Behind every song lies a story of memory, place, and the people who shaped it. In this episode, Melissa Ziobro—historian, curator, and Director of Curatorial Affairs at Monmouth University’s Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music—shares her work preserving and interpreting the Boss’s legacy.

We talk about her path with the Archives, from curating its first traveling exhibit Springsteen: His Hometown to her upcoming book on Springsteen and the Vietnam War, honoring two of his close friends who were killed in action. Along the way, Melissa reflects on New Jersey’s broader history, from Fort Monmouth’s technological innovations to the ways music and memory intertwine in American culture.

Melissa began her career in 2004 as a historian, archivist, and curator for the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth before joining Monmouth University’s faculty. In 2023, she was appointed curator of the Bruce Springsteen Archives, and in 2025 promoted to Director of Curatorial Affairs.

Connect with Melissa: LinkedIn | Springsteen Archives | Monmouth Profile

Melissa’s Books: Fort Monmouth: The U.S. Army’s House of Magic (2024) | The Battlin’ Bastards of Bravo (2025)

Books mentioned: Don’t Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours by Alan Light

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn | Bluesky | Instagram | Medium | Substack

Email: [email protected]