Taylearning: A Taylor Swift Podcast

There are three types of Swifties: those who theorize, those who watch the theories, and those who ignore them. Which one are you? In this opinionated episode, Olivia & Dani chat about the lengthy history and impact of Taylor's famous Easter Egg marketing/fan communication strategy. She constantly has us clowning, and some Easter eggs are much more substantial than others. Join the conversation, i...

For a three month relationship when Taylor Swift was 19, there sure is a lot to unpack in this episode! John Mayer, the inspiration behind 'Dear John' (among other 'Speak Now' tracks), has a troubled past. In this episode, Olivia & Dani tear apart how that troubled past directly influenced a young Taylor. Content warning: In reporting statements Mayer has made, this episode contains graphic sexual...

This is it: Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer' took place in 2016 when the world turned against her. #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty is the number one trend in the world. Her public allies are few and far between. So what does she do? She channels it all into writing and performing her most vengeful (and most romantic) album yet: Reputation. In this 'part two' episode, hear Olivia & Dani talk about the Taylor...

Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech at the 2009 VMAs is perhaps the biggest pop culture moment of the late aughts. This moment kickstarted the wild and volatile relationship between the two, and the repercussions have been good, bad, and ugly! This episode - part one of two - covers the crazy interactions between the two from 2009 to 2015, preparing you for the fallou...

No surprise here: the 'All Too Well Short Film' won the highly coveted Video of the Year award at this year's VMAs! As we near the official end of the Red Taylor's Version Era to move into the Midnights Era, it seems like a good time to break down the short film. In this jam-packed episode, Olivia & Dani talk the music video scenes, dialogue, Easter eggs, behind the scenes, critical responses, and...

What else could we possibly be talking about this week? On Sunday, August 28th, Taylor Swift announced TS10 - 'Midnights'! In our most packed episode yet, hear Olivia & Dani talk theories, conspiracies, concepts, and all things 'Midnights' as we eagerly await its release on October 21st. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simplecast,...

Where were you when you heard about the infamous 27 second breakup phone call between Taylor Swift & Joe Jonas? This ill-fated teenage romance rocked the world of pop culture during its rise and fall in 2008, and it inspired songs across three (3!) Taylor albums! In this fun episode, Olivia & Dani break down all of the details, from the break up songs to the 'Jonas Brother's Ex-Girlfriend Club' to...

Perhaps one of the most underrated songs on 1989, 'This Love' is a pop-synth-indie ballad about an on again/off again relationship. Often criticized for its simple lyrics, this song is one of 1989's most emotional deep cuts, and one of the few songs from 1989 (Taylor's Version) to be released into the world! Join us as we talk it through, lyric by lyric, finding song parallels and hidden themes. S...

What do 2012 and 2021 have in common? They both saw the release of the 'Red' album! But in 2012, Taylor was a heartbroken 22-year-old fresh off a devastating relationship. In 2021, Taylor was a confident 31-year-old; so confident, in fact, that she released a 30 song rerecorded album! Listen as we chat through the differences in the albums, their themes, our opinions, and the songs (and hey, one o...

From friends to enemies to friends again, the saga of Taylor Swift vs. Katy Perry raged on for years. But would you believe this 'Bad Blood' all started with...backup dancers? Listen as we unpack one of the most well known music feuds of the 2010s, and trust us, there is a lot to unpack here! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simple...

In the final installment of the 'Remaining Relevant' series (for now!), Olivia & Dani go line by line through 'Mirrorball' from the 2020 Grammy Album of the Year, 'Folklore.' Why does Taylor keep calling herself a mirrorball, and what exactly does that even mean? The answers, as always, are in the lyrics- and in the spaces between them. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show...

Who was the primary inspiration behind the Grammy winning '1989' album? Olivia & Dani argue that the muse for the songs was none other than Harry Styles. Taylor Swift dated Harry for a few months in 2012, but this catchy album indicates that they had an on again/off again affair that inspired some of the greatest songs of the 2010s. Hear your hosts break it all down as they kick off 'The Muses...

How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22? This question is raised throughout the song 'Nothing New,' a folk pop song written by Taylor in 2012 and released in 2021. In this beautiful collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, we hear confessions of a girl afraid that the world will move on from her since she is no longer a fresh face in the music scene. Olivia & Dani unbox the song line b...

Olivia & Dani met in 2020 only weeks before 'Folklore' blessed our ears. That leaves a LOT of history in the Taylorverse that needs covered to figure out how we got here! In this episode, listen to your hosts break down their personal histories with Taylor, how they met, and how we got from neither host listening to Reputation in 2017 to hosting a Taylor-themed podcast only 5 years later. Supp...

Everyone wants to be famous…right? In this episode, Olivia & Dani discuss ‘The Lucky One’, an often overlooked song from the Red album in where Taylor confesses her anxieties about being at her level of fame and her deeply rooted desire to retire from the hot spotlight. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

Most everything Taylor Swift does is intentional, and that includes what song she chooses to open her albums with. In this fun, music clip filled episode, Olivia & Dani chat about each opening track, including rating them, ranking them, and making their own 'Track 1' selections. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simplecast, an A...

Taylor Swift has shown us she is anxious about staying relevant, and the proof is in the music. In 2010, Taylor Swift closed her 'Speak Now' album with an anthem in 'Long Live.' On the surface, it is a fun song to dance to. But if you listen to the lyrics, you hear a confession from a 20-year-old who thinks her career has already peaked. In this episode, Olivia & Dani break down the first of sever...

Now we know the why of it all, but what about the impact? In this episode, Olivia & Dani discuss the effects of Taylor taking back her Masters, the criticism, the support, and the results. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of persona...

Most people know that Taylor Swift is re-recording her first 6 albums, but do you know why? In this episode, Olivia & Dani tackle Taylor's controversial decision to reclaim her music - on her terms. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use...