
No, really...don't...
Rev. Marc van Bulck is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Marc sits down with people he thinks are interesting, picks their brains about the creative process, learns about how artistic expression informs our values. He also regularly embarrasses himself on-air.
Get in touch...
Want to say hi? Contact the show at dontencouragethis@gmail.com.
Episodes
Episodes



Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Ep. 15 - Dre Swain
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
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 currently streaming at https://vimeo.com/203908421 Additionally, Dre is the founder of DreMadeDat.com. She shares some behind-the-scenes stories working on shows for Nickelodeon, gets very candid about some of the challenges and setbacks she has dealt with as a working actress and reflects honestly on how creative energy has helped her create her own opportunities.



Thursday Nov 06, 2025
Ep. 14 - Sarah Bracey White
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
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 lead to healing in our lives, whether through the discoveries we make about our parents or the act of caring for a child, spouse or an aging loved one. She discusses how her creative journey led to three published books, two theatrical stage productions and even an (almost) Netflix series!
Her latest book, A Walk Down Memory Lane: Short Stories for Seniors to Spark Joy and Stay Sharp, is available wherever books are sold on December 2, 2025.



Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Ep. 13 - Peggy Jean Craig
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
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.



Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Ep. 12 - David J. Fielding
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
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 the theater and his most formative roles onstage, as well as his deep love of comic books and B-movies. David reveals some behind-the-scenes secrets from filming Power Rangers and how his childhood love of genre storytelling landed him an iconic role on the biggest children’s television show in the world…



Friday Jun 06, 2025
Ep. 11 - In Loving Memory of Walter Brueggemann
Friday Jun 06, 2025
Friday Jun 06, 2025
Walter Brueggemann
1933-2025



Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Ep. 10 - Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 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!: Eye-Popping Photographs of 'Weird Al' Yankovic, 1981-2006," is a stunning 256-page visual retrospective featuring over 300 never-before-seen color photographs. Jon shares stories behind some of the rarest images that even Al's most diehard fans have never seen and pays tribute to two of his favorite drummers, Ringo Starr and Hal Blaine.



Friday May 02, 2025
Ep. 9 - Mary Reber
Friday May 02, 2025
Friday May 02, 2025
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 on how connecting with the Twin Peaks fan community has touched her life in deeply personal ways.



Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Ep. 8 - Samantha Mandeles
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
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 Syndicate, and other publications and appeared in the documentary, "The J Street Challenge."
Her professional work spans counterterrorism research, journalism, and documentary photography. In 2025, Sam joins the Board of Directors at the Interfaith Center at Miami University. We reflect on how her background shapes her interfaith perspective, and she shares powerful stories behind her images, offering lessons that the global Jewish community can teach those of us committed to interfaith work.








