Renegades: Born in the USA

Higher Ground•art19.com

Renegades: Born in the USA is a series of conversations between President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen about their lives, music, and enduring love of America—despite all its challenges.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last refreshed: November 12th, 2025 at 7:37 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Introducing Fela Kuti: Fear No Man

If you loved The Wonder of Stevie , you cannot miss Higher Ground and Audible's newest music show. In Fela Kuti: Fear No Man , Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton's America —tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained 'colonial boy' traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobe...

Oct 15, 2025•58 min

Looking Towards American Renewal

President Obama and Bruce discuss the hope for American unification, they ask themselves what defines cultural appropriation, and Bruce shares memories from when he was writing "Born in the USA." -- Archival clips courtesy of Sofa Entertainment, MLB, and Drew Associates' ´The Children Were Watching.´ Watch the whole documentary on the Criterion Channel.¨ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Jun 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 8

Fatherhood

President Obama and Bruce discuss starting their families, the feelings experienced when their children were born, and balancing fatherhood with their careers. They reflect on what they’ve learned from becoming fathers and husbands. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 31, 2021•41 min•Ep. 7

Relationships with Our Fathers & Masculinity

President Obama and Bruce open up about their complicated relationships with their fathers, what it means to be a man, father figures, and role models. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 24, 2021•38 min•Ep. 6

Money & the American Dream

President Obama and Bruce discuss the relationship between money and economic class, growing up with income inequality. They unpack what it meant to not be aware of your lack of economic privilege/wealth prior to a US economic and cultural shift in the 1980s. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

May 17, 2021•48 min•Ep. 5

Traveling the U.S. & Finding Home

President Obama and Bruce Springsteen discuss the loss of American innocence during the 1960s. They relate on the romance of the open road when young Bruce traveled to see concerts and President Obama road-tripped across the US when he first visited the mainland. They discuss the moments when they settled down, faced domestication, and defined their definition of home. -- Archival clips courtesy of NASA, Global Image Works, Warner Bros, The Library of Congress, Getty Images, Chicago Film Archive...

May 10, 2021•44 min•Ep. 4

American Music

President Obama and Bruce sit down to talk popular music, their early musical influences and memories, and the inspiration behind Springsteen’s Broadway show. They share some of their favorite artists (think: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, and more). -- Archival clips courtesy of iHeartMedia, WETA, C-SPAN, and CBSNews. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

May 03, 2021•41 min•Ep. 3

Race in the United States

President Obama and Bruce Springsteen discuss protest songs, reparations, and their relationships with John Lewis and Clarence Clemmons. They reflect on their early experiences with race and racism and the uncomfortable conversations we need to have. -- Archival clips courtesy of C-SPAN and CBSNews. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 26, 2021•42 min•Ep. 2

Our Unlikely Friendship

This episode explores the evolving friendship between Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, two men from vastly different backgrounds who discovered a shared sensibility. They delve into their formative years, reflecting on how their experiences as "outsiders" in their hometowns shaped their understanding of belonging and America's complex racial history. The conversation highlights the enduring belief in the American ideal as a compass for justice and freedom, even while acknowledging its shortcomings.

Apr 19, 2021•53 min•Ep. 1

Renegades: Born in the USA Trailer

Welcome to the new podcast from President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen. Find the trailer transcript here: http://spoti.fi/RenegadesTranscripts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Apr 13, 2021•2 min

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android