"Nice to meet you, where you been? I could show you incredible things..." In this deep dive episode, we dissect one of Taylor Swift's most iconic satirical masterpieces. From the enchanted references that bookend her career to the Shakespeare allusions hidden in plain sight, we explore how "Blank Space" operates as both brilliant satire and surprisingly authentic commentary on complex womanhood. Join us as we unpack the magic, madness, heaven, and sin of a song that dared to ask: what if we owned the narrative instead of fighting it?

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Mentioned in this episode:

Episode Highlights:

[02:29] Diving into “Blank Space” 

[08:15] “New money, suit and tie” - character analysis 

[15:27] Analyzing the chorus

[22:31] Shakespearean references 

[28:50] “Cherry lips, crystal skies” vs. “stolen kisses, pretty lies” 

[35:25] "I get drunk on jealousy"

[38:44] Bridge analysis: "Boys only want love if it's torture" 

[44:59] Getting into the purpose of “Blank Space” 

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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.

From medieval England to modern pop music, some things never change - women fighting for agency, authority, and the right to write their own stories. In this milestone 100th episode, we go full literary nerd and explore the surprising connections between Geoffrey Chaucer's iconic Wife of Bath from The Canterbury Tales and Taylor Swift's empowering anthems. By looking at Blank Space, New Romantics, and The Man, we examine how both the 14th-century literary character and the 21st-century pop star challenge societal expectations, manipulate narratives to their advantage, and advocate for women's autonomy in love and life. 

Subscribe for episode updates and After School premium content at aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. 

After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!

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Mentioned in this episode:

Episode Highlights:

[1:10] Introduction to paid subscriber content announcement 

[2:55] Connecting Taylor Swift to The Canterbury Tales

[6:42] "Blank Space" 

[15:50] "New Romantics"

[25:00] "The Man"

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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.

In this preview of our paid subscriber bonus episode, we’re diving deeper into The Canterbury Tales. Imagine Love Island but it's 1390, everyone's going on a religious road trip, and instead of coupling up, they're having a storytelling competition. That's The Canterbury Tales. Join us as we go a little deeper into Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, exploring how this 14th-century masterpiece was the original "common people's literature" and why these 600-year-old stories feel surprisingly modern. Spoiler alert: there's a lot more butt-kissing and fart jokes than you'd expect from "classic literature” or Taylor Swift songs. 

If you enjoyed this sneak peek and want to hear the full episode plus additional monthly episodes of AP Taylor Swift After School, subscribe at aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. 

Stay up to date with all episodes at aptaylorswift.com

Mentioned in this episode:

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

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 

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.

"All the wine moms are still holding out…" This week, we're deep diving into "But Daddy I Love Him" from The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Join us as we unpack the unreliable narrator, explore the Southern Gothic imagery, and analyze how Taylor uses biblical references and small-town dynamics to tell a story about agency, choice, and breaking free from societal expectations. From the Sarahs and Hannahs clutching their pearls to the elders convening at city hall, this song creates a vivid world where love becomes an act of rebellion.

Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 

Mentioned in this episode:

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Episode Highlights: 

[00:54] How we do a deep dive

[01:38] “I forget how the west was won”

[07:21] “Sarah’s and Hannahs’ in their Sunday best”

[11:30] “Too high a horse for a simple girl to rise above it”

[15:25] “Now I’m running with my dress unbuttoned”

[21:40] “Dutiful daughter, all my plans were laid”

[27:44] “The elders had convened down at the city hall”

[33:22] “I’ll tell you something right now, I’d rather burn my whole life down”

[44:40] “Scandal does funny things to pride”

[51:19] 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.

"You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset..." Welcome to Season 3 of AP Taylor Swift! What happens when we can't trust the person telling the story? In this week's Show & Tell episode, we explore the concept of unreliable narrators through three Taylor Swift songs that demonstrate how perspective shapes truth. From teenage crush confessions to post-breakup rants to defiant love declarations, we examine how Taylor uses narrative techniques that make us question what's really happening beneath the surface of these seemingly straightforward stories.

Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

Mentioned in this episode:

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

Atonement, Ian McEwan

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

After Party (Apple TV+ series)

The Residence (Netflix) 

How I Met Your Mother (TV series)

E32: Love Story Deep Dive

Episode Highlights:

[01:22] Introduction to Unreliable Narrators

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.

"Are you ready for it?" In this episode, we dive into how Taylor masterfully uses questions not to seek answers, but to create dramatic effect, elicit emotional responses, and tell compelling stories. From the vulnerable yet cutting interrogation of "Is It Over Now?" to the confident invitation of "...Ready For It?" to the courtroom-style cross-examination of "Question...?", we explore three distinct types of rhetorical questions and their power in songwriting. Join us as we discuss anthypophora, epiplexis, and erotesis to uncover why sometimes the most powerful answers are the ones left unspoken. 

..............................

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: 

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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 

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

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.

"That's a lie." In this deep dive episode, we dissect "Tim McGraw" line by line, exploring how a teenage Taylor Swift crafted a deceptively complex narrative about young love, heartbreak, and the bittersweet nature of memory. From Chevy trucks and Georgia stars to little black dresses and faded blue jeans, we unpack the country iconography and examine how the meaning of key phrases shifts dramatically when we understand that the full timeline. Join us as we discover how Taylor's debut single established her as a master storyteller from day one, using nostalgic imagery and circular narrative structure to create a song that hits different every time you hear it.

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Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 

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! 

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.

“And baby, that’s show business for you!❤️‍🔥” Taylor Swift just announced TS12, "The Life of a Showgirl," on the New Heights Podcast, releasing October 3rd! Join us for an emergency bonus episode as we break down the album announcement, analyze the track list through our literary lens, and discuss what this new era means for Taylor's artistic evolution. From Shakespearean references in "The Fate of Ophelia" to the millennial energy of releasing on October 3rd (it's Mean Girls day!), we dive deep into the themes, collaborators, and visual storytelling of this highly anticipated album.

Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

Mentioned in this episode:

William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Elizabeth Taylor Biography

Mean Girls (2004)

New Heights Podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce

Max Martin and Shellback Collaborations Playlist

Britney Spears, Circus Album

Cindy Sherman Photography

& Juliet Musical (Max Martin songs)

E31: Show and Tell - Shakespeare

E81: Show and Tell - Female Artists

E55: Rhetorical Questions Episode (Are You Ready For It)

***

Episode Highlights:

[00:27] Emergency bonus episode announcement

[03:30] First reaction to album cover reveal

[16:30] "The Fate of Ophelia" Shakespeare discussion

[26:00] How long has she be writing this album?

[33:00] Taylor's View of the Eras Tour

[46:00] Clowning for a hot second

[50:00] See you October 3rd!

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.

"I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?" This week, we're diving deep into Taylor's ultimate summer anthem and Eras Tour favorite: "Cruel Summer" (Lover 2019). We unpack whether this song is about a problematic love interest or the speaker's own internal struggle with anxious attachment and self-imposed drama. The track brilliantly captures the gap between our cool, collected external personas and the chaotic thoughts running through our heads when we're falling for someone but trying to play it casual. Join us as we go line-by-line through one of Taylor's most iconic bridges and explore why "HE LOOKS UP GRINNING LIKE A DEVIL" resonates so deeply with fans. Whether you've screamed along at the Eras Tour or you're just discovering this track, this episode offers fresh insights into Taylor's masterfully crafted exploration of facades, vulnerability, and the relief that comes with finally being honest about your feelings.

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

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 

Mentioned in this episode: 

“Cruel Summer” Bananarama

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Romeo and Juliet

A Midsummer Night's Dream 

Attached

***

Episode Highlights: 

[01:03] How we do a deep dive 

[03:51] “Fever dream high in the quiet of the night”

[08:27] “Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes”

[10:03] The chorus

[16:13] “Hang your head low in the glow of the vending machine”

[22:03] “Cut the headlights, summer’s a knife”

[26:33] “I’m drunk in the back of the car” 

[31:05] “He looks up grinning like a devil”

[37:20] 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.

"Freedom felt like summer then on the coast." What happens when we explore Taylor Swift's music through the lens of summer? In this episode, we explore how summer functions both as a setting and a symbol in Taylor's songwriting. From the cruel intensity of forbidden love to nostalgic August romances and the catastrophic blues of heartbreak, we explore how Taylor uses summer to capture everything from youthful freedom to emotional devastation. Join us as we discuss "Cruel Summer," "august," and "Hits Different" to uncover why summer hits different in Taylor's discography.

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

Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Episode Highlights:

[01:12] Introduction to Summer in Literature

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.