From turning our bedside tables to work stations overnight, to cutting off ourselves from the social humdrum of life in a metro, it's been one hell of a time for most urban dwellers. Anxious calls to and from parents back home, minute-by-minute updates on the latest stats and the possibility of a total lockdown in the near future — all of it can get too much, especially in the confines of our homes, with no one to turn to.

While scouring social media for some relief that's more than just pandemic humour, we came across Shifa Maitra's podcast Smile India. Did you know that there's a woman ragpicker in Saket, Delhi, who feeds and takes care of 400 strays; reminding you of that odd, but kind-hearted pigeon lady from Home Alone, no? Or were you aware of a cafe in Bhubaneswar, where robots, called Champa and Chameli, take down your orders and cater to your demands? Three episodes-old, the podcast packs news like this with a generous helping of motivation that we could all use.