AP Taylor Swift

E64: Deep Dive - Cowboy like me

“I've got some tricks up my sleeve, takes one to know one.” This week, we’re deep diving a fan request, “Cowboy like me” (evermore 2020). We go line by line, exploring the use of stylistic choices like starting with the word 'and.' Join us as we delve into the narrative structure of the song and attempt to understand the characters in the song, debate the fun factor of airport bars, and try to figure out exactly what exactly Taylor means when she says “cowboy like me.”
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
E19: Show & Tell - Satire 
Robin Hood 
The Life and Adventures of Joquin Murieta by John Rollin (TW: violence, violence against women) 
The Lone Ranger 
White Collar 
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[1:20] Introduction to “cowboy like me”
[3:30] “tennis court covered up with a tent-like thing”
[9:18] “sitting in an airport bar”
[13:45] Digging into the cowboy imagery
[22:33] The repeated stanzas
[30:25] “forever is the sweetest con”
[34:55] Getting into the purpose
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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.
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E63: Show and Tell - Garden Songs

“We can plant a memory garden.” This week we have a show and tell episode on garden songs, exploring the theme of gardens and flowers across Taylor Swift’s lyrics. From the haunting imagery in Ivy to the rich symbolism of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in Cowboy Like Me, and the many different flowers in The Great War, we dig (get it?) into how Taylor uses garden and flower metaphors to evoke ideas of romance, loyalty, and loss. 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
E7: S&T-Ecocriticism
The Bible 
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence 
The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett 
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde 
E32: DD-Love Story
Gardens of Babylon Photo 1 
Gardens of Babylon Photo 2 
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 
Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence 
Crimson Clover
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 
The New Look on Apple TV+
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[03:56] “ivy” evermore
[16:42] “cowboy like me” evermore
[28:00] “The Great War” Midnights (3am Edition)
 
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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.
 
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E62: Bookish Chat With Laura Bankers of Little Owlet Art

Surprise! We have another exciting guest episode for you this week where we chat with Laura Bankers, who is a swiftie, book-lover, and an incredible artist who makes the cutest swiftie and bookish-themed stickers. Tune in to hear us talk about her business, inspiration, and community, and stick around for a special spin-the-wheel game at the end!
 
You can find Laura on Instagram with the handle @little.owlet.art, through her monthly newsletter, and on Etsy through her store LittleOwletArt.
Mentioned in this episode: 
@Little.owlet.art on Instagram
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
August Days on Etsy
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Cinderella
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Princess Diaries 2
Happy Place by Emily Henry 
Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Duma Key by Stephen King
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Six The Musical
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
A Cinderella Story
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The OC
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Affiliate Codes: 
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***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:15] Meet Laura Bankers of LittleOwletArt
[5:13] Inspiration process 
[7:30] TS Collab Wishlist 
[11:45] Changed by the fandom
[13:22] Creating a community
[18:52] Books & Taylor Swift
[21:16] Game time! Spin the Wheel
[40:17] The song that made Laura a Swiftie
 
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Follow us on social! 
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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.

E61: Deep Dive - Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me

"You don’t get to tell me about sad.” This week, we deep dive into Taylor Swift's song “Who's Afraid of Little Old Me” from The Tortured Poets Department. For this TTPD and Eras Tour favorite, we unpack the song’s references to fame, power dynamics, and female identity. We explore how this song brings up our experiences of passive-aggressive workplaces, and being asked to change our behavior to fit other’s expectations. It’s a meaty episode–listen and let us know what you think!
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Edward Albee
Apex Predator, Mean Girls  
E23: Mad Women
The Great Gatsby
Pirates of the Caribbean 
Les Misérables
Wicked 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:52] How we do a deep dive
[03:19] Unpacking references in the song’s title
[07:49] “The who’s who of who’s that”
[13:01] “If you wanted me dead, you should have just said”
[18:56] “So I leap from the gallows”
[21:20] “At all costs, keep your good name”
[32:25] “So tell me everything is not about me”
[37:57] "That's why you're still singing along"
[42:39] The purpose of the song
[52:00] Listener homework!
 
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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.
 
Affiliate Codes: 
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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

E60: Show and Tell - Witches

“They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one.” Happy spooky season! This week, we dive into the topic of witches. From historical midwives to fantasy heroines, Taylor’s music has a little bit for everyone. In this episode, we look at the fiery witch imagery in “I Did Something Bad,” explore the visual choice of witchiness in “willow,” and discuss the fantasy of owning your power in “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me.” With plenty of Harry Potter references for all, this episode is perfect for the inner Hermione in us all. Because at the end of the day, aren’t we all just powerful witches who are also kind of giant nerds? 
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
E7: Ecocriticism 
E23: Mad Women 
E19: Satire 
Pride and Prejudice
Witches, Midwives, and Nurses: A History of Women Healers by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English
Harry Potter
Willow Music Video
Outlander
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
E9: Fall Songs
Les Miserables
The Crucible 
The Power, Naomi Alderman
Shit Cassandra Saw, Gwen E. Kirby
Jennifer’s Body 
Great Expectations
Invisible Women, Caroline Criado-Perez
***
Episode Highlights: 
[01:15] Introduction to Witches
[07:34] I Did Something Bad - “They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one”
[19:36] Willow - “Wait for the signal and I’ll meet you after dark”
[34:30] Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me - “So I leap from the gallows and I levitate down your street”
 
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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.
 
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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

E59: Deep Dive - Vigilante Shit

“Lately I’ve been dressing for revenge.” This week we deep dive Eras tour favorite Vigilante Shit from Taylor Swift’s album “Midnights.” We discuss the meaning of “vigilante,” how the song challenges traditional gender roles, and the many potential pop culture references and parallels that make the song fit into the broader cultural narrative of women reclaiming their power. Is "Vigilante Shit" a feminist anthem or just a really fun revenge fantasy? Listen and find out!
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Mentioned in this episode: 
E58: Show and Tell - Style
The Little Rascals
The Lion King 
Circe by Madeline Miller 
The Incredibles
Mean Girls 
John Tucker Must Die
Pretty Little Liars 
Chicago
White Collar 
Hamilton 
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:20] “Draw the cat eye sharp enough to kill a man”
[06:45] “They say looks can kill and I might try”
[12:24] “Don’t get sad, get even”
[21:36] “Ladies always rise above…”
[30:10] “I don’t dress for villains”
[38:20] The purpose of the song 
 
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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.

E58: Show and Tell - Style featuring Sarah Chapelle of Taylor Swift Style

“We never go out of style.” This week we have a very special guest joining us to talk about Style. Yes, we’re interviewing Queen of Taylor Swift Style herself Sarah Chapelle! Sarah joins us to talk about her new book Taylor Swift Style, how her blog and commentary have evolved over the years, and how Taylor’s fashion and music work in tandem to communicate a message. Then we dive into a show and tell featuring three songs that address the idea of style in one way or another: “Style”, “Dress”, and “Vigilante Shit”. 
Mentioned in this episode: 
TaylorSwiftStyle.com
Taylor Swift Style Book
@TaylorSwiftStyled on Instagram 
@taylorswiftstyle.com on TikTok
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Selkie Dress
“Call It What You Want” Necklace
Gucci Scarf 
Taylor Swift Style Book Tour
Dame Mary Quant 
Dressed to Kill Etymology
Elizabeth Holmes “So Many Thoughts” Blog
The Man Repeller 
Invisible Women 
History of the Cat Eye Liner 
***
Episode Highlights: 
[01:12] Interview with Sarah Chapelle of Taylor Swift Style
[31:50] “Style” 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
[44:00] “Dress” Reputation 
[55:59] “Vigilante Shit” Midnights 
 
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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.

E57: Deep Dive - ...Question?

“It’s just a question!” In this week’s episode, we do a deep dive into the ultimate rhetorical question song from Taylor Swift - “Question…?” from Midnights. We get into our own questions, such as who is the “I,” the “you,” and the “her” in the story? What were the miscommunications? Was this a one-night stand or a longer situationship? While we never get any answers to the questions asked within the song, you'll have to tune in to see whether we answer our own questions about “Question…?” 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
“Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 
The Ugly Truth (film) 
Ted Lasso (tv show) 
Notting Hill (film)
“Sk8er Boi” by Avril Lavigne 
Bridgerton Season Two
Daisy Jones and the Six (book) 
Daisy Jones and the Six (tv show) 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:30] Introduction to “Question…?”
[02:13] The characters in the song
[04:30] Starting with “I remember”
[09:17] Moving into the present tense 
[16:20] The chorus of “Question…?”
[29:37] “Half moon eyes” and verse 2 
[39:28] Politics and gender roles
[44:52] Who is “her” in this song
[56:06] The purpose of the song 
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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.

E56: DJ Louie XIV of Pop Pantheon Talks Taylor Swift and Pop Stars

In our first guest episode this season, we welcome DJ Louie XIV of Pop Pantheon to talk all things pop and Taylor Swift. DJ Louie discusses how he analyzes pop music in his podcast, Pop Pantheon, and delves into Taylor Swift’s unique role within the pop music landscape. We discuss Taylor’s cultural impact, her mastery of storytelling, and the influence of Jack Antonoff on her music. 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Pop Pantheon Podcast
Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram
Follow DJ Louie XIV on Twitter
Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram
E31: Shakespeare
E32: Love Story
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[4:04] Why is pop music so fun to overanalyze?
[6:11] How Taylor Swift fits into the pop music Landscape
[15:25] Taylor Swift as “basic savant”
[27:30] Folklore Evermore Reset 
[30:00] Taylor’s artistic evolutions through her albums 
[34:28] The Jack Antonoff Partnerships
[36:44] Tortured Poets and Lyrical Editing
[41:07] The pop music formula
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Follow us on social! 
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Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
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Libro.fm →  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.
 
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
 

E55: Show and Tell - Rhetorical Questions

“…Are you ready for it?” No but really, are you? Today we’re talking rhetorical questions. Why does Taylor use them? Does she use them expecting an answer? Are those a rhetorical question? (We’ll stop now…)  We’re covering “Is It Over Now?” from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),  “...Ready for it” from Reputation, and “Question…?” from Midnights. Tune in to see if we get any answers! 
 
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Mentioned in this episode: 
Types of Rhetorical Questions
The Office
Parks and Recreation
Law and Order
Legally Blonde
 
What is a Rhetorical Question? A rhetorical question is an inquiry that ends in a question mark but is asked for effect rather than to elicit an answer. It’s often used in persuasive writing but is also common in everyday conversation. 
 
Types of Rhetorical Questions: 
Anthypophora (hypophora): Involves asking a question in order to answer it immediately. In our animal studies episode, Jenn asked, “Did I make this song about something that personally interests me? Sure did”
Epiplexis: A rhetorical device in which one asks a question in order to admonish rather than receive an answer. Think Michael Scott, “why are you the way that you are?”
Erotesis: Positions the question in a way that elicits a strong reaction, either in agreement or rejection. However, this type of rhetorical question typically anticipates a negative response. it’s usually impossible to contradict.”How can segregation exist in the true Body of Christ?” - MLK
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:20] What are rhetorical questions?
[06:57] “Is It Over Now?” 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) 
[26:39] “...Ready for it” Reputation
[44:48] “Question…?” Midnights 
 
Follow us on social! 
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Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift
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Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro
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.