The Happy Pod: I invented a way for my brother to communicate
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.3 • 8.3K Ratings
🗓️ 25 April 2026
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ari wanted to help his brother Ben engage with the world after he lost the ability to walk, talk or move his hands. So he designed and built him a bespoke communication and entertainment system - allowing him to chat, go online, watch TV or play video games with just two buttons.
Also: the endangered Mexican amphibian found in a river in the UK. Experts say the young girl who captured the axolotl probably saved its life.
The women using their own experiences with breast cancer to tackle cultural taboos about the disease in Uganda, and encourage others to get treatment.
After the Boston marathon, we hear from an elite female athlete hoping to inspire others by running the race while 22 weeks pregnant. And we find out why two runners stopped to help another who collapsed within sight of the finish line.
Plus a statue honouring a giant rat who sniffed out landmines in Cambodia; and why a nature festival has had to clarify that visitors should come fully clothed.
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson
Image credit: NARBE House
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.6 | This is the Happy Pod from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:14.4 | I'm Holly Gibbs, and in this edition, one man's quest to improve his brother's life. |
| 0:20.3 | He is just laughing and joking and the fact he can just talk to me like any brother would, |
| 0:26.6 | you know, telling me off and stuff. |
| 0:28.3 | It's like I got my brother back to talk to. |
| 0:30.9 | It's something I've always dreamed of and we both just love it, you know. |
| 0:34.8 | We meet Ari, who created a communication system for his brother Ben. |
| 0:39.9 | Also on this podcast, the rare Mexican amphibian found in a river here in the UK. The runner carried |
| 0:46.8 | over the finish line of the Boston Marathon by two kind strangers. I was like shocked, honestly. |
| 0:53.7 | There was no reason for him to do that. There was no reason for either going to do that. I was like shocked, honestly. There was no reason for him to do that. There was no |
| 0:56.1 | reason for either one to do that. It was like insane. That was the greatest feeling ever. |
| 1:01.6 | And why the organizers of a nature festival felt the need to say this. |
| 1:06.8 | Whilst we aim to be as inclusive as possible and certainly do not judge anyone, please do dress appropriately. |
| 1:17.7 | We start with a remarkable story of one man's determination to help his brother. |
| 1:24.1 | Ben is 29 years old and has a rare genetic disorder which means he cannot walk, talk or move his hands. |
| 1:31.0 | His brother Ari and Ari's wife, Nancy, became Ben's full-time carers four years ago. |
| 1:37.3 | They wanted Ben to be able to engage with the world, so they designed and built a communication and entertainment system that he can control with two |
| 1:46.4 | head switches. Ben used the system to speak to the happy pods, Helena Burke. Hello, my name is Ben. This is |
| 1:53.8 | my sister-in-law, Nancy and my brother, Arryn. It is nice to meet you. So Ben, how does your life now compare to what your life was like before you had this technology? |
| 2:04.5 | My life is better. |
| 2:05.6 | And how does it make you feel to be able to communicate with people again after such a long time? |
... |
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