AP Taylor Swift

E72: Deep Dive - cardigan

“When you are young they assume you know nothing.” This week on AP Taylor Swift we deep dive into “cardigan” from folklore. We discuss the song’s nostalgia for teenage love and explore what it means to feel like an old cardigan–is that a good thing? We connect the song to last week’s Peter Pan discussion and the “teenage love trilogy” with august and betty. Is "Cardigan" simply a story of love lost and regained, or is it a meditation on self-discovery and growth? Find out when you listen to this week’s episode
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Harry Potter
Lord of the Rings
Peter Pan
Hits Different
The Hills
Virginia Woolf
e.e. cummings
“My Cousin Vinny” 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[02:43] The “teenage love triangle” trilogy
[05:51] “Vintage tee, brand new phone”
[13:00] “And when I felt like I was an old cardigan”
[18:49] “Heartbeat on The Highline” 
[23:52] “Once in twenty lifetimes” 
[31:23] “I knew you…”
[36:25] “Cause I knew everything when I was young” 
[45:00] 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.

E71: Show and Tell - Peter Pan

“Tried to change the ending, Peter losing Wendy.” This week on AP Taylor Swift podcast, we have a show-and-tell episode exploring “Peter Pan” and its influence on Taylor Swift’s music. We analyze three songs—“Innocent,” “Cardigan,” and “Peter”—uncovering connections between Taylor’s lyrics and Peter Pan’s themes of childhood, growing up, lost innocence, and the allure of staying young forever. From exploring Wendy's perspective as the “mother” figure to dissecting the complexities of Peter Pan syndrome, we delve into the literary and psychological depths of J.M. Barrie's classic tale and its resonance in Taylor Swift's lyrics.
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Peter Pan, JM Barrie
Peter Pan (Play), JM Barrie
Finding Neverland (Film)
Finding Neverland (Musical)
Peter Pan (1953)  Disney adaptation
Peter Pan (2003)
Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
Peter & the Starcatcher
Hook
Hymn to Demeter
Lord of the Flies
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:07] Intro to Peter Pan
[08:31] “Innocent” Speak Now
[22:34] “Cardigan” folklore
[31:09] “Peter” The Tortured Poets Department
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.

Holidays Show and Tell - New Year's Day Re-Release

“I’ll be picking up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.” In honor of New Year’s Day we’re revisiting our 2023 Holidays episode. But…did we actually pick holiday songs? We start by defining what the “holiday season” even means in an attempt to answer the question. Jodi discusses “New Year’s Day,” with the thesis that it’s a song about the everyday, not necessarily the holidays. Jenn brings on the holiday melancholy with “champagne problems,” sparking a hot conversation about holiday engagements and the challenges of family gatherings during the holidays. And Maansi, naturally, shares “tis the damn season,” prompting a conversation about how we really feel about the holiday season and whether they “linger like bad perfume” for us. Are Taylor Swift holidays actually happy holidays? Listen and find out! 
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
“Under the Tuscan Sun” 
“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” 
“Book Lovers,” Emily Henry 
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” JK Rowling
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” film
“Inside Out”
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:13] How do we define the holiday season?
[05:52] “New Years Day” I’ll be picking up bottles with you 
[22:20] “champagne problems” Your mom's ring in your pocket
[36:40] “‘tis the damn season” We could call it even
 
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.

E70: Show and Tell - Harry Potter Holiday Special

“We can leave the Christmas lights up til January.”  Tis the damn season, so we’re bringing you a Harry Potter Holiday Special episode! This week we do a special Show and Tell episode bringing together two of our favorite topics: Harry Potter and Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Jenn imagines “Look What You Made Me Do” as Snape’s song to Voldermort. Jodi makes the case that “Lover” perfectly captures Lavender Brown’s feelings toward Ron. And Maansi envisions “You’re On Your Own Kid” as an anthem about Harry Potter’s arc throughout the entire series. Whether you’re a fan of the books, the movies, or both, we fully dork out on this episode. Join us!
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Harry Potter
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma 
TikTok creator who does “Harry Potter Characters as Taylor Swift Songs” Jake L @Jakobcl1989
 
***
Episode Highlights: 
[01:30] Introduction to Harry Potter and Christmas
[05:25] “Look What You Made Me Do”
[13:30] “Lover” 
[24:08] “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
 
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.

E69: Deep Dive - my tears ricochet

“I can go anywhere I want, just not home” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we take on “my tears ricochet,” the gut-wrenching Track 5 from “Folklore”. From its funeral imagery to what it means for a tear to “ricochet,” we explore themes of grief, regret, and power dynamics. Whether this song is about romantic heartbreak, a friendship gone sour, or even a toxic job, we explore why this song resonates so deeply with so many, and what it means for each of us.
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date: www.aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
E67: Greek Mythology
E54: Anniversary Episode
E32: Love Story Deep Dive 
The Little Book of Shakespeare's Insults: The Bard's Best Barbs
Reputation album letter
Jane Eyre  
The Phantom of the Opera
The Little Mermaid
Harry Potter
E56: Guest Episode - DJ Louie XIV 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:35] Introducing “my tears ricochet” and our initial thoughts 
[06:51] “I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace”
[10:48] “Look at how my tears ricochet” 
[17:31] “You know I didn’t want to have to haunt you”
[24:49] “When I’d fight you used to tell me I was brave”
[29:11] “And I can go anywhere I want, just not home”
[36:41] “You had to kill me but it killed you just the same”
[41:10] What might it mean for tears to ricochet?
[44:50] 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.

E68: Bonus Episode - Taylor Swift by the Book with Tiffany Tatreau and Rachel Feder

“Don’t read the last page” This week we’re joined by Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau, authors of the new release Taylor Swift By the Book. In their incredible new release, Rachel and Tiffany go song by song through Taylor’s discography and discover the literature behind the lyrics, from fairy tales to tortured poets. They join us to share what inspired them to write this book, the themes and narratives that came up most often in Taylor’s music, and so much more!
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Taylor Swift by the Book by Rachel Feder and Tiffany Tatreau
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Florida by Lauren Groff
Shakespeare’s works, including Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Lady of Shalott, Alfred Tennyson
The Odyssey by Homer
Mary Wollstonecraft
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Works of Plato
Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
 
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
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:58] Introduction to Taylor Swift by the Book
[9:36] The process of deciding what went into the book
[22:10] Taylor Swift and the poetess tradition 
[37:08] Taylor Swift’s literary eras
[45:48] The songs that made Tiffany and Rachel swifties 
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Follow us 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.

E67: Show and Tell - Greek Mythology

“Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me” This week, we're diving into the timeless influence of Greek mythology in Taylor Swift's music by exploring connections between Taylor's songs and classic Greek myths. Jodi finds links between Demeter and Persephone’s sorrow in The Hymn to Demeter and the Folklore song "My Tears Ricochet.” Maansi shows us how  "Long Story Short” sounds like Odysseus recounting his epic journey as he returns home. And Jenn gets into the ancient story of the Labyrinth and how it reflects themes of self-discovery and transformation in "Labyrinth." Is Taylor Swift a modern-day Homer? Listen and find out! 
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
Stay up to date: www.aptaylorswift.com 
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Mythology, Edith Hamilton
The Iliad, Homer
The Odyssey, Homer
Metamorphoses, Ovid
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
E44: Metaphors + “The Tortured Poets Department”
E22: Mastermind 
Homeric Hymns 
The Hymn to Demeter
Hadestown (musical)
Hercules (Disney animated film)
E54: One Year Anniversary of AP Taylor Swift
Circe, Madeline Miller
Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Stephen Fry’s Mythos, Heroes, and Troy 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:40] Introduction to Greek Mythology
[08:25] "my tears ricochet" folklore
[19:49] "long story short" evermore
[32:11]  "Labyrinth" Midnights
Follow us! 
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.

E66: Deep Dive - Holy Ground

“Back when you fit my poems like a perfect rhyme.” This week, we deep dive into Holy Ground from Taylor Swift’s album Red. We unpack the song’s themes of time, memory, and the contrast between New York City’s hustle and those still, reflective moments where we realize what truly matters. Is Holy Ground a nostalgic ode to a past relationship, a metaphor for personal growth, or both? Listen to find out!
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Lauren Rowe @rowe.reads on Instagram
Hamilton
Scott Pilgrim vs The World 
Let Go, Avril Lavigne Album 
Avril Lavigne conspiracy theory
Fantasyland, Kurt Anderson
Tribeca’s Holy Ground in the 1700s
 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[01:27] Reminiscing on our romance novels episode
[02:50] “I was reminiscing just the other day”
[08:40] “Back when you fit in my poems like a perfect rhyme”
[14:41] “Right there where we stood was holy ground”
[22:25] “And for the first time I had something to lose”
[32:22] “And I see your face in every crowd”
[34:48] “tonight I’m gonna dance for all that we’ve been through”
[44:15] The purpose of the song
 
Follow us 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
 
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

E65: Show and Tell - Romance Novels featuring Lauren Rowe

“I see Sparks Fly whenever you smile.” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we’re thrilled to welcome book content creator and Bookish Bestie Lauren Rowe (@rowe.reads) as we explore the romance novel-worthy worlds of Taylor Swift’s songs. We learn how Lauren reviews books and the connections between Taylor’s songs and romance novels. Then we break down the romantic themes and tropes in Sparks Fly, Holy Ground, Starlight, and Dress, drawing connections between Taylor's storytelling and beloved romance novel tropes like forbidden love, second chances, and enemies to lovers. We explore why Taylor’s songs resonate so powerfully with romance readers, how she creates vivid narratives through her lyrics, and why Swifties and romance lovers alike connect so deeply with stories of love, loss, and longing. 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Lauren Rowe @rowe.reads on Instagram
A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 
E32: Love Story 
A Cinderella Story
The Notebook
Always Be My Maybe
The Prince & Me
The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
You’ve Got Mail
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
***
 
Episode Highlights: 
[00:41] Introducing Lauren Rowe @rowe.reads
[07:29] How Lauren reviews books
[12:55] Parallels between Taylor’s marketing and book series marketing
[17:00] The song that made Lauren a Swiftie
[19:16] “Sparks Fly” Speak Now
[24:44] “Holy Ground” Red
[32:00] “Starlight” Red
[38:40] “Dress”  Reputation 
Follow us 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
 
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.

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.”
 
Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe
 
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
Follow us 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
 
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