Episodes

  • Pride in Bruce Bonus: Bruce Springsteen’s “Gayest Songs” (Revisited) with Bella Pori

    Pride in Bruce Bonus: Bruce Springsteen’s “Gayest Songs” (Revisited) with Bella Pori
    Jun 11 2026
    As we continue Pride in Bruce, here is a re-releases a favorite 2017 conversation, edited to focus on guest Bella Pori’s joyful song discussion Jesse Jackson and Bella briefly discuss political engagement and gun reform before diving into Bella’s “Bruce Springsteen, gay as heck” lens on interpreting queer subtext in art. Bella shares her picks—“Streets of Philadelphia,” “Backstreets,” “This Hard Land,” “Bobby Jean,” “Frankie Fell in Love,” “Pink Cadillac,” and an honorable mention for “Rosalita”—and they reflect on representation, differing perspectives, and listener feedback. 00:00 Pride in Bruce Launch 01:48 Revisiting Bella Episode 03:13 Meet the Host and Guest 03:46 Politics and Civic Action 05:46 Gun Reform Conversation 09:09 Summer Updates and AIDS Curriculum 10:19 Why These Songs Feel Queer 14:17 Queer Subtext in Media 20:31 Debating Interpretations Online 22:04 Song One Streets of Philadelphia 24:34 Backstreets as Queer Love 26:06 This Hard Land Reading 27:46 Outlander and Gay Portrayals 29:29 Bobby Jean as Lesbian 33:52 Frankie Meets Pink Cadillac 34:59 Rosalita and Gender Flips 37:27 Feedback and Representation 40:09 Heroes and Doctor Who 41:42 Wrap Up and Call to Action 43:04 Pride Month Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Bonus Episode - JKL Media Crossover - Springsteen on Broadway

    Bonus Episode - JKL Media Crossover - Springsteen on Broadway
    Jun 10 2026
    🎤 "This train carries saints and sinners, losers and winners..." To celebrate my birthday, Lou and Karen from the JKL Media Podcast joined me to talk about #SpringsteenOnBroadway in our newest #podcast episode! With insights, personal stories, and a love for the Boss, don't miss out on this special discussion! #SetLustingBruce #BruceSpringsteen Did they love it, like it or break my heart? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Pride in Bruce: Jason Bisogni’s Story — Coming Out Later in Life, Finding Meaning in Springsteen Lyrics

    Pride in Bruce: Jason Bisogni’s Story — Coming Out Later in Life, Finding Meaning in Springsteen Lyrics
    Jun 9 2026
    Host Jesse Jackson interviews Jason Bisogni, a Westchester, New York marketing professional and lifelong music fan, about his path into classic rock, his early concert experiences, and the moment he became a dedicated Springsteen fan after seeing the 1999 E Street Band reunion tour. Jason shares that he came out later in life (to two people at 39, more fully at 41 in 2021) and explains how Bruce’s lyrics took on new meaning afterward, citing songs like “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” “Trapped,” “Living Proof,” and “Two Hearts.” He credits Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” line “He not busy being born is busy dying” as pivotal, discusses chasing songs live, recounts meeting Bruce several times, and answers the “Mary” question. 00:00 Pride in Bruce Intro 01:48 Meet Jesse and Jason 02:21 Jason’s Music Roots 03:18 Family Soundtrack Growing Up 06:43 Wrestling Detour and WWE 11:45 Concerts That Sparked It 14:59 Finding Bruce Springsteen 17:29 First E Street Show Magic 19:34 Counting Shows and Fandom 20:48 Static Setlist Debate 24:25 Health, Travel, and Missing Shows 26:27 Bruce and Coming Out Journey 27:01 Coming Out With The Boss 29:32 Lyrics Hit Different Now 32:07 Gay Icon Podcast Picks 34:23 Forever Favorites Playlist 38:18 Born Or Busy Dying 41:04 Songs Still Chasing Live 43:24 Meeting Bruce Stories 48:25 Thunder Road Mary Debate 50:39 Gratitude Pride Month Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • **Reissue | Is Bruce a Queer Icon? with Jesse Lawson from "The Boss Belongs to Us" (March 2023)

    **Reissue | Is Bruce a Queer Icon? with Jesse Lawson from "The Boss Belongs to Us" (March 2023)
    Jun 4 2026
    We're bringing back one of our favorite conversations as part of Pride 2026. Co-host Bella joins Jesse to talk with Jesse — radio producer, drag performer, and co-host of The Boss Belongs to Us — about her podcast, her love of Bruce Springsteen's music, and the question at the heart of it all: Is Bruce a queer icon? If you haven't heard it, you're in for a treat. If you have, it's absolutely worth another listen. https://open.spotify.com/show/33BxEoWfbSJ22NWap9pxhU?si=0bad4f80e3364f20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Pride in Bruce: Niko Stratus on ‘Dancing in the Dark,’ Dad Rock, and Becoming a Writer

    Pride in Bruce: Niko Stratus on ‘Dancing in the Dark,’ Dad Rock, and Becoming a Writer
    Jun 2 2026
    We kick off Pride in Bruce Month with guest Nico Stratus, a Toronto-based writer originally from Canada’s Yukon. Niko describes growing up in a music- and book-filled home, later leaving construction work after coming out as trans, and building a writing career through online essays, including an early op-ed that prompted an attempted libel threat. Nico recounts discovering Bruce Springsteen later in life—initially misreading Born in the U.S.A.—and connecting deeply to Bruce’s earnestness, storytelling, and songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “Thunder Road,” “Drive All Night,” and Nebraska tracks. Nico discusses their book, The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman, a memoir-mixtape where “Dancing in the Dark” becomes a pivotal catalyst for coming out, and shares where to find their work online. Find out more about Niko here - https://www.nikostratis.com/ Amazon Link for The Dad Rock that Made me a Women - here https://a.co/d/0git0VZh 00:00 Pride in Bruce Intro 01:48 Meet Jesse and Nico 02:10 Tattoo and Cancer Talk 02:46 Nico Background Story 04:03 Music in the Yukon 09:35 Reading and Escape 11:13 Comics Marvel vs DC 13:56 Becoming a Writer 17:02 First Op-Ed and Lawsuit 18:01 Discovering Springsteen 20:56 Why Bruce Hit Home 22:58 Dancing in the Dark Deep Dive 27:10 Writing the Dad Rock Book 29:14 Mixtape Memoir Blueprint 30:55 Springsteen Awakening Moment 32:34 Impostor Syndrome and Belonging 35:57 Good Tired Dream Work 37:59 Never Seen Bruce Live 38:55 Songs That Shaped Me 42:49 Queer Icon Bruce Debate 44:58 Why Read the Book 49:56 Does Mary Get In 53:24 Where to Find Nico 55:08 Pride Month Signoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Lilly Hiatt Interview | Songwriting, Touring, Family & Collaboration (Perfectly Good Podcast)

    Lilly Hiatt Interview | Songwriting, Touring, Family & Collaboration (Perfectly Good Podcast)
    May 29 2026
    In this special episode of Perfectly Good Podcast—where the hosts normally rank John Hiatt songs A to Z—Jesse and Sylvan welcome guest Lilly Hiatt to talk about her own career. Lilly recalls starting guitar at 12, overcoming shyness to perform, and beginning songwriting in middle school, describing how melodies and lyrics arrive together and how she captures ideas on voice memos. She explains how songs develop at different speeds, how albums reflect a specific time period, and how collaboration shapes unexpected recording outcomes, including working with her husband Colby on Forever and their project Domestic Bliss. Lilly shares early memories touring with her dad, favorite venues, thoughts on Napster’s impact on making a living through touring, and influences like Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. She discusses personal songs “Ray,” “Thoughts,” and “Impostor,” then plugs upcoming Texas-area shows and encourages fans to support by buying merch and records at gigs. 00:00 Cold Open Dialogue 00:53 Podcast Intro And Guest Reveal 02:12 First Meeting And Fan Story 03:11 Early Guitar And Stage Nerves 05:46 Writing Songs And Poetry Roots 06:56 Songwriting Process And Tools 11:33 Building Albums And Collaboration 14:51 Domestic Bliss With Husband 15:41 Growing Up On Tour 16:35 Backstage Hello From Linda 17:52 Tour Life And Favorite Venues 23:50 Napster Era And Music Business 25:27 Touring Economics And Team 27:15 Touring Help Needed 27:45 Pearl Jam Origins 29:27 Eddie Vedder Shoutout 30:15 Writing Ray for Sister 31:15 Family Bonds and Aunt Life 33:43 Thoughts Voicemail Choice 34:57 Producer Magic Explained 37:25 Nashville Identity and Genre 39:24 Creative Goals Abroad 40:32 Springsteen Nebraska Deep Dive 43:02 Impostor Verse Backstory 47:27 Shows Merch and Farewell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Jake Cassman on Dueling Pianos, Teaching Music in LA, and Finding Bruce Springsteen on the Road

    Jake Cassman on Dueling Pianos, Teaching Music in LA, and Finding Bruce Springsteen on the Road
    May 27 2026
    Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Los Angeles–based musician and music teacher Jake Cassman, who shares his path from growing up in Berkeley on classic rock and ’90s alternative to discovering Bruce Springsteen later through a 2008 Obama rally performance, long bus rides through New Jersey, and years playing dueling pianos. Jake discusses teaching recording and songwriting at The Geffen Academy, the realities of freelancing (busking, weddings, improv), and how COVID ended live work and pushed him into a USC master’s program that led to greater stability and new opportunities, including producing for the podcast Switched on Pop. He explains why he shifted from the Drunken Logic moniker to releasing music under his own name, introduces his album Idling High, performs “We All Look the Same,” and talks songwriting, storytelling, and favorite Springsteen albums, ending with the classic Thunder Road question. https://www.jakecassman.com/music 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:00 Teaching Music in LA 03:00 TeachRock and Music Education 04:27 Writing and Community Programs 05:35 Growing Up With Rock 07:32 Finding Bruce Springsteen 09:14 Early Music Obsession 10:31 Dueling Pianos Stories 12:31 Requests and Deep Cuts 15:10 Freelance Music Career 17:38 Rebranding as Jake Kassman 19:17 Pandemic Shock and Pivot 22:41 Freelancing and Saying Yes 25:52 Better Paying Gigs 26:32 Idling High Origins 28:15 We All Look the Same 33:33 Storytelling Gets Universal 36:19 Bruce Road Trip Deep Dive 39:28 Next Creative Steps 40:40 Pop Podcast Tangent 44:00 Thunder Road Debate 47:53 Where To Find Jake 49:34 Final Wrap And Thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Electro-Punk Pioneer Peter Pepper on Touring, Creative Risk, and Finding a New Life in Tokyo

    Electro-Punk Pioneer Peter Pepper on Touring, Creative Risk, and Finding a New Life in Tokyo
    May 22 2026
    In this B-side episode, host Jesse Jackson talks with electro-punk pioneer Peter Pepper, calling from Shibuya, Tokyo, about growing up in rural Florida feeling alienated, discovering punk and industrial music, and channeling creativity through early audio editing into a music career. Peter shares how playing the State Theatre in St. Petersburg became a breakthrough moment, how “electro-punk” emerged organically around 1999–2001, and stories from touring, including Asbury Park’s Stone Pony in 2001 and a later tour moment with Wes Borland. They discuss the realities of life on the road, modern pressures of permanent online records, and how a friend’s recommendation led Peter to build a life between Japan and Bali. Peter previews his May 20 release “We’re From Florida” and a forthcoming blues project, then answers Jesse’s “Mary question” about Thunder Road. https://www.peterpepper.net/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/3PWK1iZunlFBPGG5CMpMh0?si=b9tXZRimTXqSUIeILG5Crg 00:00 B-Side Welcome 00:49 Meet Peter Pepper 02:00 Florida Roots 04:01 Finding Punk Scene 05:37 Outsider Identity 12:43 Creative Awakening 15:08 Learning By Doing 18:37 Creating In Public 22:40 First Big Break 27:18 Electro Punk Origins 29:50 Building Electro Punk 32:37 Labels And Movements 33:45 Stone Pony Ghost Town 38:44 Wes Borland Moment 41:21 Tour Life Offstage 44:03 Why Japan Became Home 48:28 New Music Plans 50:29 Thunder Road Mary Question 52:44 Goodbyes And Housekeeping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr