Don’t Encourage This with Marc van Bulck
A series of interviews and conversations with creatives, artists, interfaith voices on meaning-making
Episodes
Simon Bennett’s career spans theater and television on both sides of the globe. He spent nearly two decades shaping the iconic, long-running New Zealand–based soap Shortland Street as a director, producer and executive producer before becoming Head of Drama at South Pacific Pictures. He also served as showrunner and executive producer for Saban’s Power Rangers from 2019 to 2023, including the 30th anniversary special, Mighty Morphi...
Steve Lindsley serves as the Executive Presbyter of the Providence Presbytery in South Carolina and is the Senior Ministry Strategist for Horizons Stewardship. He is also a musician and recording artist with eight albums and EP’s since 1997. His most recent album, “Back Again,” dropped in April of 2023.
Steve talks about the difference between good vs. bad Christian music, discusses some of the quirks of picking hymns on Sunday mor...
Dre Swain has appeared regularly on Nickelodeon over the past two decades on shows like “Victorious,” “iCarly,” “Sam and Cat,” “The Fairly Oddparents,” “Henry Danger,” and several others. She has also appeared on shows like “Shameless” on Showtime, alongside William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. Dre has acted in several critically acclaimed independent films in the festival circuit. Her indie film, “Brix and the B#&%!” is currentl...
Sarah Bracey White is the critically acclaimed author of Primary Lessons: A Memoir and The Wanderlust: A South Carolina Folktale. Set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South, Primary Lessons tells the real-life story of Sarah’s growing-up years navigating her challenging relationship with her mother and seeking to reconcile her complex family systems with issues of racial and social justice.
Sarah shares how telling stories can...
The Rev. Dr. Peggy Jean Craig currently serves as the Senior Pastor at the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Germantown in Germantown, Tennessee. In 2025, she was one of the headlining preachers at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. She joins me to discuss her experience preaching at Triennium and to explore the intersections between storytelling and advocacy.
David J. Fielding is an actor, writer, and voiceover artist best known for playing Zordon on the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series that premiered in August 1993. Beyond his iconic role as the mentor to superheroic teenagers, David is a prolific novelist and author of short fiction. David holds a BFA from Texas State University and an MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh. David discusses his experience in t...
Walter Brueggemann
1933-2025
Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz is the drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic. This summer he'll be hitting the road with Weird Al on the "Bigger and Weirder" Tour. Jon offers us a sneak preview of what fans can expect from the show and shares stories and memories from his legendary 40+ year career in music and comedy.
His latest book, "Lights, Camera, Accordion!: Ey...
Mary Reber appears in the third season of Twin Peaks, directed by David Lynch and executive produced by Lynch and Mark Frost. In real life, Mary owns the house that served as the filming location for Laura Palmer’s home. She joins me in conversation to share her memories of working with David Lynch and behind-the-scenes stories behind some of Season 3’s most shocking moments. Mary also offers tours of the Palmer House and reflects ...
Do Christians and Jews think differently about God? In what ways are our communities similar? In what ways are they unique? Samantha Mandeles is a passionate photographer, and her images are the subject of an exhibition titled "The Abayudaya: Portrait of an African Jewish Community," which captures the daily lives and spiritual vibrancy of a Jewish community in Namutumba, Uganda. She has contributed to Newsweek, the Jewish News Syn...
The Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka serves as the senior pastor and head of staff at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. Dr. Nishioka is one of the most sought-after preachers and teachers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent experts in youth and adolescent ministry in the denomination. Dr. Nishioka joins me in conversation to discuss the ever-changing landscape of yo...
Rev. Dr. Ed McLeod joins me in conversation. Recently retired, Dr. McLeod has served as the pastor at churches in Greer, South Carolina, Sumter, South Carolina and most recently Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary and the College of William & Mary, he has served on the Board of Trustees of both Union Presbyterian Seminary and William Peace University along with numerous presbytery committees....
Eva Jade Landon is a multi-award winning recording artist and “Best Female Pop Artist” and "Musician of the Year" nominee by the Indie Music Channel Awards and RAW Awards. She has collaborated with Grammy-nominated producer Dan Mathews and was called “the mid Atlantic’s biggest secret” by the Washington Examiner. Her new album, "Evolved," drops on October 1st.
In addition to being a recording artist, Eva identifies as a ...
Doc Eason is one of the premiere close-up magicians in the country. For thirty years, he was the resident magician at the legendary Tower Comedy Magic Bar in Snowmass, Colorado owned by the world famous recording artist, John Denver. He is a multi-award winning performer at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, including Close Up Magician of the Year (which he has won twice), Lecturer of the Year (which he has also won twice) and WC ...
Stevi Incremona narrated the audiobook for "Gray Man." She is a professional actress and rock singer based out of New York. Stevi makes a living creating demos for Broadway musicals while they're in active development. This episode, we discuss the perils of maintaining your authenticity in an industry that thrives on self-promotion and how her new live touring show is a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
The Book of Job is one of the most challenging (some say, maybe even one of the oldest) books of the Hebrew Bible. It raises complicated questions for people of faith such as "Why do bad things happen? Why does God allow suffering? Does God actually cause suffering?"
This episode, I'm joined by one of the world's most celebrate scholars of the Hebrew Bible and author of the widely acclaimed "The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Com...
It's the very first episode of "Don't Encourage This!" On my very first show, I sit down with award-winning novelist Carla Damron. Carla talks about the creative process, her newest novel, "Justice Be Done" and how storytelling is a form of advocacy for social change.
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