Because the Boss Belongs to Us

Outspoken
  • 4.5 (25)
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  • WEEKLY SERIES
Because the Boss Belongs to Us

If someone asked you to name a queer icon, who would you say? Cher? Britney? Whitney? Mariah? What about…Bruce Springsteen? In Because the Boss Belongs to Us, Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio try to get Bruce Springsteen recognised as the queer icon they know that he is. Over 7 episodes, they’ll be addressing important questions, like:  Who wore it best? Bruce Springsteen or K D Lang? What is the best Bruce song for your sex playlist?  Is Bruce Springsteen… the Ultimate Emo? And what the hell are they—trans / activist / abolitionist / DIY punk / drag king / working class / weirdos—doing, idolizing a cis, straight, rich, white man?

  1. EPISODE 1

    1. The Mission

    Jesse Lawson fell in love with Bruce Sprinsteen when they were 20. They knew who he was before then, but that’s the first time they’d properly heard his music. It went straight into their insides, pulling out feelings that they didn’t even realize they had yet, giving them new words as they were held up to the light. It turns out, they are not alone. And Jesse has questions. What is it about Bruce? Why are queers so obsessed with him? And why don’t people know that Bruce is loved by queer people? Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode Find more Butch Springsteen here.  If this is your first time thinking about The Boss as a queer icon, and you want to explore these new feelings you’re having, me and Holly have made a playlist:  Queer Springsteen. Think of it as a Queer Bruce 101 - it’s a combination of Bruce songs that we think are queer anthems, and then covers of Bruce songs by legendary queer artists. Some of them are their friends, who made the covers to celebrate the release of the show! Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts  Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Tom Rasmussen  Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Serena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    2. Camp

    Jesse and Holly have anointed themselves with Queer Scientific Research Status and they’re ready to put The Boss to the test. Can he fulfill the first item on their checklist: CAMP? Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode ‘Can a cis guy be butch’ meme If this is your first time thinking about The Boss as a queer icon, and you want to explore these new feelings you’re having, me and Holly have made a playlist:  Queer Springsteen. Think of it as a Queer Bruce 101 - it’s a combination of Bruce songs that we think are queer anthems, and then covers of Bruce songs by legendary queer artists. Some of them are their friends, who made the covers to celebrate the release of the show! Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts   Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Eleanor Medhurst and Brooke Palmieri  Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Selena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    3: Underdog

    It’s time to investigate item two on Jesse and Holly’s airtight queer icon checklist: Underdog Status. They need to find in him experiences of struggle that would make him relatable to queer people, so they can root for him as an underdog. Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode Live recording of The River where Bruce talks about his dad If this is your first time thinking about The Boss as a queer icon, and you want to explore these new feelings you’re having, me and Holly have made a playlist:  Queer Springsteen. Think of it as a Queer Bruce 101 - it’s a combination of Bruce songs that we think are queer anthems, and then covers of Bruce songs by legendary queer artists. Some of them are their friends, who made the covers to celebrate the release of the show! Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts  Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Naomi Gordon-Loebl, Jazmine (JT) Green and Lex  Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Serena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    4: Failure

    Off the back of their conversations last episode, Jesse and Holly are really starting to doubt their mission. Sure, a lot of Bruce Springsteen's lyrics make them feel seen, but can they relate to actual Bruce Springsteen? He’s a multi-millionaire! And his fanbase is not representative of their identities and beliefs. Does that even matter? Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode If this is your first time thinking about The Boss as a queer icon, and you want to explore these new feelings you’re having, me and Holly have made a playlist:  Queer Springsteen. Think of it as a Queer Bruce 101 - it’s a combination of Bruce songs that we think are queer anthems, and then covers of Bruce songs by legendary queer artists. Some of them are their friends, who made the covers to celebrate the release of the show! Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo   Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts   Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features:  Jazmine (JT) Green, Lex , Tom Rasmussen and CJ Raey Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar  Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Serena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    5: Cry / Dance / F**k

    They’re back, baby. Jesse and Holly are donning their lab coats once again to see if Bruce Springsteen ticks off checklist point three: Good Music. Does Bruce Springsteen’s music help queer people access emotions that they have spent years learning to dissociate from? Or, in other works, can you dance to it, can you cry to it, can you f**k to it? Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode If this is your first time thinking about The Boss as a queer icon, and you want to explore these new feelings you’re having, me and Holly have made a playlist: Queer Springsteen. Think of it as a Queer Bruce 101 - it’s a combination of Bruce songs that we think are queer anthems, and then covers of Bruce songs by legendary queer artists. Some of them are their friends, who made the covers to celebrate the release of the show! Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts  Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Rudy Russell, Tasmin Bookey, Sergio Papini, Jazmine (JT) Green and Talk Bazaar  Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Serena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    36 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    6. Last Chance

    Jesse and Holly just have one checkpoint to go before we can officially crown Bruce Springsteen with queer icon status. Quite simply – is there a vibe? Do other queer people agree that Bruce is a queer icon? This is their last chance to collate their evidence, gather their findings, and prepare their ultimate arguments for the Panel of Queers next week. Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode Read Alana Kumbier’s seminal zine Because the Boss Belongs to us Read Holly Casio’s Graphic Memoir Looking for Bruce Follow Butch Springsteen and Georgeous Michael Read Eve Kosofsky Sedgewick - You’re So Paranoid, I Bet You Think This Introduction is About You Our friends have released 5 absolutely STUNNING bruce covers to celebrate the series. Find them all on our Queer Springsteen playlist 3  Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts  Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Alana Kumbier, Otto Wates and Afi Yellow-Duke Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Fact Checking: Serena Solin Legal: Rowan Maron and Feil Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    7. The Verdict

    After all of this work, have Jesse and Holly succeeded on their mission? Is Bruce Springsteen a queer icon? In order to know whether The Boss does, truly, belong to us, Jesse and Holly need to persuade a Panel of Queers who are so far unconvinced. Show notes:  Read a transcript of today’s episode Our friends have released 6 absolutely STUNNING bruce covers to celebrate the series. Find them all on our Queer Springsteen playlist 3  Buy Jesse’s Gay Bruce Merch and support trans affirming surgeries and families evacuating Gaza xoxo Resources for people interested in getting into audio.  The Valhalla Suite Gna miss us? Check out more of Jesse’s work here and here, and more of Holly’s work here and here. Follow Butch Springsteen here.  Listen to Huw Lemmey’s Bad Gays  Listen to Zakiya Gibbons’ Hang Up  Read Joelle Taylor’s C+nto & Othered Poems Credits: Because the Boss Belongs to Us is a production of Molten Heart and iHeartPodcasts  Creator: Jesse Lawson Hosts and Executive Producers: Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio This episode features: Zakiya Gibbons, Huw Lemmey, Joelle Taylor, Jazmine (JT) Green and Talk Bazaar Producer + Sound Designer: Jesse Lawson Production Assistant: Tess Hazel Mix Engineer: Michelle Macklem Original music and theme: Talk Bazaar Show Art: Holly Casio Molten Heart Executive Producer: Jazmine (JT) Green iHeartPodcasts Executive Producer: Lindsey Hoffman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 1m
See All Season 1 (7)

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4.5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

If someone asked you to name a queer icon, who would you say? Cher? Britney? Whitney? Mariah? What about…Bruce Springsteen? In Because the Boss Belongs to Us, Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio try to get Bruce Springsteen recognised as the queer icon they know that he is. Over 7 episodes, they’ll be addressing important questions, like:  Who wore it best? Bruce Springsteen or K D Lang? What is the best Bruce song for your sex playlist?  Is Bruce Springsteen… the Ultimate Emo? And what the hell are they—trans / activist / abolitionist / DIY punk / drag king / working class / weirdos—doing, idolizing a cis, straight, rich, white man?

Information

  • Channel
    Outspoken
  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Episodes
    8
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Because the Boss Belongs to Us

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