The Happy Pod: The woman helping thousands of premature babies

Summary

Global News Podcast: "The Happy Pod" Summary Released on January 11, 2025 | Host: BBC World Service

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1. Elise Ogletree: Championing Breast Milk Donation

Overview: Elise Ogletree, a 36-year-old mother from Texas, has dedicated over a decade and a half to donating her excess breast milk, setting a new Guinness World Record by contributing more than 2,000 liters to milk banks. These donations are crucial for premature and sick babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), providing essential protections against infections and diseases.

Key Points:

• Motivation to Donate:
  [02:55] Elise explains, “Way, after I had my first son, I was producing a lot of extra milk. But at that point in time, I didn't know that there were other families in the world that didn't produce the milk. And so I was throwing it away recklessly. And once I learned that I had a gift, I wanted to share it.”

• Challenges Faced:
  [03:23] Host Hadi Nazari inquires about the physical and emotional toll of producing large quantities of milk.
  [03:32] Elise responds, “I had a fantastic support system. I stuck with my schedule. I pumped every three hours religiously. That includes overnight. But the knowing that what I was doing was good for others is what kept me motivated and kept me wanting to do it.”

• Impact of Donations:
  [03:56] Elise shares, “It feels remarkable and amazing. You know, at the end of the day, I'm not made of money. I have a family of my own. And so I can't volunteer and do a lot, but I was able to spend a good chunk of my time, but I was able to give back so much more than that time was worth.”

• Expert Testimony:
  [04:19] Amy Trotter from the Texas Milk Bank states, “Elise's story is absolutely extraordinary because donor milk is life-saving for fragile babies. Her impact truly makes her a hero.”

• Encouraging Donations:
  [06:07] Elise passionately encourages others, “I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support system I have cheering me on. But then also just from a knowledge standpoint, when we have our babies... it’s on the dads, the brothers, the uncles, the aunts, it’s on everyone.”

Conclusion: Elise Ogletree's unwavering commitment highlights the profound difference one individual can make. Her efforts not only save lives but also inspire a community to support and value donor milk, emphasizing the collective responsibility in caring for vulnerable infants.

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2. Hadi Nazari: Surviving Two Weeks Alone in Australia's Snowy Mountains

Overview: Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old medical student, endured an unexpected 13-day survival ordeal in the remote Kosihoskobe National Park after becoming separated from his hiking group. His resilience and survival instincts were put to the ultimate test in harsh conditions.

Key Points:

• The Incident:
  [07:21] Celia Hatton reports, “Hadi set off with two friends for a five-day trek but found himself alone after peeling off to take photographs.”

• Survival Strategies:
  [07:56] Hadi scavenged for food, relying on foraged berries and muesli bars found in a hut, as detailed by Oliver Berkman: “He said he'd been finding water where he could and foraging for food where he could.”

• Discovery and Rescue:
  [08:24] A group of fellow hikers discovered Hadi, leading to his rescue.
  [09:03] Hadi recounted his moment of realization, “And just hearing him chat to his family, which is beautiful, just like in tears.”

• Emotional Aftermath:
  [09:50] Hadi expressed his determination, “I just kept telling myself, I have to find a way out of this.” His family's reaction was overwhelmingly positive, describing the news of his survival as “the best day of their lives.”

Conclusion: Hadi Nazari's survival story underscores the importance of preparedness and resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges. His experience serves as a testament to human endurance and the strength of supportive communities in life-threatening situations.

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3. Dylan Rittman vs. Victor Wembanyama: A Chess Encounter with an NBA Star

Overview: Dylan Rittman, a chess enthusiast from New York, seized a rare opportunity to play chess against Victor Wembanyama, the NBA star for the San Antonio Spurs, who is also an avid chess player. The encounter turned into a memorable and slightly viral event.

Key Points:

• The Challenge:
  [10:37] Dylan describes the abrupt invitation: “Someone that he was with was saying, hey, Victor, is time for one more game? Is anyone here good at chess?”
  [10:49] Dylan eagerly responded, “I just shouted out, I [e-mail].”

• Emotional Journey:
  [11:29] Reflecting on the moment, Dylan shares, “I was much more excited than nervous... I felt like a baby shaking a grown man's hand.”

• The Game:
  [12:19] The event was attended by approximately 30-40 spectators, including professional photographers.
  [12:49] Dylan reveals, “It was a back and forth battle, but I was lucky to come out on top.”

• Post-Game Interaction:
  [13:09] Dylan elaborates on the camaraderie, “We had a bit of banter back and forth. The New York City chess culture is very talkative and bantery.”

Conclusion: Dylan Rittman's unexpected victory against a prominent NBA figure highlights the universal appeal and unifying power of chess. The event not only provided entertainment but also bridged diverse communities through friendly competition and shared passion.

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4. Trapped in the Tan Hill Inn: Australians Face Unexpected Snow in the UK

Overview: Paul and Naomi Wright, Australians accustomed to tropical climates, found themselves stranded with nearly 30 others in the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub, due to unexpected heavy snowfall. Their four-day ordeal turned into an unforgettable adventure.

Key Points:

• Unexpected Weather:
  [14:45] Paul and Naomi sought a white Christmas experience in North Yorkshire Dales but were unprepared for the severe snow.
  [15:12] Reflecting on their predicament, Paul joked, “The pub ran out of sausages...no pork sausages, no more English breakfast.”

• Making the Best of It:
  [15:04] The couple engaged in activities like building snowmen, playing cards, and hosting a party, fostering a sense of community among the guests.
  [15:57] Pub manager Nicole Hayes remarked, “Friendships made, numbers exchanged, Facebook's exchange. It's been amazing.”

• Rescue and Preparedness:
  [15:06] The Tan Hill Inn staff ensured guests were well-cared for, recalling a similar incident in 2021.
  [16:03] Naomi praised the hosts, “We've been so welcomed. They're very, very tired, but they still keep looking after us.”

Conclusion: Paul and Naomi Wright's experience at the Tan Hill Inn showcases the resilience and adaptability of individuals in unplanned situations. Their ability to create joy and camaraderie amidst adversity highlights the human spirit's capacity to find happiness even in challenging times.

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5. Laura Cooper: Building a Community Through Friendship

Overview: Laura Cooper, a 42-year-old care worker from Scunthorpe, England, overcame personal loneliness by initiating a friendship group through social media. Her simple appeal led to the formation of the Scunthorpe Lovely Ladies Group, now boasting over 300 members.

Key Points:

• Initiating Connection:
  [24:22] Laura shared, “I posted, I would like to create a ladies group, a friends group.”
  [24:34] The response was overwhelming: “Within the same night, a hundred women had responded.”

• Building Relationships:
  [24:49] Hadi Nazari describes the gatherings: “You can just talk to her like you've known her for years and enjoy life again.”
  [25:07] Participants expressed their newfound happiness, with Hadi stating, “It's been absolutely brilliant. I met some lovely people.”

• Impact on Mental Health:
  [17:48 - 25:30] Laura’s initiative provided a vital support system for individuals dealing with loneliness and mental health challenges, emphasizing the importance of community and human connection.

Conclusion: Laura Cooper's initiative underscores the power of social media in fostering genuine human connections. Her story exemplifies how reaching out can transform lives, building supportive communities that enhance mental well-being and combat isolation.

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6. Tunisundertang: Reviving Indigenous Music in Malaysia

Overview: Tunisundertang, a six-piece band from Malaysia, is on a mission to rejuvenate indigenous musical heritage by blending traditional instruments like the Sunda Tang with contemporary rock elements. Their efforts aim to attract younger generations and keep cultural traditions alive.

Key Points:

• Preserving Cultural Heritage:
  [26:21] The host notes, “A lot of traditional instruments are endangered,” highlighting the band's motivation.
  [26:26 - 26:38] Band members discuss integrating ethnic instruments with modern sounds to maintain relevance and appeal.

• Musical Innovation:
  [26:43] Lead singer Dabra Sia introduces their track “Dangon,” which blends folklore themes with modern music styles.
  [26:57] The song narrates the legend of Monguyu, a strong man who helped villagers, symbolizing the fusion of tradition and contemporary narratives.

Conclusion: Tunisundertang's innovative approach to music serves as a beacon for cultural preservation and evolution. By merging traditional sounds with modern genres, they ensure that indigenous musical expressions remain vibrant and accessible to future generations.

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Final Thoughts

The Global News Podcast’s "The Happy Pod" episode delivers a rich tapestry of human experiences, highlighting stories of generosity, survival, community building, cultural preservation, and unexpected triumphs. Through engaging narratives and heartfelt testimonies, the episode celebrates the resilience and goodness inherent in individuals around the world.

Notable Quotes:

• Elise Ogletree: “The thought and idea of being able to impact other families and help save other babies feels good.” [01:00]
• Dylan Rittman: “I was much more excited than nervous... I didn’t have time to be nervous because it was all happening so fast.” [11:40]
• Arnaud Moldag: “Nothing is impossible and if you prepare well... you’re going to have an amazing experience.” [21:56]
• Amy Trotter: “We are just so honored to connect those generous moms to the babies who need that donor milk the most.” [06:40]

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For more stories and in-depth reports, listen to the Global News Podcast on your preferred BBC platform.

Transcript

[Janet Jalil]

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk. Discover how to lead a better life in our age of confusion. Enjoy this BBC audiobook collection written and presented by best selling author Oliver Berkman, containing four useful guides to tackling some central ills of busyness, anger, the insistence on positivity and the decline of nuance.

[Oliver Berkman]

Our lives today can feel like miniature versions of this relentless churn of activity. We find we're rushing around more crazily than ever. Somewhere when we weren't looking, looking. It's like busyness became a way of life.

[Janet Jalil]

Start listening to Oliver Berkman, Epidemics of Modern Life. Available to purchase wherever you get your audiobooks.

[Elise Ogletree]

Hi, I'm Elise.

[Amy Trotter]

Hello, I'm Amy with Mother's Milk bank of North Texas and you're listening to.

[Elise Ogletree]

The Happy Powder on the BBC World Service.

[Janet Jalil]

Hi, I'm Janet Jalil and in this.

[Elise Ogletree]

Edition the thought and idea of being able to impact other families and help save other babies. It feels good.

[Janet Jalil]

The woman who's helped thousands of premature babies by donating her breast milk, the hiker who survived two weeks alone in Australia's snowy mountains.

[Dylan Rittman]

Also playing against someone like him was like this really huge moment that I never thought would happen. It was almost like I didn't have time to be nervous because it was all happening so fast.

[Janet Jalil]

What's it like to take on one of basketball's biggest stars at chess? And we hear from the man who's just completed an incredible 7 year expedition through 17 countries.

[Arnaud Moldag]

Nothing is impossible and if you prepare well and you understand what you're getting into, I think 99% of the time you're going to have an amazing experience.

[Janet Jalil]

Welcome. We start with a mother who's helped thousands of premature babies by donating her excess breast milk over the past decade and a half. Elise Ogletree, who's 36 and from Texas in the United States, set a new Guinness World record by giving more than 2,000 litres to what are known as milk banks, charities which provide breast milk for babies whose mothers can't produce enough stuff themselves. The milk is frozen and pasteurised, and much of it goes to sick or premature babies in neonatal intensive care units, or NICUs, who badly need the protections from infection and disease that only come from human breast milk. Alice is a mother of three who's also been a surrogate, the Happy Pods. Holly Gibbs spoke to Alice and Amy Trotter from the charity Texas Milk bank, which received some of the breast milk, and she started by asking Alice why she decided to donate in this unusual.

[Elise Ogletree]

Way, after I had my first son, I was producing a lot of extra milk. But at that point in time, I didn't know that there were other families in the world that didn't produce the milk. And so I was throwing it away recklessly. And once I learned that I had a gift, I wanted to share it. And the thought and idea of being able to impact other families and help save other babies.

[Hadi Nazari]

It feels good to produce that much milk. It must have been incredibly hard for you and your body and incredibly tiring. How did you help yourself through that?

[Elise Ogletree]

I had a fantastic support system. I stuck with my schedule. I pumped every three hours religiously. That includes overnight. But the knowing that what I was doing was good for others is what kept me motivated and kept me wanting to do it.

[Hadi Nazari]

As you say, you have helped hundreds of thousands of premature babies. How does that feel?

[Elise Ogletree]

It feels remarkable and amazing. You know, at the end of the day, I'm not made of money. I have a family of my own. And so I can't volunteer and do a lot, but I was able to spend a good chunk of my time, but I was able to give back so much more than that time was worth.

[Hadi Nazari]

And, Amy, I wonder if I could bring you in here. How much of an impact has Elise's donation had?

[Amy Trotter]

Well, first of all, just having the ability to donate any amount of breast milk is a very special superpower. And Elise's story is absolutely extraordinary because donor milk is life saving for fragile babies. I mean, I would say her impact truly makes her a hero. I mean, just think of all of the families she has helped. I mean, not just the babies, but of course their parents. And there is one condition in particular that can occur in the NICI that has a high mortality rate, and that is called necrotizing entercolitis. Basically, it is an infection, a gut infection, in the nicu. And there is a lot of evidence that shows that human milk can protect the gut and prevent that from happening. And so that is why it is so prevalently used in the nicu.

[Hadi Nazari]

Have either of you heard any feedback from any families that have received donated breast milk and how it's helped their family?

[Amy Trotter]

Well, I can say from the milk bank course, we hear stories all the time. A lot of times what will happen is the reason that a baby would need donated breast milk is a mom gives birth prematurely and her body is not ready to lactate. So sometimes it's just a bridge in the NICU for a day, for three days, for a week, until mom can breastfeed on her own.

[Hadi Nazari]

Elise, for all the people listening who might find themselves in a similar situation to you that they are over producing, how did you donate breast milk?

[Elise Ogletree]

Well, first you get in contact with a registered milk bank. They'll walk you through their, through their screening process. And then you just do what your body does and produce milk and freeze it and get it to them. Regardless of whether it's a hundred ounces or a thousand, every ounce matters.

[Hadi Nazari]

Is that something that you would encourage other people to do?

[Elise Ogletree]

Oh, 100%. I know some people think, well, it's all on the mothers, like the ones that are producing the milk. But it's not just on us, it's on everyone. I, again, I wouldn't have been able to do it without the support system I have cheering me on. But then also just from like a knowledge standpoint, when we have our babies, like our brains are tired, we could be overproducing and then just not even think about donating. And so it's, it's on the dads, the brothers, the uncles, the aunts, it's on everyone.

[Hadi Nazari]

Amy, how grateful are you for mothers like Elise who can donate breast milk?

[Amy Trotter]

We are grateful every day because it enables us to meet the need that is out there. We are just so honored to connect those generous moms to the babies who need that donor milk the most. It's absolutely life saving.

[Janet Jalil]

Amy Trotter and Elise Ogletree speaking to Holly Gibbs. To Australia now, where a man who'd been missing for almost two weeks in the country's snowy mountains has been found alive. Hadi Nazari was hiking with friends in the remote Kosihoskobe national park when he peeled off from the group to take some photographs, but then failed to return to a meeting point. Celia Hatton reports.

[Celia Hatton]

Hadi Nazari was an enthusiastic hiker on a Christmas Day break from his studies as a medical student. He set off with two friends in the Australian outback for what he thought would be a five day trek. Instead, he spent an additional 13 days alone in the wilderness after he got separated from his group on the last day of his planned journey. Josh Broadfoot, a police spokesperson, said the 23 year old had to scrounge for food, including, luckily, some items left behind by other bushwalkers.

[Oliver Berkman]

He said he'd been finding water where he could and foraging for food where he could. In terms of berries. At one point, he said he found a couple of muesli bars in a hut. Other than that, you know, 14 days and that's very Little food.

[Celia Hatton]

While Hadi was walking and trying to find help, a massive search operation involving more than 400 people was searching for him. But in the end, it was a group of fellow young hikers who stumbled upon him by accident.

[Arnaud Moldag]

It looks out. He hears someone calling out very faintly.

[Oliver Berkman]

Looks down through the little dot on the ridge below.

[Arnaud Moldag]

And gradually we got closer and closer to each other. So we came down the hill a bit.

[Oliver Berkman]

He came up and then, yeah, just.

[Arnaud Moldag]

Kind of had this moment of realizing it was him.

[Celia Hatton]

That's Josh Dart speaking to local media region Riverina. He said his cousin, who'd been trekking with him that day, had seen Hadi's photo in the park office that morning. But they never thought they'd be the ones to find him.

[Oliver Berkman]

I was really emotional, actually. Like, he started crying, and then the.

[Arnaud Moldag]

Police came, put him into trouble. And in the meantime, he called his.

[Oliver Berkman]

Family on another phone.

[Arnaud Moldag]

And just hearing him chat to his.

[Oliver Berkman]

Family, which is beautiful, just like in tears.

[Celia Hatton]

After being winched into a waiting helicopter and traveling to a police outpost, Hadi was quickly joined by his friends. They'd also been looking for him, flying in from different corners of Australia to try to find him. A testament, they say, to what a good guy he is. Police said it was incredible to see Hadi so healthy.

[Oliver Berkman]

He's great.

[Arnaud Moldag]

He's in really good spirits.

[Oliver Berkman]

Seems absolutely amazing. Yeah. No significant injuries are apparent, and he's very thankful for all the search efforts.

[Celia Hatton]

Hadi told the hikers who found him that he just kept telling himself, I have to find a way out of this. His family said the news of his survival was the best day of their lives.

[Janet Jalil]

Celia Hatton reporting. Now, if you're a basketball fan, you probably know the name Victor Wembanyama. The French athlete is an NBA star for the San Antonio spurs, but he also plays another game, chess. And he's such a big fan of the board game that he recently challenged fans on social media to turn up to a park in New York to take him on. Not at basketball, but at chess. Dylan Rittman, who works for a chess website, was one of the lucky ones that got to do just that. He spoke to my colleague, Katie Smith.

[Dylan Rittman]

I was in Manhattan having breakfast with a couple friends, and all of a sudden my phone starts lighting up because our work slack was going crazy because of the Victor Wembanyama tweet. And so I'm a huge basketball fan. A lot of my co workers are basketball fans, and they knew I lived in New York, and It was like 15 minute walk so I finished up my breakfast as quickly as I could and I ran over to the park thinking that I probably already missed it. Like, the weather was so bad. There's no way this famous basketball player is going to be sitting in the rain for that long. But lo and behold, he was still there playing. Someone that he was with was saying, hey, Victor, is time for one more game? Is anyone here good at chess? And There was probably 40 people there. So out of desperation, I just shouted out, I [e-mail]. and that really caught their attention because they were like, okay, you come sit down and play. And so pretty fortunate.

[Hadi Nazari]

Let's just talk through your emotions then at this point. So probably the adrenaline up to, up to this moment has guided you on. When you then sit down in the chair, are you nervous? Are you excited?

[Dylan Rittman]

I was much more excited than nervous. Thankfully, playing against someone like him was like this really huge moment that I never thought would happen. It was almost like I didn't have time to be nervous because it was all happening so fast. I did get a little nervous when I went to shake his hand. His hand was like, you see the pictures online, but then you see it in person. And I felt like it was like a baby shaking a grown man's hand at that point in time. And I was like, okay, hopefully I don't make him mad because you could probably take me.

[Hadi Nazari]

So you're sitting in a park, it's pouring with rain, you're about to play a chess game. How many people are around watching? Are there lots of cameras and phones out as well?

[Dylan Rittman]

Oh, yeah, There were probably 30 or 40 people. And there was people, random people on the street had their phone out. There were a couple seemingly more professional photographers there as well. And so I didn't really know what was gonna happen with all that footage. But after the game it went like semi viral. And that was like a weird experience for me as just like a very random person in New York.

[Hadi Nazari]

So the key point here, Dylan, then we've got to get onto the good stuff. Did you win the game?

[Dylan Rittman]

It was a back and forth battle, but I was. I was lucky to come out on top.

[Hadi Nazari]

And I think what probably a lot of our listeners will be thinking right now, how good is Victor Wembanyama at chess then? So as someone who is clearly pretty good yourself and you're surrounded by it, could you get a sense of his game and what kind of player he was?

[Oliver Berkman]

He was.

[Dylan Rittman]

It was a really hard fought game and I was losing at one point that he was losing at one point and it was attacking and it was crazy and I was just really lucky in the end to kind of get the win.

[Hadi Nazari]

And what about chatting to him after? Did you get a moment to, I guess, speak to him and ask him.

[Janet Jalil]

Why he was there?

[Dylan Rittman]

Better than talking to him after. He was actually very chatty during the game. We had a bit of banter back and forth. The New York City chess culture is very talkative and bantery and it was a lot of fun to kind of see him embrace that part of New York chess. You can be a little kid learning from your parents, you can be an older man, you can be a random guy living in New York or a seven foot three international superstar and we can all kind of sit across the board and play the same game at the same level.

[Janet Jalil]

Dylan Rittman there talking about the universal appeal of chess. And you can listen to more stories like this on sportshour, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. We've all been on holidays where things might not have gone exactly as planned. Well, two Australians who'd visited the UK dreaming of a white Christmas ended up getting a little bit more than they'd been hoping for. They were trapped in a pub for four days because of heavy snow. Paul and Naomi Wright were among a group of nearly 30 people forced to spend New Year at Britain's highest pub, the Tan Hill, which is around 528 metres above sea level. They were eventually rescued by local farmers with snowplows. Chantal Hartle reports.

[Hadi Nazari]

Back home in Australia's Northern Territory, Paul and Naomi Wright are used to average temperatures of around 30 degrees Celsius in December. They wanted to experience snow in winter and chose to end their Round Britain trip in the North Yorkshire Dales. But perhaps they didn't expect quite as much snow.

[Oliver Berkman]

We were expecting snow and we laughed about it. We sort of said, oh, you know, this could happen. And my sister in law, Bree, she said, not in a million years, you'll be fine.

[Hadi Nazari]

And the next minute, yeah, we've got the. You're not going anywhere. It's part of the adventure. So, like, what do you do? The couple were among 23 guests, six staff members and a dog who were stuck inside the pub. But they made the most of their extended holiday. Paul pulled his first pint of beer and built his first ever snowman. Naomi found plenty of things to keep herself busy too. We've been playing cards, we've been playing Scrabble online, we've been. They had a party last night, so, yep, party last night. That party resulted in some guests feeling a little tender the following day, according to staff. Pub manager Nicole Hayes said, it was wonderful to see the friendships that had formed.

[Janet Jalil]

Honestly, the customers have just kept us going.

[Hadi Nazari]

There's been so many laughs, memories made.

[Janet Jalil]

Friendships made, numbers exchanged, Facebook's exchange It's been amazing.

[Hadi Nazari]

And this isn't the first time for the Tanhill Inn. In 2021, 60 people who came to the pub to watch an Oasis trib and ended up trapped there for three days because of heavy snow. Thankfully, staff are prepared for these situations and make sure they have enough accommodation, fuel and food to get them through. Naomi said her family were well looked after by their hosts. They've been so welcoming. They're very, very tired, but they still keep looking after us. We keep offering to pitch in. Like we'll get in and do the dishes. We'll, we'll help cook if need be. Like, yeah. But they're like, no, no, you know, we've got it. For Paul, though, there was only one real complaint when the pub ran out of sausages. He joked that it was atrocious, saying he was gutted. There was no pork sausages, no more English breakfast.

[Janet Jalil]

Chantal Hartle reporting. Still to in the Happy Port I.

[Hadi Nazari]

Was quite lonely because I was quite poorly.

[Janet Jalil]

I posted I would like to create a ladies group, a friends group and.

[Hadi Nazari]

Then the numbers just kept going up.

[Celia Hatton]

And up and up.

[Janet Jalil]

How one simple appeal on social media helped hundreds of lonely people discover how to lead a better life in our age of confusion. Enjoy this BBC audiobook collection written and presented by best selling author Oliver Berkman. Containing four useful guides to tackling some central ills of busyness, anger, the insistence on positivity and the decline of nuance.

[Oliver Berkman]

Our lives today can feel like miniature versions of this relentless churn of activity. We find we're rushing around more crazily than ever. Somewhere when we weren't looking. It's like busyness became a way of life.

[Janet Jalil]

Start listening to Oliver Berkman, Epidemics of Modern Life Available to purchase wherever you get your audiobooks. A man from Belgium has just completed an amazing seven year expedition from northern Canada to the southern tip of Argentina. Arnault Maldag traveled 35,000 kilometers through 17 countries by skiing, cycling, horse riding, hiking, kayaking, sailing and of course, walking. Arnaud, who's now 35 years old, spent two years training before starting his seven year trek in the northern Canadian province of nunavut back in January 2018. The happy pods Harry Bly spoke to him and started by Asking him why he'd wanted to do this.

[Arnaud Moldag]

I had done a bicycle trip when I was a bit younger. When I was 22, I cycled from Brussels towards Australia. But I did 13, 000 kilometers in eight months and a half, something like that. And since I had never been nowhere in North America or South America, it was kind of an easy choice to travel from North America towards South America.

[Oliver Berkman]

So you traveled two continents, 17 countries. What were some of the highlights? What were the most amazing things you saw?

[Arnaud Moldag]

Probably the most intense one was definitely the starting in the Arctic. And because it was like minus 40, minus 50, I traveled, like, for 100 days by backcountry skiing and snow kiting without seeing, like, I spent two times, one month without seeing anybody, and I didn't see any trees for, like, 100 days. And then also, probably for sure, the Amazon, which is also very different. So that was also very special.

[Oliver Berkman]

Tell me about the people that you met out there, Arnaud. Were there any experiences you had meeting people from different cultures that perhaps were new to you?

[Arnaud Moldag]

Yeah, people helped me a lot. Like, a lot of people welcomed me or offered me a meal or things like this. Everyone was really nice and welcoming. But definitely, again, like, the Arctic, I started in Nunavut. I think the Inuits, they have, like, a very specific bond with nature, and it's the same in the Amazon as well, even if it's very, very different. People living in the Amazon also have a special link, like a relationship with nature. I think that was very special to me.

[Oliver Berkman]

And what kind of lessons did you learn from this whole experience?

[Arnaud Moldag]

First, I learned to know myself better, which was one of the main goals. You learn also your limits, and also what are your limits? And also that you can do much more than you think you can. And also, I guess that everything is about perspective. And a lot of times when you're in a difficult situation, you cannot change the situation itself, but you can change the. The way you look at it.

[Oliver Berkman]

And throughout this expedition, Arnaud, you faced quite a lot of hardship, didn't you? I've read about the story of the polar bear trying to get into your tent, and as you've mentioned, not seeing people or trees for a long time, relying very much on your survival instincts. How did you keep a positive mindset throughout times like that in order to keep going?

[Arnaud Moldag]

Yeah, well, it's definitely, like, it's a big sport challenge. So when you get into that, you have to be aware of what you're getting into. So, for sure, like, the polar bear was something Possible. I knew it was possible that it happens because I was in polar bear country for a very long time. But yeah, it's something you have to be aware of because definitely it's dangerous. And not just polar bears. The fact that it was minus 50, it's. It's a very dangerous environment.

[Oliver Berkman]

Arnaud, what is your advice for someone that wants to go on an expedition like this?

[Arnaud Moldag]

I would say believe in yourself. We are much more stronger than we think we are. And I mean, yeah, nothing is impossible. And if you prepare well and you research things and you understand what you're getting into, I think 99% of the time you're going to have an amazing experience.

[Janet Jalil]

Arnaud Moldag talking about his epic expedition. Now, if you've ever felt lonely or wished you had more people to meet up with, how about just asking strangers to be your friend? Laura Cooper posted on social media about wanting to start a friendship group after being ill and feeling lonely. And within the hour, she was inundated with messages. Within a month, Laura, a 42 year old care worker from Scunthorpe in England, had formed a group with more than 300 other members aged from 16 to 75. Simon Spark went along to one of their parties.

[Oliver Berkman]

It seems like everyone here has known each other forever, but actually what we're seeing here are new friendships because none of these ladies knew each other at all just a month ago. In fact, most were lonely. Most and on their own.

[Hadi Nazari]

I don't go out. Well, I didn't go out. I just sit at home and I'm quite lonely. I have very few friends and I just needed. I recognized that I needed to get out there for my mental health. I needed to get out there. Well, it's just actually getting up, getting a shower, washing your hair, putting your makeup on. It's feeling better like that. Rather than think, oh, I'll just get my jamas on, you know, because that's what I do. I just sit there and think, oh, I might just get my jamas on. I'm not off anywhere. And that's me for like 12, 13 hours during the week especially. Get home, sit on my sofa and that will be it. So just chance to get out and meet new people.

[Oliver Berkman]

It was Laura who started everything.

[Janet Jalil]

I was quite lonely because I was.

[Hadi Nazari]

Quite poorly and I was in hospital for some time.

[Janet Jalil]

I've got fnd, which is a functional neurological disorder. It's where my brain doesn't communicate well with my body. Yeah, it's stress related. Stress related.

[Oliver Berkman]

Her appeal for friendship on social media changed Everything.

[Hadi Nazari]

It was about 5 in the afternoon.

[Janet Jalil]

I posted. I would like to create a ladies group, a friends group.

[Hadi Nazari]

And then the numbers just kept going up and up and up and I was just like, oh, this is real. I can't believe it.

[Janet Jalil]

It's just like happening.

[Oliver Berkman]

Within the same night, a hundred women had responded. And so the Scunthorpe Lovely Ladies Group was born, meeting every Wednesday now with over 300 members on their social media group.

[Hadi Nazari]

This is get together, chat. Don't chat if you don't want to. Just be with people, you know, you can just talk to him like you've known her for years and enjoy life again. I watched them on a Wednesday evening.

[Janet Jalil]

And I just stepped back and everyone's.

[Hadi Nazari]

Talking and it just.

[Janet Jalil]

It's lovely.

[Hadi Nazari]

It really is.

[Janet Jalil]

It does make me a bit upset, but in a nice way.

[Oliver Berkman]

Tonight was their first ever Christmas party.

[Hadi Nazari]

It's been absolutely brilliant. I've met some lovely people. I struggle with I anxiety. So to come tonight, it's took a lot. It's amazing.

[Janet Jalil]

Yeah, they've got a life now.

[Hadi Nazari]

Really happy.

[Janet Jalil]

I've got a life now.

[Dylan Rittman]

Brilliant.

[Janet Jalil]

And that report was by Simon Spark. Now let's end this podcast in Malaysia where efforts are being made to breathe new life into indigenous musical instruments. One of them is a Sunda Tang, a wooden stringed instrument with a long neck. It looks a bit like a guitar, but it only has two strings, traditionally made out of tree fiber, and the neck only has six frets or metal strips. Tunisundertang, a six piece band named after the instrument, are on a mission to revive their cultural heritage from the verge of extinction, fusing traditional music with contemporary rock to attract a younger generation. Nikki Bedi spoke to lead singer Dabra Sia and founder Gindung McFreddy Simond in.

[Oliver Berkman]

Sabah, a lot of traditional instruments are endangered.

[Arnaud Moldag]

The young people is not interested to play them anymore.

[Hadi Nazari]

So, yeah, we try to combine the.

[Oliver Berkman]

Ethnic instrument with the modern instrument so we can attract them.

[Hadi Nazari]

So by modernizing it, you're going to keep it alive, is that the idea?

[Oliver Berkman]

Yes.

[Hadi Nazari]

So, Deborah, you're going to perform a track called Dangon. Yes. So you also wrote that track. What does the title mean? The title means folklore. If you listen to the song, we.

[Elise Ogletree]

Do mention about Monguyu, Monguyu is strong man.

[Hadi Nazari]

He is very tall and very strong. During that time, the people ask for his help. So in return, the villager will provide food and water to Monguyu. Okay, fantastic. Well, thank you all so much, Deborah. Sia Tunisundatang the stage is yours. Thank.

[Arnaud Moldag]

You.

[Janet Jalil]

Tunisund performing their single tangon on the Arts Hour. You can catch the whole program wherever you get your BBC podcasts. And that's all from the Happy Pod for now. If you'd like to share a story that's made you happy, the address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk this edition was mixed by Adrian Bhargava, who the producers were Holly Gibbs and Harry Bly. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Jonath Jalil. Until next time. Goodbye. Discover how to lead a better life in our age of confusion. Enjoy this BBC audiobook collection written and presented by best selling author Oliver Berkman, containing four useful guides to tackling confusion, some central ills of modernity, busyness, anger, the insistence on positivity and the decline of nuance.

[Oliver Berkman]

Our lives today can feel like miniature versions of this relentless churn of activity. We find we're rushing around more crazily than ever. Somewhere when we weren't looking. It's like busyness became a way of life.

[Janet Jalil]

Start listening to Oliver Epidemics of Modern Life Available to purchase wherever you get your audiobooks.