THNX: A Feelgood Podcast

John Bishop is originally from Houston, Texas and has spent most of his adult life traveling the world. After exchange experiences in Mexico and Spain, he graduated from the University of St. Thomas, did graduate work at the University of Houston, and earned a Master's Degree from the University of Texas. His artistic interests followed him throughout his career as a librarian in Texas, New Mexico...

Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, known as Fantastic Negrito, is an American singer-songwriter originally from Massachusetts. A self-taught musician, he was first signed in 1993 and has released seven albums since, earning three consecutive Grammy Awards as well as NPR's first ever Tiny Desk Contest. Between records, he was in a near-fatal car crash, temporarily retired from music, set up an illegal night...

Mona Jhaveri is a biotech scientist and entrepreneur notable for her approaches to cancer research, detection, and funding. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Binghamton and her Doctorate in Biochemistry from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, trained as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute, was granted the SPORE Fellowship Award for Breast Can...

Christopher Seymore is originally from the hills of upstate South Carolina. He is a hillbilly poet, the Founder of the popular Horni Tonk Tuesday residency, and a rising star within the independent Texas Country scene. Christopher lives in Houston, Texas.

Connie Williams has been an attorney for five decades. Since spending the first four years of his career being employed by the Harris County District Attorney's Office, he has been a criminal defense attorney. Prior, he grew up in Brenham, Texas, served his country as a tank commander earning both a silver and bronze star, and recieved his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Houst...

Boyd Harrell is the Founder, CEO, and President of COOL Ministries, a Christ-based organization that has been predominantly serving incarcerated men and women for over 25 years. Prior to founding the ministry, Boyd was destined to spend the rest of his life in prison, using a number of drugs and having committed serious crimes. He turned his life to Christ at the suggestion of his mother during a...

Vanessa Lipscomb, originally from Alief, Texas, is a Co-Founder of The Wow Project. Founded in 2012 by Vanessa and her husband, The Wow Project focuses on quality food access and wellness and is known as Houston's healthiest food pantry. Together with volunteers, Trader Joe's, and Plant It forward, they have opened one community fridge and have hopes to continue their work. Vanessa and her husband...

Marcus Spoagnoletti is a personal injury attorney who earned degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Miami School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Texas, founded Spagnoletti Law Firm, and runs Concetto Limone, an Italian shoe brand co-owned with Tony Buzbee that launched its first line of products and made its Texas debut in 2021. Marcus makes...

Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez owns and operates Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery in Houston, Texas. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she graduated from Southwestern University and went on to marry her late husband Macario in 1983. The two opened Casa Ramirez in 1985 to promote and celebrate Latino culture by exhibiting and selling art and books, teaching a variety of classes, hosting events like poetry rea...

Steve Hyde is a photographer, videographer, and Co-Founder, alongside his wife, of Dizzy Media. The two met and married in Africa, and after embarking on a global photography adventure began working with drones in 2012. Using drone photography and videography, they showcase local small businesses, artists, and events, work with customers such as KHOU 11 in Houston, Texas and the University of Hous...

Janna Garza is an artist, photographer, writer, and storyteller who focuses on self portraits and character studies. In her self portrait series, her characters bend toward humor, tragedy, and a mix of the two. Janna is a Texas native and still calls the state home.

Mary Hammer is a talented singer and songwriter with over 10 years of experience performing throughout the state of Texas. She performs both on her own and as part of her band, Mermaid Junction, which includes her sister and other local artists. Mary makes her home in her native city of Houston, Texas.

Chloe Gose, the violinist, vocalist, and guitarist of The Wildwoods, is from the heart of Lincoln, Nebraska. She started playing violin at age nine and founded the folk/Americana trio The Wildwoods with her husband and brother in 2012. They have released numerous albums and were crowned "Best Band" by the Lincoln Journal Star's Lincoln Choice Awards in 2022. Chloe makes her home in Lincoln, Nebras...

Antonio Salazar-Hobson is the 11th of 14 children who lived as migrant farmworkers in Phoenix, Arizona. At age four, he was kidnapped by his neighbors, sexually abused, and eventually trafficked at a California holiday guest ranch. He connected with Cesar Chavez as a teen and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California Santa Cruz, a Master's Degree from Stanford as a Danf...

Devona Stimpson, a Virginia Beach native, is an artist, designer, branding expert, entrepreneur, speaker, and Amazon best-selling author. Her background consists of 10+ years of graphic design experience, the creation of successful online brand Art By Devona, sales of original paintings and prints, and the building of a 6-figure branding and creative boutique. Devona lives in Houston, Texas.

Johnny Falstaff, born in Alice, Texas and raised in Alvin, Texas, became interested in music from a young age and has toured domestically and internationally over the last decades. He served in the U.S. Army in the 1980s and moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991. After moving back to Texas, he began releasing his own albums in 2000. He began touring in Germany in 2006 and stayed in the country for...

Sonny Boy Terry, born Terry Jerome in Van Wert, Ohio, is a bluesman recognized as one of Texas' - if not one of America's - top harmonica players. After learning the basics, he moved to Houston, Texas in 1981 and began building his experience with the likes of Uncle John Turner, TC and the Cannonballs, and more, and later played in bands and toured domestically and internationally with Jerry Light...

Lisa McNair, from Birmigham, Alabama, is a public speaker who shares the story of her family. She is the oldest living sister of Denise McNair, one of the four girls killed in the infamous 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. Also an activist, photographer, and writer, she authored Dear Denise: Letters to the Sister I Never Knew. In addition to her own story, she speaks on the topic of...

Antonie Evans is an artist, curator, and designer presently working at the Blaffer Art Museum as the Digital Design and Resources Lead. He has participated in the Space Taking Artist Residency; worked as a designer, web developer, social media manager, and graphic designer; and served as docent at both the Brooklyn Museum and the Moody Center at Rice University. Outside of design work, he maintain...

Sean Cummings, the Vice Mayor of The Village, Oklahoma, journeyed from the heart of Kansas City, Missouri to the corridors of local governance as a dedicated advocate for public schools and a proud social activist. Despite the challenges life has thrown his way, including the loss of his beloved spouse, he remains steadfast in his mission to serve others. When he is not navigating the intricacies...

Demola, known as "Demola the Violinist", is a musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and award-winning self taught multi genre violinist. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States to pursue his music career. With experience performing the National Anthem at Minute Maid Stadium and the Toyota Center, appearing on local, national, and international te...

J. Isaiah Evans is a native of Dallas, Texas and is best known as the Founder and front man of roots rock & roll band The 40 Acre Mule. They began touring following their critical and commercial success and gained a devout international following. Now, J. Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed have forged a new path, putting keys front and center of Americana Rock and creating what he calls "Garageicana Ro...

Monte Warden is an American musician and songwriter native to Texas. Since his early teens, he has played as a solo artist and as a member of bands including Whoa! Trigger! and The Wagoneers, performed at SXSW, and won multiple awards and honors, in addition to being a rare two-time member of The Texas Music Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of The Wagoneers. His newest project,...

Revered Dr. Russell J. Levenson has been the Rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas since 2007. Prior, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham-Southern College, a Master's of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Formation at Beeson Divinity School, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Nashotah House Theological Seminary. He...

Marie Constantin is an American still photographer from Hartford, Connecticut. She graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with degrees in General Studies and Journalism. Her photography work, much of which was spent with Catholic nuns working with the poor, has taken her all over the world, and she became known internationally when her photo of Mother Teresa of Calcutt...