Because the Boss Belongs to Us

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 HoffmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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 HoffmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 HoffmanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.