Podcast
Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast
Hosted by Jesse Jackson · EN
🎙️ Set Lusting Bruce is more than a podcast—it's a celebration of connection through the music of Bruce Springsteen. Hosted by longtime contact center leader and community builder Jesse Jackson, each episode invites fans from all walks of life to share their personal stories, favorite lyrics, and the moments where Bruce’s music met them right where they were.
Whether you're a die-hard E Street devotee or someone who just discovered Thunder Road, this show is your backstage pass to heartfelt conversations, unexpected insights, and the kind of camaraderie only music can spark. From tales of redemption and resilience to laughter over setlist debates, Set Lusting Bruce is where fandom becomes family.
Because as Bruce once sang, “We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school.”
Proud Member of the Pantheon Podcast Network.
62episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Worlds Collide: Zendesk, South Louisiana Roots & a First Bruce Springsteen Show in Cleveland with Mireille Cameron
3d ago00:43:54Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson welcomes Mireille Cameron, his Zendesk account manager, to Set Lusting Bruce to discuss her South Louisiana and North Carolina upbringing, early musical influences (Cajun, Zydeco, jazz, bluegrass, Prince), and how music shaped her life. Mireille shares why she finally saw Bruce Springsteen for the first time on the current tour in Cleveland over Memorial Day weekend, drawn by his longevity, message, and the communal, family-oriented concert culture. They talk about the show’s powerful opening, standout moments like “Long Walk Home,” the band’s energy and size, Bruce’s three-hour no-break performance, and audience reactions. Mireille and her husband compare the experience to other live-music bucket list shows, discuss artists they’ve seen and hope to see, and she answers the podcast’s “Mary” question. 00:39 Work Worlds Collide 01:57 Growing Up Musical 03:57 Louisiana Culture Vibes 06:28 No Music Rebellion 09:00 First Bruce Show Plans 10:45 Arena Family Energy 12:17 Opening Punch War 15:59 Surprises And Stamina 19:18 Band Highlights And Encore 22:58 Balancing Fans and Growth 24:21 Hopeful Songs and Unity 26:01 Bucket List Concerts 28:51 Local Shows and Folk Finds 30:00 New Orleans Music Trip 31:23 Festivals Food and Family 32:48 Clifton Chenier VIP Moment 34:48 Thunder Road Car Debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Scott Shea on Springsteen’s Columbia Signing, Clive Davis, and the Myth of “Born to Run”
1w ago00:45:42Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson welcomes returning guest Scott Shea—author of All the Leaves Are Brown and a forthcoming Waylon Jennings book—to discuss the anniversary of Bruce Springsteen signing with Columbia Records in June 1972 and the recent death of Clive Davis. Shea highlights Springsteen’s rare 54-year label loyalty, early rocky years, and how Born to Run marked progress before larger commercial success arrived with The River and “Hungry Heart.” He recounts the origin story of Springsteen’s deal, focusing on manager Mike Appel’s cold calls, John Hammond’s pivotal audition, and Clive Davis approving the signing. They also discuss Columbia’s artist roster, Davis’s career arc from Columbia to founding Arista, Springsteen’s evolving vocals and live arrangements, reactions to the latest tour’s political tone, and Shea’s ongoing research for his Waylon Jennings biography. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:51 Meet Scott Shea 02:13 Columbia Anniversary 04:51 Why Bruce Stayed 06:49 Band Loyalty Talk 08:50 Clive Davis Passing 09:59 Hammond and Appel Story 20:02 Cold Call Breakthrough 21:25 The Audition Moment 23:12 What If He Was Missed 23:44 Cafferty Career What Ifs 24:59 Clive Davis Origins 26:16 Columbia Breakthrough Signings 27:28 Arista Records Reinvention 28:56 Springsteen Tour Politics 30:40 Cranky Bruce And Banter 33:12 Born In USA Outtakes 36:44 Waylon Book Progress 39:02 Wrap Up And Plugs 40:05 Podcast Housekeeping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Levi Petree "Connecting Through Chords: From Springsteen to Sunday Morning Donuts"
1w ago00:52:26Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson welcomes back musician and actor Levi Petree to catch up on Bruce Springsteen, starting with reactions to recent shows and the tour’s purposeful, righteous energy, including standout moments like “War” into “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Long Walk Home,” “House of a Thousand Guitars,” “American Skin (41 Shots),” and the Tom Morello “Tom Joad” performance, plus crowd differences and setlist changes between nights. They discuss Springsteen’s onstage comments condemning political violence, the challenge of balancing deep cuts with casual-fan expectations, and the craft of setlist construction. Levi shares mixed feelings about the film “Delivery From Nowhere,” then talks about Springsteen’s unreleased-albums tracks before spotlighting his new EP “Sunday Morning Donut Run,” including the nearly seven-minute closer “A Big Love,” and where to stream it. https://www.levipetree.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Courtney Kocak on Girl Gone Wild, Finding Her Voice, and the Power of Podcasting
1w ago00:54:07Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson welcomes writer, podcaster, and comedian Courtney Kocak, who grew up in small-town Minnesota and now splits time between Austin and Los Angeles, to discuss her debut memoir, Girl Gone Wild. Courtney traces her musical influences from classic rock radio and movie soundtracks to college-era rap, indie, and classic rock, and shares how reading and acting shaped her love of storytelling. She recounts joining the Girls Gone Wild tour via a Craigslist ad, realizing the behind-the-scenes coercion and exploitation, and leaving after seven weeks amid depression and financial stress. The conversation follows her pivot from acting to writing, essaying, and podcasting, including her long-running show Private Parts Unknown, plus The Bleeders and Podcast Bestie, and touches on Stevie Nicks, Lilith Fair, stand-up goals, and the “Thunder Road” question of whether Mary gets in the car. https://www.courtneykocak.com/ 00:00 Patreon Thanks 01:28 Meet Courtney Kocak 03:38 Growing Up With Music 07:10 College Tastes And Mixes 09:36 Books And Acting Bug 12:17 Acting School And Regrets 16:00 Girls Gone Wild Origins 19:20 Behind The Scenes Reality 20:52 Leaving The Tour 23:41 Finding Meaning Afterward 25:49 Funny Book Chapters 27:01 Leaving Acting for Writing 31:02 Finding Her Voice 31:43 Stevie Nicks Obsession 33:47 Private Parts Unknown 39:39 Creative Bucket List 40:50 Stand-Up and Perspective 44:41 Thunder Road Mary Debate 47:31 Where to Find Courtney 49:05 Final Sign-Off and Blessing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JKL and Set Lusting Bruce Crossover - Rush reviewed
2w ago00:45:01Tap to summarizeOn a JKL Media Podcast one-off special, Lou introduces Canadian prog-rock/metal trio Rush and asks Karen and Jesse for reactions, starting with a yes/no on Geddy Lee’s voice (Karen yes, Jesse no). Lou frames Rush as a technically revered “musician’s band,” outlines the members’ roles, and compares their music to headphone-focused listening like Pink Floyd. Karen and Jesse discuss songs from Lou’s list—both like “The Spirit of Radio,” Karen names “Tom Sawyer” as her favorite and relates to “Subdivisions,” while Jesse says many tracks sound similar but appreciates the lyrics and openness to the experience. They praise the 2010 documentary for its celebrity supporters and for revealing the band’s low-drama, nerdy camaraderie, highlighting Alex Lifeson’s humor and Neil Peart’s tragedy and return to music, and they note interest in a needed “chapter two” and the band’s later-era touring and new drummer Anika Nilles. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:39 Geddy Voice Debate 01:23 Rush Primer 03:04 Song List Reactions 04:03 Rush Recognition Talk 07:56 Karen Favorites 10:22 Documentary Overview 11:53 Karen Doc Impressions 15:14 Jesse Doc Takeaways 18:36 Toronto Roots and Memories 20:04 Rick Moranis Connection 20:55 Neil Peart Tragedy 21:26 Band Reunites Again 21:43 Neil Peart Cancer Secret 22:50 Annika Nilles Joins Tour 24:48 Why Rush Endures 26:48 Comedy And Early Memories 29:10 Musicianship Deep Dive 32:09 Low Drama Band Culture 34:25 Canada Love And Fandom 37:33 Live Videos And Wrap Up 40:13 Where To Find Everyone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Ernest Lineberger on Running for Congress, Faith, and Finding Hope (B-Side Episode)
2w ago00:59:34Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson steps outside the Springsteen universe for a B-side conversation with Ernest Lineberger, a retired Naval officer and former Texas Instruments supervisor/industrial engineer who ran for Congress in a tough Texas district, lost the 2024 general election, then continued organizing town halls, protests, and outreach before losing a subsequent primary. Lineberger discusses why voters change their minds, the need for better-informed civic engagement, and frustration with politics as a “team sport,” including concerns about executive overreach, tariffs, and billionaire influence. He shares a childhood shaped by frequent moves, time in Italy and Monterey, and his Navy chaplain father’s strong influence on his Christian beliefs and inclusivity. Now fully retired, he’s supporting candidates like Vicki Goodwin, planning reunions, and promoting his memoir, There I Was. The episode closes with the show’s “Thunder Road” Mary question. 00:00 B-Side Detour Intro 00:49 Meet Ernest Lineberger 02:30 Navy Career and TI 03:59 Why I Ran for Congress 06:26 Campaign Grind and Primary Loss 08:10 Texas Democrats Outlook 09:57 Representation and Fairness 11:20 Changing Minds in Politics 17:00 Early Music and Moving Abroad 19:56 Monterey High School Years 23:20 Faith and Community Values 26:35 Military Base Upbringing 27:29 Politeness and Listening 29:23 Why Veterans Matter 33:38 Getting Informed to Vote 36:07 Common Ground and Cynicism 38:58 Springsteen and Hope 41:27 America Abroad and Trust 43:38 Life After Campaigning 44:04 Book Stories and Motivation 47:18 Service and Gratitude 50:59 Thunder Road Mary Question 52:13 How to Reach Ernest 53:54 Podcast Wrap and Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Wrapping up Pride in Bruce - 2026
2w ago00:04:03Tap to summarizeSaying thanks for all the support this month as we explored other stories under the Bruce Umbrella. Please think about supporting the podcast by going to https://patreon.com/setlustingbruce and joining my Patreon Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Pride in Bruce: Sylvan Groth on Coming Out, Chosen Family & Finding Light in Springsteen’s Music
3w ago00:31:43Tap to summarizeHost Jesse Jackson welcomes Sylvan Groth, his Perfectly Good Podcast co-host, who shares growing up in suburban Boston, coming out as bi in the 1990s amid increased queer visibility, and facing emotional abuse and slurs from her stepfather while her mother tried to keep peace. Sylvan describes finding refuge with her aunt in Vermont—where a pride flag on a barn signaled safety—and how Springsteen albums and mix tapes helped her cope, even as her stepfather also loved Bruce. The conversation reflects on grief, activism, and joy, the idea of “family of origin” versus “family of choice,” and the importance of common ground, compassion, and honest storytelling amid polarization. 00:00 Pride in Bruce Intro 01:48 Podcast Welcome 03:09 Sylvan Coming Out Story 06:48 Home Life and Safety 07:52 Vermont Refuge and Bruce 09:23 Why Pride Matters 10:06 Slurs and Breaking Point 12:14 Finding Common Ground 18:19 Faith and Scripture Debate 20:51 Self Acceptance and Activism 24:22 Politics and Polarization 25:36 Thanks and Where to Listen 27:29 Pride in Bruce Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Pride in Bruce: Rethinking “Backstreets” with Arlen Schumer (MSG Night 1 & LGBTQ+ Interpretation)
3w ago01:12:28Tap to summarizeJesse and returning guest Arlen Schumer recap Arlen’s last-minute Madison Square Garden show experience, praise the E Street Band (including Tom Morello and Max Weinberg), and criticize modern concert phone use and disengaged audience behavior. They then discuss “Backstreets,” focusing on a fan essay suggesting the song’s gender-ambiguous “Terry” and certain lyrics could reflect a homosexual relationship or the pressures of hiding identity, including mention of an outtake version with a alternate lyrics and Bruce’s later LGBTQ+ support like “Streets of Philadelphia.” Find more about Arlen here - https://arlenschumer.com/ Disclaimer - anyone uncomfortable with two straight White men discussing possible queer themes please skip the episode. I do not want to offend or hurt anyone's feelings. 00:00 Pride in Bruce Intro 01:48 Content Disclaimer 03:14 Meet Arlen Guest 04:03 MSG Show Recap 05:37 Phones and Crowd Energy 09:32 E Street Band Praise 12:41 Why Pride in Bruce 16:07 Backstreets Setup 24:37 Pepperoni Eyed Theory 35:06 Lyrics Through Queer Lens 38:34 Bruce and Subculture Context 41:38 Hidden Love Backstreets 43:25 Terry Name Choice 43:45 Lyrics Rewriting Craft 45:17 Theory Behind Sad Eyes 47:06 Lies Truth Closet 49:20 Asbury Park Back Streets 50:33 Studio Versus Live 53:05 Artists Masculinity Queerness 01:01:47 Art That Makes Feel 01:04:51 Rights And Closing 01:05:35 Where To Find Arlen 01:08:14 Farewell Pride Bruce Month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Bonus Episode - Ken Schaefer on The Boroughs and The Long Walk
4w ago00:19:50Tap to summarize"Catch our latest chat where Ken Schaefer and I explore Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' adaptation and its thought-provoking themes. Ken also shares his thoughts on the new series from the creaters of STranger Things - The Boroughs #StephenKing #MovieNight" #dufferbrothers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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