Niki Hansen was a pretty good kickball player as a kid, but she thought it was just for recess. Five years ago, she moved to Austin and discovered that grownups play it too and it's been a big part of her life ever since.
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. Support for This Is My Thing comes from Texas Orthopedics, specializing in comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical Orthopedic care.
Niki Hansen prepares for the pitcher to kick the ball during her first game playing catcher at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT Newsour continuing mission is 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, 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 , she put it away for years before moving to Austin in 2021. Here, she discovered a vibrant kickball scene and decided to jump back into the sport. Since then it's become a surprisingly important part of her life.Niki Hansen reaches to catch the kickball at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Hansen played catcher for the first time in her four years playing kickball. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen catches the kickball at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Hansen played catcher for the first time in her four years playing kickball. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen watches the ball arc through the air at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Hansen, typically playing second base, tried the catcher position for the first time in kickball. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen runs to third base during her first game of the kickball season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen chases after the kickball during her team’s first game of the season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen watches her teammates play in the first game of the kickball season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen high-fives the “No One Died at Stonewall” team after her team, “Oh No! Not Them Again,” tied them in the first game of the season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen adjusts the kicking lineup during the first game of the kickball season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen sits with their team watching their teammates play in the first game of the kickball season at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsNiki Hansen’s team, “Oh No! Not Them Again,” poses for a picture with their opposing team, “No One Died at Stonewall,” at Krieg Softball Complex in Austin, Texas, on Mar. 15, 2026. Joe Ferrara / KUT NewsWe'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 more!, you’ll find a longer version of this piece . There’s some great stuff in there that couldn’t fit into the shorter on-air version, including Niki's pickle story and why it's become a reliable source of joy for her!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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