Podcasts about apts

"It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.” This week, we (finally) go line-by-line through what might be Taylor Swift's most psychologically dense song: “Anti-Hero” from Midnights (2022). From the Hamlet-coded antihero definition, to the “Beauty and the Beast” reference lurking in "tale as old as time," to ghosts and Freud, this song keeps delivering new angles. We each came to the song with our own anxieties, and we leave with three potentially different purposes of this high-anxiety, deeply revealing song. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe.  After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Hamlet, William Shakespeare Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll Beauty and the Beast (Disney) Dexter (Showtime) Younger (Paramount+) 30 Rock, "Seinfeldvision" — the "sexy baby" episode "Blank Space," 1989 (2014) The Miss Americana Documentary (Netflix) Lena Dunham's Substack

“Seems the only one who doesn't see your beauty is the face in the mirror looking back at you.”This week, we're doing a Show and Tell on one of literature's most enduring symbols: the mirror. From Narcissus to Dorian Gray, Snow White's magic mirror to Alice Through the Looking Glass, mirrors have long served as devices of identity, vanity, the supernatural, and the soul, and Taylor Swift is no stranger to the motif. We trace mirrors across three songs: Tied Together with a Smile (Taylor Swift, 2006), Begin Again (Red, 2012), and Anti-Hero (Midnights, 2022). Along the way, we explore distorted self-perception and the inner child, the mirror as a post-breakup identity reset, why Taylor would rather stare directly at the sun than face her own reflection, and what social media has to do with all of it. Plus: Dorian Gray, Narcissus, vampires without souls, the Bloody Mary game, and an accidental Justin Timberlake shout-out. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!   Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com   Mentioned in this episode: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde Hamlet, William Shakespeare Alice Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll Reflection — Mahesh Dattani (Indian play) Reflection — Mulan (1998 film) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film) Greek Mythology: Narcissus Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Mirror of Erised), J.K. Rowling Tied Together with a Smile — Taylor Swift (2006) Begin Again — Taylor Swift, Red (2012) Anti-Hero — Taylor Swift, Midnights (2022)   Episode Highlights: [01:13] Mirrors in literature and the arts: identity, vanity, and the soul [09:00] Song 1: Tied Together with a Smile — the fractured self and distorted physical perception [23:52] Song 2: Begin Again — “Took a deep breath in the mirror” [34:11] Song 3: Anti-Hero — “I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror”   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

“I was ridin' shotgun with my hair undone,” and the rest is history. This week, we do a full line-by-line deep dive into a classic, “Our Song” (Taylor Swift, 2006). Join us as we discuss the self-referential recursion (she wrote a song about their song, and that song is their song) and the sounds and silences Taylor chose to define a teenage romance. This is Taylor before anyone believed in her, holding the pen, writing herself into her debut album. For more on "Our Song" in the context of Taylor's full debut album, become a paid subscriber at aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe — we go deep on the album in our After School series.

“It's the first kiss, it's flawless, really something, it's fearless.” Over on our paid feed on Substack, we''re in our Fearless era (literally), diving deep into Taylor's second album track by track for our After School paid subscribers. We go through all 13 original tracks,  from the sparkly country-pop opening of "Fearless" to the quietly defiant closer "Change,” examining what each song adds to the album, what literary and emotional threads connect them, and how this era set the template Taylor would spend the next eras of her career perfecting. Along the way, we track the evolution of Taylor's fearlessness from a teenager writing on tour buses to the artist who re-recorded her masters and looked the whole industry dead in the eye. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe.  After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com This episode is exclusively for our paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting AP Taylor Swift! Mentioned in this episode: Album context, album art, and the “Fearless” era's place in Taylor's discography Track 1: “Fearless”, previously covered in Episode 88: Weather Songs Track 2: “Fifteen”, previously covered in Episode 124: Time & Episode 125: Deep Dive Track 3: “Love Story”, previously covered in Episode 31: Shakespeare & Episode 32 Deep Dive Track 4: “Hey Stephen”, previously covered in Episode 1 “Songs that Made us Swifties” Track 5: “White Horse”, previously covered in Episode 33: Animal Studies and Episode 110: High School Musical Track 6: “You Belong With Me”, previously covered in Episode 98: Unreliable Narrators Track 7: “Breathe” ft. Colbie Caillat Track 8: “Tell Me Why”  Track 9: “You're Not Sorry” Track 10: “The Way I Loved You”, previously covered in Episode 52 Psychoanalytic Theory & Episode 53 Deep Dive Track 11: “Forever & Always” Track 12: “The Best Day”, previously covered in Episode 81: Female Artists Track 13: “Change”, previously covered in Episode 110: High School Musical The purpose of the album as a whole: what Fearless was trying to do when it came out in 2008, and what it means now looking back across the full discography Episode Highlights: [00:00] Welcome to After School — Fearless era begins  [01:11] Fearless as a sophomore album: branding, stakes, and proving it wasn't a fluke  [06:46] Why "Fearless" and not "Love Story": the title as identity [09:00] The album's critical reception and Billboard dominance  [12:14] The Kanye VMAs moment and what it meant for the era  [29:43] Track 1 — "Fearless": dancing in the rain, connective tissue to debut [01:35:44] Track 13 — "Change": ending on a note of inevitability  [01:43:31] What the album is actually about: manifesting fearlessness  [01:46:01] The lesson from Fearless: just do the thing, even badly [01:49:27] Taylor's Version and why she started with Fearless   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.

“I'll be your father figure.” This week, we're diving deep into one of Taylor Swift's most underrated literary tools: alliteration. From the phonetic cadence of a teenage Taylor on Debut to the silky-smooth flow of reputation's Call It What You Want, to the hard-hitting, power-packed punch of Father Figure from The Life of a Showgirl, we trace how Taylor uses the repetition of consonant sounds to create rhythm, evoke emotion, and tell a story. Whether she's channeling JFK-level emphasis or crafting an earworm you can hit the notes on without music, alliteration is a tool Taylor reaches for selectively and with purpose. Join Maansi, Jennifer, and Jodi as they break down soft sounds, staccato slams, and everything in between.   Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!   Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com   Mentioned in this episode: “Our Song” – Taylor Swift (Debut, 2006) “Call It What You Want” – Taylor Swift (Reputation, 2017) “Father Figure” – Taylor Swift ft. George Michael interpolation (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) “Pied Beauty” – Gerard Manley Hopkins “The Raven” – Edgar Allan Poe JFK Inaugural Address – John F. Kennedy (1961) Grammarly: What Is Alliteration?   Episode Highlights: [01:32] Defining alliteration: Initial rhymes, brand names, and types (symmetrical, unvoiced) [07:04] “Our Song” (Debut, 2006): Slamming screen doors and the phonetic cadence of baby Taylor [14:43] “Call It What You Want” (Reputation, 2017): Soft sounds, effortless love, and the R&B-adjacent flow [22:19] “Father Figure” (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025): Hard consonants, hard power, and the father figure persona   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

Got a question or comment? Message us here!MuddyWater is blurring the line between ransomware and espionage... using Chaos ransomware as a decoy to distract defenders while quietly stealing data and maintaining persistence. In this episode, we break down how this tactic works, what SOC teams should watch for, and how to detect the hidden activity beneath the noise.Support the showWatch full episodes at youtube.com/@aliascybersecurity.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you get your podcasts.

"What could you possibly get for the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?" What happens when you reach a level of fame so singular that there's almost no one left who can truly understand your life? That's the question at the heart of "Elizabeth Taylor" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025), and it's why Taylor Swift had to go all the way back to Hollywood's golden age to find her patron saint. This week, we go line by line through one of the standout tracks from “The Life of a Showgirl”, unpacking the Portofino references, the white diamonds, and why the bridge answers the song's central question in the most unexpected way. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Elizabeth Taylor, Wikipedia "Elizabeth Taylor," The Life of a Showgirl (2025) Portofino, Italy Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds perfume How I Write podcast, Ward Farnsworth interview Episode Highlights: [00:00] Intro to "Elizabeth Taylor" [03:00] Who was Elizabeth Taylor? The Vince Canby quote that sets up everything [04:30] "Do you think it's forever?"  [13:00] "All the right guys promised they'd stay"  [17:00] "Been number one, but I never had two" [30:00] "Be my NY when Hollywood hates me"  [36:45]  "The girl who has everything and nothing all at once" [40:00] “I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust (just kidding)" [45:00] “Yhey say I'm bad news, I just say thanks" [52:00] The bridge: White Diamonds, lovers, and what's actually forever [57:45] Purpose round: Elizabeth Taylor as patron saint, mentor, and mirror 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.

“Best believe I'm still bejeweled” and diving into an incredibly rich discussion this week! In this week's show and tell episode, we're examining the age-old literary theme of luxury in Taylor Swift's music, through the songs “Bet You Think About Me” (Red Taylor's Version, 2021), “Bejeweled” (Midnights, 2022), and “Elizabeth Taylor” (Life of a Showgirl, 2025). Join us as we dive into how the meaning and significance of luxury changes through each of these songs that span across Taylor's discography, and how luxury can be used to comment on social status, identity, and emotional depth. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald Jane Austen The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wild   *** Episode Highlights [00:00] Introduction to luxury as a theme in literature and music [03:00] “Bet You Think About Me” - the contrast in social classes [10:50] “Bejeweled”- precious jewels and self-worth [20:36] The luxurious, lonely life of “Elizabeth Taylor” [34:31] Conclusion: The Multifaceted Nature of Luxury in Taylor's Music 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.  

Simon is here with a critical warning to UK landlords regarding the implementation of the Renters' Rights Act on May 1st, emphasising that non-compliance with new regulations—specifically the mandatory issuance of a written statement to tenants by May 31st—can result in devastating fines of up to £7,000 per tenant.  He explores the shift from assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) to assured periodic tenancies (APTs), the abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions, and the expansion of rent repayment orders, as well as providing strategic advice on mitigating these risks through professional letting agents and specialist rental guarantee insurance to protect against non-paying tenants and legal fees. KEY TAKEAWAYS Landlords must issue a formal written statement to all tenants between May 1st and May 31st to avoid fines of up to £7,000 per tenant. The Renters' Rights Act transitions all rental agreements to "assured periodic tenancies" (APTs) featuring a standard two-month rolling notice period. Section 21 "no-fault" evictions are being abolished, making April 30th the final day landlords can legally issue such a notice. Rent repayment orders are becoming more severe, allowing tenants to claim back up to 24 months of rent if a landlord fails to secure necessary local authority licenses. BEST MOMENTS "If you're a landlord and you're not up to date with the Renters' Rights Act, potentially you're putting yourself at risk to face massive fines of tens of thousands of pounds." "You cannot just send a link to the government website; you actually need to send [the written statement] as an attachment for them and get a confirmation back from them that they received it." "Although you should have had a license, you didn't... that tenant could go to court and get 24 months of rent." "I am buying more properties, I'm staying in the property market... because I believe there'll always be a demand for good quality accommodation in this country." VALUABLE RESOURCES To find your local pin meeting visit: ⁠www.PinMeeting.co.uk⁠ and use voucher code PODCAST to attend you first meeting as Simon's guest (instead of paying the normal £20). Contact and follow Simon here: Facebook: ⁠http://www.facebook.com/OfficialSimonZutshi⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonzutshi/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/SimonZutshiOfficial⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/simonzutshi⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/simonzutshi/⁠ Simon Zutshi, experienced investor, successful entrepreneur and best-selling author, is widely recognised as one of the top wealth creation strategists in the UK. Having started to invest in property in 1995 and went on to become financially independent by the age of 32. Passionate about sharing his experience, Simon founded the property investor's network (pin) in 2003 ⁠www.pinmeeting.co.uk⁠   pin has since grown to become the largest property networking organisation in the UK, with monthly meetings in 50 cities, designed specifically to provide a supportive, educational and inspirational environment for people like you to network with and learn from other successful investors. Since 2003, Simon has taught thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners how to successfully invest in a tax-efficient way.  How to create additional streams of income, give them more time to do the things they want to do and build their long-term wealth. Simon's book “Property Magic” which is now in its sixth edition, became an instant hit when first released in 2008 and remains an Amazon No 1 best-selling property book. Simon launched his latest business, ⁠www.CrowdProperty.com⁠, in 2014, which is an FCA Regulated peer to peer lending platform to facilitate loans between private individuals and property professionals. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

This week, we are continuing our full album deep dive series for our paid subscribers, and finishing up our analysis of Taylor Swift's self-titled debut (2006). In this preview, we dig into the second half of this album where we start to really get a sense of who Taylor Swift was and the budding talent of the Taylor Swift we know today!  Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  

"You had to make your own sunshine, but now the sky is opalite." This week we're deep diving the second single from “The Life of a Showgirl,”  Opalite! We'll explore why Taylor chose “opalite” over “opal,” what it means to create your own luck instead of waiting for it, and the song's shift from being stuck in a cycle to finding resilience. Along the way, we debate who's really speaking—is Mama Swift talking the whole time?—trace the song's self-referential connections to “Daylight,” “Fearless,” “right where you left me,” and more, and unpack how this bubblegum pop track is actually a deeply philosophical song about agency, community, and paying it forward. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  Right Where You Left Me - Deep Dive The Fate of Ophelia - Deep Dive Metaphors Show & Tell  Hamlet, William Shakespeare Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson   Episode Highlights:  [01:57] What is “Opalite”? [08:06] “I had a bad habit…” [16:14] “Life is a song, it ends when it ends” [20:59] “Dancing through the lightning strikes” [28:38] “Sleepless in the onyx night” [33:23] “You finally left the table” [46:51] “All of the foes, and all of the friends” [50:21] “This is just a temporary speed bump” [59:48] “Oh my lord never met no one like you before” [01:01:11] The Purpose: “But now the sky is Opalite” 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.

"Take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die." What's an AP class without a not-so-brief discussion about touching grass? In honor of Earth Day, we're exploring Transcendentalism — the 19th-century movement that said the divine lives in nature, not in dusty pews — and finding it everywhere in Taylor Swift's music. Jenn returns to "the lakes" (folklore, 2020) and pairs it with Ralph Waldo Emerson's foundational essay Nature to explore how Taylor's retreat from society mirrors the transcendentalist search for truth in the natural world. Maansi takes on "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" (Midnights, 2022), tracing its imagery and cosmic grief through themes of universal divinity and interconnectedness. And Jodi brings "Opalite" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) to pose a question: is this song an acceptance of transcendentalism — or a rejection of it? Dust off your Emerson, lace up your hiking boots, and get ready to go touch grass with us. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Discover all our book recs and episode guides: https://swift-recs-explorer.lovable.app/ Mentioned in this episode: Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson Walden, Henry David Thoreau E7: Ecocriticism — our original nature episode E8: Deep Dive - the lakes Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Walt Whitman Margaret Fuller *** Episode Highlights: [00:30] Introduction to Transcendentalism  [08:29] "the lakes,” folklore [18:28] "Bigger Than the Whole Sky," Midnights [30:16] "Opalite” The Life of a Showgirl 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.  

Got a question or comment? Message us here!Iranian-affiliated APT actors are actively targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, specifically PLCs powering essential operations across water, energy, and manufacturing.This #SOCBrief breaks down the latest CISA alert, how attackers are exploiting OT environments, and what security teams need to be watching for right now. From key indicators to practical defense strategies, this is your wake-up call to treat OT as a high-value target.Support the showWatch full episodes at youtube.com/@aliascybersecurity.Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you get your podcasts.

"Take a deep breath and you walk through the doors. It's the morning of your very first day." This week, we're going line by line through "Fifteen.” From the significance of 15 as an age that rarely gets its pop culture moment, to Abigail and the quiet power of female friendship, to the devastating simplicity of "and we both cried," we unpack why this deceptively simple song keeps hitting harder with every passing year. We dig into who the "I" and the "you" really are, debate whether that night ends on a high or a heartbreak, and explore what it means to pay it forward to a generation of girls who are still walking through their very first doors.  Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in This Episode: Fearless, Taylor Swift (2008 album) "Beautiful Ghosts" — Taylor Swift (from Cats, 2019) "You're On Your Own, Kid" — Taylor Swift (Midnights) "All Too Well" — Taylor Swift "Seven" — Taylor Swift (folklore) "22" — Taylor Swift (Red) Inside Out (2015 film) — Pixar / core memories concept Episode Highlights: [02:42] The title: Why Taylor chose “Fifteen”  [16:23] "Feeling like there's nothing to figure out," and the count-to-10 anxiety hack [23:07] Abigail, in-groups and out-groups, and the adolescent psychology of finding your people [33:22] Second chorus debate: Does the night end on a high or a heartbreak?  [43:00] The flower metaphor, purity culture, and what "everything she had" really means in context [54:55] Getting to the purpose of “Fifteen”    Follow AP Taylor Swift Podcast on Social! tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift instagram.com/APTaylorSwift youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift linktr.ee/aptaylorswift bookshop.org/shop/apts 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

“Time won't fly, it's like I'm paralyzed by it.” What happens when you try to pin down something as slippery as time itself? This week's episode gets philosophical as we explore how Taylor Swift uses time as a literary device—as narrative structure, as metaphor, as a way to measure how much we've changed. From flashbacks and tense shifts to nostalgia and the ache of looking back, we unpack how time shapes Taylor's storytelling. Maansi traces the dramatic irony of “15” (Fearless, 2008), Jenn explores how “Timeless” (Speak Now (Taylor's Version), 2023) removes time to reveal the purest form of love, and Jodi breaks down the stream-of-consciousness time travel of “All Too Well” (Red, 2012). Grab your clocks, calendars, and time-turners—class is in session. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Discover all our book recs & episodes: https://swift-recs-explorer.lovable.app/ Mentioned in this episode: Memento (2000 film) The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel Inside Out (2015 film) The Merge, [Author] StoryGraph Atonement, Ian McEwan The Ministry of Time, Kaliane Bradley Outlander, Diana Gabaldon The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young The Good Place (Jeremy Bearimy)   ***   Episode Highlights: [01:12] Time as a literary device: structure, theme, and symbolism [08:52] “Fifteen,” Fearless [20:23] “Timeless,” Speak Now (Taylor's Version)   [31:39] “All Too Well,” (Red)   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.

“I cry a lot but I am so productive, it's an art.” This week, we're doing a deep dive on “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart” (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024, Track 13), written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. A continuation of our Strong Women series, this episode goes line by line through one of Taylor's most devastatingly relatable songs. We explore the rhetorical triangle of the I, the you, and the they; the “performative perkiness” of the chorus; why the poetry meter literally snaps to the beat of a performance; the crucial evidence hiding in drawers; and how dark humor becomes a coping mechanism. Whether you're a Type A eldest daughter, a new mom, or anyone who has ever had to show up for work when their heart was broken, this one hits. Try and come for our job.   Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com   Mentioned in This Episode The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift (2024) The Eras Tour Concert Film / Documentary Moulin Rouge! (2001 film) Harley Quinn / Birds of Prey (2020 film) Barbie (2023 film) Episode Highlights [02:17] Verse one: “She's having the time of her life” — glittering prime, sequined stars, and the opening twist [08:23] Pre-chorus: “I'm a real tough kid” — internalizing what we're told as little girls [20:23] The chorus: “I'm so depressed I act like it's my birthday every day” — dark humor as coping [39:24] “Try and come for my job” — who is she talking to? [50:54] Why this is a twofer song: the sad version and the celebration version   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.

"Never be so kind, you forget to be clever; Never be so clever, you forget to be kind." We're celebrating Women's History Month the only way we know how: looking at strong women in Taylor Swift's music. Jenn traces the wisdom and boldness Taylor inherited from her grandmother in "Marjorie" (evermore, 2020), Jodi unpacks the resilience hiding in plain sight throughout "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024), and Maansi makes the case that "Eldest Daughter" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) is basically the anthem of every firstborn girl who had to figure it out before anyone else did. Plus: why the Iceland women's strike of 1975 worked, and why Taylor Swift might be the only person capable of organizing a global one. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!  Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Unlikable Female Characters, Anna Bogutskaya Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen Little Women, Louisa May Alcott The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins Play the Patriarchy, Reductress "The End of an Era" Documentary "Marjorie," evermore (2020) "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart," The Tortured Poets Department (2024) "Eldest Daughter," The Life of a Showgirl (2025) Iceland Women's Strike, 1975   Episode Highlights: [00:34] Introduction to strong women  [05:59] "Marjorie," evermore (2020)  [16:03] "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart," The Tortured Poets Department (2024)  [23:42] "Eldest Daughter," The Life of a Showgirl (2025) 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.

This week, we're going line by line through "Down Bad" from Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Jenn, Maansi, and Jodi unpack one of the album's most emotionally raw — and unexpectedly hilarious — songs, diving deep into its extended alien abduction metaphor, what it really means to be "down bad," and how Taylor uses sci-fi imagery to explore love bombing, power dynamics, and the messiest stages of heartbreak. We also discuss how this song connects to last week's Hero's Journey episode, why crying at the gym might be the most relatable lyric Taylor has ever written, and what the repetitive, fading outro says about the cycle of emotional abuse. Plus: cow mutilation, Kate McKinnon's SNL alien sketches, Thor and Natalie Portman, and The Other Boleyn Girl. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com   Episode Highlights: [01:12] What does "down bad" actually mean? From Google's AI overview to Usher to Grease [05:50] Verse one line by line: Being beamed up, cosmic love, and the alien abduction metaphor [13:08] The chorus: Down bad, crying at the gym — from the cosmic to the devastatingly mundane [31:52] The chorus again: "Like I lost my twin" — Plato's soulmate theory and twin flames in Taylor's discography [34:18] The bridge: hostile takeovers, indecent exposures, and Close Encounters — loving all the red flags [36:20] "I'll build you a fort on some planet" — savior complex, desperation, and what fort-building actually means [43:35] The stages of grief in one song: is this processing, or just a very messy beginning of processing? [46:03] Getting to 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

This week, we're giving you a taste of something brand new: our full album deep dive series, starting at the very beginning with Taylor Swift's self-titled debut (2006). In this preview, we dig into the cover art, the context, and what it meant to introduce yourself to the world as a 16-year-old girl in a genre that had never really made room for one. Want the full track-by-track breakdown — from Tim McGraw through Tied Together with a Smile — and everything we unpack about ambition, identity, and the thesis statement Taylor locked in before she could legally drive.  Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  

"She had a marvelous time ruining everything" This week, we're doing a Show and Tell episode on one of literature's most enduring narrative structures: the Hero's Journey. We explore three songs through the Hero's Journey lens: Maansi unpacks the cross-generational dual hero's story in "The Last Great American Dynasty" (Folklore, 2020), Jenn applies the framework to "Down Bad" (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024),and Jodi walks us through how "The Life of a Showgirl" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) follows every classic beat, from the call to adventure to the triumphant (and pithy) return. Plus: the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hindu goddess Kali, The Traitors, and why Jodi thinks the bridge of "The Life of a Showgirl" might be Taylor's greatest bridge of all time.   Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics!   aptaylorswift.com   Mentioned in This Episode: The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien Star Wars (original trilogy) The Last Great American Dynasty (Folklore, 2020) — Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner Down Bad (The Tortured Poets Department, 2024) — Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff The Life of a Showgirl (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025) — Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback & Mathias Bielandt   Episode Highlights 00:36 Welcome and intro — what is the Hero's Journey (the Monomyth)? 17:43 The Last Great American Dynasty: Multiple hero's journeys in one song 31:57 Down Bad: The Hero's Journey when you're sent home against your will 43:56 The Life of a Showgirl: A textbook Hero's Journey   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   Email 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.

"Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in." This week, we're deep diving "hoax" from folklore (2020), written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner. As a continuation of last week's Wuthering Heights episode, we go line by line through one of Taylor's most quietly devastating songs. We unpack the definition of "hoax" itself—humorous or malicious?—and find that the answer might be both. Along the way, we debate who's holding the twisted knife, trace religious undertones from the Lord's Prayer through "faithless love," connect Robert Burns and Of Mice and Men to Taylor's "best laid plan," and sit with the devastating wordplay of "my broken drum, you have beaten my heart." This is a song about betrayal by someone who knew exactly where it would hurt most—and the confusing, adult reality of choosing to stay anyway. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  Mentioned in this episode: Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck "To a Mouse," Robert Burns (1785) The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord's Prayer Episode Highlights: [00:25] Introduction to "hoax" and the definition of a hoax [02:11] "My only one, my smoking gun, my eclipsed sun" [08:48] "Stood on the cliffside screaming, give me a reason" [13:36] "Don't want no other shade of blue but you" [18:14] "My barren land, I am ash from your fire" [22:32] "You knew the hero died, so what's the movie for?" [29:23] "My kingdom come undone" [34:24] Purpose: vulnerability weaponized, betrayal by someone who knew you best [39:10] The Wuthering Heights of it all 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.  

"Trust me, I can handle me a dangerous man" Can obsessive love survive across social classes, death, and generations? This week, we're diving into Emily Brontë's 1847 Gothic masterpiece, “Wuthering Heights,” to explore themes of revenge, class struggle, and the illusion of choice in a society that offered women precious few options. We connect three Taylor Swift songs to this brutal, beautiful tale of Catherine and Heathcliff's destructive passion and its ripple effects on the next generation. From unrequited longing to toxic attempts at redemption to the devastating reality of betrayal, we unpack why this novel feels both deeply romantic and disturbingly amoral. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Brontë Great Expectations, Charles Dickens Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen E23: Mad Women   Episode Highlights [01:14] “Wuthering Heights” Intro [10:52] “Foolish One,” Fearless (Taylor's Version) [21:36] “Hoax,” Evermore [29:14] “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” The Tortured Poet's 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.

"Only bought this dress so you could take it off." This week, we're deep diving "Dress" (reputation, 2017). We go line by line through this intimate friends-to-lovers anthem, exploring the transition from public persona to private moments, the dress as both armor and vulnerability, and why this song perfectly captures the spark that ignites a shift from friendship to something more. Join us as we unpack intentionality, agency, emotional nakedness, and discover why this song is the perfect soundtrack for choosing your person. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Hamlet, William Shakespeare Summer I Turned Pretty (TV series) Bridgerton (Episode 65 reference)   Episode Highlights: [02:52] The title: What does the dress symbolize and represent? [21:49] Taylor embracing more sensual lyrics  [46:44] Friends to lovers: The journey condensed in one song [52:37] The dress as transition: From friends to lovers, the spark that initiates change   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

"You had to make your own sunshine, but now the sky is opalite." In honor of the “Opalite” music video, we're giving our After School Paid Subscribers early access to our “Opalite” deep dive! We explore why Taylor chose “opalite” over “opal,” what it means to create your own luck instead of waiting for it, and the song's shift from being stuck in a cycle to finding resilience. Along the way, we debate who's really speaking—is Mama Swift talking the whole time?—trace the song's self-referential connections to “Daylight,” “Fearless,” “right where you left me,” and more, and unpack how this bubblegum pop track is actually a deeply philosophical song about agency, community, and paying it forward. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    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.

"I don't want you like a best friend." What happens when we view Taylor Swift's music through the lens of Regency era romance? In this week's Show & Tell episode, we explore Taylor Swift's songs through Shonda Rhimes's Netflix adaptation of Julia Quinn's “Bridgerton” novels to uncover how Taylor's songs capture the tension, longing, and swoony moments that define the series. From secret romances in crowded rooms to enemies-to-lovers slow burns, we connect three iconic Bridgerton couples to Taylor Swift songs that perfectly capture their love stories. Whether you're Team Daphne and Simon, obsessed with Kate and Anthony, or rooting for Colin and Penelope, this episode has something for every Bridgerton fan. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  Mentioned in this episode: Bridgerton Series, Julia Quinn The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1), Julia Quinn The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton #2), Julia Quinn Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgerton #4), Julia Quinn Bridgerton Netflix Series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Marie Antoinette (2006), Sofia Coppola Romeo + Juliet (1996), Baz Luhrmann Moulin Rouge (2001), Baz Luhrmann Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen E31: Shakespeare    Episode Highlights:  [00:26] Bridgerton Overview [13:05] “I Wish You Would,” 1989 [24:08] “Wildest Dreams,” 1989 [34:18] “Dress,” Reputation  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.  

"I'd say I love you even at your darkest, and please don't go." This week, we continue our winter songs conversation with a deep dive into "Forever Winter" from Red (Taylor's Version). Content warning: This episode discusses mental health struggles, suicide, and grief. We explore the song line by line, examining themes of helplessness, survivor's guilt, the weight of supporting someone through mental illness, and how Taylor captures the raw emotions of loving someone at their darkest. Join us as we unpack what it means to promise "I won't go away" and why this vault track remains one of Taylor's most emotionally devastating songs. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Episode Highlights: [00:01] Introduction and content warning - mental health and grief discussion [02:53] Why Taylor has never performed this song live - the pattern of deeply personal songs [16:44] Red era context: Mental health conversations in 2010 vs. today [32:52] "I'll be summer sun for you forever" - The impossibility of being someone's savior [34:06] Bridge analysis: "If I was standing there in your apartment" [45:04] "Believe in one thing, I won't go away" - Poetry of immortalization [59:32] The toll of supporting someone: When care requires its own support system 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

"But then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind" What happens when we explore Taylor Swift's coldest, most melancholic songs? In this week's Show and Tell episode, we examine three winter songs—"Back to December," "The Moment I Knew," and "Forever Winter"—to uncover how Taylor uses winter as a literary device to explore themes of regret, loss, and missed opportunities. From the isolation of snowy landscapes to the clarity that comes with reflection, we discuss how winter symbolizes both endings and the quiet before renewal. Spoiler alert: these songs all appear on Spotify's "Saddest Taylor Swift Songs" playlist, so bring tissues. [And we have a content warning for our last song for themes and discussions of depression and self-harm] Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:    The Shining, Stephen King Frozen (2013) "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," Robert Frost The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis Fall Episode Summer Episode Holiday Episode Greek Mythology Episode “Right where you left me” deep dive All Too Well 10 Minute Version Episode Episode Highlights [00:42] Winter as a literary device  [07:16] "Back to December"  [18:02] "The Moment I Knew"  [26:52] "Forever Winter" (content warning, themes of self-harm)   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.  

"All that time I sat alone in my tower, you were just honing your powers. Now I can see it all, see it all." This week, we're deep diving "The Fate of Ophelia" (The Life of a Showgirl, 2025). We go line by line through the lead single from Taylor's latest album, exploring everything from Hamlet references to fairy tale imagery, the contrast between "high brow" poetic language and colloquial modern speak, and why this song is actually packed with green flags about healthy relationships. Join us as we unpack the land, the sea, the sky, and discover why keeping it 100 might just be the antidote to drowning in melancholy. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Hamlet, William Shakespeare Becoming, Michelle Obama 10 Things I Hate About You (1999 film) Greek Mythology - Persephone and the Underworld Winter's Tale, William Shakespeare Cleopatra, William Shakespeare Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra Episode Highlights: [02:42] The title and opening verse: Megaphones, pyros, and public declarations [05:50] Drowning in melancholy: The Tortured Poets Department connection [13:20] Pre-chorus analysis: Towers, graves, and lighting up the sky [29:00] "Keep it 100 on the land, the sea, the sky" - Jenn's breakthrough moment [36:33] Pledge allegiance vs. swore my loyalty: Communal vs. individualistic language [43:44] Verse two: Fantasy, scorpions, and Cleopatra references [56:32] "Wrap around me like a chain, a crown of vines" - Self-referential Taylor [01:02:17] The bridge: "'Tis locked inside my memory" and the Laertes connection [01:09:32] The purpose: Rewriting endings and finding people who show up   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

In Episode 170 of Cybersecurity Where You Are, Sean Atkinson and Tony Sager sit down with Douglas Holland, Senior Solutions Engineer at Akamai Technologies. Together, they discuss how U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government organizations can increase their visibility to obstruct the attack attempts of Typhoon advanced persistent threat (APT) groups.Here are some highlights from our episode:00:49. Introduction to Douglas02:16. How Typhoon APTs are using trusted tools to target critical infrastructure08:30. Professionalism as a tell of sophisticated nation-state threat actors09:15. How U.S. SLTTs come up with creative solutions despite budgeting and staffing limits14:14. The "big credential playground" that is U.S. SLTTs' expanded attack surface16:46. Visibility into network activity as a way to continuously build defensive capability19:11. The use of context to connect technical visibility to defensive action23:20. Identity as the new perimeter, cloud and SaaS posture, and micro-segmentation29:18. One piece of advice: assume an attacker is already in the network or will beResourcesMalicious Domain Blocking and Reporting (MDBR)Living off the Land: The Power Behind PowerShellCybersecurity for Critical InfrastructureBuild a Zero Trust Roadmap for FinServ with CIS SecureSuiteIf you have some feedback or an idea for an upcoming episode of Cybersecurity Where You Are, let us know by emailing podcast@cisecurity.org.

"Pretend he doesn't know that he's the reason why you're drowning." This week we're exploring Shakespeare's "Hamlet" through Taylor Swift's lens, diving into the psychological depths of revenge, agency, and the fate of being a silenced woman. From the “Real Housewives of Shakespeare” (yes, really) to the drowning weight of societal expectations, we unpack how Taylor uses one of literature's most tragic figures to explore modern questions about independence, relationships, and female agency.    Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:    Hamlet, William Shakespeare Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppard The Lion King The Traitors Real Housewives E92: Revenge Narratives The Sound of Music Sister Act The Female Malady, Elaine Showalter E31: Show and Tell - Shakespeare E23: Mad Woman ***   Episode Highlights [01:03] Hamlet 101 [11:02] “I Knew You Were Trouble,” RED [23:50] “Anti-Hero,” Midnights [34:56] “The Fate of Ophelia,” The Life of a Showgirl 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.  

"Ophelia lived in tragedy." In this preview of our paid subscriber bonus episode, we're diving deeper into Hamlet. We all study it, and love it or hate it, there's something about this particular play that keeps people talking about it. What about Shakespeare's Hamlet, remains so relevant almost 500 years later? We talk briefly about its history, how it's taught, why it's culturally so important, the role of tragedy in theater and in Taylor Swfit's music, amongst other topics related to this incredible play. If you enjoyed this sneak peek and want to hear the full episode plus additional monthly episodes of AP Taylor Swift After School, subscribe at aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe.  Stay up to date with all episodes at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: The Lion King Thor Thomas Kidd's The Spanish Tragedy Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta De Norum Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Tom Stoppard Something Rotten Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  ***   Episode Highlights:  [02:00] Introduction to Hamlet and Its Influence [3:10] Hamlet's Influence on Modern Films [4:06] Revenge and Psychological Themes [5:50] Adaptations and Comedic Perspectives [9:04] Literary Connections and References 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.

"What if I told you none of it was accidental?" On this special NYE edition, we're revisiting our Parallel Songs episode, which means you're getting six show-and-tell songs instead of three! In this episode, we explore the concept of parallel songs in Taylor Swift's discography, focusing on thematic and lyrical connections between pairs of songs. We discuss the similarities between the carefree hangout vibes of “22” and the more mature perspective of letting loose in “Bejeweled”; the contrasting views of fate in “Invisible String” and agency in “Mastermind”. And, we take a technical lens to the songs “Labyrinth” and “You're Losing Me”, highlighting how they embody experiences of love and loss. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics. Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com and thank you for listening. Can't wait to continue to overanalyze and deep dive more Taylor Swift music in 2026!   Mentioned in this episode:  Eras Tour Surprise Song Mashup TikToks Love Story Deep Dive  ***   Episode Highlights:  [02:00] Introduction to Parallel Songs [05:07] Exploring “22” (Red)  and “Bejeweled” (Midnights) [13:20] Contrasting “Invisible String”(folklore) and “Mastermind” (Midnights) [21:23] Analyzing “Labyrinth” (Midnights) and “You're Losing Me” (Midnights (from the vault)) 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.

Podcast: ICS Arabia PodcastEpisode: Pharma OT Security | 64Pub date: 2025-12-26Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationWe're joined by Andre Froneman, OT Solutions Specialist at Datacentrix — a cybersecurity professional with hands-on experience across the pharma, mining, automotive, and energy sectors.In this episode, we dive deep into pharmaceutical OT cybersecurity, exploring how one of the world's most sensitive industries protects its operations, data, and intellectual property from cyber threats.

In this special, end-of-year episode (and Hazel's final show as host) Talos Takes goes on a time-travel adventure: What would a defender from 2015 think of the cybersecurity realities of 2025? Joined by Talos teammates Pierre Cadieux, Alex Ryan, and Joe Marshall, we compare the threats, tools, and challenges of 2015 with those of 2025. The team recalls where they were in their careers a decade ago, then dives deep into how ransomware has evolved, how APTs and state sponsored attacks have shifted, and why identity has become the new battleground for attackers and defenders alike. They discuss the impact of AI on both sides of the security equation, share what they miss from “the good old days,” of 2015, and offer practical advice for defenders facing the challenges of 2026 and beyond.

“We think of these bad things happening to me, or to us. If you flip it around correctly, and you react in a certain way, those things can be happening for you." Ever since we saw the cameras backstage at the Eras Tour, we've been waiting for a documentary to arrive, and this week we got to enjoy episodes one and two of this long-awaited glimpse behind the scenes. Check out this week's episode where we dive into our reactions, the lessons we learned, and chat a bit about what else we hope to see in the next few episodes!    Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  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.

(Presented by ThreatLocker (https://threatlocker.com/threebuddyproblem): Allow what you need. Block everything else by default, including ransomware and rogue code.) Three Buddy Problem - Episode 76: On the show this week, Costin walks through how a single Romanian documentary kick-started nationwide protests, exposing how corruption can be perfectly legal when the law itself is gamed, and why this moment feels different, darker, and more consequential than past flare-ups. Plus, news on the React-to-Shell exploitation wave overwhelming the internet, why patching is structurally hard, and how APTs and criminals are converging on the same fragile dependency chain. Along the way, they take aim at Microsoft's shrinking transparency, the limits of vendor trust, and what it really means when defenders are told (again) to just patch and pray. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).

As we prepare for the release of the Eras Tour documentary series, we wanted to pause and revisit our experiences at the Eras Tour and the excitement we felt when The Tortured Poets Department was added to the set list. Take a moment and revisit this older episode of ours to get yourself in the mindset for the docuseries!    Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com  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.

(Presented by ThreatLocker (https://threatlocker.com/threebuddyproblem): Allow what you need. Block everything else by default, including ransomware and rogue code.) Three Buddy Problem - Episode 75: We dig into a CVSS 10/10 unauthenticated RCE bug causing chaos across the internet and early signs that Chinese APTs are already launching exploits, the cascading patch chaos, and a long tail of malware intrusions to come. Plus, commentary on Chrome's telemetry collection, Microsoft and the "SFI success story," newest BRICKSTORM backdoor intrusions, the US national security strategy, Anthropic's AI popping smart-contract bugs, a secret FBI ransomware-hunting unit getting weird, and a pair of sad stories in the security community. Cast: Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade (https://twitter.com/juanandres_gs), Ryan Naraine (https://twitter.com/ryanaraine) and Costin Raiu (https://twitter.com/craiu).

"In the blink of a crinkling eye, I'm sinking, our fingers entwined." This week, we're deep diving one of The Tortured Poets Department's most nostalgic and playful tracks: "So High School." We explore how this Aaron Dessner collaboration captures the giddiness of adult romance that feels refreshingly simple and unguarded—like being transported back to those butterflies-in-your-stomach moments of teenage crushes. From twinkling lights to truth or dare, we unpack how Taylor Swift uses high school imagery not to describe where she is, but how love makes her feel. Spoiler: we giggle our way through this episode like the high schoolers we once were. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: High School Musical American Pie A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle The Hills Clueless "So Yesterday" by Hilary Duff Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast appearance with Taylor Swift *** Episode Highlights [00:01] Introduction and continuation from the High School vs. High School Musical debate [04:16] Breaking down the title: "So High School" [16:03] "Tell me about the first time you saw me" [25:08] "I'm watching American Pie with you on a Saturday night" [39:02] "You know how to ball, I know Aristotle" [48:46] No bridge? The structure of "So High School" [50:18] Purpose discussion: Evoking feelings vs. lived experience 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.  

"How did a made-for-TV Disney Channel movie become the defining musical of a generation?" This month on After School, we're discussing High School Musical, the 2006 Disney Channel original movie that launched a thousand basketball-playing singers and made "Get Your Head in the Game" an iconic song. For this bonus episode for paid subscribers, we dive deep into why this cheesy, swoopy-haired phenomenon resonated so strongly with millennials and continues to trend with Gen Z today. From the cultural timing of musicals' renaissance to the universal themes of fitting in while staying true to yourself, we explore what made High School Musical iconic. We discuss the movie's connection to the broader musical theater landscape of the early 2000s, the genius of making a musical about musicals, and why Zac Efron's portrayal of Troy Bolton became the heartthrob template for a generation. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 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.

"I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale." What happens when we look at Taylor Swift's music through the lens of high school—specifically, the cultural phenomenon that is “High School Musical”? This week, we explore how adolescence shapes storytelling in literature, film, and music. From the fairy tale expectations in "White Horse" to the transformative power of "Change" to the nostalgia of "So High School," we discuss how Taylor's perspective on high school has evolved over time, and why these coming-of-age narratives continue to resonate across generations. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  High School Musical (2006) The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger A Separate Peace, John Knowles The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky The Breakfast Club ***   Episode Highlights [01:08] Why High School Musical? [02:42] Adolescence as a theme in literature [07:22] "White Horse" and Gabriella's fairy tale [20:09] "Change" and high school transformation [29:20]  "So High School" and looking at teenage love as an adult 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.

"Please picture me in the trees... before I learned civility." This week, we're deep diving one of folklore's most haunting and emotionally complex tracks: "seven." By popular request from our listeners, we explore this fan-favorite song that captures childhood innocence, the weight of adult responsibilities placed on young shoulders, and the bittersweet process of looking back at formative moments that shaped who we've become. From cross-your-heart promises to haunted houses, we unpack how Taylor Swift captures the complexity of childhood experiences that are simultaneously innocent and deeply serious. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  Peter Pan  Aaron Dessner interview with Vulture folklore: the long pond studio sessions  Unreliable narrators Substack Ring Around the Rosie and the Black Plague ***   Episode Highlights [00:40] Introduction and After School program announcement [08:55] "Please picture me in the trees" [12:10] “Feet in the swing” [23:15] The bridge: "And I've been meaning to tell you" [35:00] "Before I learned civility, I used to scream ferociously" [50:10] Purpose discussion: What is this song really about? 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.

"That's a Real Legacy to Leave." This week, we're diving deep into the art of double meanings in Taylor Swift's songwriting! Join us as we explore how Taylor crafts lyrics that can be interpreted in multiple ways simultaneously, and how she uses this technique to add layers of depth to her storytelling. We analyze three songs where the titles themselves contain double meanings: "seven" from folklore, "Maroon" from Midnights, and "loml" from The Tortured Poets Department. From the ambiguity of hitting your peak at seven (feet? years old?) to the devastating transformation from "love of my life" to "loss of my life," we uncover Taylor's intentional wordplay and what it reveals about her meticulous craft. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: Hamilton Homer's The Odyssey Lord of the Rings: Return of the King The Summer I Turned Pretty Episode Highlights: [00:00] Introduction and After School content announcement [01:37] What is double meaning? (Plus the difference from double entendre) [04:53] "Seven" - Peak at seven feet or age seven? [15:58] "Maroon" - The color and being marooned [24:06] "LOML" - From love to loss of my life [36:40] Pattern discovery: Why titles matter 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.  

this week we're unpacking all the stuff we swore would change our lives... and then collected dust instead. from fitness gear to “that girl” kitchen gadgets, we're doing a little de-influencing, a little self-roasting, and a little reality check on what's actually worth buying. plus, anya's pilates hard launch, kylie's half-marathon prep, and a few questionable wedding cake toppers.anya's favorite: ⁠⁠⁠beyond yogakylie's favorite: redkin acidic bonding concentrate lineneed advice? submit what's getting you down for our upcoming advice column episode! email us at twodegreeshotterpodcast@gmail.com, dm us on instagram, or submit through our anonymous suggestion box (insta and suggestion box linked below). submissions will be kept anonymous regardless of how you submit!make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and follow us on instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@twodegreeshotter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! if you're listening on apple podcasts, leave us a review - it really helps us out!if you have any suggestions for topics you want to hear us cover, feel free to send them using our anonymous suggestion box: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/2WAjznf⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"I'm walking fast through the traffic lights, busy streets and busy lives." This week, we're deep diving "State of Grace" from Red (2012), exploring how this opening track marks a turning point in Taylor's approach to love songs. We unpack the religious meaning of "state of grace" and what it reveals about forgiveness and fresh starts, discuss how the gritty reality of New York City replaces the fairy tale imagery of earlier albums, and examine what it means to navigate love as a 22-year-old trying to prove you're an adult. From Catholic theology to the "freshman year of the real world," this episode explores how Taylor transitions from fantasy romance to the messy, complicated truth of real relationships. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode:  Definition of “State of Grace”  Enchanted The Summer I Turned Pretty Plato's Symposium and Twin Flames The Odyssey E102: Parallel Taylor Songs    ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:25] “State of Grace” title and meaning [04:36] “I'm walking fast through the traffic lights” [10:25] “We are alone with our changing minds” [12:56] “I never saw you coming, and I'll never be the same” [13:53] “You come around and the armor falls” [19:37] “You were never a saint and I loved in shades of wrong” [26:27] “This is the worthwhile fight”  [35:30] 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 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.  

“Pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes.” In this preview of our After School episode, we're reflecting on our first month with Taylor's latest album. We dive into why certain Taylor albums create earworms while others don't, how her genre-hopping creates completely different fan bases, and whether we just accidentally invented a personality test based on your top two Taylor albums (spoiler: it's better than Myers-Briggs). Plus, we debate whether "an album full of bops" can stand the test of time, or if that's exactly what we needed right now. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com 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 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.  

Happy Halloween from the team at N2K Networks! We hope you share in our Halloween tradition of listening to the Malware Mash. You can check out our video ⁠here⁠. Lyrics I was coding in the lab late one night when my eyes beheld an eerie sight  for my malware threat score began to rise  and suddenly to my surprise... It did the Mash  It did the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  It was a botnet smash  It did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  It did the Malware Mash From the Stuxnet worm squirming toward the near east  to the dark web souqs where the script kiddies feast  the APTs left their humble abodes  to get installed from rootkit payloads.  They did the Mash  They did the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  It was an adware smash  They did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  They did the Malware Mash The botnets were having fun  The DDoS had just begun  The viruses hit the darknet,  with ransomware yet to come.  The keys were logging, phishing emails abound,  Snowden on chains, backed by his Russian hounds.  The Shadow Brokers were about to arrive  with their vocal group, "The NotPetya Five." They did the Mash  They played the Malware Mash The Malware Mash  It was a botnet smash  They did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  They played the Malware Mash Somewhere in Moscow Vlad's voice did ring  Seems he was troubled by just one thing.  He opened a shell then shook his fist  and said, "Whatever happened to my Turla Trojan twist."  It's now the Mash  It's now the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  And it's a botnet smash  It's now the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  It's now the Malware Mash Now everything's cool, Vlad's a part of the band  And the Malware Mash is the hit of the land.  For you, defenders, this mash was meant to  when you get to my door, tell them Creeper sent you. Then you can Mash  Then you can Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  And be a botnet smash  It is the Mash  Don't you dare download Flash  The Malware Mash  Just do the Malware Mash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Halloween from the team at N2K Networks! We hope you share in our Halloween tradition of listening to the Malware Mash. You can check out our video ⁠here⁠. Lyrics I was coding in the lab late one night when my eyes beheld an eerie sight  for my malware threat score began to rise  and suddenly to my surprise... It did the Mash  It did the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  It was a botnet smash  It did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  It did the Malware Mash From the Stuxnet worm squirming toward the near east  to the dark web souqs where the script kiddies feast  the APTs left their humble abodes  to get installed from rootkit payloads.  They did the Mash  They did the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  It was an adware smash  They did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  They did the Malware Mash The botnets were having fun  The DDoS had just begun  The viruses hit the darknet,  with ransomware yet to come.  The keys were logging, phishing emails abound,  Snowden on chains, backed by his Russian hounds.  The Shadow Brokers were about to arrive  with their vocal group, "The NotPetya Five." They did the Mash  They played the Malware Mash The Malware Mash  It was a botnet smash  They did the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  They played the Malware Mash Somewhere in Moscow Vlad's voice did ring  Seems he was troubled by just one thing.  He opened a shell then shook his fist  and said, "Whatever happened to my Turla Trojan twist."  It's now the Mash  It's now the Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  And it's a botnet smash  It's now the Mash  It caught on 'cause of Flash  The Malware Mash  It's now the Malware Mash Now everything's cool, Vlad's a part of the band  And the Malware Mash is the hit of the land.  For you, defenders, this mash was meant to  when you get to my door, tell them Creeper sent you. Then you can Mash  Then you can Malware Mash  The Malware Mash  And be a botnet smash  It is the Mash  Don't you dare download Flash  The Malware Mash  Just do the Malware Mash

"How high was Andrew Lloyd Webber when he wrote this and on what exactly?" This month on After School, we're discussing Cats, the 2019 movie musical featuring Taylor Swift as Bombalurina. For this bonus episode for paid subscribers, we watched and dissected Tom Hooper's infamous film adaptation. From the uncanny CGI to Taylor's scene-stealing performance to the existential question of cat proportions, we explore what went wrong (and occasionally right) in translating Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1981 stage musical to the big screen. Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com Mentioned in this episode: T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939) Cats (2019 film) directed by Tom Hooper Taylor Swift's "Beautiful Ghosts" (written for the film) E3: Alice in Wonderland 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.

"I'll dance with these beautiful ghosts and I'll choose to be wild and free." What happens when we view Taylor Swift's music through the lens of our feline friends? In this week's Show & Tell episode, we explore three songs that connect to the world of cats in different ways. From the mysterious cat distribution system to reclaiming the "cat lady" trope, we discuss how cats represent independence, mystery, and the feminine in both literature and Taylor's music. Plus, we dive into why men who hate cats might be revealing more about themselves than they think.   Subscribe for free to get episode updates or upgrade to paid to get our After School premium content: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe. After School subscribers get monthly bonus episodes, exclusive content, and early access to help shape future topics! Stay up to date at aptaylorswift.com    Mentioned in this episode: Cat Distribution System - internet phenomenon Cats Musical - Andrew Lloyd Webber TS Elliot Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats Marx for Cats Beautiful Ghost - Taylor Swift & Andrew Lloyd Webber, 2019 Cats (2019 film) The Cheshire Cat - Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland Professor McGonagall - J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter The Black Cat - Edgar Allan Poe   ***   Episode Highlights:  [00:37] All about cats! [09:22] "State of Grace" and the cat distribution system [17:18] "Gorgeous" and reclaiming the cat lady trope [27:08] "Beautiful Ghost" and choosing wild freedom   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.