AP Taylor Swift

E82: Deep Dive - Guilty as Sin?

 
“What if he’s written “mine” on my upper thigh” This week we dive into “Guilty as Sin?” from The Tortured Poets Department. We explore how Taylor Swift uses religious metaphors, what the imagery of cages and wolves might mean, the complexities of fantasies, desires, and moral dilemmas, particularly in the context of relationships and societal expectations. Just another light episode from your unofficial Professors of Taylor Swift!
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Mentioned in this episode: 
The Downtown Lights by The Blue Nile (1989)
Beauty and the Beast (Disney)The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasSong of Solomon (Hebrew Bible)Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:18] "Guilty as sin?" 
[05:50] "Am I allowed to cry?"
[10:34] "Crashing into him tonight, he's a paradox." 
[18:33] "What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh — only in my mind?"
[28:30] "I keep these longings locked"
[40:00] "What if I rolled the stone away? They’re gonna crucify me anyway."
[45:00] “I choose you and me — religiously.”
[50:41] The purpose of the song
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Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.
 

E81: Show and Tell - Paintings by Female Artists

 
“You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you’re talking to me” What happens when we view Taylor Swift’s music through the lens of female artists? In this week’s Show & Tell episode, we explore the work of three iconic women in art—Mary Cassatt, Remedios Varo, and Hildegard von Bingen—and connect their paintings to Taylor Swift’s songs. From the intimacy of motherhood to the surreal exhaustion of creating something greater than yourself, to the struggle of questioning authority, we discuss how these themes appear in both art and Taylor’s songwriting.
Since this is a visual episode, check out the full video episode on YouTube or Spotify!
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Mary Cassatt, Wikipedia
De Young Museum, “5 Things to Know About Impressionist Mary Cassatt”
Mary Cassatt – Bathing the Young Heir (1890-1891)
The Dutch House, Ann Patchett 
Surrealism and the Art of Remedios Varo
Starmaker, Remedios Varo (1958)
Hildegard von Bingen
Hildegard von Bingen's Physica
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:19] This week’s topic: Female Artists
[01:09] Mary Cassatt and “The Best Day”
[13:40] Remedios Varo and “This Is Me Trying”
[26:58] Hildegard von Bingen and “Guilty as Sin”
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
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Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E80: Deep Dive - Mirrorball

“I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight” In this episode, we delve into Taylor Swift's song 'mirrorball' from Folklore, exploring its themes of identity, reflection, and the performance of femininity. We discuss the significance of the mirror ball as an object that always shows a reflection. We also touch on the song's structure, the emotional nature of the lyrics, and the implications of the 'hush' in the chorus. It’s a loaded episode that takes us to the societal pressures on women to perform and ultimately leads us to ask the question, “are we all mirrorballs?”
 
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***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:15] How we do a deep dive
[01:33] What is a mirrorball?
[08:41] “You’ll find me on my tallest tiptoes”
[15:01] “I can change everything about me to fit in” 
[23:10] “Hush”
[27:38] The bridge
[39:38] The purpose
 
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E79: Show and Tell - Feminist Theory

"Girls go out and have your fun, then they hunt and slay the ones who actually do it." What does it mean to view Taylor Swift's music through a feminist lens? On this week’s show and tell episode, we look at three songs from the lens of Feminist Theory—"Mean," "Nothing New," and "Mirrorball"—to examine how they critique patriarchal expectations, the limitations placed on women, and the struggle for self-definition. From the societal obsession with youth and likability to the emotional labor of constantly adjusting to fit in, this discussion unpacks the deeper layers of feminist literary criticism embedded in Swift’s songwriting.
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Mentioned in this episode: 
E70: Harry Potter Holidays Special Episode
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
Middlemarch, George Elliot
Mean Girls
Unlikable Female Characters by Anna Bogutskaya
The Handmaids Tale, Margaret Atwood
Hamlet
Romeo and Juliet
Grease
It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World: Portrayals of Female Characters in the Top Grossing U.S. Films of 2022, Dr. Martha M. Lauzen San Diego State University
Britney Spears, Circus
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:36] Introduction to Feminist Theory
[04:12] “Mean”
[17:17] “Nothing New” 
[30:35] “Mirrorball” 
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E78: Deep Dive - Tim McGraw

“When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think of me” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we’re going line by line through “Tim McGraw”—the debut single that introduced Taylor Swift to the world. From the country music storytelling structure to the nostalgic time loop embedded in the lyrics, we explore every lyrical shift, hidden meaning, and emotional evolution in the song.
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Mentioned in this episode: 
The Last Song 
Dirty Dancing
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Grease 
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before 
The Good Place 
Anita de Monte Laughs Last – Xochitl Gonzalez
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:55]  How we do a deep dive
[02:07] “He said the way my blue eyes shined…”
[05:32] “And I was right there beside him all summer long”
[07:55] “When you think Tim McGraw”
[12:40] “September saw a month of tears”
[18:34] “And there’s a letter left on your doorstep / And the first thing that you’ll read”
[21:40] “... I said, that's a lie”
[27:12] The purpose of the song
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E77: Show and Tell - Historical Criticism

You need to calm down, but we know it’ll be hard because in this episode, we are diving into historical criticism! We explore the context in which Taylor’s songs were created, starting with “Tim McGraw,” the first Taylor Swift single of all time. We then transition into the world of Lover with “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” and “You Need to Calm Down.” Join us as we explore how looking at the historical context of these songs helps deepen our understanding and appreciation of Taylor’s music! 
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Tim McGraw - She’s My Kind of Rain 
Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying 
E11: Show and Tell - Marxist Theory
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Grease the film
Barbie the film 
Mean Girls the film
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:40] Introduction to Historical Criticism 
[4:58] “Tim McGraw” from Debut
[16:37] “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” from Lover 
[29:47] “You Need to Calm Down” from Lover
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E76: Deep Dive - “You Are In Love”

“You can hear it in the silence.” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we deep dive into “You Are In Love”  from Taylor Swift’s album 1989. We break down how Taylor captures the essence of love—not through grand gestures but instead through small, intimate moments: a look across a room, coffee at midnight, and the silence that says it all. We explore the significance of mundane details throughout the song and discuss its lyrical structure, poetic devices (like spondees!), and why the most profound emotions often have no proof, just feelings. 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
TIME Magazine, 2023 Person of the Year
Stars Around My Scars
Troilus and Cressida
West Side Story
Hamilton
Pride and Prejudice
Mad Men
E5: Toxic Relationships
So It Goes
Slaughterhouse-Five
Love Actually
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:38] “One look, dark room”
[10:00] “Coffee at midnight”
[18:49] “You can hear it in the silence”
[20:18] “You keep his shirt, he keeps his word”
[24:50] “He is in love” 
[30:39] “And so it goes” 
[39:40] The purpose of the song
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E75: Show and Tell - Romantic Love

“One single thread of gold tied me to you” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we are kicking off Valentine’s season with a show and tell on Romantic Love. ❤️ We explore how Taylor writes about romantic love—from the grand, sweeping gestures to the small, intimate moments that define a true connection. We break down three iconic songs— “You Are in Love”, “Lover”, and “Invisible String”—examining how each Taylor Swift song captures different facets of romantic relationships.
 
This week’s episode is sponsored by the new book “Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift” written by Dr. Elly McCausland, out now wherever books are sold. 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Stars Around My Scars
Romeo and Juliet
E35: Royalty 
Jane Eyre
E73: Color 
E5: Toxic Relationships
Harry Potter
E70: Harry Potter Holiday Special
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[07:16] “You Are In Love” 1989
[13:40] “Lover” Lover
[25:18] “Invisible String” folklore 
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.
 

E74: Deep Dive - Maroon

“So scarlet it was, maroon.” What’s the true meaning behind Taylor Swift’s “Maroon”? This week on AP Taylor Swift podcast, we dive into the shades of red, love, and memory that define this “Midnights” favorite. We explore how Taylor uses colors to capture the complexity of relationships—the highs, the heartbreaks, and the legacy they leave behind. Listen as we unpack the layers of this fan-favorite track.
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
E73: Show and Tell - Color
The Big Lebowski
E66: Deep Dive - Holy Ground 
The Wizard of Oz
Van Gogh’s faded colors
Harry Potter
Every color referenced in Maroon
Eats, Shoots, and Leaves
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[02:00] “When the morning came”
[08:30] “your roommate’s cheapass screwtop rosé” 
[12:53] “The burgundy on my cheeks”
[23:56] “When the silence came”  
[25:06] Our “ah ha” moment
[30:39] “the rubies that I gave up”
[38:07] The purpose of the song
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
 
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

E73: Show and Tell - Color

“I once believed love would be black and white, but it’s golden.” In this week’s episode of AP Taylor Swift, we dive into the rich, poetic use of color in Taylor Swift's lyrics with a show and tell on…color! From "Red" to "Daylight" to "Maroon," we discuss how Taylor’s use of color evolves to reflect different stages of love and life. 
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
The Wizard of Oz
Wicked
The Great Gatsby
The Scarlet Letter
E32: Deep Dive - Love Story
E9: Fall Songs
The Color Purple
Les Miserable, “Red and Black”
E10: Deep Dive - Red
Pop Sugar Article, 2019
The Outsiders
Every color referenced in Maroon
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:59] Adding color to today’s topic…color!
[05:04] “Red”
[12:47] “Daylight”
[22:46] “Maroon” 
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift
Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift
YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift
Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
Affiliate Codes: 
Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off! 
Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro
This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.