NCMU Podcast

In this season finale of the Nerd Culture Ministry Underground podcast , Bubba Stallcup and Mark Lutz are joined by special guest Zach Miller — also known as St. Bear — to recap this year’s NCMS and look ahead to what’s coming for nerd culture ministry in 2027. Together, they reflect on the heart behind the Onward theme, the value of bold obedience, the behind-the-scenes work of building the Nerd...

Mark Lutz sits down with Doug Parks, founder of Intentional Churches, for a practical conversation about helping believers move from spectatorship to personal ownership of the Great Commission. Together, they unpack how churches, digital ministries, streamers, creators, and online communities can avoid reinforcing consumeristic faith and instead build communities where people are equipped to reach...

 In this episode of the Nerd Culture Ministry Underground Podcast, host Bubba Stallcup sits down with FlatCapDapperPastor to talk about his journey from traditional pastoral ministry into digital ministry, Twitch streaming, online discipleship, and equipping missionaries for digital spaces. Flat shares how God used drama ministry, church tech needs, livestreaming, sermon prep streams, Bible readin...

Mark talks with professional voice actor Brian Stivale about his journey from Broadway to working in voiceover for animation, video games, and biblical projects. Brian shares how God redirected his career from on-camera performance to voice acting, where he has voiced characters like Venom and Batman, as well as the Prophet Samuel in Angel Studios’ David . In this conversation, they discuss discer...

In this episode of the NCMU Podcast , Bubba Stallcup talks with David Byron Hicks about discovering the power of local game store ministry through simple, faithful presence. Rather than relying on programs or gimmicks, David shares how regularly showing up, building genuine friendships, praying for people, and serving them in practical ways became a meaningful expression of Christ’s love. Their co...

Bubba sits down with David Gustafson to talk about turning nerd culture into ministry. From discovering NCMS through Storyland Studios to a pivotal summit in Marble Falls , David shares how he launched “Nerd Nights,” built a five-person team , and led mission trips to PAX Unplugged . Now a leader in the Nerd Culture Ministry Collective , he encourages others to use their passions to fulfill the Gr...

Boots (BootStrapBoots) shares his journey from solo League of Legends streaming to co-founding Campfires and Dragons, a Dungeons & Dragons ministry channel. He explains how the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit helped him realize he was called to do ministry collaboratively, prompting a shift from competitive gaming content to D&D play that builds welcoming community for tabletop gamers. Boots...

In this episode of the NCMU Podcast , host Mark welcomes Dr. Level Up (Steven Kelso) for a thoughtful conversation on the evolution of nerd culture ministry and the vital role of behind-the-scenes contributors. They discuss the impact of the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit (NCMS) , the challenges of working within Christian content spaces, and the importance of investing in quality creation. Dr. Leve...

Bubba talks with Dylan — better known as DeadlyDill — a pastor-turned-streamer leading one of the largest and fastest-growing faith-based gaming communities online. Dylan shares how a simple desire for friendship turned into the DeadlyDill Fam: a thriving Discord space where thousands of gamers find genuine connection, accountability, and the love of Jesus. Together, Bubba and Dylan explore the re...

Bubba sits down with creative professional Jason H. Tucker — author, illustrator, and founder of Group Lore — to talk about how faith, creativity, and entrepreneurship intertwine. Jason shares his journey from architecture to storytelling, his vision for Group Lore and The Way of Yahweh , and his passion for helping artists unite creativity with business wisdom to sustain their calling. Together,...

Mark interviews legendary twin brothers and Disney animators Tom and Tony Bancroft , whose work helped shape iconic films like The Lion King , Aladdin , Mulan , and The Emperor’s New Groove . They share their inspiring journey from childhood sketchbooks to the heart of Disney animation, and how their faith in Christ guided them through a secular creative industry. The brothers also discuss fear, c...

In this episode of the NCMU Podcast , host Bubba sits down with Butch Hartman, creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom . Butch shares his journey from mainstream animation to producing faith-based projects like The Garden . They discuss how faith reshaped his career, his heart for family-friendly storytelling, and his vision for raising up the next generation of creators. Website: https...

Mark sits down with Q and Big Chris of Corvus Comics to talk about their unique journeys from the worlds of video games, film, and merchandising into faith-driven comic publishing. Chris shares stories from his decades in game design on franchises like Halo and Call of Duty , while Q reflects on her film background and even training exotic animals. Together, they share how God redirected their cre...

This week on NCMU Podcast , Bubba Stallcup is joined by Brannon Hollingsworth of Brainy Pixel Productions. They discuss his journey into creative ministry, why story doesn’t need to be sacrificed for “the message,” and how Brainy Pixel is reclaiming media and art for the Kingdom. Website: https://lovethynerd.com/podcastnetwork/ncmu/ Pre-Register for NCMS by Sep 5th! https://www.ncmsummit.com/prere...

Host Mark Lutz welcomes That Denver Guy (Denver Moore) to the NCMU Podcast for a powerful conversation about faith, creativity, and calling. Denver shares his journey from PE teacher to Fortnite streamer to creative director, unpacking what it means to follow God’s direction no matter the outcome. Discover why full commitment is necessary for growth and how obedience opens doors to new opportuniti...

In this episode of Nerd Culture Ministry Underground , Mark Lutz continues his behind-the-scenes journey through the staff of Lux Digital Church by welcoming Gregg Miller, Lux’s Video Director. Tune in as they explore the role of video in digital ministry, the creative process behind weekly services, and how visual storytelling helps bring the gospel to life online.

In this episode of Nerd Culture Ministry Underground , Bubba sits down with Jeff Grant (Cru) to explore how campus ministry is adapting to the evolving landscape of gaming culture. They discuss innovative ways ministries can effectively engage students through gaming, providing insights into building genuine connections in the digital age.

In this episode of Nerd Culture Ministry Underground , Mark Lutz welcomes Andy Mage, Creative Pastor and Worship Leader at Lux Digital Church. Together they explore the growing importance of digital worship and the increasing demand for media creation within ministry. Tune in as they discuss how creativity intersects with faith in our digital world.

In this episode of Nerd Culture Ministry Underground, Mark Lutz welcomes Pastor Druzi (Dalton Ruzicka) from Lux Digital Church, where he serves on staff as the Community and Discipleship Pastor and on the Lux Management Team. Dalton oversees spiritual formation, community development, and actively participates in Lux’s gaming communities. Together, they explore practical strategies for building me...

In this episode of NCMU, Bubba sits down with Chris Mikesell (HopeCity NC) to discuss Chris’s unique calling into Disability Ministry - a ministry his wife Angela launched at their home church. Learn how the call to accommodate inspired innovative approaches—like their “buddy” system—to ensure anyone with a disability or sensory issue feels truly welcome and at ease. Discover practical ways to mak...

Season 4 of Nerd Culture Ministry Underground kicks off with a captivating conversation between host Mark Lutz and Philipp Bonin of Nerch—a church plant in Frankfurt, Germany, dedicated to creating a welcoming space for nerds to explore the gospel. They dive into Nerch’s origins, discuss why they have a large number of non-believers in regular attendance, and share the insights they’ve gained alon...

In this unconventional season finale, Bubba hands over the show to two unnamed A.I. podcasters (courtesy of Google's notebookLM project) to recap the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit's keynote speakers.

This week, Mark welcomes Giles Hash of Disciple Gaming Ministry, as he shares his passion of sharing the Gospel with gamers in Colorado and around the world. He shares how they help gamers connect with local churches, equip churches to use tabletop RPGs as a Bible study aid, and bring people closer to God and each other.

Mark welcomes Jon Wiest, Director of Next Ventures for Exponential NEXT and the Strategic Director of Mobilize the Church, a global ministry mobilizing disciple-makers, pioneer leaders, and church planters. Today they'll talk about what it takes to get the church out of their seats and into active ministry, ahead of Jon's keynote at the upcoming Nerd Culture Ministry Summit.

 Gwen Leong is the NorCal director of Jesus Otaku, a cosplay group originating in Southern California, with members all over the world, united by a common love for anime, cosplay, and for God. Gwen leads teams as they attend conventions, host panels, wear cosplay, spread the love of Jesus, and sometimes just show up and have fun with other members of the anime community.