This Is My Thing explores the ways we find and bring joy into our lives. It’s about the things we do not because it’s a job or a necessity, but simply because we love to do them. You’ll meet a guy who finds satisfaction in using his metal detector to find other people’s lost objects and you’ll hear from a group of retired ladies who started a ukulele band just because it sounded fun. And that’s just the start.This Is My Thing is supported by <a href="https://www.txortho.com/">Texas Orthopedics</a>.

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz about her dedication to pole dancing. She had her first lesson seven years ago, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Now she’s at the pole studio four days a week.We'll talk about what the pole means to her, why she intends to keep doing it for the remainder of her life, and how it makes her feel. Plus, we'll hear about the gear involved, like the heels that make her go from 5'4" to about 6 foot even, her favorite music to pole dance to, and so much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz about her dedication to pole dancing. She had her first lesson seven years ago, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Now she’s at the pole studio four days a week.
We'll talk about what the pole means to her, why she intends to keep doing it for the remainder of her life, and how it makes her feel. Plus, we'll hear about the gear involved, like the heels that make her go from 5'4" to about 6 foot even, her favorite music to pole dance to, and so much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Pole Dancing!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Niki Hansen about her love for kickball. She refers to it as a 'recess sport,' and though she loved it as a kid (and, she says, she was pretty good at it), she put it away for years before moving to Austin a few years ago. Here, she discovered a vibrant kickball scene and decided to jump back into the sport.We'll talk about her childhood fondness for kickball, how she fell in love with it again, what it's doing for her heart and her soul, and some highlights of her kickball career (including getting out of an epic pickle)!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Niki Hansen about her love for kickball. She refers to it as a 'recess sport,' and though she loved it as a kid (and, she says, she was pretty good at it), she put it away for years before moving to Austin a few years ago. Here, she discovered a vibrant kickball scene and decided to jump back into the sport.
We'll talk about her childhood fondness for kickball, how she fell in love with it again, what it's doing for her heart and her soul, and some highlights of her kickball career (including getting out of an epic pickle)!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Kickball!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Michael Young about his love of ceramics. That relationship started over 40 years ago, when Michael needed to find a non-science course as an undergrad and took a ceramics class. After a 35 year hiatus, he rediscovered his love of clay and now has a ceramics studio in what used to be his dining room.We'll talk about how his interest in ceramics got restarted after that long break, how he shares the hobby with his wife, how he struggles with perfection and much much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Michael Young about his love of ceramics. That relationship started over 40 years ago, when Michael needed to find a non-science course as an undergrad and took a ceramics class. After a 35 year hiatus, he rediscovered his love of clay and now has a ceramics studio in what used to be his dining room.
We'll talk about how his interest in ceramics got restarted after that long break, how he shares the hobby with his wife, how he struggles with perfection and much much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Ceramics!

The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop talking about winter sports! This week we're chatting with Heather Cooke about her love of figure skating. She skated a bit as a kid, but never really fell in love with the sport until she discovered team synchronized skating decades later. In this type of figure skating (not an Olympic sport yet but one can hope), between eight and twenty skaters perform together on the ice.We'll talk about how she discovered the sport and fell in love with it, the community shew's found in the skating world, why she loves skating in a Cookie Monster costume, and what it all means to her. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

The 2026 Winter Olympics may be over, but that doesn't mean we have to stop talking about winter sports! This week we're chatting with Heather Cooke about her love of figure skating. She skated a bit as a kid, but never really fell in love with the sport until she discovered team synchronized skating decades later. In this type of figure skating (not an Olympic sport yet but one can hope), between eight and twenty skaters perform together on the ice.
We'll talk about how she discovered the sport and fell in love with it, the community shew's found in the skating world, why she loves skating in a Cookie Monster costume, and what it all means to her. 
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Figure Skating!

If you're a keen-eared This Is My Thing listener, you might notice that you've heard this episode about curling before. It was originally released in April of 2025, but we're putting it into your feed again for a couple of reasons. One is that we're in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics, so curling is a little more top-of-mind at the moment. And another is that, if you're reading this before (or early in the morning on) February 15, 2026, you're invited to come out The Pond in north Austin for an open house hosted by the Lone Star Curling Club. KUT and This Is My Thing is sponsoring the event, where you can see some curling and step out on the ice a bit and just generally get a vibe for the sport. Maybe it'll become your new thing! More information <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lone-star-curling-club-open-house-with-this-is-my-thing-tickets-1981881649364?aff=oddtdtcreator">right here</a>. On this episode of the show, you'll hear from Dave Danenfelzer about his love for curling – ‘the kind you do on ice,’ as he puts it. Dave’s been curling all his life; he was taught by his grandfather as a kid and has been playing the sport ever since. When he moved from his native Wisconsin to Texas in the 1990s (‘I did it for love,’ Dave says), he thought his curling days were in the past. But he was wrong! It turns out other folks in the Lone Star State love this winter sport too, and Dave eventually found a curling club right here in Austin that lets him continue to do his thing. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

If you're a keen-eared This Is My Thing listener, you might notice that you've heard this episode about curling before. It was originally released in April of 2025, but we're putting it into your feed again for a couple of reasons. One is that we're in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics, so curling is a little more top-of-mind at the moment. And another is that, if you're reading this before (or early in the morning on) February 15, 2026, you're invited to come out The Pond in north Austin for an open house hosted by the Lone Star Curling Club. KUT and This Is My Thing is sponsoring the event, where you can see some curling and step out on the ice a bit and just generally get a vibe for the sport. Maybe it'll become your new thing! More information right here. 
On this episode of the show, you'll hear from Dave Danenfelzer about his love for curling – ‘the kind you do on ice,’ as he puts it. Dave’s been curling all his life; he was taught by his grandfather as a kid and has been playing the sport ever since. When he moved from his native Wisconsin to Texas in the 1990s (‘I did it for love,’ Dave says), he thought his curling days were in the past. But he was wrong! It turns out other folks in the Lone Star State love this winter sport too, and Dave eventually found a curling club right here in Austin that lets him continue to do his thing.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Curling! (Again!)

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Addie and Ben Ruth about their shared love of lightsabers and lightsaber choreography. We'll talk about all things Star Wars and lightsaber -- why they decided to start swinging pretend laser swords around, what sort of costumes they wear and what sort of characters they play. What does this hobby do for them and who are they doing it for? Also, did one of them grow up liking Star Trek more than Star Wars? You'll have to listen to find out!This piece was produced by KUT producer and host Juan Garcia, an enormous Star Wars who probably would've done this for free but we went ahead and paid him anyway.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Addie and Ben Ruth about their shared love of lightsabers and lightsaber choreography. We'll talk about all things Star Wars and lightsaber -- why they decided to start swinging pretend laser swords around, what sort of costumes they wear and what sort of characters they play. What does this hobby do for them and who are they doing it for? Also, did one of them grow up liking Star Trek more than Star Wars? You'll have to listen to find out!
This piece was produced by KUT producer and host Juan Garcia, an enormous Star Wars who probably would've done this for free but we went ahead and paid him anyway.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Lightsaber Choreography!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Chuck Loesch about his longtime love of the barbershop quartet. Chuck was introduced to the singing style years ago, as a student at New Braunfels High School (which, we discovered during our conversation, we attended at the same time, though we never knew each other back then). After taking a break from barbershop for a quarter century or so, he rediscovered his love for the genre in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since.We'll talk about Chuck's barbershop journey, why he loves this style of music and heavy metal, what competing means to him and what this is all doing for his heart and soul. And we'll get to hear Chuck performing with his quartet in the KUT live music studio!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Chuck Loesch about his longtime love of the barbershop quartet. Chuck was introduced to the singing style years ago, as a student at New Braunfels High School (which, we discovered during our conversation, we attended at the same time, though we never knew each other back then). After taking a break from barbershop for a quarter century or so, he rediscovered his love for the genre in 2016 and hasn’t looked back since.
We'll talk about Chuck's barbershop journey, why he loves this style of music and heavy metal, what competing means to him and what this is all doing for his heart and soul. And we'll get to hear Chuck performing with his quartet in the KUT live music studio!

Barbershop Quartet!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Fran Rush about her nearly lifelong love of choral singing. Her connection to the art form began in 1950s Chicago, where she started singing in her school's choral group. She continued singing through college, then took a break for a couple of decades while raising a family. Then, in Austin, she re-embraced her love of group singing and never looked back again.We'll talk about her early fascination with choral singing, what it does for her body and spirit, why she never plans to stop. We'll also hear a bits of an actual recording of her 1950s high school group, and take a listen to one of Fran's rehearsals for Chorus Austin.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Fran Rush about her nearly lifelong love of choral singing. Her connection to the art form began in 1950s Chicago, where she started singing in her school's choral group. She continued singing through college, then took a break for a couple of decades while raising a family. Then, in Austin, she re-embraced her love of group singing and never looked back again.
We'll talk about her early fascination with choral singing, what it does for her body and spirit, why she never plans to stop. We'll also hear a bits of an actual recording of her 1950s high school group, and take a listen to one of Fran's rehearsals for Chorus Austin.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Choral Singing!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Beth Rowan about her love of dragon boat racing. She took up the sport several years ago as a sort of physical therapy; dragon boat racing has been done in China for millennia but it's only in the past few decades that it's been realized to be excellent exercise for breast cancer survivors. Beth is a member of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/paddleswithapurpose/?igsh=anh3YXN5bjllbWVp">Paddlers With a Purpose</a>, Austin's first dragon boat team made up entirely of breast cancer survivors. She joined the team for the exercise but was surprised to discover how much she fell in love with the sport and her teammates.We'll talk about what the sport means to her, what it's like to compete with other survivors, what she does with all her medals, and more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Beth Rowan about her love of dragon boat racing. She took up the sport several years ago as a sort of physical therapy; dragon boat racing has been done in China for millennia but it's only in the past few decades that it's been realized to be excellent exercise for breast cancer survivors. 
Beth is a member of Paddlers With a Purpose, Austin's first dragon boat team made up entirely of breast cancer survivors. She joined the team for the exercise but was surprised to discover how much she fell in love with the sport and her teammates.
We'll talk about what the sport means to her, what it's like to compete with other survivors, what she does with all her medals, and more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Dragon Boat Racing!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Jean Nelson about her nearly lifelong love of glass blowing. Her fascination began at age 10, but four decades went by before she was able to begin learning the art form. Now it’s her passion. I met Jean at Austin’s Ghost Pepper Glass, where she gave me a glass blowing demonstration while me making a lovely pair of drinking glasses.We'll talk about her early fascination with glass blowing, why she had to wait so long to start doing it herself, and what it means to her now.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Jean Nelson about her nearly lifelong love of glass blowing. Her fascination began at age 10, but four decades went by before she was able to begin learning the art form. Now it’s her passion. I met Jean at Austin’s Ghost Pepper Glass, where she gave me a glass blowing demonstration while me making a lovely pair of drinking glasses.
We'll talk about her early fascination with glass blowing, why she had to wait so long to start doing it herself, and what it means to her now.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Glass Blowing!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we're talking with two members of the Austin Pen Club about their shared love of collecting, writing with, and just talking about pens, especially fountain pens.Craig Bond and Cindy Miller both fell in love with fountain pens over a decade ago, and we'll talk with both of the about their fountain pen origin stories, why they love these pens more than others, what it means to be a member of the pen club, and much more! They'll tell us where they go to look for pens (and we'll visit one of Cindy's favorite shops with her), why the Dallas Pen Show is a big deal, and how they try to spread the love of fountain pens with the initiated. And we'll get a cameo appearance from the founder of the club herself!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we're talking with two members of the Austin Pen Club about their shared love of collecting, writing with, and just talking about pens, especially fountain pens.
Craig Bond and Cindy Miller both fell in love with fountain pens over a decade ago, and we'll talk with both of the about their fountain pen origin stories, why they love these pens more than others, what it means to be a member of the pen club, and much more! They'll tell us where they go to look for pens (and we'll visit one of Cindy's favorite shops with her), why the Dallas Pen Show is a big deal, and how they try to spread the love of fountain pens with the initiated. And we'll get a cameo appearance from the founder of the club herself!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Fountain Pens!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Becky James about her love of upcycling greeting cards. While downsizing to a smaller home after retirement, Becky realized she had dozens of old cards and stumbled upon a new hobby -- determined to keep those cards out of a landfill, she started turning them into new and improved cards and gift tags, giving them a second life. She's since expanded to work with cards from friends, relatives, and strangers, and now sells her cards at small shops and craft fairs (but she's not really in it for the money).We'll hear about about what this hobby does for her creatively, about the unexpectedly emotional journey one can go on while looking through a lifetime's worth of greeting cards, we'll hear the verb 'piddle' more than I have in years, and so much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Becky James about her love of upcycling greeting cards. While downsizing to a smaller home after retirement, Becky realized she had dozens of old cards and stumbled upon a new hobby -- determined to keep those cards out of a landfill, she started turning them into new and improved cards and gift tags, giving them a second life. She's since expanded to work with cards from friends, relatives, and strangers, and now sells her cards at small shops and craft fairs (but she's not really in it for the money).
We'll hear about about what this hobby does for her creatively, about the unexpectedly emotional journey one can go on while looking through a lifetime's worth of greeting cards, we'll hear the verb 'piddle' more than I have in years, and so much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Upcycling Greeting Cards!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Theresa Bond Zelazny about her love of what she calls guerrilla art. That's her term for the hobby she developed a few years ago, which involves creating small pieces of art and distributing them in random places for strangers to find. She's put dozens of artworks around Austin, Texas, and also spread a few on her travels, taking them as far away as Spain.We'll hear about about her lifelong love of art, when and why she decided to get some formal training, what prompted her to start sharing her art with the world in this unusual way, and what it all means to her. Plus we'll hear about Ben Bond's Museum of Plunder and Relics, the small business her father ran which was some kind of mix between museum and barn-full-of-stuff.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Theresa Bond Zelazny about her love of what she calls guerrilla art. That's her term for the hobby she developed a few years ago, which involves creating small pieces of art and distributing them in random places for strangers to find. She's put dozens of artworks around Austin, Texas, and also spread a few on her travels, taking them as far away as Spain.
We'll hear about about her lifelong love of art, when and why she decided to get some formal training, what prompted her to start sharing her art with the world in this unusual way, and what it all means to her. Plus we'll hear about Ben Bond's Museum of Plunder and Relics, the small business her father ran which was some kind of mix between museum and barn-full-of-stuff.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Guerrilla Art!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Justin Kizzart about his love of sumo wrestling. Justin discovered the sport about a decade ago while visiting Japan with his then-girlfriend (now wife), who hails from Osaka. Justin had trained in other martial arts in the past, but he unexpectedly fell hard for sumo and it became his primary passion.Now, ten years later, he runs his own sumo club (<a href="https://www.darkcirclesumo.com">Dark Circle Sumo in Austin</a>) and coaches Team USA in international competitions -- and all this is while still working a day job. We'll hear about how he fell in love with the sport, how it's connected him with his in-laws, what his hopes are for the future of sumo in America, and what it all means to him. This interview was recorded just before Justin and Team USA headed to Thailand for the 2025 World Sumo Championships, and if you stick around until the end, you'll get an update from Justin on how thing went. Don't google it. It's more fun to hear Justin tell you.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Justin Kizzart about his love of sumo wrestling. Justin discovered the sport about a decade ago while visiting Japan with his then-girlfriend (now wife), who hails from Osaka. Justin had trained in other martial arts in the past, but he unexpectedly fell hard for sumo and it became his primary passion.
Now, ten years later, he runs his own sumo club (Dark Circle Sumo in Austin) and coaches Team USA in international competitions -- and all this is while still working a day job. 
We'll hear about how he fell in love with the sport, how it's connected him with his in-laws, what his hopes are for the future of sumo in America, and what it all means to him. This interview was recorded just before Justin and Team USA headed to Thailand for the 2025 World Sumo Championships, and if you stick around until the end, you'll get an update from Justin on how thing went. Don't google it. It's more fun to hear Justin tell you.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Sumo Wrestling!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with James Hughes about his nearly lifelong love of miniatures gaming. He discovered the hobby as a kid and has been an avid fan ever since. It's, in a way, three hobbies in one -- it's a collection, it's a creative outlet (because James hand paints all of his miniatures) and, of course, a game.We'll hear about how he fell in love with miniatures, what the hobby and community means to him, which celebrities are rumored to be fellow gamers, how he deals with his Pile of Shame (also known as the Lead Mountain) and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with James Hughes about his nearly lifelong love of miniatures gaming. He discovered the hobby as a kid and has been an avid fan ever since. It's, in a way, three hobbies in one -- it's a collection, it's a creative outlet (because James hand paints all of his miniatures) and, of course, a game.
We'll hear about how he fell in love with miniatures, what the hobby and community means to him, which celebrities are rumored to be fellow gamers, how he deals with his Pile of Shame (also known as the Lead Mountain) and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Miniatures Gaming!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with David Morley about his love of bike polo. For the unfamiliar, bike polo is a sport similar in many ways to traditional polo, with the key difference that players ride bikes instead of horses. David’s been playing for around fifteen years now, having started in San Marcos when both he and the sport were very young.We'll about how he discovered the sport, what it means to him, how he and the sport have changed over the years, what he thinks the future might hold for bike polo, and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with David Morley about his love of bike polo. For the unfamiliar, bike polo is a sport similar in many ways to traditional polo, with the key difference that players ride bikes instead of horses. David’s been playing for around fifteen years now, having started in San Marcos when both he and the sport were very young.
We'll about how he discovered the sport, what it means to him, how he and the sport have changed over the years, what he thinks the future might hold for bike polo, and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Bike Polo!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Kim Reist about a relatively new hobby for her. During the pandemic lockdown, she started experimenting with fingernail art; to her surprise, she found the possibilities endlessly fascinating, and it’s become a great source of creative expression and stress relief for her. Kim’s in what she calls a ‘sub-niche’ of the nail art world, meaning she doesn’t decorate her own natural fingernails but prefers reusable press-on nails. And speaking of press-on nails, quick disclaimer – my last name is Lee but I am not an heir to the Lee Press-On Nails empire. This isn’t some weird buzz marketing to get folks to buy more press-on nails.We'll talk with Kim about what this creative outlet has meant for her, what it's like to carry her artwork around on the ends of her fingers every day, how she combines her love for nail art with her love for Star Trek, and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Kim Reist about a relatively new hobby for her. During the pandemic lockdown, she started experimenting with fingernail art; to her surprise, she found the possibilities endlessly fascinating, and it’s become a great source of creative expression and stress relief for her. Kim’s in what she calls a ‘sub-niche’ of the nail art world, meaning she doesn’t decorate her own natural fingernails but prefers reusable press-on nails. And speaking of press-on nails, quick disclaimer – my last name is Lee but I am not an heir to the Lee Press-On Nails empire. This isn’t some weird buzz marketing to get folks to buy more press-on nails.
We'll talk with Kim about what this creative outlet has meant for her, what it's like to carry her artwork around on the ends of her fingers every day, how she combines her love for nail art with her love for Star Trek, and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Nail Art!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Cory Squires about his love of whittling and woodcarving. We'll talk with Cory about his whittling origin story (his grandfather handed him a knife and a block of wood when he was bored as a child), his history with the practice, what he likes to carve (mostly funny animals and pop culture figures), which parts of the house he's allowed to whittle in,  and what it all means to him.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Cory Squires about his love of whittling and woodcarving. 
We'll talk with Cory about his whittling origin story (his grandfather handed him a knife and a block of wood when he was bored as a child), his history with the practice, what he likes to carve (mostly funny animals and pop culture figures), which parts of the house he's allowed to whittle in,  and what it all means to him.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Whittling!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Anna Kehl about her love of quilting, a topic she didn't know much about before attending QuiltCon several years ago. She became not just an avid practitioner of the art form but also an active member of the Austin Modern Quilt Guild.We'll hear Anna at work on a quilt at the Guild studio, we'll talk about her history with quilting and with art in general, we'll get the lowdown on the 'quilt police,' and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Anna Kehl about her love of quilting, a topic she didn't know much about before attending QuiltCon several years ago. She became not just an avid practitioner of the art form but also an active member of the Austin Modern Quilt Guild.
We'll hear Anna at work on a quilt at the Guild studio, we'll talk about her history with quilting and with art in general, we'll get the lowdown on the 'quilt police,' and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Modern Quilting!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with artist Carol Aaron about her love of encaustic painting. That's an art form that doesn't use the sorts of paints you're probably more familiar with (like oils or acrylics) but instead a mixture of beeswax, resin, and pigment. It's been around for a couple thousand years, but it's not very well known these days outside the art world.We'll hear Carol creating a piece in her beloved garage studio, and we'll talk with her about her artistic journey, why this medium was such a ideal fit for her creative style, when she finally felt comfortable calling herself an artist, and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with artist Carol Aaron about her love of encaustic painting. That's an art form that doesn't use the sorts of paints you're probably more familiar with (like oils or acrylics) but instead a mixture of beeswax, resin, and pigment. It's been around for a couple thousand years, but it's not very well known these days outside the art world.
We'll hear Carol creating a piece in her beloved garage studio, and we'll talk with her about her artistic journey, why this medium was such a ideal fit for her creative style, when she finally felt comfortable calling herself an artist, and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Encaustic Painting!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Bart Jacob about his decades-long love of the board game Go. He was introduced to the game in 1979 as a grad student and has been a dedicated player for nearly half a century. That's a pretty long time, but just a blip in the 3500 years or so that the game has been played. We'll hear some audio of Bart at the weekly meetup of the Austin Go Club (every Tuesday night at Dragon's Lair Comics and Fantasy), we'll talk with him about his history with the game, all the places around the world he's played, his Go board and stone collection, how Go has affected his outlook on life, and more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Bart Jacob about his decades-long love of the board game Go. He was introduced to the game in 1979 as a grad student and has been a dedicated player for nearly half a century. That's a pretty long time, but just a blip in the 3500 years or so that the game has been played. 
We'll hear some audio of Bart at the weekly meetup of the Austin Go Club (every Tuesday night at Dragon's Lair Comics and Fantasy), we'll talk with him about his history with the game, all the places around the world he's played, his Go board and stone collection, how Go has affected his outlook on life, and more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

With this episode, we’re going back to the show’s beginnings; this was one of the earliest interviews we recorded, way back when This Is My Thing was just an idea for a show that we were hoping would make it onto the airwaves and/or podcast streams someday. It took a little while, but we’re happy to bring it to you now.On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Mitch London about his love for metal detecting. For Mitch, it’s a hobby born out of another hobby – he was already a coin collector when, a few years ago, he was introduced to metal detecting as a way to search for rare coins. Now he also uses his skills to <a href="http://www.amdconline.com/">help strangers find meaningful (metal) objects they’ve lost</a>.We joined Mitch on a hunt for a lost earring that holds great sentimental value for its owner; on this episode you'll hear some highlights from that search along with our in-depth conversation with Mitch about his love of metal detecting. We talk about how he got into it, what kind of equipment he uses, what he's hoping to find, and what it all means to him!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

With this episode, we’re going back to the show’s beginnings; this was one of the earliest interviews we recorded, way back when This Is My Thing was just an idea for a show that we were hoping would make it onto the airwaves and/or podcast streams someday. It took a little while, but we’re happy to bring it to you now.
On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Mitch London about his love for metal detecting. For Mitch, it’s a hobby born out of another hobby – he was already a coin collector when, a few years ago, he was introduced to metal detecting as a way to search for rare coins. Now he also uses his skills to help strangers find meaningful (metal) objects they’ve lost.
We joined Mitch on a hunt for a lost earring that holds great sentimental value for its owner; on this episode you'll hear some highlights from that search along with our in-depth conversation with Mitch about his love of metal detecting. We talk about how he got into it, what kind of equipment he uses, what he's hoping to find, and what it all means to him!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Metal Detecting!

Lesley Murray grew up as a competitive swimmer, so she was already pretty comfortable in the water when she decided (on a whim, she says) to take a Deep End Fitness class. She fell in love with the practice, which led her to Underwater Torpedo League.Now she loves the sport, which she finds both meditative and exciting (it's 'meditating on fire,' she says). We'll talk about her history with the sport, how it's played, and what it means to her. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

Lesley Murray grew up as a competitive swimmer, so she was already pretty comfortable in the water when she decided (on a whim, she says) to take a Deep End Fitness class. She fell in love with the practice, which led her to Underwater Torpedo League.
Now she loves the sport, which she finds both meditative and exciting (it's 'meditating on fire,' she says). We'll talk about her history with the sport, how it's played, and what it means to her. 
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Underwater Torpedo League!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we're talking about a thing that's kind of three things -- the triathlon, a competitive sport that combines swimming, running, and cycling into one very challenging race. On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Tiffany Saunders and Caitlin Saunders about their shared love of triathlon. They met on a race (where they came in second!), fell in love with the sport and each other, and now train and compete together as Team Saunders.We'll talk about their origin stories with the sport and with each other, why they love competing, how they train for all three elements of the race, and much more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we're talking about a thing that's kind of three things -- the triathlon, a competitive sport that combines swimming, running, and cycling into one very challenging race. 
On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Tiffany Saunders and Caitlin Saunders about their shared love of triathlon. They met on a race (where they came in second!), fell in love with the sport and each other, and now train and compete together as Team Saunders.
We'll talk about their origin stories with the sport and with each other, why they love competing, how they train for all three elements of the race, and much more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Triathlon!

Several years ago, while looking for ways to improve at golf, Steve Merritt created a game on his property in Wimberley, Texas. Before long, that game had a name -- Cowboy Golf. And not long after that, Cowboy Golf had an annual event -- the Three Steves and a Dan tournament.As one might guess, that yearly tournament involves Steve Merrit, two additional Steves (Dehmer and Raatz), and a Dan (Vineyard). Dan was unable to make the taping, but I spoke with all three Steves about Cowboy Golf's history, its future, and what the sport means to their decades-long friendship.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

Several years ago, while looking for ways to improve at golf, Steve Merritt created a game on his property in Wimberley, Texas. Before long, that game had a name -- Cowboy Golf. And not long after that, Cowboy Golf had an annual event -- the Three Steves and a Dan tournament.
As one might guess, that yearly tournament involves Steve Merrit, two additional Steves (Dehmer and Raatz), and a Dan (Vineyard). 
Dan was unable to make the taping, but I spoke with all three Steves about Cowboy Golf's history, its future, and what the sport means to their decades-long friendship.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Cowboy Golf!

This week we’re talking with Ben Rollman about his longtime love of LEGO. Like a lot of AFOLs (Adult Fans Of LEGO), Ben’s affection for the plastic brick began in childhood, then went through a ‘Dark Age’ when it loosened its grip on him. But as an adult, Ben's love of LEGO came back with a vengeance and now he builds LEGO sets, collects LEGO sets, creates his own original works using LEGO bricks, and even helps to organize conventions of fellow brick lovers.We'll talk about the timeless appeal of the brick, the challenges and rewards of using LEGO as an artistic medium, the special language of brick fans, and a lot more!This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

This week we’re talking with Ben Rollman about his longtime love of LEGO. Like a lot of AFOLs (Adult Fans Of LEGO), Ben’s affection for the plastic brick began in childhood, then went through a ‘Dark Age’ when it loosened its grip on him. But as an adult, Ben's love of LEGO came back with a vengeance and now he builds LEGO sets, collects LEGO sets, creates his own original works using LEGO bricks, and even helps to organize conventions of fellow brick lovers.
We'll talk about the timeless appeal of the brick, the challenges and rewards of using LEGO as an artistic medium, the special language of brick fans, and a lot more!
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

LEGO!

When Lyzz Donelson retired from her job as an Austin firefighter a couple of years ago, she knew she'd find other ways to keep busy -- she already had a few ideas on a list. But then she surprised herself by falling in love with something that wasn't on her radar at all: making permanent jewelry. Now she attends artists' markets and private parties, looking to make connections with folks and bring a little extra joy into their lives by welding non-removable jewelry onto their person.We'll talk with Lyzz about how she stumbled upon the world of permanent jewelry, why it drew her in so quickly, and what she loves about the community she's discovered.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

When Lyzz Donelson retired from her job as an Austin firefighter a couple of years ago, she knew she'd find other ways to keep busy -- she already had a few ideas on a list. But then she surprised herself by falling in love with something that wasn't on her radar at all: making permanent jewelry. 
Now she attends artists' markets and private parties, looking to make connections with folks and bring a little extra joy into their lives by welding non-removable jewelry onto their person.
We'll talk with Lyzz about how she stumbled upon the world of permanent jewelry, why it drew her in so quickly, and what she loves about the community she's discovered.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Permanent Jewelry!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we talk with Rae Loos about aggressive roller skating!This episode comes to us from my friend Zahra Crim, who until recently was KUT’s Community Producer. Zahra’s moved on to go to grad school and new adventures, but before leaving, they worked on this piece for the show. It’s kind of a full-circle moment. The day I met Zahra, they were interviewing for the job at KUT and we talked a bit about hobbies and outside interests. Zahra mentioned that one of their main hobbies was something called aggressive roller skating, a term I had never heard before. That piqued my interest, of course, because I was already developing this show… and now this piece about that very hobby is Zahra’s last official task as a KUT employee.Zahra talks with their friend Rae Loos about their shared love of the sport, how it’s different from skating at the roller rink, and what it means to Rae.

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we talk with Rae Loos about aggressive roller skating!
This episode comes to us from my friend Zahra Crim, who until recently was KUT’s Community Producer. Zahra’s moved on to go to grad school and new adventures, but before leaving, they worked on this piece for the show. It’s kind of a full-circle moment. The day I met Zahra, they were interviewing for the job at KUT and we talked a bit about hobbies and outside interests. Zahra mentioned that one of their main hobbies was something called aggressive roller skating, a term I had never heard before. That piqued my interest, of course, because I was already developing this show… and now this piece about that very hobby is Zahra’s last official task as a KUT employee.
Zahra talks with their friend Rae Loos about their shared love of the sport, how it’s different from skating at the roller rink, and what it means to Rae.

Agressive Roller Skating!

Some folks like to watch trains or photograph trains or build model trains, but for Marc Opperman only the real thing will do. His love of trains led him to become a student conductor on a real, functioning vintage train, or what he calls '12 inch to the foot scale.' We'll talk about Marc's lifelong love of trains, the responsibilities of being conductor (even a volunteer student conductor), why a particular spot on the train's path holds a special meaning for him, where he finds his happy place onboard, and a lot more.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

Some folks like to watch trains or photograph trains or build model trains, but for Marc Opperman only the real thing will do. His love of trains led him to become a student conductor on a real, functioning vintage train, or what he calls '12 inch to the foot scale.' 
We'll talk about Marc's lifelong love of trains, the responsibilities of being conductor (even a volunteer student conductor), why a particular spot on the train's path holds a special meaning for him, where he finds his happy place onboard, and a lot more.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Vintage Railroading!

We're talking with Dan Schumacher about his love of tattoos and about the tattoo collection he's amassed on his person over the years. This episode of This Is My Thing comes to us from my friend and fellow KUT producer Juan Garcia. Dan was Juan's faculty adviser back in his college radio days, and they share an affinity for tattoos.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

We're talking with Dan Schumacher about his love of tattoos and about the tattoo collection he's amassed on his person over the years. This episode of This Is My Thing comes to us from my friend and fellow KUT producer Juan Garcia. Dan was Juan's faculty adviser back in his college radio days, and they share an affinity for tattoos.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Tattoos!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we talk with Mendy Ouzillou about his fascination with meteorites and get a tour of part of his large collection. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we talk with Mendy Ouzillou about his fascination with meteorites and get a tour of part of his large collection.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

We talk with Mendy Ouzillou about his love of rocks that have fallen to Earth from outer space.

Meteorites!

You'll hear from Nancy Leeper and Linda Parrish. Nancy and Linda are two members of the Austin Ukuladies, a group of six friends who took up the ukulele in retirement. All six of the Ukuladies meet up every Wednesday afternoon to catch up, chat, and perhaps most importantly, play the ukulele together. Over the last few years, they’ve developed a large repertoire including some classic songs from the 1920s, some ‘60s hits, an Elvis song or two, and – grudgingly for Linda – "The Rainbow Connection."We’ll talk about the origins of the band, the joy of buying musical gear and what it all means to Nancy and Linda. Also, just in case you’re not somebody who always reads photo credits, I want you to know that the group photo of the Ukuladies above was taken by Harry Newman, who, like all of the Ukuladies’ husbands, is known as a ‘Ukuladdie.’ This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

You'll hear from Nancy Leeper and Linda Parrish. Nancy and Linda are two members of the Austin Ukuladies, a group of six friends who took up the ukulele in retirement. All six of the Ukuladies meet up every Wednesday afternoon to catch up, chat, and perhaps most importantly, play the ukulele together. Over the last few years, they’ve developed a large repertoire including some classic songs from the 1920s, some ‘60s hits, an Elvis song or two, and – grudgingly for Linda – "The Rainbow Connection."
We’ll talk about the origins of the band, the joy of buying musical gear and what it all means to Nancy and Linda. Also, just in case you’re not somebody who always reads photo credits, I want you to know that the group photo of the Ukuladies above was taken by Harry Newman, who, like all of the Ukuladies’ husbands, is known as a ‘Ukuladdie.’ 
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Ukulele!

You'll hear from Dave Danenfelzer about his love for curling – ‘the kind you do on ice,’ as he puts it. Dave’s been curling all his life; he was taught by his grandfather as a kid and has been playing the sport ever since. When he moved from his native Wisconsin to Texas in the 1990s (‘I did it for love,’ Dave says), he thought his curling days were in the past. But he was wrong! It turns out other folks in the Lone Star State love this winter sport too, and Dave eventually found a curling club right here in Austin that lets him continue to do his thing. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

You'll hear from Dave Danenfelzer about his love for curling – ‘the kind you do on ice,’ as he puts it. Dave’s been curling all his life; he was taught by his grandfather as a kid and has been playing the sport ever since. When he moved from his native Wisconsin to Texas in the 1990s (‘I did it for love,’ Dave says), he thought his curling days were in the past. But he was wrong! It turns out other folks in the Lone Star State love this winter sport too, and Dave eventually found a curling club right here in Austin that lets him continue to do his thing.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Curling!

You'll hear from Anna Beard about her love of swords and sword fighting. For Anna, that love started early, through exposure to pop culture that featured swords made of lasers (Return of the Jedi) and steel (Lord of the Rings). “A book's not worth its salt unless somebody’s swinging a long sword at some point and talking about the name of their sword,” Anna says. Years later, that love of fictional swords became a love of real swords as she learned the art of sword fighting. And later still, that love of sword fighting became of love of teaching others how to sword fight. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

You'll hear from Anna Beard about her love of swords and sword fighting. For Anna, that love started early, through exposure to pop culture that featured swords made of lasers (Return of the Jedi) and steel (Lord of the Rings). “A book's not worth its salt unless somebody’s swinging a long sword at some point and talking about the name of their sword,” Anna says. Years later, that love of fictional swords became a love of real swords as she learned the art of sword fighting. And later still, that love of sword fighting became of love of teaching others how to sword fight.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Sword Fighting!

You'll hear from JD Murphy about lumber milling! The milling of lumber doesn’t have to be a job and it doesn’t have to happen at a lumber mill – JD has spent the past few years milling wood right in the middle of his Cedar Park driveway (his neighbors have been mostly supportive of his hobby, he says, though he suspects the HOA doesn’t love it). For JD, it’s about giving new life to something that might’ve otherwise gone to waste, and it’s helped him discover a creative side that he wasn’t always sure he had. This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

You'll hear from JD Murphy about lumber milling! The milling of lumber doesn’t have to be a job and it doesn’t have to happen at a lumber mill – JD has spent the past few years milling wood right in the middle of his Cedar Park driveway (his neighbors have been mostly supportive of his hobby, he says, though he suspects the HOA doesn’t love it). For JD, it’s about giving new life to something that might’ve otherwise gone to waste, and it’s helped him discover a creative side that he wasn’t always sure he had.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Lumber Milling!

We’re talking with Richard Samuel about his love of flag football. Rich has the great good fortune to be talented at both art and football, two of his lifelong loves (his third great love is comic books, something he and I bonded over when we met). He played football in high school, in college, and then professionally in Europe before getting a job as a coach. All the while, art continued in his life as his primary hobby. After finding that he was unhappy in that coaching job, Rich flipped his life around, quit coaching and opened an art gallery.But while he was unhappy making football his career, he still loves the sport. Now he’s a fulltime gallery owner and professional artist whose favorite hobby is playing flag football.This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT &amp; KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at <a href="https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&amp;SOURCECODE=ONPODK&amp;utm_source=podcast_message&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=support_this_redirect">supportthispodcast.org</a>

We’re talking with Richard Samuel about his love of flag football. Rich has the great good fortune to be talented at both art and football, two of his lifelong loves (his third great love is comic books, something he and I bonded over when we met). He played football in high school, in college, and then professionally in Europe before getting a job as a coach. All the while, art continued in his life as his primary hobby. After finding that he was unhappy in that coaching job, Rich flipped his life around, quit coaching and opened an art gallery.
But while he was unhappy making football his career, he still loves the sport. Now he’s a fulltime gallery owner and professional artist whose favorite hobby is playing flag football.
This is My Thing is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can support this podcast by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org

Pole Dancing!

Transcript