A sentence we never thought we'd write, but it seems like two of America's biggest golden boys are teaming up for 2021's most unlikely project. Former president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the man who brought us Born In The USA, Bruce Springsteen, are collaborating on a new Spotify playlist. Titled Renegades: Born in the USA, the podcast will provide a deep dive into “race, fatherhood, and the painful divisions that persist in American society.”
To add to the wholesome news, Obama and Springsteen's podcast is being produced by Obama and his wife Michelle's company, Higher Ground Productions. The first two episodes of the unexpected project have already been released, with six subsequent episodes to be released weekly.
“In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys,” Obama says in the first episode. “We still share a fundamental belief in the American ideal. Not as an airbrushed, cheap fiction or an act of nostalgia that ignores all the ways that we’ve fallen short of that ideal. But as a compass for the hard work that lies before each of us as citizens.”
As The Times reports, Obama originally drew inspiration for the podcast from his own wife's experimentation in the medium; which she launched with Spotify in July last year. It's no secret that Obama and Springsteen aren't the first high-profile icons to launch a podcast, but we would be lying if we said we weren't intrigued to see what the dynamic duo do with the platform.
Obama has been a long-time fan of his now co-collaborator. The two first met when Obama was campaigning for his term in office; and then once he had made it into the White House, Springsteen actually performed there in 2017. The musician has also regularly been featured on the playlists Obama shares with the public. Last November, the former POTUS cited Springsteen’s “The Rising” as one of the memorable songs from his administration.
Music has always played an important role in my life—and that was especially true during my presidency. In honor of my book hitting shelves tomorrow, I put together this playlist featuring some memorable songs from my administration. Hope you enjoy it. pic.twitter.com/xWiNQiZzN0
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 16, 2020
If like us, you have already caught up on the first two episodes from Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen, might we direct your attention to adorable trailer below? You're welcome.
View this post on Instagram
Image: Instagram
