Not-So-Secret Sessions

Come on, come on don’t leave us like this - listen to another episode! This week, Caroline channels her inner Bella Swan to discuss Taylor’s foray into goth rock, Haunted. The girls discuss the somewhat singular production, the re-recorded version, and the Twilight of it all. 2010 was a beautiful time for all of our side parts and maladaptive daydreaming about supernatural boyfriends and looking l...

No but seriously, who the fuck was that guy?? This week, the girls are talking The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived and boy do we have thoughts. From our takes on production and words of affirmation for Aaron Dessner to the breakdown of this bridge and the relationship that we think inspired it, we cover it all. You’ll love this episode - unless you’re a Jehovah’s witness or the lead singer of an indie...

It’s raining in our bedrooms but everything is right because this week we are talking about Forever and Always. Emma leads as the girls talk Jo-Bro’s lore, the Fearless era, and Taylor’s early writing gems. Plus we assign Taylor songs to the stages of grief. Give us a little more than 27 seconds of your time and tune in.

This week the girls assemble without Daph, resulting in a truly chaotic look at one of Taylor’s biggest singles from Red, I Knew You Were Trouble. Topics include: the iconic music video, dubstep, Taylor’s most frequent production collaborators, and people who were compulsive liars in high school. Remember that video of the goat screaming to this song? Kind of sums up the vibes of this episode.

We feel our Castle’s Crumbling down (just kidding - none of us can afford castles). This week the girls talk about Taylor’s Speak Now vault track ft Haley Williams, discussing women in the music industry and if our little emo hearts were satisfied by this collab. Burn some bridges and let’s talk!

A house divided: This week, Caroline and Zoe make the case for Coney Island to Daphne and Megan. We get deep, discussing how hurt and regret can define memories and shape future relationships. We also ponder the thinly veiled references to notorious relationships and moments in the Taylor Cinematic Universe and try to decipher why she decided to weave them together against the backdrop of a rundow...

This week, Daph tries to win the rest of the gals over on We Were Happy. While normally we all tend to have similar readings of songs, we delved into some of our most differing takes to date. From somewhat annoying self-pity, to youthful nostalgia, to the pain and guilt that comes with outgrowing a first love, we explored the wide range of feelings and themes this song invokes. But at the end of t...

We hope you are ready for this week’s episode because we have a very special guest. Zoe’s cousin Rose joins us to give us the Gen-Alpha take on Taylor (we are so old). The girls talk music videos, the reputation era, and interrogate Rose about what it is like to still have the glow of youth about her. Let us clear our throats before we tell you to join us for this one!

We just miss you and we just wish you were a better man…JUST KIDDING! We love you all and unless you’re Emma’s dad, you’re probably not a man. This week, Daph leads as the girls discuss the Red vault track, Better Man, and spiral out about begging for love, wishing someone the best (mostly), Taylor’s songwriting for other artists, and our favorite of her extensive self-written tracks. It’s 4am…com...

Reputation is in its Lover era with this week's song, "Call It What You Want". The girls talk about keeping relationships private, compare CIWYW to other songs in the canon, and are joined by a special guest, Friend of the Pod, Monica! Call us what you want when you join us this week! (But be nice. We are so sensitive.)

Let me remind you: this pod is what you (we) wanted. This week, Daph leads as the girls discuss All You Had To Do Was Stay, our very first 1989 episode. Topics and tangents include: mental status exams, Taylor’s dreams, track 5s, repetition in pop, that one space themed restaurant in NYC, and Daph’s ever present disdain for pitchfork. Stay!!!! Stay!!!!!! STAYYY!

We hereby conduct this postmortem. New album alert everyone! This week the girls gather to discuss their early thoughts on TTPD - from current favorite songs to current skips to current existential crises. (We went a little over time so hopefully you have a fortnight to spare)

Can I ask you a question? Have you listened to the new episode of the pod? This week, Emma leads this ponderous episode full of questions big and small. The girls (and your favorite alien) discuss asking questions you already know the answer to, speculate (oops) on the Harry Styles of it all, and ask the most controversial question a Swiftie can ask: do you like this song???? Write down every ques...

You found yourself at our door and just like all those times before, we’re here to yap about Taylor Swift. This week, Meggo leads us as we put some respect on Gary Lightbody and the song that walked so Exile could run. Join our discussion — and no, this is not the last time we’ll be asking you this.

This week Caroline leads over un-rusted telephones (riverside.fm) to discuss “Maroon.” The girls nerd out over Taylor’s self-referential lyrics, break the no speculation rule, and end with secret song mash-up ideas. Taylor, if you’re listening, you can take any of our ideas, free of charge. + 10 million dollars each.

One thing about us, we’re always trying. This week, Megan leads us as we traverse some of the darkest depths of the folklorian woods. On our journey we shared which lyrics we felt were pilfered from our diaries and/or therapy sessions and discussed the significance of Taylor deciding to address depression and anxiety in a way she never had before in an album that came to define unprecedented times...

It’s 1:58am do you know where YOUR ex’s clothes are???? This week Emma leads the girls in a discussion of the soul crushing break up waltz that is Last Kiss. The gang discusses the most devastating lyrics, early Taylor lore, and capturing long since healed wounds in her rerecordings. Get off the floor and join us!

This week Daph leads the girls down Cornelia Street. Join us as we chat about the permanence of memory, live vs recorded performances, and the many lyrical connections that exist in the TCU. Plus, do we have a Cornelia Street ourselves? I feel like you can probably already guess.

In this episode, we go back to Taylor’s country roots and discuss a song that — believe it or not — is almost as old as us! We muse happily and nostalgically about the era that started it all and also find ourselves on the brink of existential crisis as we try to answer the question of whether there is an essential self. Yeehaw!

New year, same shenanigans! Our first episode recorded in 2024 HAD to be on New Year’s Day. Daph led the discussion, which dug into what makes a quintessential Taylor album closer and explored the duality this song captures: the peace that comes with knowing who will help you clean up yesterday’s mess — both literally and metaphorically — as well as the existential dread the passage of time might...

Karma is meeting weekly to discuss Taylor with the besties and in this episode Megan leads us in a giggle-filled convo about Taylor’s lovably millennial camp, rage, revenge, and the Karma secret album theory. Meet us at the summit (facts!)

This week the girls discuss tolerate it - the second evermore song in a row! The neglected 9th child gets some more love as Daph leads this week’s discussion on literary allusions, an incredible live performance, and the tragically universal experience of begging to be more than just tolerated.

The girls reconvene to chat about “'tis the damn season” as Emma leads a conversation about exes. The verdict? Don’t!

Remember when we pulled up and said "What if we theorized folklore love triangle gossip for an hour?" This week, Caroline hosts a riveting discussion on "august," one of the most beloved tracks off of Taylor Swift's eighth studio album, folklore. Tune in as the ladies hold an all-out dissection of the iconic teenage love triangle (and create their own fan-fiction version of...

Don’t be afraid to jump then fall into this conversation about a classic Taylor deep cut led by Megan. There are lots of laughs, a few hot takes, and the appropriate appreciation of freckles.