Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

Jesse and Wendy record a duet-style episode mixing NFL talk, music news, and politics. Wendy recaps the Bills’ 7–1 start, a primetime win over the Vikings, Josh Allen’s highs and lows, and a defensive trade for Titans safety Amani Hooker, while previewing a Jets matchup and hoping for a deep playoff run. Jesse shares missing the Cowboys game due to travel and a John Hiatt tribute at the Ryman featuring Sean Colvin, Steve Earle, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, and Lilly Hiatt, then worries Dallas will be overwhelmed by the 49ers. Wendy updates Pearl Jam happenings, including Mike McCready’s comic, Jeff Ament’s photography book tour, and OhanaFest. They discuss election results, the shutdown of a Springsteen fan group, and separating art from artists.

00:00 Show Kickoff

01:13 Bills Win Breakdown

03:10 Big Defensive Trade

04:52 Cowboys Recap Road Trip

10:09 Pearl Jam Updates

12:19 Election Reflections

17:04 Springsteen Group Fallout

18:31 Separating Art and Artist

20:47 Michael Jackson Dilemma

21:24 Separating Art and Artist

23:10 Covering Harry Potter TV

24:47 Fandoms and Politics

27:24 Misheard Song Meanings

30:47 Football Week Preview

34:43 Podcast Plugs and Wrap
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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes writer and journalist Gary Goldstein to Set Lusting Bruce discussing Goldstein’s career from movie publicity to TV, film, stage, books, and nearly 20 years writing for the LA Times. Goldstein contrasts screenwriting and novel writing, explaining that novelists must act as the “camera” while screenplays are blueprints, and he describes using film-like structure and pacing in his books. He shares his music upbringing, working at Sam Goody, and discovering Bruce Springsteen in college through Born to Run, later seeing Springsteen live in Boston in 1977 and praising The River. They discuss Springsteen’s recent tour as courageous and story-driven, plus Goldstein’s Hallmark work, including Friends & Family Christmas and its GLAAD nomination. Goldstein introduces his new novel Canine Custody, a dark rom-com about a divorcing couple fighting for their rescue dog, and previews other writing projects, ending with his answer that Mary gets in the car in Thunder Road.

https://www.garygoldsteinla.com/

01:29 Meet Gary

02:36 Career Journey to Books

04:31 Screenplays vs Novels

07:42 Growing Up With Music

10:37 Record Store Education

13:43 Movies Shaping Taste

15:49 Discovering Springsteen

18:14 First Shows and The River

20:43 Tour Talk and Setlists

23:35 Politics and Revival Energy

25:09 Hallmark Movies Intro

26:28 Hallmark Gets Broader

26:36 Pitching A Queer Romcom

27:21 Family Support Done Right

27:52 GLAAD Nod And Impact

29:00 Introducing Canine Custody

29:24 Betty Sparks The Split

31:07 Becoming A Dog Person

32:06 He Said She Said Dog Said

33:31 Why Couples Fall Apart

35:09 Please Come To Boston Setup

37:16 Springsteen Concert Catalyst

38:10 Seventies Music And Research

40:06 Dream Projects And True Crime

42:46 Next Novel Laurel Canyon

44:30 Thunder Road Mary Question

45:40 Where To Find Gary

46:17 Bruce Coasters And Farewell
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Jesse Jackson hosts a B-side episode of Set Lusting Bruce featuring Kevie the Dreamer, a nurse of 16 years and host of Kultivation with Kevie. Kevie shares growing up in Gallipolis, Ohio with a deep R&B foundation shaped by his father’s CD and vinyl collection, and how Aaliyah’s death and BET’s 106 & Park influenced his own musical identity. He describes Amerie as his defining artist, explains what her music means to him, and recounts meeting her backstage after connecting via Twitter. The conversation also covers Kevie’s nursing career across multiple hospital units, burnout and COVID’s impact, his faith background, and how a late-night spiritual prompting led him to start his podcast focused on empowerment and storytelling. The episode ends with the Thunder Road “Mary question,” and Kevie shares where to find his show online.

https://keviethedreamer.com/
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Jesse Jackson hosts a full Set Lusting Football panel—Wendy, Holly Mack, Joe K, and Rich—for weekly NFL talk with music detours, including Jesse battling a cold and ongoing NFC East frustration. Joe focuses on the Commanders’ future with Jayden Daniels and lessons from RGIII, while Rich laments Philly’s six-game losing streak and defensive decline but hopes a Giants win keeps the division alive. Wendy recaps attending the Bills game in the new stadium, praising its design, tailgating, and the Bills’ post-bye performance while looking ahead to Monday Night Football vs. the Vikings and possible defensive trade help. The group critiques Jerry Jones’ ownership and coaching philosophy as Dallas loses again, discusses upcoming matchups, and closes with Jesse’s Nashville trip for an all-star John Hiatt tribute concert and a note about Rush Sphere shows.

00:00 Show Kickoff Intro
00:45 Meet The Panel
02:25 Commanders QB Watch
03:32 Bucs Win Recap
04:04 Bills Stadium Day
06:30 Eagles Season Spiral
08:07 Cowboys Another Loss
08:44 Jerry Jones Problem
15:53 Bills Trade Talk
18:14 Wentz Injury Debate
18:54 Packers Patriots Preview
19:35 Blind Refs Costume Drama
20:42 Eagles Giants Stakes
21:11 Joe Milton Gamble
21:56 Draft Pick Despair
23:56 Cowboys Rams Outlook
25:25 Travel Plans Concert Night
26:50 Rush Sphere Buzz
28:07 Playoff Reality Check
29:04 Division Wrap Up
29:51 Final Blessings Sign Off

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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes returning guest Joe Schwartz, a retired corporate technology executive who began experimenting with AI music to explore creativity and deliver message-driven songs. Joe describes his career (from programmer to VP of application development at Hyatt) and how agile, test-driven thinking shaped his evolving process: starting with an idea, drafting lyrics, generating many genre variations, then refining sound, structure, and wording through iterative “covers,” mixing, and meta-tag direction. He discusses using AI to challenge constraints, the tension between creativity and promotion/analytics, and learning that art is about finding an audience rather than being “good” or “bad.” Joe shares politically influenced songwriting, including “Ready for Doom,” built around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and an updated “John Henry” reimagined as musician vs. tech. He reflects on goals, audience reach, and making music for intellectual and creative stimulation.

Artist name on all platforms:

Joseph SchwartzHere is my website: https://joespi.carrd.co

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1i0YtjdzwndXd3oQqiiLoT

00:00 B-Side Welcome

00:37 Meet Joe Again

01:12 Corporate Tech Career

03:50 Discovering AI Music

08:01 Test Driven Songmaking

12:42 Joe’s Creative Workflow

15:43 Heart and Rants

17:02 Reimagining John Henry

19:43 Evolving Tools and Genres

22:58 Promotion and Analytics

29:01 Breakthrough Ready for Doom

32:35 Politics in the Lyrics

35:37 Goals After the Peak

40:49 Finding Your Audience

41:58 Wrap Up and Where to Listen

44:08 Closing Blessing I Wish You Well
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