AP Taylor Swift

E86: Under the Big Top — Taylor Swift and the Circus Metaphor

“I was tame, I was gentle til the circus life made me mean.” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we delve into the recurring motif of the circus in Taylor Swift’s discography. From the tightropes of emotional vulnerability to the grand illusions of public persona, we analyze how Taylor employs circus imagery to convey themes of performance, control, and otherness.
This episode includes discussions on the historical exploitation within circus culture, including forced labor, racism, and animal cruelty. For more information, we recommend the article from the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the podcast Circus Stories for firsthand accounts.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Circus Stories Podcast
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Night Circus
The Phantom of the OperaThe Prestige (2006 film)Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutDisney’s Dumbo and Bambi
60 - Witches
61- Deep Dive “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me”
The Second Sex
Great Expectations
Episode Highlights:
[00:45] Introduction to the circus metaphor in literature and music[10:50] “Say Don’t Go” 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)[24:53]  “…So It Goes” reputation[33:26] “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” The Tortured Poets Department 
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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.

E85: Karma Is My Boyfriend? Unpacking Taylor Swift's Song "Karma"

“Me and Karma vibe like that.”  This week on AP Taylor Swift Podcast we dive deep into “Karma” from Midnights and its surprising literary connections. Continuing from last week's exploration of Emily Dickinson, we unravel how Taylor Swift plays with themes of fate, justice, and reincarnation in this song. We analyze the song's vivid metaphors, from keeping your side of the street clean to flexing like a goddamn acrobat—wait, but who’s flexing? Plus, we debate whether Taylor herself becomes karma by the song’s end and what that means for her storytelling. 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
 
Emily Dickinson 
“Kingdom of Heaven” 
Spiderman 
Aladdin 
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 
My Lady Jane 
Bridgerton
Mean Girls 
John Tucker Must Die 
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:46] What is Karma?
[07:08] “You’re talking shit for the hell of it”
[10:21] “I keep my side of the street clean”
[18:01] “Karma is my boyfriend, Karma is a god”
[22:51] “Spider boy, king of thieves” 
[30:20] “Ask me why so many fade but I’m still here”
[35:50] “Karma’s gonna track you down”
[44:44] The purpose of “Karma”

E84: Is Emily Dickinson Taylor Swift’s Literary Twin? Comparing Emily Dickinson with Karma, Evermore & More

“And I was catching my breath, barefoot in the wildest winter…” What happens when a 21st-century American poet meets a 19th-century one? In this Show & Tell episode, we explore the literary lineage between Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson—two iconic writers whose work spans centuries but shares unmistakable DNA (literally—did you know they might be distant cousins?!). From slant rhymes and stylized punctuation to themes of isolation, longing, and hope, we unpack the poetic parallels between Dickinson’s timeless verses and Taylor’s lyrics. In true Show & Tell fashion, each of us brings a favorite Dickinson poem paired with a Swift song that touch on shared motifs such as separation, isolation, and hope. Tune in to find out which modern-day Taylor tracks sound like 19th-century poetry—and why we think Emily might vibe with Evermore.
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Mentioned in this episode: 
The Letters of Emily Dickinson
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the Thing with Feathers
They Put Us Far Apart (Poem 474)
It Was Not Death, for I Stood Up (Poem 355)
Message in a Bottle – Taylor Swift
Evermore – Taylor SwiftKarma – Taylor SwiftBeauty and the Beast (live-action & Broadway versions)Hamilton
Taylor Swift by the BookAncestry.com – Taylor & Emily’s distant cousin connectionEmily Dickinson MuseumTikvah (Hebrew word for hope)
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[06:26] “Message in a Bottle” + they put us far apart
[16:03] “Evermore” + It was not death, for I stood up 
[29:31] “Karma” + Hope is a thing with feathers
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Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
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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.

E83: Taylor Swift Is Funnier Than You Think | "Thug Story," SNL, and Her Best Joke Songs

“It’s a thug story tell me can you handle that”  In honor of April Fool’s Day, we’re diving into Taylor Swift’s funniest, most unexpected performances — from self-parody and satire to flat-out absurdity. This week, we explore Thug Story (2008), her 2009 SNL monologue, “Monologue Song (La La La)”, and the 2021 SNL Three Sad Virgins sketch to understand how Swift uses humor to subvert expectations, reclaim her narrative, and show off her impeccable comedic timing.
Plus: why baking cookies is the running gag that won’t quit, what a “benign violation” is, and whether “Cats” was actually meant to be a comedy.
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Mentioned in this episode: 
“Thug Story” feat. T-Pain (CMT Awards, 2009)
Taylor Swift’s 2009 SNL Monologue Song (la la la)Please Don’t Destroy - Three Sad Virgins (ft. Taylor Swift) - SNL 2021Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)What’s So Funny? The Science of Why We Laugh by Giovanni SabatoAnatomy of the Gag by Václav Havel
Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture by Jesse David FoxNanette by Hannah Gadsby (Netflix)APTS E19: Satire
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[04:03] “Thug Story” 
[11:04] “Monologue Song (La La La)”
[23:29] “Three Sad Virgins”
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
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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.

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
Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 
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Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts
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Contact us at aptaylorswift@gmail.com 
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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! 
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.

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! 
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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.

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! 
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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.

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.