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 legenda

     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 pla

     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.