You know Bruce Springsteen, but did you know that he is a queer icon? Because The Boss Belongs to Us is a series presented by Jesse Lawson and Holly Casio that uses Bruce Springsteen as a lens through which to explore queer history, identity and politics. Through original reporting, tender personal narratives, and playful, sound-rich surprises, Jesse and Holly go on a journey to not only understand why The Boss low-key resonates with so many queer folks, but also what it even means to idolize a celebrity in this way.

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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.

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.