We kick off Pride in Bruce Month with guest Nico Stratus, a Toronto-based writer originally from Canada’s Yukon. Niko describes growing up in a music- and book-filled home, later leaving construction work after coming out as trans, and building a writing career through online essays, including an early op-ed that prompted an attempted libel threat. Nico recounts discovering Bruce Springsteen later in life—initially misreading Born in the U.S.A.—and connecting deeply to Bruce’s earnestness, storytelling, and songs like “Dancing in the Dark,” “Thunder Road,” “Drive All Night,” and Nebraska tracks. Nico discusses their book, The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman, a memoir-mixtape where “Dancing in the Dark” becomes a pivotal catalyst for coming out, and shares where to find their work online.
Find out more about Niko here - https://www.nikostratis.com/
Amazon Link for The Dad Rock that Made me a Women - here https://a.co/d/0git0VZh
00:00 Pride in Bruce Intro
01:48 Meet Jesse and Nico
02:10 Tattoo and Cancer Talk
02:46 Nico Background Story
04:03 Music in the Yukon
09:35 Reading and Escape
11:13 Comics Marvel vs DC
13:56 Becoming a Writer
17:02 First Op-Ed and Lawsuit
18:01 Discovering Springsteen
20:56 Why Bruce Hit Home
22:58 Dancing in the Dark Deep Dive
27:10 Writing the Dad Rock Book
29:14 Mixtape Memoir Blueprint
30:55 Springsteen Awakening Moment
32:34 Impostor Syndrome and Belonging
35:57 Good Tired Dream Work
37:59 Never Seen Bruce Live
38:55 Songs That Shaped Me
42:49 Queer Icon Bruce Debate
44:58 Why Read the Book
49:56 Does Mary Get In
53:24 Where to Find Nico
55:08 Pride Month Signoff
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