THNX: A Feelgood Podcast

Laura Mayo is the Senior Minister at Covenant Church in Houston, Texas. She graduated from Carson-Newman College and Wake Forest Divinity School in addition to further studies at Regent's Park College of Oxford University. A sought after speaker, she has extensive knowledge on topics such as women's roles in the Bible, LGBTQIA+ rights & inclusion, and Biblical ethics. Her writing has appeared in a...

Calvin Johnson, Ph. D. is the Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Eastern Washington University, a Master's Degree in Sociology/Research Methods from Temple University, and a Ph. D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland-College Park. Prior to his current role, h...

Adavion Wayne is the Director of Education at Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) in Houston, Texas. Originally from Louisiana, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Louisiana Monroe and his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, department chair, instruc...

Joanna Whaley has lived in Southeast Michigan her whole life and is now running for State Representative for House District 2 to serve her community. She earned her Bacherlor's Degree in Arts Management from Eastern Michigan University, attended the University of Michigan for Clinical Pastoral Education and a Clinical Pastoral Education Residency, and received her Master of Arts in Theology and Th...

Sig Muller is an author, motivational speaker, consultant, and founder. He was on the swimming team at Northwestern University in Illinois, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering; following, he received his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Darmouth in New Hampshire. His career includes leadership roles at Accenture, Ben & Jerry's, Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealth Group Gen...

Brian Warren was elected to be Judge of the 209th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Houston, Texas in 2018. Originally from New York, he earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from James Madison University in 1997 then his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's School of Law in 2001. His entire legal career has been dedicated to the practice of criminal law, starting his own criminal def...

Andrew Lienhard is a pianist and software developer. After graduating from the High School of the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, he earned both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Mathematics from the University of Houston, then another Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley. In addition to composing and playin...

Dan Simons was born and raised in Southeast Texas and became the first person in his family to graduate from high school. He then graduated from Sam Houston State University at the top of his class, went on to attend Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and earned his Master's Degree in Tax Law from the University of Houston. He has handled many cases as Assistant District Attorney and as Misdeeanor C...

Special episode! Terry Lord & Chris Tritico discuss law and the justice department under the current administration. Terry worked as a prosecutor in the US Department of Justice, Criminal Division for nearly 30 years, even prosecuting the first RICO case against the Mafia. Chris has been a criminal defense attorney for his entire career, handling cases in both state and federal courts, including t...

Judge Walter "Bud" Paulissen was appointed to begin hearing cases in 2019 by then-Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1977 from the University of Texas at Austin and his Juris Doctor in 1980 from the University of Texas School of Law. Following graduation, he worked in corporate and private law practice from 1980-1990, then served as an As...

Erica Lee Carter served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th Congressional District from 2024-2025. The daughter of U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and her Master of Public Policy from Duke University, then went on to work as a teacher in the Houston Independent School District and quality coordinator...

Robert Fickman is a criminal defense attorney in Texas. He graduated from the University of Houston Law School and has been practicing for nearly 40 years. A past president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, he defends people from all walks of life, both in State and Federal Court, is a frequent lecturer locally and nationally, was named one of the National Association of Criminal...

Paul Glastris is a journalist and political columnist. Born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri area, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History in 1981 and a Master's Degree in Radio in 1982, both from Northwestern University. Upon graduation, he moved to Washington, D.C., began working as a freelance writer, was a correspondent and editor for U.S. News & World Report from 1988-1998, speechwrote...

Curtis McMurtry is a singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, Texas. After studying music composition and ethnomusicology in college, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He performs both as a soloist and part of a group, has been featured on NPR's Weekend Edition, had a song included in the sountrack for One Mississippi on Amazon Prime, and released The Pollen & The Rot, t...

Jeff Galloway was born in North Carolina and attended Florida State University and Weslayan University. He was an All-American Collegiate Athlete and an Olympian; he competed in the 1972 Olympics, running the 10,000 meter race for the United States. He was an author, inspirational speaker, lifelong runner, founder of the running store Phidippedes, and the inventor of the run/walk /run method, whic...

Jeff Galloway was born in North Carolina and attended Florida State University and Weslayan University. He was an All-American Collegiate Athlete and an Olympian; he competed in the 1972 Olympics, running the 10,000 meter race for the United States. He was an author, inspirational speaker, lifelong runner, founder of the running store Phidippedes, and the inventor of the run/walk /run method, whic...

Sarah Golden is a folk singer-songwriter and guitar player. Her debut album, Truth, was released in 2002. She was a top-30 finalist on Season 2 of The Voice on Team CeeLo Green, was a top-100 finalist on Season 4 of America's Got Talent, has won mulitple awards in addition to one-of-ten grants from Howlin' Dog Music Group, and has shared the stage with numerous other acclaimed artists, as well as...

Brad Sullivan has been the Vicar of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church, a congregation dedicated to life & ministry with the homeless population of Houston, Texas, since 2022. Originally from Houston, he went to the University of Texas then Virginia Theological Seminary, getting ordained in 2005. He served in parish ministry for 17 years prior to his current position and is a published author as...

Rodica Gonzalez was an accomplished violinist who began playing when she was just four years old. Originally from Romania, she earned a Master's Degree in Violin Performance from Rice University. She was a member of the first violin section of the Houston Symphony, toured internationally, performed at Carnegie Hall multiple times, and taught at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Not o...

UPDATE: Jonathan Fombonne was appointed to serve as Harris County Attorney in Houston, Texas in January 2026.   Jonathan Fombonne is the Deputy County Attorney and First Assistant County Attorney in Harris County, Texas. After graduating from Swarthmore College and the University of Michigan Law School, he started his career with a clerkship for Chief Judge of the United States District Court for...