The Oprah Podcast

Episode Title: Oprah with Jeremy Allen White & Scott Cooper on Creating "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere"
Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Oprah Winfrey
Guests: Jeremy Allen White (Actor), Scott Cooper (Writer/Director)

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Oprah Winfrey sits down with acclaimed actor Jeremy Allen White and writer-director Scott Cooper to explore their new film, "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere." The conversation focuses on the film’s intimate portrait of Bruce Springsteen during the making of his seminal album "Nebraska"—a period marked by vulnerability, creative risk, and personal struggle. The discussion touches on the challenges of portraying a legend, the film's themes of father-son relationships and mental health, and the profound audience response to these universal topics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Creative Vision: Choosing "Nebraska" Over "Born in the USA"

• Scott Cooper shares why he focused on Nebraska:
  Cooper explains that despite many offers to make a more conventional Springsteen biopic, he was drawn to Warren Zanes’ book and Springsteen’s own account of "Nebraska," which Springsteen described as “too painful” to elaborate upon in his autobiography (07:12).

  "When I was reading Bruce's autobiography...the chapter on the making of Nebraska is about one page...He said, well, it was just too painful."
  —Scott Cooper (07:38)

• The film depicts Springsteen at his lowest personal point and highest creative peak—a time Cooper says resonated with his own teenage experience of disaffection and searching for meaning.

Getting the Call & Embodying Bruce Springsteen

• Jeremy Allen White on being cast:
  White describes the audition process, his doubts, and the responsibility he felt in portraying an icon (04:26–06:46).

  "I was really excited at the idea of portraying Bruce, but also very nervous again about just, like, those shoes, filling those shoes, and what a presence he had...I thought there was an opportunity to do something, you know, very special there."
  —Jeremy Allen White (05:25)

• Preparation & Research:
  White immersed himself in all things Springsteen—concert footage, interviews, memoirs, and music—eventually transitioning from imitation to humanization.

  "In the beginning, all I did was try to take in as much information as I could...as we got closer and closer to filming, my focus kind of narrowed and...I started trying to...forget about Bruce Springsteen a little bit and approach the role as just that, the role of a young man."
  —Jeremy Allen White (12:27)

The Weight of the Story: Family, Pain, & Artistic Risk

• The movie centers on Springsteen’s relationship with his troubled father (played by Stephen Graham) and his emotional struggles, highlighting mental health and intergenerational trauma.

• Notable Quote:

  "This is really a love story between these two men in terms of friendship, support, and care for another human being."
  —Oprah Winfrey on Bruce and John Landau (02:59)

• Scott Cooper dedicates the film to his father, explaining how "Nebraska" reached him at a crucial point in his life.

Powerful Scenes & On-Set Moments

• Bruce’s Family Reacts:
  Cooper recalls Springsteen’s emotional response after private screenings, including with his sisters.

  "Bruce emerges...he was visibly moved. He'd been crying, and he kissed me on the cheek, and he said, it's better than I could have ever hoped."
  —Scott Cooper (10:31)

• On the Lap Scene:
  The emotionally charged "sit on my lap" scene between Bruce and his father was not heavily rehearsed, seeking authenticity over production.

  "There was no way that that scene could have been taken any other way. Once we entered that room that day...we found it naturally and in the moment."
  —Jeremy Allen White (18:37–19:30)

• Visual Language—Use of Black and White for Flashbacks:
  Cooper was inspired by Springsteen’s own perception of his early life as "only in black and white."

  "As I was writing the screenplay, I spent a great deal of time with Bruce...he said to me, Scott, I remember that time in my life only in black and white."
  —Scott Cooper (19:45)

Transformation: Learning to Sing, Play, and Speak Like Bruce

• Learning Curve:
  White had to learn guitar, harmonica, and develop Springsteen’s singing and speaking voice from scratch.

  "I never played the guitar and I never sang before."
  —Jeremy Allen White (15:24)

  "I'm so excited to learn how to play the guitar. And [JD Semo] said, we don't have time to learn how to play...I'm gonna teach you how to play these four Bruce Springsteen songs."
  —Jeremy Allen White (15:34–16:03)

• Vocal Techniques:
  After losing his voice during production, White started screaming into his pillow to regain the desired vocal timbre, which his vocal coach promptly stopped.

  "I started screaming into my pillow every night before bed...Eric Vitro...said, you have to stop that immediately."
  —Jeremy Allen White (17:39)

The Central Love Story: Springsteen and Landau

• Music as Connection:
  A standout scene in the film—Springsteen and manager John Landau silently listening to a song together—emphasizes the bond that supports Bruce.

  "It was nice to see these two men...enjoy a song together and to see the closest."
  —Jeremy Allen White (25:10)

• The friendship between Springsteen and Landau is described as the “central love story” of the film and is presented as unique and enduring in the music world.

Audience Reaction & Universal Themes

• Healing Through Art:
  The film has prompted powerful emotional responses, particularly relating to forgiveness, family tension, and the stigmatization of mental illness.

  "Someone like Bruce Springsteen can struggle and get the help he needs, so can I."
  —Scott Cooper (quoting audience feedback, 00:00 and 31:12)

  "This movie feels like a gift to me because it is...in service to what it means to be human and what it means to feel alone and...be lost."
  —Oprah Winfrey (29:40)

• Global Impact:
  Cooper notes that, from Telluride to Poland, audiences everywhere have recognized themselves or found healing in the story, regardless of background.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Scott Cooper | "So many people would come to me...My father never told me he loved me...Thank you for showing me that if someone like Bruce Springsteen can struggle and get the help he needs, so can I." | | 07:38 | Scott Cooper | "When I was reading Bruce's autobiography...the chapter on the making of Nebraska is about one page...He said, well, it was just too painful." | | 10:31 | Scott Cooper | "Bruce emerges...he was visibly moved. He'd been crying, and he kissed me on the cheek, and he said, it's better than I could have ever hoped." | | 12:27 | Jeremy Allen White | "In the beginning, all I did was try to take in as much information as I could...I started trying to...forget about Bruce Springsteen a little bit and approach the role as just that, the role of a young man." | | 15:24 | Jeremy Allen White | "I never played the guitar and I never sang before." | | 17:39 | Jeremy Allen White | "I started screaming into my pillow every night before bed...Eric Vitro...said, you have to stop that immediately." | | 19:45 | Scott Cooper | "As I was writing the screenplay...he said to me, Scott, I remember that time in my life only in black and white." | | 25:10 | Jeremy Allen White | "It was nice to see these two men...enjoy a song together and to see the closest." | | 31:12 | Scott Cooper | "So many people would come to me and say, scott, my father never told me he loved me...I, too, suffer mental illness. And thank you for showing me that if someone like Bruce Springsteen can struggle and get the help he needs, so can I." | | 34:50 | Scott Cooper | "If you have the right people around you, like John Landau, who will protect you when you take these creative risks, that's the difference between being a full and rich artist and one who isn't, quite frankly."|

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Film Background: 00:24–02:59
• Casting & Preparation: 04:26–06:46; 12:27
• Why "Nebraska": 07:12–09:42
• Springsteen's Reaction: 09:42–11:31
• On-Screen Father-Son Dynamic: 18:06–19:30
• Black and White Artistic Choices: 19:45–20:57
• Learning Music & Voice: 15:19–17:46
• Springsteen-Landau Relationship: 22:38–26:12
• Audience & Personal Impact: 27:47–34:50

The Takeaway

This episode offers an intimate exploration of the personal and artistic risks behind "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere," the transformative experience for its creators, and the film’s resonance with universal struggles—family, mental health, the courage to be vulnerable, and the power of genuine human connection. Oprah, White, and Cooper highlight how art, at its best, helps people see themselves and each other more clearly.