THNX: A Feelgood Podcast

Judge Mark Davidson currently serves as the Multi-District Litigation Judge for all asbestos cases in the State of Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Texas and a Doctor of Jurisprudence at the University of Houston Law School. Following graduation, he worked as an attorney and Master (Associate Judge) until being elected Judge of the 11th District Court in Harris Cou...

Randy Schaffer is a criminal defense attorney. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas in 1970 and earned his JD from the University of Texas School of Law in 1973. Licensed to practice before the US Supreme Court, multiple US Courts of Appeals, multiple US District Courts, and the Texas State Courts, he is a member of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, National Associa...

Biju Sukumaran is an award-winning, internationally published journalist, author, photographer, speaker, and self-help coach. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, he has worked as a columnist for National Geographic Traveller; contributed to Esquire, Vogue, GQ, and many other national and international publications; co-wrote the book Oldest Houston; founded Science of Self-Help; and appeare...

Richard Reyes has been playing the character of Pancho Claus in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley for over 40 years. Pancho Claus is a Tex-Mex Santa that grew out of the Chicano civil rights movement and is often referred to as being Santa's cousin from the South Pole. In addition to running programs throughout the year to assist kids and teens who are struggling, he coordinates toy drives year ro...

Dr. H Denise Wooten has over 30 years of specialized training and experience in pediatric psychiatry and developmental disorders. She earned her Doctor of Psychology Degree from Baylor University, served a post-doctoral fellowship in Child Clinical Psychology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, and is a member of the American Psychological Association. Denise lives in Flower Mound, Tex...

Carlo Taboada is an attorney in Brownsville, Texas. After serving in the US Marine Corps from 2001-2006, he decided to begin his legal career and specialize in immigration. Once graduated from Texas State University and Texas Tech University, he worked as a lawyer in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area and served as a State Bar of Texas District Director before leaving to start his own firm, Carlo T...

DJ Bracken is the founder of the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation. He created the organization after learning of the immense lunch debt of Utah schools and donating $835 of his own money to an elementary school in his community. As of Summer 2025, UTLDR has raised over $50,000 and paid off the lunch debt of 12 different Utah schools. His advocacy also helped pass HB100, legislation that directly...

Dr. Beata Lerman is a distinguished scientist with over 22 years of biomedical development experience renowned for her work in immuno-oncology and cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Inspired by her personal battle with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, she co-invented and patented two cancer immunotherapy treatments. After seeing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on health compro...

Sandy Weinmann is the General Manager of KPFT 90.1 FM Houston. He earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston. With extensive experince in technologies, he was a programmer at KPFT for many years prior to serving as the Interim General Manager from 2022-2025. Sandy makes his home in Houston, Texas.

Judge Genesis Draper, born and raised in Texas, earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Upon graduation, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began her career as an Assistant Public Defender. She later moved to Houston, Texas, where she served as Assistant Public Defender at both the federal an...

Woody Witt is an active performer, composer and educator based in Houston, Texas.  Witt has 13 CDs to his credit as a leader or coleader and most of his CD's feature original music. He plays saxophone and has had the opportunity to perform with some of the most well known jazz musicians of our time. 

Melissa Rippy has been a Director of Libraries & Instructional Materials in Texas since 2019. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Baylor University, a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from Baylor Unviersity, and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Houston. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Teacher and Librarian, Library Man...

Keith Stroup graduated from the University of Illinois in 1965 then Georgetown University Law Center in 1968 before founding the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) in 1970. After leaving his post at NORML in 1979, he worked as a lobbyist and was hired as the Executive Director of the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers from 1989 through 1994 before returni...

Oliver Penn is a musician who was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. He moved to Houston, Texas before high school then returned to Providence for college. A self-taught guitar player, drummer, and songwriter, he has shared the stage with many prominent performers. Oliver now makes his home in Texas.

Lee Guerrero has been an immigration and criminal defense attorney for 34 years. Originally from Nicaragua, she attended the University of Texas for her undergraduate degree and earned her JD from South Texas College of Law in 1993. Lee and her husband have two adult sons and make their home in Houston, Texas.

Brandi Doming created the popular blog The Vegan 8 in 2013 and later authored The Vegan 8 Cookbook. Also a contributor to Forks over Knives magazine, she just released her second cookbook, Vegan Wholesome, which debuted as the #1 Best Selling Vegan Cookbook. Brandi and her daughter live in Houston, Texas. 

Chris Rodell is an author, speaker, and storyteller. After graduating from Ohio University, he wrote for the Nashville Banner, National Enquirer, and many other large publications from 1992-2012 in addition to being a college professor. He won the 2018 TINARA Award for best satire for his debut novel and has since released 10 more books. Chris, his wife, and their two daughters live in Latrobe, Pe...

Justice Brad Hart earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in 1993 and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1997. After law school, he was a trial prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's office for 16 years, even being honored as "Prosecutor of the Year" by the Texas Narcotics Officers' Association in 2011. He was appointed Judge of the 230th District Court in 2013...

Jeannine Barr was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisianana and graduated from Louisiana State University Law School. She was an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County in Houston, Texas for nine years before running and being elected as a Criminal District Court Judge for 24 years. After stepping down from the bench, she embarked on a new journey as a singer and songwriter. Jeannine and he...

Ilea Newcomb, a third generation Texan, graduated with a degree in Children's Literature from the University of Findlay in Ohio. After working for the Parks & Recreation department for 10 years, she began teaching art, first at YES Prep then at Conroe High School. She is also a children's book illustrator, voice actor, and marathoner. Ilea, her husband, and their 5 kids live in Houston, Texas. 

Lance Cowan, a musician, publicist, and manager, was born and raised in Kentucky and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a songwriting career in 1984. He met and was encouraged by the great John Prine and has now been a respected member of the entertainment community for over three decades. Although heavily entrenched in the Roots & Americana fields, he has worked with artists in almost every...

Peter Cho is a Designer and Co-Founder of Jack Mason Brand watches. After moving from coast to coast in his youth, he earned his BFA in Product Design from Parsons School of Design in New York, New York and went on to work as a Designer at Movado Group in 2006. He moved to Dallas, Texas in 2010 to work as a Designer at Fossil and founded Jack Mason in 2015 to bring the world premium watches for en...

Hyman Penn is a retired pediatrician; he graduated from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio in 1982 and went on to practice for over 40 years. The son of Holocaust survivors, he is a longtime docent and board member at the Holocaust Museum Houston. In his free time, he practices magic, enjoys bike riding, and travels. Hyman lives in Houston, Texas.