Serious Leisure – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Serious Leisure

Dr Petia Petrova, Kat Branch, Prof Sam Elkington

Leisure

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/51d. Total Eps: 26

If you‘ve ever thought you need to find a hobby but not sure how to make time, or if you‘ve not had a chance to unpack why your leisure is so important, this is for you.

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Apple

Data updated on 04/07/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇫🇷 France - Hobbies
26/07/2026
#80
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Hobbies
16/05/2026
#93
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Hobbies
15/05/2026
#58
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Hobbies
14/06/2025
#90
🇬🇧 Great Britain - Hobbies
17/01/2025
#98

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

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http://www.harrietshortt.wordpress.com/
1 share
https://www.uwe.ac.uk/events/festival-of-learning
1 share
http://www.rogergriffith.co.uk/
1 share

https://www.instagram.com/robgrieveart
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

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RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 58%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

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Handstands, Harmonies and Good Vibes

Episode 26

Thursday, August 14, 2025 • Duration 59:32

In this intriguing episode Rachel O’Connor, Associate Professor in Legal Education, Academic Lead for Personal Tutoring, University of Leeds and Music Director, Patrick Steed, take us into the welcoming, supportive communities of musical theatre and CrossFit, providing safe yet stretching spaces to find and express our authentic selves and do that difficult thing: make new friends as adults.

Rachael describes how the CrossFit community switched exercise from a lonely punishment to an exhilarating rush, whilst Patrick explains how singing songs from musicals together can provide a joyful escape but also a safe and empowering place to dig into difficult emotions. Understand more about the freedom of not having to be the best, but instead allowing leisure to be a place to follow your heart.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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Wide Space on a Narrowboat

Episode 25

Thursday, August 14, 2025 • Duration 55:28

In this soothing episode Paul Kleiman, Senior Consultant at Ciel Associates, explains how he found a slower pace and a feeling of space and calm through narrowboating. We hear how Paul and his partner renovated a narrowboat, remarkably without previous expertise, allowing the gently-paced restoration process to bring calm, focus and a deepening enjoyment of the simpler things. We explore the importance of small rituals to mark out sacred time for ourselves and help us to focus wholeheartedly on slower moments that can refresh and restore us.

Trigger warning: Please note that this episode makes reference to child loss.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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I come from academia with a banjo on my knee

Episode 24

Thursday, August 14, 2025 • Duration 51:54

In this episode, Professor Helen King, Director of Learning Innovation, Development & Skills, Bath Spa University and Richard Bale, Senior Teaching Fellow in Educational Development at Imperial College, share their experiences of diving into new hobbies. From strumming the banjo and playing the violin to lifting weights and hitting the trails, they discuss the joy of being a novice. Learn how to let go of aspirations and self-judgement and simply relish the process of learning something new. Tune in to discover the freedom of being average and the pure enjoyment of the journey.

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I only cycle to support my cake habit

Episode 23

Thursday, August 14, 2025 • Duration 58:50

In this episode, Russell Brookes, Online Futures Manager at Plymouth University, and Jacqueline Barker, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Operations Management at UWE Bristol, share their delightful cycling adventures. They show how cycling can be a peaceful solo ride or a lively group outing, perfect for everyone from university students to young parents and those navigating menopause. Discover how cycling is not just good for the soul but also a great way to enjoy cakes, coffee shops, and baked treats. Plus, listen for a clever hack to conquer steep hills on your bike! This episode features insights from our guest expert, Tamara Getter, Head of Sport Experience at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Enjoy the ride!

Produced at UWE Bristol.

Trigger warning: Please note that this episode contains references to themes of suicide, fertility issues, and bereavement which some individuals may find distressing.

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Finding a New Leisure Pursuit and Optimal Leisure Lifestyles with Prof Robert Stebbins

Episode 22

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 • Duration 33:32

The third and final part of An Audience with the Founder of Serious Leisure.

What are the factors that affect our leisure choices? How can we discover new activities for ourselves? In this episode the founder of the Serious Leisure Perspective Professor Robert Stebbins talks through the impact of geography, culture, finance and personal affinity on how we engage with leisure and how we can make it easier to try new things and expand our leisure worlds.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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Serious Leisure Podcast trailer

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 • Duration 01:18

A 60 second taster of the Serious Leisure podcast to give you a flavour of what we discuss with our fascinating guests.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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Why We Keep Going When the Fun Stops with Prof R Stebbins

Episode 21

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 • Duration 38:18

This is the second part of An Audience with the Founder of Serious Leisure.

Ever hit a wall with your favourite leisure activity? We can be surprisingly resilient and persistent with our favourite leisure activities. In this episode the founder of the Serious Leisure Perspective Professor Robert Stebbins talks us through the blurry lines between work and leisure, barriers to our leisure and the challenging periods where we might give up. We examine why we keep going and how can we use that resilience to help us balance work and leisure time in our everyday lives.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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The History of Serious Leisure with Prof Robert Stebbins

Episode 20

Friday, January 13, 2023 • Duration 31:24

Part 1 of 'An Audience with the Founder of Serious Leisure'.

Wondering where the term ‘Serious Leisure’ comes from? What do we mean by amateur or hobbyist and how might these labels help us understand leisure better? In this fascinating episode with the founder of the serious leisure perspective, Professor Robert Stebbins, we explore the origins of his serious leisure perspective concepts starting with elusive concept of amateurism.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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What is Serious Leisure and Why it Matters...

Episode 19

Friday, November 11, 2022 • Duration 01:01:56

Get to know the hosts of the Serious Leisure podcast in this entertaining reflection on our past episodes, highlighting the funniest and most touching moments so far, whilst explaining a bit more about what Serious Leisure means and why it matters for all of us.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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FROM THE ARCHIVE: What is Serious Leisure?

Episode 1

Friday, November 4, 2022 • Duration 49:25

This episode features the three podcast hosts: Dr Petia Petrova (Associate Director of Academic Practice at UWE Bristol), Kat Branch (Leader of UWE Bristol’s Centre for Music) and Dr Sam Elkington (the co-author of ‘The Serious Leisure Perspective’, Teesside University). We introduce our live audience to the origins of the podcast and the concept of Serious Leisure. We discuss the importance of community and how making time for leisure significantly affects our sense of identity and ability to recharge. We explore in particular the significance of separation between private and work spaces. Finally, we reflect on how our leisure pursuits have been impacted by the Covid pandemic, how we have managed to sustain and grow some but reluctantly given up others.

Don't miss the next episode! Subscribe now!

Reflecting on ways to balance work and wellbeing via leisure and hobbies.

Produced at UWE Bristol.

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Serious Leisure – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Serious Leisure – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other3

Instagram1

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other3

Instagram1