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  • E94: Frankenstein - When Taylor Swift Meets Gothic Literature and Scientific Ambition
    2025/07/09

    “I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me.” In this episode, we're diving into one of literature's most enduring classics: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. From Victor's scientific ambition to the creature's desperate search for companionship, we explore how Taylor's lyrics illuminate the Gothic themes of isolation, creation, and the consequences of playing God. Join us as we examine "Don't Blame Me," "Look What You Made Me Do," and "False God" through the lens of literature's first science fiction novel—and discover why this 1818 masterpiece feels more relevant than ever in our age of artificial intelligence.

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

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    Mentioned in this episode

    • Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    • Paradise Lost by John Milton
    • Young Frankenstein (Mel Brooks film)
    • Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
    • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
    • E7: Ecocriticism
    • The Handmaid's Tale

    ***

    Episode Highlights:

    [1:45] Quick overview of Frankenstein

    [8:00] “Don’t Blame Me” reputation

    [15:56] “Look What You Made Me Do” reputation

    [30:24] “False God” Lover

    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.

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    40 分
  • E93: I Forgot That You Existed
    2025/06/25

    “It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference.” A little petty, a little philosophical, and exactly the right kind of opener for Lover. In this Deep Dive, we look at “I Forgot That You Existed,” a deceptively breezy track that becomes more interesting the longer you sit with it. We unpack the tonal misreadings this song often gets, the power of the shrug as both emotional and poetic posture, and why this opening song may be one of Taylor’s most sophisticated declarations of agency.

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

    Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

    ***

    Episode Highlights:

    [02:30] “I Forgot That You Existed” as a glitter gel pen song

    [09:17] “In my feelings more than Drake, so, yeah”

    [16:03] “Free rent living in my mind”

    [22:02] “Laughed on the school yard as soon as I tripped up and hit the ground”

    [27:50] “Sent me a clear message”

    [32:52] 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.

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    46 分
  • E92: Revenge Narratives in Taylor Swift's Songwriting
    2025/06/18

    "I haven't decided yet, but I'mgonnagetyouback." From ancient Greek epics to Mean Girls, revenge has evolved dramatically in literature, and Taylor Swift's discography is no exception. This week on AP Taylor Swift, we explore how Taylor serves revenge with a smile, examining the sweet saccharine fantasy of "Speak Now," the cutting indifference of "I Forgot That You Existed," and the delicious ambiguity of "I'm Gonna Get You Back." Whether it's ruining a wedding or simply moving on, we dive into how revenge fantasies reveal character, power dynamics, and the satisfying evolution from teenage retaliation to adult agency. Because sometimes the best revenge is living well; and sometimes it's writing a song about forgetting someone exists.

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

    Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

    Mentioned in this episode:

    The Iliad, Homer

    The Princess Bride

    The Odyssey, Homer

    Hamlet, Shakespeare

    Count of Monte Cristo

    Wuthering Heights

    Mean Girls

    Mad Men

    John Tucker Must Die

    ***

    Episode Highlights:

    [00:46] All about revenge

    [07:48] “Speak Now,” Speak Now

    [20:34] “I Forgot That You Existed,” Lover

    [29:44] “imgonnagetyouback,” 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.

    ***

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    42 分
  • “I Can Go Anywhere I Want, Just Not Home” — Taylor Swift & the Pain of “my tears ricochet”
    2025/06/11

    “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:

    [01:09] Introducing “my tears ricochet” and our initial thoughts

    [07:25] “I didn’t have it in myself to go with grace”

    [11:22] “Look at how my tears ricochet”

    [18:05] “You know I didn’t want to have to haunt you”

    [25:23] “When I’d fight you used to tell me I was brave”

    [29:45] “And I can go anywhere I want, just not home”

    [37:15] “You had to kill me but it killed you just the same”

    [41:44] What might it mean for tears to ricochet?

    [45:24] The purpose of the song

    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.

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    57 分
  • Greek Mythology and Taylor Swift: Exploring connections between Greek Mythology and Taylor's Lyrics
    2025/06/04

    “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!

    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:

    [02:15] Introduction to Greek Mythology

    [09:01] "my tears ricochet" folklore

    [15:22] "long story short" evermore

    [32:52] "labrynth" 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

    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.

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    47 分
  • Bonus: And Then It Was Bought By Her: Taylor Swift Owns Her Masters
    2025/05/31

    “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.

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

    Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

    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 [02:00] Emotional Reactions and Reflections [04:52] Analyzing Taylor's Letter: A Personal Touch [09:42] The Memories. The Magic. The Madness.

    [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

    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.

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    33 分
  • E91: Everything You Lose Is a Step You Take: A Deep Dive into “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
    2025/05/28

    “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.

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

    Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com

    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

    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.

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    46 分