The Swiftie meets the Songwriter! 🎙️🎶

Angela McDow of The Swiftie and the Scholar is back for Part 2 — and this time, we’re going deep into one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs: “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys.”

Angela brings the Swiftie perspective, I bring my perspective as a songwriter, and together we go line-by-line through the lyrics, metaphors and absolutely wild song structure.

We unpack the army doll, the plastic smile, puzzle pieces in the dark, sandcastles, being put back on the shelf, all the Kens — and, of course, the heartbreaking idea at the center of it all: why would someone destroy the thing they love most?

I also share a personal experience that completely changed the way I hear the title of this song, plus how Taylor’s unconventional songwriting gave me permission to break some of the “rules” in my own music.

If you’re the kind of Swiftie who can spend an hour obsessing over a single Taylor lyric, this episode is for you. 🫶🏻

🎧 And if you haven’t heard Part 1, go back and listen to my full conversation with Angela about Taylor, fandom, lore, and the story behind The Swiftie and the Scholar.

Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Taylor Swift or her team.

What happens when a lifelong Swiftie teams up with a retired English professor to analyze Taylor Swift’s songs as literature?

This week, I’m joined by Angela McDow, co-host and co-creator of The Swiftie and the Scholar! Angela shares how she discovered Taylor through “Tim McGraw” on MySpace back in 2006, how the idea for her podcast with her uncle Dr. Jerry Coats was born, and how that passion project eventually became her full-time career. 

We also get into Taylor’s incredible songwriting, the difference between analyzing the work and getting caught up in the lore, what happens when Swifties come for you online, and why Taylor’s music can somehow speak to a teenager and someone over 50 at the exact same time. 

And we’re just getting started…

In Part 2, Angela and I go line-by-line through “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” from a Swiftie + songwriter perspective. 🎶

🎙️ Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast celebrating Taylor Swift, her music, and the community that loves her.

What happens when Swiftie intuition meets serious pattern recognition?

Neil sits down with Shira of Shira’s Version for a deep dive into the theories, Easter eggs, clues, and wild possibilities that make being a Swiftie so much fun.

Shira shares how she went from quietly following Taylor online to building a community of tens of thousands — and what it was like to suddenly find herself quoted in USA Today after calling out the misleading hype surrounding Taylor’s recent radio appearances.

Then the clowning begins. 🤡

Is Reputation (Taylor’s Version) still coming? What are Taylor’s “shadow albums”? Was The Tortured Poets Department part of the original plan — or a detour? Is the Eras era actually over? And could TS13 be next?

They also get into intuition, manifestation, online hate, Taylor’s humanity, the emotional power of her songwriting, and why this fandom gives us so much more to talk about than just the music.

Come for the theories. Stay for the rabbit holes.

🎙️ Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast celebrating Taylor Swift, her music, and the community around it — because there is no age limit on being a Swiftie.

What was it really like to be a fan in Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” music video?

Cassy Simmons tells the incredible story of how a mysterious “exclusive fan club opportunity” turned into a secret audition, a code-named project, meeting (and hugging!) Taylor Swift—and hearing “Shake It Off” months before the rest of the world.

Cassy takes us behind the scenes of the video shoot, shares what Taylor was like in person, and reveals what it felt like hearing Taylor’s huge pop crossover for the very first time…with Taylor watching their reactions.

We also talk Eras Tour adventures, TTPD, underrated Taylor songs, and why for so many Swifties, it’s not just about the bops—it’s about the songwriting.

🎧 Follow Swiftie Over 50 wherever you listen to podcasts.

Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or TAS Rights Management.

What makes Taylor Swift different from the pop icons who came before her—and how has she managed to keep evolving, innovating and bringing new fans along with her nearly two decades into her career?

This week, Neil sits down with James Rodriguez, host and creator of The Original Doll Podcast, artist archivist, pop music expert and unabashed Swiftie.

James has spent more than 400 episodes going beyond the hits to uncover the stories behind the music, talking with artists, songwriters, producers and other creatives who helped create the songs we know and love.

Neil and James dive deep into Taylor’s songwriting and musicianship, why folklore became an entry point for so many older Swifties, the incredible diversity of the Swiftie community, and Taylor’s place in a lineage of powerful female artists including Madonna, Janet Jackson and the women of Lilith Fair.

They also geek out over The Tortured Poets Department, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” “The Black Dog,” The Life of a Showgirl, and the tiny musical and lyrical choices that can make a Taylor Swift song hit so hard.

And James explains what an artist archivist actually does—and why preserving the stories of the songwriters, producers, engineers, background singers and other creatives behind our favorite music matters.

Whether you've been a Swiftie from the beginning or are still wondering what all the fuss is about, this conversation may give you a whole new way to listen.

🎧 Swiftie Over 50 — celebrating every era of midlife magic, real stories and our fabulous community, all while screaming the lyrics to “the 1.”

Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation or TAS Rights Management.

What happens when you stop being “too cool” for Taylor Swift and finally let yourself fall all the way in?

Neil sits down with Darcy Sawatzki, a communications and behavior change expert and proud later-in-life Swiftie, for a deep dive into what makes Taylor’s songwriting so powerful — and why it can hit even harder as we get older.

They talk about Taylor’s incredible ability to make every word heard, the universality hidden inside deeply personal songs, the stories and cinematic worlds she creates, and why songs about grief, injustice, love and reinvention can take on entirely new meanings through our own life experiences.

Darcy also gets into the culture surrounding Taylor: the joy and generosity of the Swiftie community, the misogyny that can shape how people dismiss female artists, ageism in the music industry, and what happens when we finally reach the glorious “I don’t give a f*ck” era of life.

Plus: Swifties as earnest Deadheads, becoming a “Swiftie sommelier” for the skeptics in your life, my tears ricochet, Bigger Than the Whole Sky, Midnights, Taylor’s diction superpower, and a lot more.

Because sometimes growing up means realizing you’re allowed to simply love what you love.

Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or TAS Rights Management.

Writer-director Roger Kumble — the filmmaker behind Cruel Intentions, The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends, After We Collided, and the hit Prime Video film Love Me, Love Me — joins Neil for a conversation about Taylor Swift, filmmaking, fandom, and a career spent working with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Roger shares why “…Ready for It?” is one of his favorite Taylor songs, what it was like seeing both the Reputation and Eras tours, and why he considers Taylor one of the greatest artists working today. They dive into her songwriting, her evolution as a director, her incredible work ethic, and her ability to connect with fans across generations.

Roger also takes us behind the scenes of his own career — including the story of that iconic Cruel Intentions kiss, working with Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, and Ryan Reynolds early in their careers, adapting beloved books for passionate fanbases, and directing Love Me, Love Me.

Plus, Roger talks about dealing with online criticism, nurturing young talent, what decades in Hollywood have taught him about staying power — and why he thinks the sky’s the limit for Taylor Swift.

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Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or their representatives.

Actor, writer, and comedian John Ross Bowie (The Big Bang Theory, Speechless, and the new HBO Max series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe) joins Neil Aaron for a funny, thoughtful conversation about life as a Swiftie over 50.

John shares how his kids first introduced him to Taylor's music, why Shake It Off is one of the greatest pop songs of the century, and what makes Taylor's songwriting so timeless. Along the way, the conversation explores creativity, misogyny in pop culture, the surprising longevity of Taylor's career, and why great artists are never afraid to take big creative swings.

Plus, John shares behind-the-scenes stories from The Big Bang Theory, how Barry Kripke's unforgettable voice was created, what it's like returning to that universe in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and why he believes Taylor's next musical era may be her most stripped-down yet.

Whether you're a lifelong Swiftie, a sitcom fan, or simply love hearing smart, funny people talk about music and creativity, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

In Episode 2 of Swiftie Over 50, Neil Aaron sits down with entrepreneur, television personality, and wellness advocate Eden Sassoon for a heartfelt conversation about reinvention, resilience, and the unexpected ways Taylor Swift's music brings people together.

From embracing aging and finding authenticity to recovery, friendship, and the power of vulnerability, Neil and Eden explore why Taylor's songwriting resonates so deeply—not just because of the music, but because it gives voice to the experiences that connect us all.

Whether you're a lifelong Swiftie, a casual fan, or simply someone navigating life's next chapter, this episode is a reminder that it's never too late to become more fully yourself.

In this episode:

• Why Taylor Swift's music continues to evolve alongside her fans

• The healing power of storytelling and songwriting

• Embracing aging with confidence and gratitude

• Recovery, acceptance, and letting go of what we can't control

• What makes the Swiftie community such a unique and welcoming space

• Friendship, authenticity, and finding connection through music

If you've ever found yourself in a Taylor lyric—or discovered that the best chapters of life can happen after 50—this conversation is for you.

What happens when two lifelong creatives become Swifties after 50?

In the very first full episode of Swiftie Over 50, host Neil Aaron sits down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and fellow Swiftie Anna David for a conversation that goes far beyond favorite songs and Easter eggs.

Together they explore why Taylor Swift's music resonates so deeply in midlife, how her lyrics have helped them through heartbreak, loss, creativity, and reinvention, and why the Eras phenomenon has become so much more than a concert.

From All Too Well (10 Minute Version) to The Tortured Poets Department, they discuss songwriting, resilience, Andrea Swift, Travis Kelce, friendship, parenting, the power of authentic creativity, and why being a Swiftie over 50 feels like finally finding your people.

Whether you've been a fan since Tim McGraw or discovered Taylor during the Eras Tour, this episode is a celebration of music, connection, and embracing every era of life.

In this episode:
✨ Becoming a Swiftie later in life
✨ Why Taylor's lyrics hit differently after 50
✨ The Eras Tour phenomenon
✨ Creativity and songwriting
✨ Friendship and community
✨ Taylor's family and resilience
✨ Parenting, healing, and personal growth
✨ Favorite songs, albums, and deep-cut discussions
✨ Easter eggs, fan theories, and plenty of laughter

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another Swiftie.

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Instagram: @swiftieover50podcast

Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, TAS Rights Management, or any affiliated entities.