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The Happy Pod: The teenager empowering thousands to succeed

A young entrepreneur helping students across India gain skills and mentors has won a global prize. Adarsh Kumar grew up in poverty and was inspired by his hardworking single mum.

An 18-year-old entrepreneur who has helped more than twenty thousand teenagers get skills, training and mentoring has been recognised with a global student prize. Adarsh Kumar grew up in poverty in rural Bihar and says he was inspired by wanting to solve the problems he saw around him - and the example set by his hardworking single mother. He plans to use the ten-thousand-dollar prize to help improve the lives of even more people - and believes the first step in changing the world is to change his home state.

Also: we find out how teenagers who've been struggling with school attendance are learning important life lessons - from three-year-olds. The scheme pairs them with a nursery child to give them a sense of responsibility and helping others.

We celebrate the winner of Fat Bear Week in Alaska - which saw tens of thousands of people around the world vote for the brown bear who'd done best at gorging on salmon and berries to prepare for winter. How new technology is helping Premier League football fans with sight problems, the jollof rice wars heat up with a record breaking dish in Nigeria, and the people spreading joy over the internet through memes.

Plus, an inspirational speech from a 12-year-old who wants to improve understanding about autism. Leo Bird says he's not broken, just different, and that's why his friends love him.

Presenter: Jannat Jalil
Music composed by Iona Hampson

(Photo: Adarsh preparing a Skillzo workshop. Credit: Varkey Foundation)

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27 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 Oct 2025 09:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 Oct 2025 18:32GMT
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025 03:32GMT
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025 13:32GMT
  • Thu 9 Oct 2025 09:32GMT