Don’t Encourage This with Marc van Bulck

Ep. 18 - Amy-Jill Levine

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is one of the world’s leading Jewish biblical scholars. She is the author of Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, The Misunderstood Jew and her latest book, Jesus for Everyone: Not Just Christians, which was released in 2024 by HarperOne. She is the first Jewish scholar to teach New Testament at Rome's Pontifical Biblical Institute and has had three audiences with Pope Francis. Dr. Levine joins the program to explore one of Jesus’ most famous parables from an interfaith perspective: how this beloved passage from Scripture has been interpreted through both a Christian and Jewish lens.

Ep. 17 - Simon Bennett

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 Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always. Simon shares his journey growing up as the child of two mimes, his early experiments with light and sound and the path that led him to pioneer New Zealand’s landmark BATS Theatre. He gets candid about the joys and creative challenges of producing high-volume, long-running television and his creative ambitions from Shakespeare to spandex.

Ep. 16 - Steve Lindsley

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 morning and shares valuable insights on fundraising and stewardship for churches.  Listen to Steve’s music here: https://stevelindsley.bandcamp.com/ [https://stevelindsley.bandcamp.com/]

Ep. 15 - Dre Swain

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 [https://vimeo.com/203908421]    Additionally, Dre is the founder of DreMadeDat.com [http://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.

Ep. 14 - Sarah Bracey White

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.