The Happy Pod: Meeting a princess while climbing a mountain
7/4/202626 min
Pete Haslam was carrying his paraplegic son Ted up a mountain, helped by friends and family, when they bumped into Catherine, Princess of Wales. She was doing the same climbing challenge, known as the Three Peaks, and stopped to chat to them three times. Pete says he almost didn't recognise Catherine in her walking gear but, when they got talking, she was very kind and motherly to Ted.
Also: in a story suggested by a listener, we hear from the US man who crossed Africa on a skateboard. Jason Vanporppal was raising money for a skatepark in Uganda which he hopes will inspire young people.
The unusual object that saved a man's life after an accident at sea. He survived by clinging to a cool box for four hours.
Plus the twins who married twins, the Nigerian chef awarded 'icon status'.
And the surprise school trip to a star studded movie premiere. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson arranged for the pupils to see his latest film, Moana, after they'd tagged him in a socials video.
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
(Photo: Pete Haslam talking to Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Ben Nevis. Credit: Pete Haslam)
Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. [electronic tone] If you are currently overpaying on software to run your business, remember this number: 10,000. That's the number of new businesses that join Odoo per month. Join Odoo today at odoo.com. That's O-D-double O.com. Self-directed investing, trading, full service wealth management, automated investing, financial planning, thematic investing, retirement planning. Phew. And to think, that's just a small taste of what Schwab offers. Because Schwab knows that when it comes to your finances, choice matters. No matter your goals, investing style, life stage, or experience, Schwab has everything you need, all in one place, so you can invest your way. Visit schwab.com to learn more.
Holly Gibbs· Host0:51
[electronic tone] This is The Happy Pod from the BBC World Service. [upbeat music] I'm Holly Gibbs, and in this edition, a chance encounter with royalty.
Ted Haslam· Guest1:08
I was just dumbfounded, to be honest. Because she had all the walking gear on, I think I might have just walked past her, to be honest. But, yeah, she was lovely. She was being very motherly to Ted, seeing if he was warm enough.
Holly Gibbs· Host1:19
How a family met the UK's future queen while climbing a mountain. Also, why a man from the US decided to skateboard across Africa.
Jason Van Poppel· Guest1:29
I want them to feel inspired