Global News Podcast The Happy Pod: Saving lives with the man who saved mine
25 snips
Jan 24, 2026 
Antonia Osuna-Mascaro, cognitive biologist studying bovine intelligence; Anthony Ferraro, blind Paralympic athlete and guitarist; Mesfin Dala, Ethiopian-born cardiac perfusionist who returned to help others. They discuss a cow using a broom as a tool, a braille-labeled amplifier that restored musical independence, and life-saving surgical missions bringing care back to Ethiopia.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Full Circle Heart Surgery Reunion
- Mesfin Dala was flown to Atlanta for two heart surgeries as a teenager and later became a cardiac perfusionist.
- Twenty-five years after surgery he reunited with Dr Jim Cowton and they performed missions saving hundreds of lives in Ethiopia.
Training Over One-Off Care
- Building local capacity was central to the charity's approach, training surgeons, perfusionists and nurses in Ethiopia.
- This emphasis shifts care from occasional missions to sustainable, locally led cardiac services.
Braille Amp Gives Musical Freedom
- Anthony Ferraro, a blind musician, received a custom Victory amplifier with braille on the controls and described it as freedom.
- The amp lets him independently dial in sound during performances, removing reliance on others.