Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Denver-based Springsteen fan Tracey Konigsbauer, who grew up in Philadelphia and says Bruce has always been in her blood. Tracey shares her musical influences (soul, R&B, Prince, The Roots, classic hip hop, The Beatles), her own playing (saxophone inspired by Clarence Clemons, plus guitar), and her move to Colorado. She discusses how Tunnel of Love became her gateway to deeply absorbing Bruce’s lyrics, reflects on seeing Bruce seven times on the East Coast (including Meadowlands and Philly), and recalls an emotional 2012 Philly performance of “Jungleland” after Clarence’s passing as Jake Clemons took the solo. Tracey talks about Bruce and politics, songs she loves and chases, being moved by “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” her local music life in Denver, and answers the “Thunder Road” question: she doesn’t think Mary gets in the car.

00:00 Show Intro

00:48 Meet Tracey

02:38 Denver And East Coast Shows

04:43 Musical Roots And Influences

06:52 Moving Without A Network

10:36 Discovering Bruce Early

11:43 Tunnel Of Love Connection

14:37 Seven Shows And Favorites

16:17 Jungleland Without Clarence

18:08 Bruce And Politics

22:13 Songs That Matter Most

23:24 Top Bruce Picks

23:57 Shore Album Memories

24:40 Marys Place Porch Flashback

26:23 Husband Joins The Fun

28:36 Songs Still Chasing

29:39 Letter To You Grief

31:59 Concert Buddies And First Show

33:00 Red Rocks And Summer Shows

36:41 Sports Allegiance And Bruce Truce

39:19 Does Mary Get In

40:45 Final Thoughts And Real Estate

43:34 Podcast Farewell Message
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In a cross over episode, JKL Media Reviews discusses Rebecca Ross’s YA romantasy Divine Rivals, chosen by Karen after previous picks by Lou and Jesse. Lou, not a romance fan, says the book didn’t change his view of romance novels and critiques passive characters, trope-heavy misunderstandings, and underdeveloped worldbuilding, especially the vague setting and limited exploration of the warring gods Dakra and Enva. Jesse enjoys the premise of a WWI-like magical war, likes the characters and love story, and praises elements like the magic typewriters, Roman’s conflict with his family, and supportive elders. The group debates the typewriters as a plot device, the gods’ role in the war, and the twist involving Iris’s brother Forest, then speculates about where the sequel Ruthless Vows will take the story.

00:00 Intro and Pick
01:15 Lou Romance Skeptic
02:22 Jesse Loves Premise
05:26 Lou Worldbuilding Critique
08:04 Why This Book
12:15 Comfort Food Debate
19:10 Magic Typewriters
24:43 Deceit and Tropes
29:05 Genre Tropes Talk
31:11 Flanagan Does Carrie
31:51 Gods And War Lore
35:04 Worldbuilding Complaints
38:53 Forest Twist Reveal
43:47 Romance Tropes Debate
48:29 Dakra Cold Or Hot
49:18 Predictions Next Book
51:28 Wrap Up And Thanks
56:37 Where To Find Us

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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes John Mountain, a longtime Bruce Springsteen fan now living in Bakersfield, California, who first connected with Bruce through the 1981 “No Nukes” concert film and was especially moved by “The River.” John shares his early musical influences, love of movies and horror, and how Springsteen’s songs feel cinematic, including connections between “Nebraska” and Terrence Malick’s “Badlands.” He recounts seeing Springsteen live three times—finding the “other band” show disappointing, loving the solo “Ghost of Tom Joad” tour stop, and praising the 1999 E Street Band reunion. John also discusses Springsteen’s politics, favorite artists and albums, and picks standout Bruce tracks.

00:48 Meet John

01:59 Growing Up With Music

04:18 First Records And Elton

05:11 Discovering Bruce Via No Nukes

09:24 Movies And Nebraska

12:25 Seeing Bruce Live

17:08 Politics And Patriotism

19:49 Moving To California

21:27 Horror Movies Deep Dive

24:21 Mike Flanagan Favorites

27:03 Flanagan Film Picks

28:14 Core Cast Spotlight

31:36 Back To Music Talk

31:56 Murder Ballads Deep Dive

34:47 Wide-Ranging Favorites

37:57 Bruce Album Breakdown

42:34 Thunder Road Mary Debate

44:24 Social Media And Farewell
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Jesse Jackson welcomes retired Dallas sportscasting legend Dale Hansen, who reflects on covering the Cowboys across decades, loving sports more for drama than wins and losses, and feeling lucky throughout a 41-year TV career. Hansen discusses his 2019 journalism speech about speaking truth to power and worries about U.S. politics and media capitulation, then traces his lifelong connection to music through radio, his eclectic tastes, and why Bruce Springsteen’s live shows—especially the Austin concert—still amaze him. He shares stories about Elvis, Waylon and Willie, Rod Stewart gifting him a signed soccer ball, meeting icons like Staubach, Nicklaus, and Mickey Mantle, and the enduring impact of his “Thank God for Kids” tradition, while also promoting his podcast, A Dallas Dialogue with Dale.

https://www.youtube.com/@DallasDialoguewithDale

01:37 Meet Dale Hansen
03:06 Cowboys Highs Lows
06:38 Local TV Changing
08:23 Journalism Truth Power
11:22 Radio Dreams Early Music
14:42 Eclectic Tastes Springsteen
16:39 Austin Show Behind Stage
19:52 Elvis Waylon Memories
26:09 Rod Stewart Soccer Ball
29:55 First Springsteen Cotton Bowl
33:04 Politics Division Friends
35:57 Art Versus Politics
37:16 Springsteen Politics Debate
38:34 Fox News Bubble
39:02 Hitler Quote Test
40:51 Confronting Conservatives
44:25 Artists And Politics
44:56 Ticket Price Rant
46:51 Turn The Dial
50:10 Beating Verne Lundquist
53:52 Starstruck Encounters
57:25 Super Bowl Lucky Life
01:00:54 Springsteen Concert Tales
01:04:54 Thank God For Kids
01:09:42 Landry Superman Story
01:13:05 Dale Podcast Wrap
01:15:09 Show Housekeeping

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Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Dallas sportswriter Tim Cowlishaw to Set Lusting Bruce, beginning with a discussion about Dallas teams potentially leaving the American Airlines Center area and the impact on fans and downtown. Cowlishaw shares his upbringing in Tulsa, New Jersey, and Texas, early musical influences like Beatles and The Who, and how a King Biscuit Flower Hour Columbia Records ad led him to Bruce Springsteen’s The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle. He recounts a canceled 1974 Dallas show and finally seeing Springsteen up close at The Bottom Line in 1975, leading to roughly 30 concerts over the years, including 1984 Chicago shows. They discuss setlist predictability, Bruce’s political remarks on recent tours, favorite albums and books, and how Springsteen’s work ethic influenced Cowlishaw’s writing, along with talk of Taylor Swift, Radiohead, and the “Does Mary get in the car?” question.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:50 Dallas Teams Leaving
04:40 Growing Up With Music
06:32 Discovering Bruce
08:19 First Show Cancelled
09:20 Bottom Line Breakthrough
13:12 Chasing Shows Stories
19:21 Setlists And Politics
21:17 Favorite Albums And Books
24:24 Nebraska Movie Debate
26:00 Writing Influences
26:33 Bruce Work Ethic Lesson
28:16 Still Writing Columns
29:43 Mavs Missteps Brunson
32:50 Taylor Swift Live
35:50 Radiohead Berlin Trip
38:54 Cowboys Season Outlook
40:30 Around the Horn Reflections
41:15 Thunder Road Mary Debate
43:11 Backstreets Terry Meaning
45:13 Wrap Up Social Links

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