Set Lusting Bruce: The Bruce Springsteen Fan Podcast

Jesse Jackson

🎙️ Set Lusting Bruce is more than a podcast—it's a celebration of connection through the music of Bruce Springsteen. Hosted by longtime contact center leader and community builder Jesse Jackson, each episode invites fans from all walks of life to share their personal stories, favorite lyrics, and the moments where Bruce’s music met them right where they were. Whether you're a die-hard E Street devotee or someone who just discovered Thunder Road, this show is your backstage pass to heartfelt conversations, unexpected insights, and the kind of camaraderie only music can spark. From tales of redemption and resilience to laughter over setlist debates, Set Lusting Bruce is where fandom becomes family. Because as Bruce once sang, “We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school.” Proud Member of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

  1. 3h ago

    Pitchfork Editor Sam Sodomsky on Springsteen Obsession, Wrecking Ball Tour Magic, and His New Album “Take Leave”

    Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Sam Sodomsky, senior editor at Pitchfork and musician behind The Bird Calls, to discuss how a childhood encounter with a “Dancing in the Dark” parody sparked a lifelong Springsteen obsession that led him to guitar, songwriting, and writing about music. Sam shares growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania, collecting bootlegs and books, and even creating a mock Springsteen biography, then traces his path through blogging, an MFA in nonfiction at Columbia, and a decade at Pitchfork. He recounts standout Wrecking Ball Tour memories, including receiving Bruce’s harmonica, singing “Waiting on a Sunny Day” at Jazz Fest, and briefly meeting Bruce and Jon Landau backstage in London. Sam also talks about his new record “Take Leave,” his interest in poetry, his thoughts on Tracks II, and answers the “Thunder Road” question. https://www.instagram.com/samsodomsky/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OvIlGI9oNdXSUBTggvQrC?si=qOxLiXqxRci2bWbMyG8zVQ 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:39 Opening Lyrics Montage 02:22 Meet Sam From Pitchfork 03:35 Growing Up In Reading 04:49 Why Bruce Hit Home 07:57 From Fan To Musician 09:40 Books Bootlegs And Obsession 12:08 Counting Shows And Setlists 14:50 Wrecking Ball Tour Stories 17:05 Onstage At Jazz Fest 20:39 Meeting Bruce Backstage 22:17 Pitchfork Writing Journey 25:08 Brian Wilson Tribute Essay 27:04 Beach Boys Mythos 28:49 Writing Beyond Journalism 30:11 Dream Interviews 31:25 Learning Songcraft 33:17 Springsteen Album Lessons 36:41 New Album Take Leave 40:20 Tracks II Deep Dive 45:30 Future Music Plans 47:23 Thunder Road Mary 50:59 Wrap Up And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 5d ago

    Bow Thayer on DIY Music, Vermont Creativity, and the Making of ‘Ninevah’

    Jesse and his Perfectly Good Podcast cohost Sylvan Groth sit down to talk with her friend and neighbor, Vermont songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bow Thayer. Bow shares his journey from growing up in Massachusetts to finding a home making over 30 albums in the small town of Vermont. He shares stories of connecting with Levon Helm, touring, having a family and his latest venture of a campground and concert venue called KnowTown. Bow also discusses his upcoming album. Inspired by both Vermont’s remote Lake Ninevah and the ancient city of Nineveh, Ninevah explores nature, division, transition, and rebirth. After spending nearly a year recording the project alone, Bow scrapped much of it, took the songs on an Alaskan tour with guitarist Krishna Guthrie and percussionist Steve Ferraris, then returned to Vermont to record the album’s core live. The record also features Val McCallum, James Rohr, Chazz Canney, Jabe Beyer, and Tyler Bolles and was mixed by three-time Grammy winner Justin Guip. Here's the bandcamp link https://bowthayer.bandcamp.com/album/ninevah Spotify and the others just have the single out for now https://open.spotify.com/album/2fG9WNXw1pstyyDUuPG7KH?si=HVpkGWrIRRiZMQ_xqP5Zyg&utm_source=copy-link https://music.apple.com/us/song/old-news/6804823311 https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0HGDJM38Q?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_bIfpT9jWrxbAoYjKXLquDmv3k Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Sep 9

    Set Lusting Bruce: A Long Walk Home - Episode 1500

    Set Lusting Bruce celebrates its 1,500th episode with congratulatory messages from fellow podcasters, friends, and listeners, praising Jesse Jackson’s consistency, kindness, interviewing skill, and the community he’s built. Jesse is joined by Chris Jackson for a milestone conversation covering Jesse’s regrets about guests he hasn’t booked, how his signature opening question helps people share their music origins, and why storytelling is central to the show. They discuss podcasts they enjoy, parallels between Bruce fandom and WWE—including “hate watching,” nostalgia, and escapism—and how music functions as a time machine tied to life memories. Chris shares favorite Springsteen songs like “Highway Patrolman,” and Jesse reflects on early country influences and his dream guests, including Bruce and E Street members. Jesse closes by recounting key Springsteen eras, albums, films, tours, and guests featured across the show’s run. 00:00 Congrats From Podcasters 01:14 More Listener Shoutouts 02:32 Welcome To Episode 1500 03:15 Regrets And Milestones 05:51 Pride In Community 08:48 Ireland Congrats Message 10:05 Favorite Podcasts Today 12:24 Why Music Matters 15:04 Rediscovering Wrestling 20:15 Bruce And WWE Parallels 25:31 More Congrats Voicemails 27:24 Becoming A Bruce Fan 29:54 Highway Patrolman Emotions 33:51 What The Podcast Means 36:38 Final Round Of Shoutouts 37:44 Listener Congrats Montage 42:21 Guest Booking Confidence 46:13 Dream Bruce Interview 48:32 Early Music Memories 55:23 Beverly Questions Prophet 01:00:01 Worst Songs Debate 01:04:40 E Street Favorites Stories 01:09:56 Wrap Up Reviews Guests 01:11:36 1500 Episode Reflection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Sep 4

    JB & Rob Return: Bruce Springsteen Sings the Alphabet Relaunch + Movies, Ministry, and the E Street Community

    Jesse welcomes JB and Rob back to Set Lusting Bruce to discuss their return to podcasting and the relaunch of Bruce Springsteen Sings the Alphabet. JB shares updates on life in North Georgia, while Rob explains his transition from pastor to banker during COVID, personal struggles, and how reconnecting with JB revived their creative spark. They outline the show’s new format: covering Springsteen album-by-album (collections included) in alphabetical order while discussing tracks in sequence, breaking up Tracks by recording sessions, and adding occasional mini-series, with “Episode Zero” planned for September 4 and the first new episode on September 7 starting with American Beauty. The conversation also touches on adult friendships, tracking media, the film Sinners, mixed reactions to Delivery From Nowhere, Springsteen’s activism, and shared music interests including Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlile. - https://alphabeticalspringsteen.substack.com/ - @alphabeticalspringsteen on instagram - And in your podcast catcher/apple podcasts. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:39 Meet JB and Rob 02:42 Rob’s Career Pivot 04:40 Friendship Needs Projects 06:55 Sinners Movie Detour 10:56 Bruce as a Poet 12:52 Where the Podcast Went 17:33 Reboot Plan and Schedule 19:00 New Format Explained 25:12 Can You Go Home Again 28:15 Delivery From Nowhere Review 38:19 Missing the Mic Moments 41:45 Backstage Isbell Story 42:38 Live Shows and Covers 44:00 Brandi Carlile Vocal Magic 44:56 Tracking Movies and Books 46:41 Missing Ministry Work 51:46 Odyssey and Flower Moon 53:22 Isbell Divorce Parasocial Talk 01:01:30 Bruce Career Parallels 01:07:30 Therapy Ending and Nitpicks 01:09:05 Where to Find the Show 01:14:19 Austin Show and Politics 01:16:54 Obama Center Chicago Trip 01:19:53 Final Thanks and Signoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    JB & Rob Return: Bruce Springsteen Sings the Alphabet Relaunch + Movies, Ministry, and the E Street Community

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
149 Ratings

About

🎙️ Set Lusting Bruce is more than a podcast—it's a celebration of connection through the music of Bruce Springsteen. Hosted by longtime contact center leader and community builder Jesse Jackson, each episode invites fans from all walks of life to share their personal stories, favorite lyrics, and the moments where Bruce’s music met them right where they were. Whether you're a die-hard E Street devotee or someone who just discovered Thunder Road, this show is your backstage pass to heartfelt conversations, unexpected insights, and the kind of camaraderie only music can spark. From tales of redemption and resilience to laughter over setlist debates, Set Lusting Bruce is where fandom becomes family. Because as Bruce once sang, “We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school.” Proud Member of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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