Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Chad Martin, a Texas-born pro wrestler, author, and podcaster, for a B-side episode that steps outside the Springsteen universe into music, memories, and creativity. Chad shares how Elvis Presley shaped his childhood, how he discovered broader music through a mixtape, and how he found pro wrestling’s “magic” after training on carpet over concrete in a sweltering Arkansas building. He explains performing as the heel character Big Daddy Storm, the physical risks and trust required in wrestling, and how storytelling drives both promos and his writing. Chad recounts leaving the corporate world after a health scare in 2012, learning self-publishing, starting a publishing venture with his doctor, and finally finishing his novel Hale County after outlining it. He also discusses writing multiple books at once, launching the FAFO Podcast for open conversations grounded in facts, and answers the Thunder Road “Mary question.”

00:00 B-Side Detour Intro
00:37 Meet Chad and Tangents
01:40 Life Reset in 2012
03:24 Texas Roots and Elvis
06:36 Southern Identity Talk
08:02 Dad's Mixtape Discovery
09:44 Falling for Wrestling
11:15 Brutal Training Days
14:28 First Match Breakthrough
17:40 Big Daddy Storm Persona
20:23 Wrestling as Storytelling
25:02 Books Bigfoot and Sci-Fi
26:24 Writing Path to Publishing
29:06 Publishing Breakthrough
29:55 Finishing First Novel
30:26 Hell County Origins
31:44 Outline Then Sprint
34:47 Writing Multiple Projects
35:47 Building Bodhi World
37:48 Podcasting Advice
41:27 FAFO Podcast Mission
44:46 Facts Over Hot Takes
48:31 New Genres And Smut
53:40 Mary Gets In Car
56:20 Where To Find Chad
57:23 Final Sign Off

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jesse Jackson welcomes George P. Brooks for a B-side episode that steps outside Springsteen to focus on music, life experience, and purpose. George, a longtime mental health advocate and founder of the Meta Association, shares his Memphis upbringing shaped by diverse music, his lifelong love of Green Day, and how recovery from addiction led him to nonprofit work supporting Black male mental health, recidivism, and fatherhood. He discusses surviving homelessness and two heart attacks, the barriers men—especially Black men—face in seeking therapy, and the importance of safe spaces, unplugging from social media, journaling, and basic health screenings. The conversation also explores faith, grace in public discourse, and George’s conservative values, before closing with a call to treat people with respect and be better each day.

00:00 B-Side Welcome

00:37 Meet George Brooks

01:48 Wrestling and Memphis Roots

02:35 Memphis Music Upbringing

03:52 Discovering Green Day

05:40 Service and Nonprofit Mission

07:07 Recovery and Resilience

08:02 Men and Mental Health Stigma

13:31 Social Media and Unplugging

14:57 Faith and Spiritual Journey

18:22 Politics and Conservatism

20:55 Core Conservative Values

22:44 Black Culture And Welfare

23:42 Law Order And ICE

24:53 Black Conservatism History

26:13 Polarization And Hypocrisy

29:01 Where America Is Headed

31:05 Divisiveness For Profit

31:41 Unplugging And Batman

33:15 Mens Mental Health Tips

34:32 Where To Find George

35:51 Final Thoughts And Farewell

36:35 Closing Song I Wish You Well
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Lou and Karen for a crossover discussion of the documentary “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band,” directed by Thom Zimny and released on Hulu/Disney+ on October 25, 2025. They highlight backstage and rehearsal footage, Springsteen’s arena walk during soundcheck, the band’s pre-show ritual, and Bruce seeming looser about mistakes while still aiming to “blow” audiences away. The conversation compares band dynamics after major losses like Clarence Clemons, discusses Jake Clemons stepping into a huge role, and notes Patti Scialfa’s reduced touring due to multiple myeloma. They also tackle tour controversies around Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing, scalping, and a largely fixed setlist, while praising musical moments like “Nightshift” and the energy of European crowds.

00:00 Patreon Thanks

01:29 Crossover Intro

02:07 Road Diary Overview

03:31 First Impressions

06:14 Perfectionism Loosens

13:37 Band Rituals

19:01 Replacing Legends

26:39 Patti Health Reveal

32:54 European Crowd Energy

38:29 Tour Pricing Setlist

41:26 Setlists And Fans

41:51 Dynamic Pricing Backlash

43:21 Ticketmaster Monopoly

43:58 Scalpers And Verified Fans

47:41 Concert Value Debate

50:59 Streaming And Artist Pay

53:39 Night Shift Tribute

57:29 Tour Story Explained

59:54 Final Plugs And Farewell

01:03:38 Post Show Wrap Up
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices