THNX: A Feelgood Podcast

Dr. Arelia Johnson is a nationally recognized sociologist, strategist, speaker, consultant, and writer with nearly 20 years of experience advancing equity, justice, and inclusion. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology and Criminology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and currently serves as the first Chief Officer of Human and Civil Rights in Harris County, Houston, Texas. Her innumerable contributions include co-founding Beyond the B.A.R. Consulting & Strategy and creating the R.E.D.I. Lexicon and Language Matters. Arelia calls Houston, Texas home.

Wayne Basist is a Certified Health & Life Coach and a Positive Intelligence-Trained Mental Fitness Coach who founded ESQ Mental Fitness in 2024. Born and raised in New York City, he played basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles before earning his law degree at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California. While working successfully as an attorney, he was in a car accident that changed his life. Ever since, his mission has been to help others heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Wayne and his wife have two adult sons and call Lake Conroe, Texas home.

Woody Witt is an active performer, composer, and educator based in Houston, Texas. He has played saxophone with some of the most well known jazz musicians of our time and has 13 CDs to his credit as a leader or co-leader. Thomas Helton, also based in Houston, Texas, is a bassist and composer who is adept at playing jazz, classical, experimental, and avant-garde music. A recipient of numerous awards and accolades as well as the founder or co-founder of multiple bands, he has released three CDs of original compositions and improvisations. Listen to our conversation with the duo!

Gary Tyler, from St. Rose, Louisiana, was sentenced to death and spent 41 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Despite his wrongful conviction and incarceration, he led an exemplary life behind bars in service of others, including quilting as a way to raise money for the prison's hospice program. Since his release in 2016, he has continued creating, and some of his art is featured in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. He was the 2019 and 2020 Art Matters Awardee and released his memoir "Stitching Freedom" in 2025. Gary calls Los Angeles, California home.

Denise Peterson is a full-time professional neutral, focusing her practice exclusively on dispute resolution services. She mediates civil cases and is on several arbitration panels. In addition to being licensed as an attorney in Texas and New York, she is a solicitor to the Senior Courts of England and Wales. During the Spring and Fall semesters at South Texas College of Law, Ms. Peterson becomes professor Peterson as she teaches both the mediation clinic and negotiation experiential learning classes. She also serves on the American Bar Association Legal Education in Dispute Resolution committee.

Judge Manpreet "Monica" Singh is a native Houstonian who earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her JD from South Texas College of Law. She made history as Texas's first Sikh Judge as well as the first female Sikh Judge in the U.S. when she was elected to Harris County Civil Court at Law #4 in 2022. Prior, she was a practicing attorney for 21 years and has received numerous awards and recognitions, served on multiple boards, and sits as a Chapter Representative for the American Board of Trial Advocates. Monica has two sons and calls Houston, Texas home.

Anno Da Poet is a spoken-word artist and slam poet. A native Houstonian, he is an active featured performer, host, and recurring competitor with the Write About Now (WAN) Poetry organization. He also founded Bayou City Hoops, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to foster amateur sports competition and youth development. Anno calls Houston, Texas home.

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 articles in The Houston Chronicle, Baptist News Global, and publications of the Alliance of Baptists. Laura and her two sons make their home in Houston.

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, he served dual roles as the Associate Director of the Office of Research and Evaluation and the Performance Improvement Officer at the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, then went on to serve 12 years as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research. Having also worked in research positions at the University of Pennsylvania, The Urban Institute, and with the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, he serves as a Commissioner on the United States Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys as well as was elected as a Fellow for the National Academy of Public Administration. Calvin calls Houston, Texas home.

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, instructional coordinator, magnet coordinator, assistant pricipal, associate principal, interim principal, and principal apprentice. Adavion calls Houston home.