Cringe with Marc van Bulck

     Andy Leviton, Associate Editor of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," sits down to share some of the behind-the-scene secrets of the new Golden Globe winning animated film.  Andy walks us through the creative process of how this big-budget animated studio film got made (from the editor's point of view), what different versions of the story almost looked like, and whether movies like "Into the Spider-Verse" and "Venom" are considered canon in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.      SPOILER ALERT: We do give away a LOT of huge spoilers about the movie in this podcast, so if you haven't seen the film yet, be warned that you might want to wait until after you watch it first.  You have been warned!

     David Lawson is a storyteller who has been performing one-man shows across the country for over ten years.  His shows cover a wide range of topics from insomnia, to retro nerd culture, to his experiences working in Time Square.  We talk about the struggle artists have prioritizing work and relationships (and ministers, too!), how a one-man show is put together from the concept to the stage, and the state of cinema today.

     The Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer Oget joins me to talk about Marvel Studios' film, "Black Panther."  She is the First Presbyterian Church, Shreveport, D. Thomason Professor of New Testament Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and an active speaker and lecturer.  We discuss many issues that intersect in the movie: genre, fantasy, science-fiction, race, feminism, liberation, and yes, even theology.  We also discuss the dangers of allowing the success of up-and-coming directors like Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay to lead to tokenism.

     "Weird Al" Yankovic and his band are currently touring with "The Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour," and a few of the band members sit down with me over the phone before their show at the Playhouse Square in Cleveland.  Guitarist Jim "Kimo" West shares stories about recording Al's first albums, and his early days performing with bassist, Steve Jay (with whom he's also touring this summer).      Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz returns to this program for the second time to talk about his work on Al's completely remastered boxed set that came out over the holidays and even shares an "inside scoop" or two about the new tour!

     Walter Brueggemann returns to discuss the topic of Sabbath as a form of rebellion against a society that has been co-opted by the culture set forth by Pharaoh in the Old Testament.  We discuss the need to treat Sabbath as a serious spiritual discipline (not just a childish luxury) and other necessary subversions such as the #MeToo movement and young people speaking out against gun violence.

     Billy Jonas, David LaMotte, and Dawud Wharnsby, three internationally renowned singer-songwriters, join me on the podcast this episode to talk about their touring show, Abraham Jam, a trio of performers from the three Abrahamic faiths.  This episode we talk about the importance of interfaith dialogue in artistic performances like Abraham Jam and beyond.      For more information, check out: AbrahamJam.com

     This episode of the podcast, I got to go backstage at the newest production of "Carrie: The Musical" at the Near West Theater in Cleveland and talk to the cast and director of the show to talk in-depth about the themes of Stephen King's classic novel adapted for the stage.  My guests include:      Anna Parchem (Carrie White)      Morgan Williams (Sue Snell)      Statia Rankin (Chris Hargensen)      Julie Penzvalto (Margaret White)      Devon Turchan (Director)      For more information on "Carrie: The Musical" and tickets, visit http://www.nearwesttheatre.org

     Lauren Reid has served as Special Series Coordinator for the Conservation Media Group.  She spent two weeks aboard a boat called the Rainbow Warrior with a film crew from Greenpeace creating a video documentary series called "The Truth About Tuna."  Lauren shares some stories about how this experience opened her eyes to the living conditions for many of the fishermen in the tuna industry out at sea, how the industry has been affected by stock depletion, and the impact the industry has on the environment.      Film clips by Adam Woods and Greenpeace USA

     Dacre Stoker is the great-grand-nephew of Bram Stoker, author of the classic novel, "Dracula."  Dacre has devoted himself to the academic research and preservation of his famous great-grand-uncle's literary legacy.  He joins the podcast to discuss how Bram Stoker's real life experiences growing up may have inspired some of the terrifying images and story in "Dracula."      I am also joined by guest co-host, Leah Davydov, from Cleveland State University.  Leah is a local vampire scholar who has also devoted herself to researching Bram Stoker, vampire literature, and mythology.  We talk about the different castles in Romania that may or may not have been connected to the real life Vlad the Impaler or perhaps inspired the fictional castle in the novel.  I tell Dacre about the time I visited Transylvania as an obnoxious American tourist and humiliated myself, and we discuss "Dracula" in media, television, and film.      Featuring "Tocatta and Fugue" by Johann Sebastian Bach - performed by Dan Rogers

     Chrysta Bell stars in the third season of “Twin Peaks” on Showtime directed by David Lynch.  She is a recording artist, songwriter, and actress who has collaborated with Lynch since 1999.  They have produced two albums together, “The Train” and an EP, “Somewhere in the Nowhere.”  In 2017, she leaps into the unknown releasing her new album, “We Dissolve" (her first without the involvement of a record label or a famous Hollywood director).      Chrysta Bell and I talk a little bit about the elusive creative process and where her ideas come from.  She shares why creating this new album was such a unique and personal experience for her.  She also offers some behind-the-scenes insights into her collaborations with David Lynch both in the recording studio and on the set of "Twin Peaks."      Find out more: http://www.chrystabell.com

     Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is a performer and puppeteer on “Sesame Street.” She performs Abby Cadabby as well as a variety of other characters. She has performed the Muppets on “Muppets Tonight,” “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss,” the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” and many, many other programs.  Fans may also remember her from the film, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” starring Jason Segel, as the evil succubus in the vampire musical.      Leslie has also devoted her career to using imagination and creativity as a form of mission and outreach to at-risk youth and children.  She is the creator of the original multimedia musical, “Wake Up Your Weird!” which was developed under a grant by the Jim Henson Foundation.  She is also one of the founding members of “Puppet Up! / Stuffed And Unstrung” with Brian Henson and the Jim Henson Company.      During our conversation, Leslie shares some of her behind-the-scenes stories from working with the Muppets and how she learned from legendary Henson performers like Jerry Nelson and Frank Oz.  She talks a little about how her experiences growing up gave her a passion for helping young people "wake up their weird" to explore their feelings through artistic expression, irreverence, humor, and honesty.  Plus, find out how Leslie had an "Uncle Ben" moment meeting Shari Lewis on an airplane.

     Professor Michael D. Coogan is the editor of the Oxford Annotated Bible and the Director of Publications at the Harvard Semitic Museum, and he joins me for a discussion on the book of Genesis.  Professor Coogan is the author of the books, "The Ten Commandments: A Short History of an Ancient Text," "God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says," and "The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures."      This episode, we talk about some of my favorite passages in all of Scripture: the first three chapters of Genesis.  Creation, the garden, and our relationships with one another.  Professor Coogan and I discuss some of the most common misunderstandings of these stories and some of my favorite questions when it comes to these texts.  Are these narratives literal?  Is the garden of Eden really a "fall story?"  Was Eve really deceived by the serpent, or did he make some legitimate points, and what exactly are God's motivations by planting this tree in the garden in the first place?  We also involve you, the listener, in the conversation by taking some of your questions from social media, e-mail, and Facebook.  

     Author and blogger Gordon Atkinson (formerly of RealLivePreacher.com) returns to talk about his new book, "Foy: On the Road to Lost," a collection of short stories about the life of his fictional character, Foy Davis.  Gordon and I talk about some of our favorite Foy stories.  We're given some "inside info" on how much of it is fictionalized and how much of it is based on his own experience.  Gordon also talks about the influence Jungian psychology has on the mythology and psyche of Foy's character and gives us a peek at the forthcoming sequel...

     Howdy!  It's Mac King!        Comedy magician, Mac King, has headlined at Harrah's Las Vegas for over seventeen years and has been seen performing on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and all five "World's Greatest Magic" specials on NBC.  He has been praised by the magic community in The Wall Street Journal and was called "the greatest comedy magician working in the world today.  Full stop...the greatest comedy magician at least alive today...maybe who ever lived" by Penn and Teller.       He has also been named Funniest Magician in the World by Magic Magazine and Magician of the Year by the Magic Castle in Hollywood.  He also happens to be a childhood hero of mine.  I'm delighted to welcome him on my show.

     This year, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to adopt the Belhar Confession to its Book of Confessions.  This episode, I sit down with four individuals within the denomination to learn more about this confession, its history, what it means, and why its inclusion is significant.  My conversations this episode include:      Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)      Rev. T. Denise Anderson, Co-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)      Rev. Dr. Charles Wiley,  coordinator of the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Mission Agency      Rev. Amy Snow, Director of Congregational Care, Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

     Award-winning songwriter, speaker and writer, David LaMotte returns to cringe for a second time! David and I sit down in his home in Black Mountain, North Carolina, to talk about his first studio album in a decade, "The Other Way Around." We go track-by-track (more or less...we jump around a fair bit), and David shares behind-the-scenes stories behind every single song from this new record...and David even performs one of them live right here on the podcast.

     Broadway star, Rebecca Pitcher, joins the Cringe podcast!  Rebecca is currently performing with the national touring production of the "The Sound of Music" and has starred on Broadway (and toured nationally) as Christine Daaé in "The Phantom of the Opera."  Rebecca wasn't able to appear on the previous 30th Anniversary Phantom episode due to her busy touring schedule, but during a recent break from the tour, she was nice enough to come back and let me interview her for the show.      Since this is the second "Phantom of the Opera" related episode in a row, I decided to mix it up and asked my good friend, Sarah Leer, to guest co-host this episode and discuss my conversation with Rebecca as it unfolds.  Sarah Leer is a good friend, musical theater nerd, fellow Phantom Phan, and currently serves as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Bentonville, Arkansas.

     Actors Gary Mauer and Jan Horvath from Broadway's "The Phantom of the Opera" join me on the podcast to discuss the 30th anniversary of the show's debut on the London stage in 1986. Gary Mauer donned the famous mask on Broadway in 2007 and holds the record for most performances of any actor in the role of Raoul. Jan Horvath is a member of the original 1988 New York company and has played both Christine and Carlotta on Broadway. Both Gary and Jan have considerable acting and singing credits to their name. During this episode, Gary and I discuss the theology of "Jesus Christ Superstar," and Jan becomes the first Broadway actress to make pig grunts on my podcast!

     Ron Wasserman is a composer for television shows and has written theme songs and musical score for countless television credits such as "Spongebob Squarepants," "Hot in Cleveland" with Betty White, "The Soul Man" with Cedric the Entertainer, "Bella and the Bulldogs" on Nickelodeon, "America's Next Top Model," and "X-Men: The Animated Series." Ron made his big break when he wrote and sang the original theme tune for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers under the pseudonym, Aaron Waters (a.k.a. The Mighty RAW). We talk extensively about why he wanted to write a hard rock score to a kids' show, whether or not he will be involved in the new Power Rangers reboot film for Lionsgate, and how Eddie Van Halen gave him the highest compliment of his career!

     The Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence is the Peter Marshall Associate Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is the author of the book, "Preaching as Testimony," has written several articles, and served as the editor for the book, "Inscribing the Word: Sermons and Prayers of Walter Brueggemann." This episode, Anna shares some of her favorite Broadway musicals and talks about how her background in the theater shaped her life. We also talk about how preachers can wrestle faithfully with issues of politics and candidates like Donald Trump from the pulpit. She answers many of your questions from social media, e-mail, and Facebook about the behind-the-scenes process of sermon preparation in the preacher's life.      UPDATE:  This episode was remastered on April 5, 2018.

     Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic, joins the Cringe podcast! Bermuda will be performing around the country and beyond this summer as part of the Mandatory World Tour with Weird Al. Their latest album, "Mandatory Fun," won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts! This episode, we cover a wide range of topics from Bermuda's long career in music as well some hair-raising behind-the-scenes stories from being in Al's band! Bermuda also takes your questions from social media, e-mail, and Facebook - including specially submitted questions from the Close, Personal Friends of Al Facebook group!      If you'd like to find out more, you can catch Bermuda on the web at:      http://www.bermudaschwartz.com/      http://www.weirdal.com/ 

     Are human beings inherently bad or inherently good? Or are we more shades of grey? How do we understand brilliant artists like David Bowie and Woody Allen who create art that moves people but who have also faced allegations of abuse? This episode my good friend, Carrie Nelson, Skypes in to the podcast to discuss how we understand these complicated nuances - not just in celebrities but also in our own lives during the season of Lent. Carrie Nelson is the creator of Gender Across Borders. She is a writer for the Lifestyle section of "The Daily Dot" and the Entertainment section of SheKnows. She is also the creator, director, and producer the Greyscale Project.      If you would like to learn more about Carrie's work, you can find her at:      The Grescale Project: http://www.greyscaledoc.com      SheKnows: http://www.sheknows.com      Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieANelson 

     Angie Haze of The Angie Haze Project performs live on the podcast! Angie Haze is a recording artist and producer based out of Cleveland. She has been seen performing at the Akron Civic Center, the House of Blues in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and countless other venues in and around the Cleveland area. This episode, Angie brings her guitar and bell shoes into my living room(!) and plays several of her songs off of her album, “Heat to Cold” live right here on the podcast. She also plays a sneak peek at a brand new song coming off her forthcoming album!      We talk about the creative process and how imposing limitations on ourselves can actually help us to become more creative. We discuss how making art can help us tap into emotions that we’re not even aware of, and Angie shares some of the stories behind her own lyrics. Strap on your bells! Angie Haze joins Episode 13 of the Cringe podcast!

     Rob Asghar is an author and contributor for Forbes Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and the Washington Post's "On Faith." Rob joins me this episode to discuss a number of topics including how Christians and churches can honestly and relevantly engage in thought and dialogue about our relationship with the Muslim world. He talk about his experiences growing up in a family of Pakistani-American immigrants and his journey through both Islam and Christianity. We also discuss some of the questions facing scholars today about this historical Jesus, as well as his complicated feelings about scholar, Reza Aslan, author of the book, "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth."

     The Force A̶w̶a̶k̶e̶n̶s̶ Cringes! Actress Katie Cofield ("Sleepy Hollow" [FOX], "Once Upon A Time: The Rock Opera") joins me this episode to nerd out about the future of the "Star Wars" franchise in anticipation of the release of "The Force Awakens." Katie recently appeared as an elementary school teacher who helps Ichabod Crane on the hit drama, "Sleepy Hollow," on FOX. She shares what it's like being on the set of a major network drama and also offers some behind-the-scenes insights in the competitive field of getting gigs for television and film. We also talk about her recent experience starring in "Once Upon A Time: The Rock Opera," and what it was like performing from a pirate ship at Comic-Con!

     David LaMotte is an award-winning songwriter, speaker and writer. He has performed over 2,500 concerts and released eleven full-length CDs of primarily original music, touring in forty-eight of the fifty states, as well as extensively in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He is a peacemaking advocate and the founder of Peg Partners - a non-profit that supports schools, libraries and music programs in Guatemala. He is the chair of the AFSC Nobel Peace Prize Nominating Committee and the author of three books, "S.S. Bathtub," "White Flour," and "Worldchanging 101: Challenging the Myth of Powerlessness."      This episode, David joins the podcast to tell stories behind some of my favorite songs and his creative process. He talks about how his new book, "Worldchanging 101," came into being and how he and his wife, Deanna, developed Peg. We nerd out about Biblical interpretation and theology and of course involve you, the listener, in the conversation by answering your social media questions.

     The President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians performs magic on the Cringe podcast and discusses the illusion of aggressively polarizing politics. Joe M. Turner has been seen on Good Morning America, Nightline, and CNN Headline News. He is the president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, but before that, he was named him Greater Atlanta’s Magician of the Year by the International Brotherhood three times. He is a columnist for Genii Magazine and has performed Off-Broadway in Monday Night Magic – the longest-running magic show in New York City. He is a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, the Society of American Magicians, the Magic Circle in London, and the first Georgia magician to play all three showrooms in the Magic Castle in Hollywood.      Joe and I disagree about a number of topics politically, theologically, and artistically in real life, but this episode we talk about how the theatrical arts like magic can help people overcome the urge to be vitriolic and engage in healthy communities of dialogue where we can learn from each other. Plus, Joe will read your mind by performing an interactive illusion here on the podcast that you the listener can participate in!

     Dr. Marcia Y. Riggs is the J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics at Columbia Theological Seminary. This episode, Dr. Riggs joins the podcast to discuss helpful ways that people of faith can process and respond in the wake of the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Riggs is interested in the relationship between social oppression and socio-religious ethical praxis, ethical discourse that bridges the gap between womanist religious scholarship and the church`s practice of ministry, the moral foundations for public policy, and the church's role in social justice ministry. She is the Founder of an applied ethics non-profit center called Still Waters: A Center for Ethical Formation and Practices, Inc. Still Waters' mission is to provide education in conflict transformation theory and practices, particularly focusing upon the intersection of religion and violence.

     Kathy Fisher from the band, Fisher, joins the Cringe podcast! If you have the soundtrack to the 1998 movie, “Great Expectations," then you have Fisher on your phone or iPod as we speak. Their single, “I Will Love You,” made them the most downloaded band on the internet. That’s not hyperbole – that’s an empirical, calculable fact.      During this episode, Kathy and I go track-by-track, listening to some of my favorite Fisher songs both on their new album, "3," and from the back catalogue, and Kathy shares the stories behind how they were written. I wasn't sure if Kathy would be into talking about the Bible or theology, but she was totally into it, and it's great. We talk in depth about the music that she and her husband, Ron Wasserman, have written for television, film, and the EDM scene. Kathy also explains to Marcel van Grandpa what "EDM" means.      UPDATE:  This episode was remastered on April 4, 2018.

     The Real Live Preacher gets ready to Cringe. Gordon Atkinson is the blogger behind the popular RealLivePreacher.com (now GordonAtkinson.net). He is the author of the book by the same name and gives us a sneak peek at the forthcoming second edition. This episode, Gordon talks about writing, creativity, the emotional challenges and processes of his life in ministry, and his decision to finally leave it behind. We also talk in-depth about the Real Live Preacher blog, his fictional character, Foy Davis, as well as what he thinks about "The Last Temptation of Christ." Plus, find out why Gordon nearly became the first guest to get the podcast slapped with a parental advisory sticker!

     Author, theologian, and professor, the Rev. Dr. Martha Moore-Keish, joins the Cringe podcast to talk about the question, "What's the deal with prayer?" Why do we pray? Why is it important? Is it important? Is prayer about trying to change God somehow? Is prayer about changing ourselves? Or is there something else going on? During this episode, we also discuss the theology of Stephen Colbert during Lent, her lifelong fascination with India, and the challenges and joys of teaching as a seminary professor. She also finally answers the most elusive mystery at the heart of our theological quandary: Why does a theology professor raise chickens?

    The mad scientist of comedy and magic, Mike Bent, joins the Cringe Podcast! Mike Bent has appeared on HBO, Showtime, ABC, NBC, CBS, Comedy Central, and A&E. He was voted Boston’s Best Children’s Entertainer by Nickelodeon, was called one of the world’s best children’s magicians by the Magic Castle in Hollywood. He’s been on the cover of MAGIC Magazine, and he was called “one of the most creative and imaginative people in magic”...by the White House! This episode, we talk about how magic has the potential to be a legitimate art form for communicating real ideas as well as being entertaining...but why so many magicians often get it wrong. I talk about my constant struggle to resist doing magic tricks during worship services, and Mike Bent explains why a youth pastor once called him the devil!

     Is community theater important? That's really the question at the heart of this episode's conversation with Eric Bultman, professional actor, director, and executive director of the Sumter Little Theater in Sumter, South Carolina. When it comes to storytelling, what does community theater offer us in a media culture that with alternatives like Broadway, film, and cutting edge television like "Breaking Bad?" Is it possible that community theater is able to create life-changing impact in the local communities that larger entities such as film and Broadway don't...and even can't? That's the question that Eric and I explore in this episode - how local communities can discover their own stories in the theatrical text and how narratives define, shape, and even transform our identities.

     Fans of Warner Brothers Animation will recognize Celeste Green as the co-creator of "Gotham High." Based on the DC Comics character, Batman, "Gotham High" was an animated series created by Celeste Green and Jeffrey Thomas. The series was ready to receive the green light from DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation until a sudden changeover in studio management shelved all animated projects at that time. Since then, the concept artwork from the project has gone viral, appearing in online film publications such as Gawker, io9.com, ComingSoon.net, and SuperHeroHype.com.      Celeste is also the former president of the Lyric Music theater and serves as the executive director and co-founder of Cast Aside Productions in Portland, Maine. What's more important for artists? Achieving fame and recognition through the admiration of fans? Or finding authenticity, sincerity, and honesty? Can you have both? Are they mutually exclusive? How do artists find that balance? In this episode, we explore these questions and more, including her experience working with Warner Brothers, our mutual experience as students at Emerson College (which also happens to include a Batman project!), and her own sense of theological exploration through web comics and graphic novels. --- Featuring Patrick Girts as the Joker

     Welcome to the first episode of the Cringe podcast! As we move into the 2014 season of Advent, I sit down with my very first guest, the Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann. Dr. Brueggemann is one of the most influential scholars and theologians of the Old Testament alive today...      The conversation covers a wide range of topics from the emotional processes that may have been going on behind the writing of the Old Testament, "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell, Neil DeGrasse-Tyson and the Cosmos, and perhaps most importantly, how art and storytelling can create space for covenant and fidelity between the storyteller and the listener.  I ask the questions that I've always wanted to ask him...and you have the opportunity to do the same! During the conversation, we take questions from e-mail, social media, and Facebook. Special thanks to Dr. Brueggemann for participating in this conversation and for sharing his time with all of us.