The Happy Pod: The best friends who turned out to be sisters

The Happy Pod: The best friends who turned out to be sisters

Author: BBC World Service September 19, 2026 Duration: 26:29

Meena and Minal were born in India, but adopted by different families and raised near each other in the Netherlands. When they first met in their early teens at an event hosted by the adoption agency their parents had used, they were struck by the uncanny similarities in their appearance and mannerisms. This year, Minal took a DNA test, which revealed the Meena she already knew was her biological sister.

Also, we hear from the Cateura Orchestra of Recycled Instruments -- a group in Paraguay which play music on instruments made from landfill waste. Plus, Brad Ryan and Grandma Joy's adventures to visit every national park in the United States, before going on Safari trips around the world. For them, it wasn't about the sights, but healing their relationship, after they had not spoken in ten years. Why probiotics could help corals, and the table tennis club helping people with Parkinson's disease.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

Image: Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen holding a picture of their younger selves. Credit: Reuters

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson


Staying informed means navigating a constant stream of events, and the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service provides a grounded, thorough digest of that flow. This isn't just a headline service; it's a twice-daily briefing that situates you within the day's most pressing stories, particularly focusing on complex, unfolding situations. Right now, that means dedicated coverage from across the Middle East, including Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the Gulf states, offering clarity on regional dynamics and their global implications. Alongside that essential regional focus, the podcast consistently pulls back for a wider lens, bringing reports and context from every corner of the world. What you'll hear is the BBC's signature blend of on-the-ground reporting and measured expert analysis, all designed to build understanding rather than just summarize events. For a reliable, in-depth audio briefing that updates each weekday morning and evening, this podcast delivers a comprehensive picture of our world as it happens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Global News Podcast
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 29:46
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Duration: 30:44
Two days after massive floods and landslides in the Himalayas, authorities in Tibet have resumed search and rescue operations, despite the ongoing threat that a debris-filled lake could collapse. The Chinese government h…
China warns of further floods near Nepal border [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
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Duration: 29:42
The number of people killed by a catastrophic flash flood on the border between Nepal and China has risen to at least 350. More than 1,300 are still missing. Rescue teams are continuing to search for survivors as experts…
Meta agrees $18bn social media settlement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
Meta has agreed to pay $18bn to a group of US states that accused Facebook and Instagram of harming children, bringing a high-profile trial in California to an early end. The company will also introduce new measures aime…
Hundreds missing after devastating floods on China-Nepal border [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:44
Hundreds of people, including nearly 300 foreign tourists, are missing after devastating floods swept through northern Nepal and across the border in Tibet, China. In Nepal entire villages as well as roads, bridges and p…
Musician Dolly Parton dies at 80 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:29
The country music singer Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”. She was being treated at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Her team said “Dolly Parton’s legacy is one…
China slams 'illegal' US sanctions on Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:23
China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, says it opposes "illegal" unilateral sanctions after the US warned that countries that continued to do business with Iran would face consequences. A foreign ministry spokesman sai…