Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

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
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🎤 "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?

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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
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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

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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
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