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.