With negativity and dire news surrounding us, it is important to remember the good people who take action to make our world better. THNX is a feelgood podcast that gives people a chance to recognize someone who -- even through a very small interaction -- had a positive and profound impact on their lives.
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, the first of four albums inspired by the seasons, in 2024. Curtis moved back to Austin and calls the city home.
3/10/26 • 51:27
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, which allowed him to work with and mentor over 300,000 runners. A friend of THNX and countless others, Jeff passed away last week and is survived by his wife Barbara and their two adult sons.
3/3/26 • 44:52
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, which allowed him to work with and mentor over 300,000 runners. A friend of THNX and countless others, Jeff passed away last week and is survived by his wife Barbara and their two adult sons.
3/3/26 • 39:34
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 being a strong voice with sociopolitical activism and human rights advocacy. Sarah is a Houston, Texas native and still calls the city home.
2/24/26 • 49:48
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 well as a singer/songwriter and guitar player. Brad calls Houston home.
2/17/26 • 56:51
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 only a friend of THNX but a personal friend of the host, Rodica passed away this week surrounded by loved ones. She is survived by her husband Robert and their son Matthew.
2/10/26 • 24:45
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2/3/26 • 57:21
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1/27/26 • 58:11
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 the Northern District of Ohio, Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. Prior to his current appointment, he practiced law at law firms in Texas and New York, maintained a significant pro bono practice, and was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Jonathan, his wife Lauren, and their children live in Houston, Texas.
1/20/26 • 59:10
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1/13/26 • 47:19
The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.
1/6/26 • 56:39
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 County in 1989, where he presided over more than 450 jury trials. He has received numerous honors and awards including "Trial Judge of the Year", lectured at seminars and conferences throughout Texas, and been featured in various publications. Mark, his wife Sarah, and their two sons call Houston, Texas home.
12/9/25 • 57:14
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 Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and Houston Bar Association. He has written numerous articles and papers that have been published and spoken at seminars for various organizations in addition to being featured in many newspapers and magazines. Randy survived his wife Mollie and lives with his two sons in Houston, Texas.
12/2/25 • 53:09
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 appeared as a guest speaker at numerous events and on various podcasts. Biju calls Houston, Texas home.
11/18/25 • 50:35
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 round and parades along city streets on Christmas morning with low-riders and a jazz band to deliver meals and gifts to children from low-income families. Having raised over $20,000, he and his team of volunteers are set to distribute over 10,000 presents this year. Richard calls Houston, Texas home.
11/11/25 • 45:42
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, Texas.
11/4/25 • 58:01
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 Taboada Law Firm, PLLC. Carlo makes his home in Texas.
10/28/25 • 59:08
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 impacts kids' lunch in Utah schools. DJ lives with his daughter Liara in Utah.
10/21/25 • 51:06
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 compromised people, she founded Sinless Treats LLC and became a partner in Revogreen Inc. Beata makes her home in Houston, Texas.
10/14/25 • 52:08
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.
10/7/25 • 57:57
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 and state levels before becoming the first Black female to lead Harris County's Public Defender's office in July of 2025. Genesis makes her home in Houston with her husband and their two children.
9/23/25 • 57:21
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.
9/16/25 • 52:52
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 Manager, and Libraries & Instructional Materials Specialist. Melissa makes her home in Houston, Texas.
9/9/25 • 59:39
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 returning to NORML as Executive Director for another decade. He now serves as legal counsel for NORML and recently published a book on its history. Keith makes his home in Washington, DC.
9/2/25 • 57:58
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.
8/26/25 • 53:14
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.
8/19/25 • 58:08
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.
8/12/25 • 58:28
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, Pennsylvania.
8/5/25 • 55:23
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 and was recognized as "Judge of the Year" by the Texas Gang Investigators' Association in 2018. Following, he served as the Chief of the General Felony Trial Division at the Fort Bend County District Attorney's office before being elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 2024. Brad makes his home in Houston, Texas.
7/29/25 • 59:27
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 her husband live in Houston, Texas.
7/22/25 • 57:06
