“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.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

***

Episode Highlights: 

Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 

Contact us at [email protected]

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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.

“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! 

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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

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Contact us at [email protected]

“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!

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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”

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Contact us at [email protected]

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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

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.

“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.

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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! 

Contact us at [email protected]

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.

“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! 

Contact us at [email protected]

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.

“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! 

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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! 

Contact us at [email protected]

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.

“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!

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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

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

“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! 

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.

“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

Follow us on social! 

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

“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)

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

Follow us on social! 

• TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift

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