Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

In this Week 5 episode of Set Lusting Football, Jesse is joined by panelists Jean Marie, Wendy, and Rich to debate whether modern NFL coaching is overly driven by analytics, information overload, and job pressure, using recent late-game decisions involving the Commanders, Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles as examples. They discuss situational football, clock management, and special teams choices, then recap their teams’ weeks: Jean Marie’s Giants escape with a tie despite first-half struggles and a key fumble; Wendy breaks down the Bills’ win over the Rams, including injuries in the secondary, James Cook’s two fumbles, penalties, a blocked field goal, and Josh Allen’s late heroics; Rich vents about the Eagles’ injury chaos and a costly Sirianni decision; and Jesse laments the Cowboys’ poor defense and loss to Tampa. They preview upcoming matchups and share podcast and contact plugs.

00:00 Show Kickoff
01:07 Analytics Or Instinct
04:09 Take The Points Debate
06:22 Coaching Pressure Cooker
09:29 Cowboys Identity Crisis
11:45 Jerry Jones Coaching Choices
12:55 Giants Tie Recap
14:11 Bills Rams Thriller
20:22 Eagles Collapse Breakdown
24:22 Cowboys Thursday Night Shock
25:25 Pettine Joins Defense
26:58 Cowboys Misery Therapy
28:47 Why Cowboys Stay Inconsistent
29:56 Any Given Sunday Factors
30:54 Dak Versus Clutch QBs
32:12 Next Week Matchups
33:50 Giants Saints Preview
35:55 Eagles Panthers Concerns
36:57 Travel And Plane Stories
38:25 Wrap Up And Plugs
40:56 Podcast Housekeeping
42:35 Final Message Of Hope

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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes actor-writer-producer Nikki J. Borger for a B-side “Set Listing Bruce” detour focused on theater, dance, and creativity. Nikki, originally from a small town in southwest Germany, describes early music training, her love of dance (from ballroom to salsa and musical theater), and the difficult, criticism-heavy culture of German musical theater school, including injuries and struggles with singing confidence. She recounts performing internationally, including a documentary theater project in Germany, Moscow, and Kyiv, then moving to Los Angeles to build film experience, shooting dozens of shorts, and writing/directing to earn festival recognition during the pandemic for a U.S. artist visa. Nikki discusses creating a sitcom, “NFTs,” and traveling after a denied green card, plus stories of meeting Pink Floyd’s Scott Page and seeing Springsteen at the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.

https://nikijborger.com/

00:00 B-Side Detour Intro

00:37 Meet Nikki Borger

02:09 Growing Up in Germany

02:57 Early Music and Dance Roots

03:52 Ecuador Salsa and Career Pivot

07:06 Parents React and Health Wakeups

09:04 Why Dance Heals

10:31 Inside Musical Theater Training

12:39 Harsh Critique and Finding Voice

15:12 Creativity Over Cookie Cutter

22:12 Favorite Shows and Performances

25:51 From Europe to Los Angeles

27:56 Hollywood Shorts and Artist Visa

32:33 Storytelling Breakthrough

33:45 Booked For Shorts Fast

34:28 Writing Comedy Sitcom

35:32 NFTs Show Premise

37:14 Networking With Scott Page

39:14 Rock Hall Background Gig

44:26 Visa Denial And Travel

46:57 Shopping The Sitcom

47:45 Creative Goals And Impact

50:31 Thunder Road Mary Debate

57:50 Where To Find Nikki

59:27 Podcast Wrap And Plugs
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Jesse Jackson hosts a new episode of Set Lusting Football with a full panel of music fans repping the Cowboys, Bills, Commanders, Giants, Packers, and Eagles. They recap early-season highs and frustrations, including Buffalo’s sloppy loss to the Patriots, the “Josh Allen experience,” concerns about defensive changes and injuries, and a brief discussion of the Bills-themed Hallmark movie. Jane Marie celebrates the injury-hit Giants sitting atop the NFC East, while Holly notes Green Bay’s progress alongside mounting injuries. Joe reacts to a rough Commanders week with quarterback issues and looming must-win pressure, and Rich breaks down a late Eagles collapse versus the Rams, major injuries, and coaching decisions sparking Sirianni criticism. The group previews upcoming matchups, debates offense vs. defense, shares favorite game times, and even talks game-day food traditions.

00:00 Show Kickoff
00:45 Meet The Panel
02:24 Game Day Superstitions
03:21 Bills Season Check In
07:43 Bills Mafia Hallmark Movie
09:38 Giants Riding High
10:48 Packers Finding Rhythm
11:40 Commanders Injury Spiral
12:56 Eagles Collapse And Coaching
17:10 Next Opponents And Defense Debate
21:28 Defense Still Matters
21:51 Jaguars London Preview
23:14 Best Game Time Debate
24:46 Commanders Must Win
26:11 Coaches Under Fire
28:57 Fourth Down Regrets
29:58 Giants Bar Death Stare
30:41 Bears And Bucs Picks
32:46 Final Thoughts And Menus
36:19 Wrap Up And Sign Off
36:50 Podcast Housekeeping

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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes listeners to a B-side episode of Set Listing Bruce featuring returning Springsteen fans Carrie and Nancy to talk about Brandi Carlile. Jesse shares his “Road to Damascus” moment after seeing Carlile in Fort Worth, and Carrie and Nancy recount how they discovered her music, including Carrie’s entry point through The Highwomen and Nancy’s first show in Nashville during a stormy night that included Wynonna Judd’s first public appearance after her mother’s death. They discuss Carlile’s charisma, humor, gratitude, political courage, faith, and her Bruce-like relationship with fans, plus the deep bond and shared business arrangement with bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The conversation covers soundcheck fundraisers, favorite and “chased” songs, The Highwomen, and album recommendations, ending with Jesse’s reflections on community and artists who match great art with admirable character.

00:00 Patreon Thanks

01:29 Episode Setup

02:47 Meet Nancy and Carrie

04:35 Carrie Finds Brandi

06:36 Nancy’s First Show Magic

10:14 Fort Worth Lightning Moment

14:30 Stage Presence Like Bruce

21:47 Band Loyalty and The Twins

28:44 Courage and Activism

31:20 Faith and Inclusivity

35:49 Authenticity and Banter

36:44 Tram Trouble Story

37:24 How Many Shows Seen

38:03 Chasing Simple Man

40:01 Soundcheck Tickets Explained

41:45 Nancy’s Song Request

43:47 Highwomen Love and Loss

47:40 Livestream Moments and Lyrics

50:43 Final Thoughts and Next Time

53:35 Listener Recommendations

55:09 Closing Blessing and Tattoo Plans
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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Russell Van Brocklen, a New York State–funded dyslexia researcher, to discuss how Bruce Springsteen’s music—especially “Born in the U.S.A.” and “Born to Run”—sparked his love of music and mirrors the “spark” dyslexic learners need. Russell shares his own path from severe reading and writing struggles and damaging academic setbacks to developing a writing-first, typing-based intervention that builds skills by focusing on a student’s specialty, moving from specific details to big picture, and using word analysis and articulation. He explains why traditional “well-rounded” schooling and accommodations often fail dyslexics, describes outcomes from his studies and case examples, and outlines guidance for parents. Russell also answers the “Mary question” about “Thunder Road,” and provides contact info at dyslexiaclasses.com.

00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:49 Meet Russell’s Story
02:35 Finding Bruce Early
04:16 Born in the USA Impact
09:23 Dyslexia and the Brain
12:54 Teaching Through Hooks
15:45 Born to Run Spark
18:12 Deep Dive and Lyrics
21:27 Dancing in the Dark Layers
23:25 Diagnosed and Determined
24:28 ADHD and Finding Purpose
28:13 Fixing a Broken System
29:46 Typing Over Handwriting
30:37 Interest Driven Learning
31:57 Specific To General Method
32:47 Why Schools Resist
35:03 Program Breakdown
36:40 When To Start Help
38:23 Reed Success Story
39:59 Parents Biggest Mistake
42:01 Motivation By Chores
44:25 Bruce Live Shows Talk
46:47 Thunder Road Mary Debate
48:18 Where To Find Russell
49:13 Podcast Wrap Up
49:47 Host Housekeeping

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