hatton has been telling Rebecca Wood the unexpected story.

[Celia Hatton]

So we have to go back to December 2023, when a man whose name is Mr. Li, he was driving through a city in China's central Hunan province and he suddenly crashed into a young woman who was riding an E bike. And you can see photos that he took from the scene. She's shown on her back lying in the road and she's talking on a mobile phone and she looks like she's in great pain. But what he says from that incident is that it struck him immediately how calm she was and how she didn't blame him. She wasn't yelling at him. In fact, she told him not to worry, even though it was clear she was in pain. She went to the hospital right after and it was discovered that she'd broken her collarbone. And she was actually in hospital for quite a few weeks after recovering.

[Andrew Peach]

And so how did from this accident.

[Jean Lanham]

How did love then blossom between the pair?

[Celia Hatton]

The man says that he committed to paying for the woman's medical care, but beyond that, he actually started visiting the hospital, not just once, but every single day for weeks. He would visit and he would bring her breakfast and the couple started spending a lot of time together. And actually after 10 days or so, the woman said to have professed her interest in this man, telling him that she liked him in a romantic way. But he has told Chinese media that he felt a little uncomfortable because he was actually 13 years older than her. She was around 23, he was around 36, so he just wasn't too sure. But shortly after getting out of hospital, she then asked if they could go and see a movie together. And he says that he thought that was the least he could do because he'd knocked her over. And he admits that he was starting to feel a warm feelings for her as well at this point.

[Jean Lanham]

And this wouldn't be the happy pod without a happy ending. So what happened next?

[Celia Hatton]

Well, basically the two became inseparable and they admitted that they just really enjoyed their time together long after her broken bones had healed. And so the woman then found out that she was pregnant last fall and they just got married last month. And they say that they're really, really happy together. And the man admits that he was actually in debt when they first met, when he crashed his car into her. And her parents had offered him a dowry of around $26,000 when they were getting married, but he refused it because he just wanted to marry her. But they insisted to help him set up his business and to help pay off his debts. So financially they're a little bit more secure. But they really talk about the fact that they really do love each other.

[Jean Lanham]

And not surprisingly, this story has caught a lot of attention on social media. There have been quite a few well wishes online as well, haven't there?

[Celia Hatton]

Yeah, lots of comments on Chinese social media talking about how this is a collision that sparked love. Some people joking that this man will pay eternally for this car accident that he got involved in. Some people even joking the fact that if you're single, you should go out. If you want to find love, leave your house, even if it means getting into a car accident.

[Andrew Peach]

Celia Hatton reporting now to a group that's tackling loneliness and mental health issues all through the simple idea of going for a walk. It was set up by a Scottish couple in Glasgow to help people make friends and benefit from the restorative powers of getting out into nature. One of those who joined the group, Sam, explained what it meant to him.

[Craig Wood]

I think as I've gotten older and I've finished university, socialising is a lot more difficult. I think you have to take active steps to get involved and meet people and that can be really nerve wracking. So I think loneliness can be almost like an epidemic as a result of just how much effort you have to take. And when you're working as well, you have so much responsibilities, you have so much things to think of, it's hard to make time for it. I think making that first step to come out and connect with others is incredibly important to me. It's helped me meet people that I otherwise wouldn't. Both coming and be able to socialise with new people, but also knowing in your head that you've got something to look forward to at the end of the week is critical to getting you through those hard days during the week.

[Andrew Peach]

It was set up by Jack Glass and Billy Allen Mandeville, who got the idea after they were left feeling isolated by the COVID pandemic, the social kind.

[Craig Wood]

Of anxiety that was caused by Covid. A lot of people are still Recovering from that and maybe are a bit nervous to talk about it. Maybe you hit 30 and you're like I don't have as many friends. Look on social media and obviously social media is real tinted glasses and so you're seeing the best parts of people's lives and it makes you feel like oh I, I'm not where I want to be. We really want to try and make sure we're removing the stigma and talk about being lonely and making it not feel embarrassed because I've, I felt it myself where I felt embarrassed to say I don't have a friend that I could just message to say do you want to go for a coffee? And that is perfectly normal.

[Cira Thierry]

So we started walking as mental really to get outside. It's something easily accessible for all. We make sure that we are near transport links so really find people who might feel isolated or they might have low incomes and it's free. And that's really the main thing thing is that anyone and everyone can come and we do different kind of levels and ability level walks too and we get outside, we get the fresh air and I think so many of us are stuck inside and it gets us out and talking to people and confidence building ultimately.

[Craig Wood]

You know, there are so many studies to show just that like going on like 20 to 30 minute walk. The difference it has on your mental health but also your physical health and even stuff like you know when you, when you come home from like a walk like this, you sleep better when you're walking. You, you're. Because your endorphins are going to go and you feel more inclined to talk about stuff. It's, it feels a bit less intense than sitting in a room and sometimes if you're walking forward and you're talking to someone beside you, it feels a bit easier.

[Cira Thierry]

It's absolutely made a change in my mental health. I think I found my purpose and I think really it's finding that routine as well. Helping others and really seeing other people and how positively they're impacted is like it makes me keep wanting to do this.

[Craig Wood]

When me and Billy were starting it, we were. Our thing was like if even one person comes to a group and they go away feeling great, that's one person that we've helped and it's really. We get messages from people that have come to the group saying this is exactly what I needed.

[Andrew Peach]

Now as the season has changed for many of us, getting out into nature can bring extra happiness. At this time of year with warmer weather and blossoming flowers of spring or a winter welcome autumn chill in the air after a long, hot summer. We'd like to hear what you love about this time of year.

[Jean Lanham]

Hello, I'm Jean Lanham and I live up in Ayrshire in Scotland. I'm a garden designer. My studio is a converted outhouse in the garden. My desk sits up against a big picture window looking onto the garden, which includes a very old gnarled pear tree and a bird box, which is often home to a family of blue tits. I never know if they'll return. The bird box is attached to the top of a post in a corner of the pergola, which is next to a weeping birch and has a climbing rose and a honeysuckle clambering up it. At this time of year, after brushing my Labrador, I attach her fur to a branch on the pear tree with a clothes peg for premium nesting material for the birds. I'm not sure whether this is an added attraction to this particular nesting box, but I like to think so. As I worked at my desk yesterday, I was delighted to see a pair of blue tits flitting through the branches of the birch tree, landing on the tangled old climbing rose. And as one sat on a branch of the pear tree to look out, the other flew to the bird box and started the spring cleaning, ready for nesting. This year, they're back again. Such an absolute joy.

[Andrew Peach]

And if the changing seasons are bringing you joy in your garden or when you're out and about, we'd love to hear about it. Drop us a voice note. The email address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk and that's all from the happy pod for this week. This edition was mixed by Mark Pickett. The producers were Holly Gibbs and Rachel Barkley. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Andrew Peaker. Thanks for listening and until next time, goodbye.