“Fatefully, I tried to pick my battles 'til the battle picked me” This week, we're resisting our episode on Greek Mythology, where we dive 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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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: 

[02:15] Introduction to Greek Mythology

[09:01] "my tears ricochet" folklore

[15:22] "long story short" evermore

[32:52]  "labrynth" Midnights

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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.

“The best things that have ever been mine… finally actually are.” It’s Taylor Independence Day! In this special bonus episode, we, your hosts of AP Taylor Swift, discuss the (surprisingly emotional) breaking news of Taylor Swift's acquisition of her original masters. We share our first reactions and the significance of this moment in Taylor's career, and then (in true AP Taylor Swift style) dive into the rhetoric of Taylor's letter announcing the news, analyzing her personal style and the deeper meanings behind her words. We take a second to touch on Taylor’s humor and then get to the big news about the Reputation album and speculate on the future of Taylor's re-recordings and music. Finally, we touch on the reactions of the Taylor Swift fan community to close out the show.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

The Great Gatsby

E77: Historical Criticism

E27: Poetic Repetition

E11: Marxist Theory

[00:17] Breaking News: Taylor Swift's Masters Acquisition

[15:30] What About Rep TV?

[24:07] Starting a Conversation Around Owning Your Masters

[26:22] Fan Reactions to the Announcement

[29:17] Closing Thoughts and Future Insights

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“You've got no reason to be afraid.” This week, we’re going line by line through a fan favorite, “You're On Your Own Kid” (Midnights 2023). Join us as we explore the title's significance and the evolution of the speaker's perspective throughout the song, touching on themes of agency, personal growth, and the role of seasons and senses in the narrative. From feeling alone to embracing one's strength and support system, this week’s detailed analysis will take you on the transformative journey that is this incredible song.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

Game of Thrones

Kingdom of Heaven

Mean Girls

Cinderella, Brothers Grimm

Miss Americana

Little Women

Episode Highlights: 

[01:08] Who is the “you” in the title?

[03:09] “Summer went away,” the season of the youth

[07:26] Agency and growing up

[22:30] Comparing choruses

[29:14] ”Something they can’t take away,” a turning point

[37:45] 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.

“Once the flight had flown…” Taylor Swift is a master storyteller, but how does she tell those stories? In this week’s Show & Tell episode, we’re talking all about Narratology. We break down the structure behind the storytelling, unpacking flashbacks, fast forwards, stream of consciousness, and first-person limited narration through three brilliant Swift tracks. From fairy tale distortion in “Is It Over Now?”, a murder mystery arc in “No Body, No Crime,” to the heart-tugging Bildungsroman of “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” this episode explores the how behind the heartbreaks, twists, and self-discoveries. Whether you're into literary theory, folklore, or just love a well-crafted bridge, you’ll leave this episode with a deeper appreciation for Taylor’s evolving narrative toolkit—and maybe a few English class flashbacks of your own.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

White Lotus

E51: All Too Well (10 Minute Version)

Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf

Dracula, Bram Stoker

The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

Beauty and the Beast

Sleeping Beauty

Alice and Wonderland

Snow White

Doctor Who

E78: Tim McGraw Deep Dive

Harry Potter

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë

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Episode Highlights: 

[01:13] Intro to narratology

[05:25] “Is It Over Now?” 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)

[19:34] “No body, no crime” evermore

[32:20] “You’re on You’re Own, Kid” Midnights

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“You can beat the heat, if you beat the charges too.” Is Florida!!! the wildest track on The Tortured Poets Department? In this chaotic, heartfelt, and unfiltered episode, we break down Taylor Swift’s "Florida!!!" line by line—from the millennial whiplash of “my friends all smell like weed or little babies” to hurricane metaphors, fugitive fantasies, and haunted mansions.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

Florida by Lauren Groff

The Haunted Mansion (Disney)

The Good Place (NBC)

Pocahontas

Rippling corporate espionage case

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Episode Highlights: 

[03:00] Let’s start with the title

[06:45] “My friends all smell like weed or little babies”

[10:03] “Your home’s only a town you’re just a guest in”

[16:33] “Hurricane with my name when it came”

[21:15] “Yes I’m haunted but I’m feeling just fine”

[29:58] The bridge - remember, there are two speakers!

[39:26] 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.

“He was sunshine, I was midnight rain.” Dive into how Taylor Swift masterfully uses weather imagery - from romantic rain in 'Fearless' to metaphorical storms in 'Midnight Rain' and destructive hurricanes in 'Florida!!!' (feat. Florence Welch). Join us for an exploration of meteorological metaphors in Swift's songwriting across different eras.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

King Lear

The Great Gatsby

Wuthering Heights

E13: Metaphors (“Clean”)

E10: Deep Dive - Red

Florida

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Episode Highlights: 

[01:15] Intro to rain songs and weather

[07:34] “Fearless,” Fearless

[18:18] “Midnight Rain,” Midnights

[30:35] “Florida!!!” The Tortured Poets Department 

Follow AP Taylor Swift podcast on social! 

Contact us at [email protected] 

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

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 said I love you, you say nothing back.” This week, we're deep diving into "Say Don't Go," from 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault). Picking up from last week's circus-themed episode, we unravel how Taylor crafts a lyrical nightmare of helplessness, packed tight with metaphors and rhetorical questions that leave listeners suspended in emotional free fall.

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Mentioned in this episode: 

Six The Musical

Mad Men

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

***

Episode Highlights: 

[03:09] “Oh no, oh no, I’m unarmed”

[07:36] “I’m standing on a tightrope, alone”

[14:56] “Why’d you have to lead me on?”

[21:44] “And I’m yours but you’re not mine”

[32:10] “Why’d you have to make me want you”

[42:42] “But you won’t…”

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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 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 Opera

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

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“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: 

***

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”

“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 Swift

Taylor Swift by the Book

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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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