The Happy Pod: Inviting strangers round for dinner

Loading player...
When Nidhi and Vik moved to Northern Ireland, they came up with an unusual way to make new friends - hosting dinner parties made up of strangers. Now the couple, originally from India, have connected with 60 people and counting. Vik says he wants to make the whole world his friends.

Plus, the Iranian father helping his blind son experience the football World Cup. He uses a makeshift football pitch to mimic what's going on. Also, a listener tells us about their chance encounter with a teacher they hadn't seen for 12 years. We go to a picnic where the only thing on the menu is unlimited cake, and the payphone in Washington DC that tells jokes.

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

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

(Photo: Nidhi and Vik preparing for their Masala Talkies. Credit: Your Pal Moments.)
11 Jul 7AM English United Kingdom News

Other recent episodes

Burnham becomes UK's seventh PM in a decade

In his inaugural speech in Downing Street, the new prime minister Andy Burnham says Britain needs to show the world it can regain stability. He promises a new political and economic model including measures to help people with the cost of living. He indicates his first calls to foreign leaders…
20 Jul 12PM 30 min

Spain shatter Argentina's World Cup dream

Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina stops them winning successive World Cup finals and their captain Lionel Messi from becoming the first to lift the trophy twice. Speculation is rife that, at 39, it may be his last World Cup tournament. Also: We have a special report on how the soaring…
20 Jul 12AM 28 min

Jeffrey Epstein, Howard Lutnick, and the disgraced former prince

In an exclusive investigation, a whistleblower has told the BBC how he unearthed evidence suggesting that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick failed to disclose a business relationship with the paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein. Simon Andriesz was a trader at one of Lutnick’s Wall Street firms, but it wasn’t until the…
19 Jul 3PM 27 min

Iranian drone attack kills two US soldiers

Two American soldiers have been killed and a third is missing following an attack on a military base in Jordan on Friday. US Central Command said the troops died while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes. Also: Ukraine strikes warehouses of "Russian Amazon" in revenge attack. Cuban dissident…
19 Jul 12AM 29 min

The Happy Pod: Portugal’s last circus elephant rehomed

For 40 years, an elephant named Julie performed as part of the Victor Hugo Cardinali circus in Portugal. But after a law change banning wild animals for entertainment, Julie has now been given a new life in a dedicated sanctuary. She is the first elephant to begin her retirement at…
18 Jul 7AM 27 min