AP Taylor Swift

AP Taylor Swift Podcast
AP Taylor Swift

AP Taylor Swift is the podcast for Swifties with English degrees (or those who over-analyze everything). Each episode, we dive into a deep-reading of Taylor Swift’s lyrics to uncover the literary themes, references, and inspirations behind the songs to better understand and interpret why Taylor’s songs resonate so deeply with fans. Join every Wednesday as an english professor, a grad student of liberal arts, and a psych major–all Swifties, naturally–explore Taylor Swift in a way that would make your English teacher proud. Stay up to date: APTaylorSwift.com Subscribe to get new episode updates and our Extra Credit: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Follow us 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

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    E69: Deep Dive - my tears ricochet

    “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:  [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!  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 aptyalorswift@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.

    56 min
  2. DEC 13

    E68: Bonus Episode - Taylor Swift by the Book with Tiffany Tatreau and Rachel Feder

    “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!  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 aptyalorswift@gmail.com 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.

    52 min
  3. DEC 11

    E67: Show and Tell - Greek Mythology

    “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!    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:  [01:40] Introduction to Greek Mythology [08:25] "my tears ricochet" folklore [19:49] "long story short" evermore [32:11]  "Labyrinth" 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.

    47 min
  4. DEC 4

    E66: Deep Dive - Holy Ground

    “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!   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   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 Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  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. 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

    55 min
  5. NOV 27

    E65: Show and Tell - Romance Novels featuring Lauren Rowe

    “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!  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.

    48 min
  6. NOV 13

    E63: Show and Tell - Garden Songs

    “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 Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  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.   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

    46 min
  7. NOV 8

    E62: Bookish Chat With Laura Bankers of Little Owlet Art

    Surprise! We have another exciting guest episode for you this week where we chat with Laura Bankers, who is a swiftie, book-lover, and an incredible artist who makes the cutest swiftie and bookish-themed stickers. Tune in to hear us talk about her business, inspiration, and community, and stick around for a special spin-the-wheel game at the end!   You can find Laura on Instagram with the handle @little.owlet.art, through her monthly newsletter, and on Etsy through her store LittleOwletArt. Mentioned in this episode:  @Little.owlet.art on Instagram Harry Potter series by JK Rowling August Days on Etsy Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Cinderella Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Princess Diaries 2 Happy Place by Emily Henry  Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab Funny Story by Emily Henry Duma Key by Stephen King Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Six The Musical Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen A Cinderella Story The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The OC Atonement by Ian McEwan Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 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:  [00:15] Meet Laura Bankers of LittleOwletArt [5:13] Inspiration process  [7:30] TS Collab Wishlist  [11:45] Changed by the fandom [13:22] Creating a community [18:52] Books & Taylor Swift [21:16] Game time! Spin the Wheel [40:17] The song that made Laura a Swiftie   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us 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 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.

    44 min
4.7
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

AP Taylor Swift is the podcast for Swifties with English degrees (or those who over-analyze everything). Each episode, we dive into a deep-reading of Taylor Swift’s lyrics to uncover the literary themes, references, and inspirations behind the songs to better understand and interpret why Taylor’s songs resonate so deeply with fans. Join every Wednesday as an english professor, a grad student of liberal arts, and a psych major–all Swifties, naturally–explore Taylor Swift in a way that would make your English teacher proud. Stay up to date: APTaylorSwift.com Subscribe to get new episode updates and our Extra Credit: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Follow us 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

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