THNX: A Feelgood Podcast

Lauren Piland is a Louisiana native who studied advertising at Louisiana State University. She worked for an agency in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for seven years, then became an elementary school teacher. After four years of teaching second grade, she took time off to stay home with her second child. It was during this period of time that she merged her love for teaching children and her experience in marketing to create a series of children books based around the character Blooming Rose, hoping to foster discussion around issues elemenary school children are facing. Lauren and her family live in Houston, Texas.

Julia Nicholson has survived a major automobile accident that caused catastrophic injuries as well as an abusive marriage that left her unemployed with two small children. With no marketable job skills or education at that point in life, she managed to work, complete her degree, and become a CEO of a $450 Million company. After, she founded an independent consulting business and is now an author and speaker, with one speech even being featured on TEDx. Her book, Move Forward Stronger: A Dynamic Framework to Process Change, Loss and Grief, helps individuals deal with and overcome the worst events in their lives. The proceeds from her book and speeches are donated to charity. Julia is the mother of two small daughters and lives in California.

Mark Young is a British Expat painter presently based in Los Angeles, California. Mark emigrated to the United States and embraced art, particularly painting. He studied photography at the Kent Institute of Art and Design and later studied teaching photography at University of Greenwhich. As a photographer, he captured news fit to print and musicians worth a listen. His work can be found at www.splattermarks.com. Mark is married and is the stepfather to three adult children.

Mark Young is a British Expat painter presently based in Los Angeles, California. Mark emigrated to the United States and embraced art, particularly painting. He studied photography at the Kent Institute of Art and Design and later studied teaching photography at University of Greenwhich. As a photographer, he captured news fit to print and musicians worth a listen. His work can be found at www.splattermarks.com. Mark is married and is the stepfather to three adult children.

Christine Weiss earned a BA from Florida State University in Food and Nutrition, and her husband Eric Weiss, a board-certified plastic surgeon, earned a BS in Chemistry from Davidson College and an MD from Duke University. They are co-authors of the book Educating Marston: A Mother and Son's Journey Through Autism, which focuses on raising their autistic son, who was born in 1995, and has been hailed as an outstanding resource for people with children on the spectrum. The Weisses are also advocates for stem cell replacement therapy and have chronicled the profound and positive changes it has made with Marston. Christine and Eric have two children and make their home in Florida.

THNX: A Feelgood Podcast is re-releasing our interview with friend of the pod John Nova Lomax, who passed too soon on Monday, May 22, 2023.

John Nova Lomax was a journalist in Houston, Texas for 20 years. After graduating from Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee, he had a variety of jobs including oyster shucker, landscape gardener, British Telecom clerk, and field hand in Israel. John settled down in journalism at the Houston Press, where he reviewed and introduced all types of music to his readers as a Music Editor and Staff Writer for nearly 12 years. After working briefly at Swamplot.com, he was a Senior Editor at Texas Monthly for almost 4 years. John is survived by his children.

Jennifer Guajardo is a multidisciplinary artist whose art reflects an appreciation and love for wildlife. She has studied at Houston Community College, the University of Houston, and American International University and taught art to elementary school aged children for twelve years prior to becoming a full time working artist. Jennifer has exhibited her art and has received many awards. She and her family live in Houston, Texas.

Aaron Lee Burros spent the majority of his formative years in Houston, Texas. In 2009, he graduated from The College of Biblical Studies. At nearly 400 lbs and unhappy with his health and appearance, he turned to running and lost almost 100 lbs his first year and 75 lbs over the next 4 years. While preparing to run a 50-mile ultramarathon in 2015, Aaron was the victim of a workplace shooting. He returned to running in 2019 following grueling physical and emotional therapy and has completed several marathons and raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities since. Aaron makes his home in Houston, Texas.

Aaron Lee Burros spent the majority of his formative years in Houston, Texas. In 2009, he graduated from The College of Biblical Studies. At nearly 400 lbs and unhappy with his health and appearance, he turned to running and lost almost 100 lbs his first year and 75 lbs over the next 4 years. While preparing to run a 50-mile ultramarathon in 2015, Aaron was the victim of a workplace shooting. He returned to running in 2019 following grueling physical and emotional therapy and has completed several marathons and raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities since. Aaron makes his home in Houston, Texas.

Toni Okamoto has been a vegan for almost two decades. Her journey was influenced by a track coach highlighting the relationship between food and athletic performance as well as her love for animals. Over a decade ago, she founded Plant Based on a Budget, a website that shatters the misconception that eating plant based is expensive and time consuming. She is the author of four vegan cookbooks and the cohost of two podcasts, including the Plant Powered People Podcast. Toni and her husband Paul make their home in Sacramento, California.