Episodes

  • Why Springsteen’s 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams Tour Could Be the Exclamation Point to his Legacy

    Why Springsteen’s 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams Tour Could Be the Exclamation Point to his Legacy
    Apr 15 2026
    In today's episode, Jesse discuss the significance of the 2026 Land of Hope and Dreams tour. Jesse argues the 2026 tour is a “patriotic protest tour” centered on democracy, freedom, and the Constitution, citing song choices like “War,” a reclaimed “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Purple Rain,” and “Clampdown,” and suggests it may serve as a punctuation mark in Springsteen’s story! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    12 mins
  • Across Timelines with Maddie Frye: Seeger Sessions, U2, Faith, and the E Street Community

    Across Timelines with Maddie Frye: Seeger Sessions, U2, Faith, and the E Street Community
    Apr 14 2026
    Host Jesse Jackson welcomes London-based journalist Maddie Frye to a “timey-wimey” episode of Set Lusting Bruce, exploring her path to Bruce Springsteen and U2 and how music shaped her spiritual and political awakening. Maddie, who writes about religion, sex, politics, and pop culture, describes growing up near London with parents who loved Bowie, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, and Genesis, discovering U2 at 12–13 through All That You Can’t Leave Behind, and finding Springsteen via a 2006 BBC broadcast of the Seeger Sessions that felt both political and spiritually transformative. She discusses working backward through Bruce’s catalog, key live shows (including London 2013 and Liverpool with Paul McCartney), family connections to Springsteen, and reflections on religion’s relationship with power. Maddie answers the “Thunder Road” question—Mary gets in the car—and shares where to find her Substack, U2 and Us. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:45 Meet Maddie 01:55 Growing Up Musical Roots 04:07 Finding Bruce via Seeger 06:23 Seeger Sessions Meaning 10:30 Working Backwards Catalog 14:12 Live Shows Life Changes 18:54 How Many Shows Seen 20:45 Discovering U2 Obsession 23:20 Fandom Numbers Talk 24:52 Writing Religion Politics 25:02 Music Sparks Big Questions 26:24 Faith Through Lyrics 28:00 Reading Toward Belief 29:22 Faithless Research Journey 32:53 Religion Meets Politics 36:13 Radical Gospel Values 41:01 Privilege Luck and Power 44:03 Liverpool Show Memories 46:06 Facing Mortality of Icons 48:24 Thunder Road Mary Answer 49:48 Where to Find Maddie 50:53 Podcast Wrap and Housekeeping Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Setlist Dreams and E Street Reality

    Setlist Dreams and E Street Reality
    Apr 9 2026
    Some fans aren’t thrilled with the Land of Hope and Dreams setlist — and Jesse has thoughts. He shares his HBO (Hot Bruce Opinion) and invites anyone who disagrees to send their counter‑take to setlustingbruce@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 mins
  • Across Timelines with Maddie Fry: Bruce, U2, and Music as a Spiritual & Political Awakening

    Across Timelines with Maddie Fry: Bruce, U2, and Music as a Spiritual & Political Awakening
    Apr 7 2026
    Host Jesse Jackson welcomes London-based journalist Maddie Fry to a “timey wimey” episode of Set Lusting Bruce to discuss how she discovered Bruce Springsteen through a 2006 BBC broadcast of The Seeger Sessions, then worked backward through albums like Devils & Dust, Magic, and The River, becoming a deeper fan after a powerful 2013 London show and later attending the Liverpool concert where Paul McCartney joined Bruce onstage. Maddie also traces her lifelong devotion to U2, sparked in early-2000s adolescence by All That You Can’t Leave Behind and The Joshua Tree, and explains how music by Springsteen, U2, and Johnny Cash shaped her political awareness and led her into writing about religion, spirituality, and culture. The conversation explores faith’s relationship with power, modern politics, and ends with Maddie’s answer to the “Thunder Road” question and where to find her Substack, U2 and Us. https://www.premierchristianity.com/culture/faithless-the-story-behind-bruce-springsteens-soundtrack-to-a-lost-spiritual-western/20448.article https://u2andus.substack.com/ 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:45 Meet Maddie Across Timezones 02:00 Growing Up and Early Music 04:07 Finding U2 First 06:23 Seeger Sessions Lightning Bolt 10:33 Working Back Through Bruce 12:40 Devils and Dust Deep Dive 14:12 2013 Show Turns Superfan 18:54 Concert Counts and Uncle Andy 20:45 U2 Origin Story 23:20 U2 Shows and Fandom Culture 24:52 Writing Religion and Politics 25:02 Music Sparks Meaning 26:24 Faith Through Lyrics 28:00 Reading Toward Belief 29:29 Faithless Research Journey 32:37 Religion And Power 36:13 Radical Gospel Ethics 41:01 Privilege Luck And Myth 44:03 Liverpool Show Reverence 46:06 Facing Cultural Mortality 48:24 Mary Gets In The Car 49:48 Where To Find Maddie 50:53 Podcast Wrap And Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Bonus Episode - The Running Man (2025) Review & Ranking: Edgar Wright’s Stephen King Adaptation

    Bonus Episode - The Running Man (2025) Review & Ranking: Edgar Wright’s Stephen King Adaptation
    Apr 5 2026
    In this episode of the Stephen King podcast, Lou is joined by co-hosts Jesse and Karen to discuss Edgar Wright’s 2025 adaptation of The Running Man, the second film version after the 1987 Schwarzenegger movie. They outline the near-future premise of an authoritarian media network running a lethal televised manhunt and share reactions to the film’s tone as a “popcorn thriller” with on-the-nose social commentary. The group highlights cast standouts (including Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, and Lee Pace), discusses themes like violence as entertainment, AI/deepfakes and propaganda, and critiques the movie’s weak, videogame-like hit squad villains and altered ending versus the book. They finish by ranking The Running Man among 2025 King adaptations, placing it below The Life of Chuck and The Long Walk, and often behind Welcome to Derry. 00:00 Welcome Back and Big Question 01:24 Plot Setup and Dystopian World 02:44 First Impressions and Tone 04:30 Cast Highlights and Cameos 11:12 Adaptation Tone Versus Book 13:08 Opening Act and Ben Richards 17:31 Early Chase and Media Spectacle 22:40 Desensitization and Reality TV 27:25 Why Anyone Joins the Game 33:33 Deepfakes and Rigged Narrative 39:50 Villains and Hit Squad Critique 40:53 Hit Squad Problem 42:33 Popcorn vs Satire 43:41 NPC Villains Critique 45:43 Fixing Lee Pace Arc 46:52 Book Ending Debate 48:42 Hopeful Ending Defense 54:56 Adaptation Expectations 57:49 Ratings and Rewatch 59:07 Ranking King 2025 01:04:40 The Monkey Rant 01:06:36 Wrap Up and Plugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • TeachRock, Nebraska, and Democracy on the Line (w/ Kathy Durham)

    TeachRock, Nebraska, and Democracy on the Line (w/ Kathy Durham)
    Apr 2 2026
    Host Jesse Jackson welcomes returning guest Kathy Durham to discuss Bruce Springsteen news and Kathy’s decision to run for Congress. Kathy shares how she uses Steven Van Zandt’s TeachRock curriculum in her classroom, connecting music to U.S. history and innovation through lessons on Bad Bunny, imperialism, and Jimi Hendrix, with upcoming units for Women’s History Month. They talk about the Nebraska-related movie, box sets, and plans to see Springsteen on the new tour, with Jesse noting his prostate cancer diagnosis. The conversation shifts to politics as Kathy explains her “aha moment” to run after tax and healthcare changes impacting rural Nevada and frustrations with an unresponsive representative. They discuss immigration, due process, inequality, monopolies, and threats to democratic institutions, then offer practical civic actions like staying informed, supporting local news, engaging locally, and volunteering. https://www.kathydurhamforcongress.com/ 00:00 Welcome Back Kathy 00:40 TeachRock in the Classroom 03:09 Nebraska Movie Talk 05:22 Tour Plans and Life Updates 07:20 Bruce and Politics 09:27 Why I’m Running for Congress 14:29 ICE and Due Process 17:25 Top vs Bottom Economics 19:45 America Built by Immigrants 21:05 From Servants to Slavery 21:34 Immigration Waves and Division 22:10 Fixing Legal Pathways 22:46 Farm Labor and Work Visas 23:49 Punishing Workers Not Bosses 25:19 No Consequences for Elites 26:06 Top Versus Bottom Politics 27:07 Trickle Down and Offshoring 28:51 Privatization Playbook 29:49 What You Can Do Locally 33:36 Civic Action Beyond Voting 36:19 Trust Grace and Better Angels 37:10 How to Reach Kathy 38:04 Final Thanks and Sign Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • Bonus - Jake Thistle on American Idol

    Bonus - Jake Thistle on American Idol
    Apr 2 2026
    Sylvan and Jesse spend a few moments sharing their joy and pride in the way the podcast's own Jake Thistle. Please check out Jake's music and watch him on American Idol! https://jakethistle.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    16 mins
  • Discuss the Opening Night of the 2026 Tour

    Discuss the Opening Night of the 2026 Tour
    Apr 1 2026
    🎸 We want to be where the bands are every night—but not all of us can be in Minneapolis on Tuesday 3/31 for opening night of the Land of Hope and Dreams tour. That doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it. Join me, Jesse Jackson, host of Set Lusting Bruce, for a live fan discussion on April 1st (no April Fools joke here). We’ll rate, debate, and celebrate the setlist, the surprises, and yes—maybe vent a little about not being elbows on the stage or high in the nosebleeds. 📍 It’s happening over Zoom 🕗 It’s casual, fun, and full of Bruce energy 🎤 All fans welcome—whether you were there or just wish you were Let’s keep the spirit alive. Follow the link and let’s talk Bruce! https://app.ggv.rs/s/04bG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    4 mins