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We're exploring 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.

This Is My Thing: Pole Dancing!

Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz’s wipes pole after pole dancing at Black Box Creative on Nov. 21, 2024. Patricia Lim/KUT News
Fabiana Meléndez Ruiz’s wipes pole after pole dancing at Black Box Creative on Nov. 21, 2024. Patricia Lim/KUT News

It’s our first new This Is My Thing for 2025 and we are continuing our mission to talk with people about the things they do just for themselves – not because it’s their job and not because it’s a responsibility, just because they love to do it. The stuff you do because it’s your thing.

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.

On this page, you can listen to the on-air version of Fabiana’s story, but if you check out the KUT News Now podcast feed, you’ll find a much longer version of this piece.

We’ve talked to a lot of other people about their things and those stories will be coming in future weeks. We’re working on stories about lightsaber choreographer, ceramics, and much more. Stay tuned!

And we want to hear from you about the thing you do just because you love it! You’ll find an online form on the This Is My Thing show page where you can tell us about the thing that brings you joy, calms your mind, or feeds your soul in some way.

Mike is the production director at KUT, where he’s been working since his days as an English major at the University of Texas. He produces and hosts This Is My Thing and Arts Eclectic, and also produces Get Involved and the Sonic ID project. When pressed to do so, he’ll write short paragraphs about himself in the third person, but usually prefers not to.
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