This is My Thing

Doodling!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Yael Ouzillou about her love of doodling. It's a practice she took up several years ago; she draws colorful and intricate designs, patterns and pictures to process events in her life and the world around her. We'll talk about why she started the practice, why she prefers to call it 'doodling' and not 'art,' how it's helped her to embrace imperfection while seeing beauty all around her and so much more. You can see some photos of Yael and her doodles at our KUT show page [https://www.kut.org//life-arts/2026-05-19/this-is-my-thing-doodling]. Tell us about your thing and apply to be on the show here [https://www.kut.org/this-is-my-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 [https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&SOURCECODE=ONPODK&utm_source=podcast_message&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=support_this_redirect]

Loquats!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Matthew Bey about his love of loquats. For the unfamiliar, loquats are small, juicy, orange fruits; they're native to China but also grow in the wild in Central Texas. Matthew discovered loquat trees and their fruit when he moved to Austin around the turn of the century and quickly became a big fan. We'll talk about how he discovered loquats, why he loves them, what recipes he makes with them, how he's become a bit of an amateur horticulturist in his efforts to raise hardier loquat trees, and why he decided to start Loquat Fest a few years ago! 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 [https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&SOURCECODE=ONPODK&utm_source=podcast_message&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=support_this_redirect]

Snorkeling!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Susan Hanson about her love of snorkeling. Every week, she puts on her gear and jumps into the San Marcos River to float a bit, take some photos, clean up any trash she sees, and occasionally recover a lost phone or wallet. We'll talk about her first river plunge, which parts of the world she's snorkeled in in the two decades since, the friendships she's made (with humans, fish, and turtles), and what it's all doing for her. Oh, and we'll also talk about why she -- a person who doesn't even like to swim -- decided to take up snorkeling in the first place! Check out some of Susan's underwater photos and see a short video of her in the river at our page on KUT.org [https://www.kut.org/life-arts/2026-04-21/this-is-my-thing-snorkeling] 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 [https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&SOURCECODE=ONPODK&utm_source=podcast_message&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=support_this_redirect]

Model Railroading!

On this episode of This Is My Thing, we’re talking with Steve Jackobs about his nearly lifelong love of model railroading. He discovered the hobby at age 10, when his father (after trying the pastime for himself and finding it wasn't for him) gave young Steve an HO scale train set. Trains very much were for Steve, and he embarked on a journey that's been going on for fifty-plus years so far. We'll talk about her childhood fondness for train sets, his teenage job at the local hobby shop, the home train layout he's built in the spare room in his house (which also doubles as his wife's home office), why he loves to create parts of his train world from scratch, 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 [https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&SOURCECODE=ONPODK&utm_source=podcast_message&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=support_this_redirect]

Kickball!

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 [https://kut.secureallegiance.com/kut/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STUDIOS&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=u9cIRQnMqMyANaCLsKJDiuzWDeZ%2BeA1M&SOURCECODE=ONPODK&utm_source=podcast_message&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=support_this_redirect]