We all know someone who has become so lost in their [toxic] relationship that they cut off other loved ones. In today’s ‘Dear Taylistener’ episode - our advice column miniseries where we use Taylor Swift songs as a source of wisdom - our listener writes to us about being on the receiving end of the social chop when her close guy friend cuts her off to appease his new girlfriend. It can be difficult to convince others that your cross-gender friendship is solely platonic, but it can be even harder to watch that friendship dissolve due to others’ insecurities. What do you do? In this case, we turn to the lyrics of Taylor Swift to get by, and your hosts dispense their own wisdom from similar experiences!

For her entire professional career up until the transition between 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017), Taylor had a predictable schedule of releasing a new album every two years. But 2016 was different, as we saw the ostensible cancellation of Taylor and her subsequent reclusivity. As a result, we got one of the most iconic and fabled pieces of lost media: Taylor Swift’s “missing” album from 2016. Nicknamed “Karma” by Swifties, the existence of this album is hotly debated, and there are good arguments on both sides. Tune in to hear your hosts discuss facts and quotes to argue both for and against the existence of “Karma,” the details surrounding the conspiracy theory, and what would’ve/could’ve/should’ve been had 2016 gone differently for our girl.

It’s time for the song that features the namesake of this miniseries to have its moment in the sun: This Is Me Trying. This track, an underrated gem from 2020’s ‘folklore,’ features Taylor singing from multiple devastating perspectives. She acts as the mouthpiece for a melancholic alcoholic, a regretful burnout, and a despondent suicidal person. Through these lyrics, she tells the story of how hard it is to simply try for some people. Sometimes, your best looks like hell to everyone else, and no one pats you on the back for the work it took you to get there. But Taylor noticed…no one ever talks about these people or tells these stories. These people who are really trying. So she decided to give us this track, and we decided to break it down for you today.

The time has come for the final installment of the Eras Tour Post Mortem miniseries. We know, we’re sad too. But it has been four months since Taylor left the Eras stage for the final time, which has given us ample opportunity to analyze what were the highest highs and the lowest lows of the 21-month-long tour! After calling out on Instagram and scouring the web, we learned what Swifties from all over the world took away from the tour, both positive and not-so-positive. Join us as we close this chapter and reminisce on the past so we can turn our focus to the future!

Two words: Lead. Singles. But what is a lead single, you may ask? It’s typically a carefully selected track from an upcoming album designed to both lend itself to potential commercial success AND give you a taste of what’s to come from an artist. Taylor Swift has 11 albums, thus she has 11 lead singles to chat about! Some were released in advance of an album, some were released alongside an album. Some were acclaimed and beloved, some were criticized and ridiculed. In today’s episode, Dani & Olivia go through each lead single and rate it as a song, success as a lead single, and they even make their own suggestions for the lead singles that could’ve been.

In 2006, Taylor released her debut album. On that album, she gave us “Tied Together with a Smile”, a sincere and heartbreaking song about a girl who struggles to hide her pain behind a fake smile. Today, your hosts dissect this track in our very first song analysis from Debut! Taylor has given us a lot of insight into this tragic tune, so tune in as we break it all down in this installment of the ‘Mental Cages’ miniseries.

From 2009-2010, Taylor Swift embarked on her first ever headlining tour: The Fearless Tour! Later in 2010, “Journey to Fearless” would be released- a docuseries all about the tour and the steps Taylor took to get there. This episode features Dani and Olivia a) talking about the reception and impact of The Fearless Tour, and b) going through each scene of the series to talk through the story it tells. Go back in time with us, head first and fearless!

It has been nearly three months since the final bow of ‘The Eras Tour,’ but we will do anything we can to make it live on. This includes the continuation of our Eras Tour Post Mortem series, in which your hosts dissect tour details! In this requested episode, Dani & Olivia go through the many outfits Taylor wore on stage during tour (including alterations and capes, she wore ~100 outfits!) to decide their favorite and least favorites for each era. They also talk fan favorites, iconic outfit moments, and their costume redesign concepts.

Taylor once admitted to being lost in the labyrinth of her mind- but what exactly does that mean? In today’s episode, Olivia & Dani continue the Mental Cages miniseries to break down “Labyrinth” from “Midnights.” This song - which is a divisive song amongst the Swiftie fandom - has Taylor opening up about her anxiety concerning falling in love after everything she has been through. But, as with all Taylor Swift songs, there is more to the story than what we see on the surface! Join us as we tear back the layers of this synth-filled, vibey track.

Like Taylor, we’ve spent the past 5+ months religiously following and rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, our joy crumbled alongside KC’s offensive line at the Super Bowl this past Sunday. So let’s talk through our sorrows, chat about the season, and we humbly ask your forgiveness for our sadness.

Since 2008, Taylor Swift has been considered a perennial Grammy threat in the music industry. But with 58 total Grammy nominations and 14 total wins, can she truly be considered a “Grammy Darling?” Your hosts are going back in time to dive into this question! This episode, recorded and released off the heels of the 67th Grammy Awards, has Dani & Olivia going over every single nomination - wins AND losses - Taylor Swift has ever received from The Recording Academy. Who won? Who did people think would win? Who “should’ve” won? Listen in to (tay)learn what we’ve found!

If you look up “who is Taylor Swift’s best friend?”, you will receive a handful of answers. One of those answers is stylist Ashley (Ash) Avignone. Way back in 2008, Taylor met Ashley through a famous mutual friend. Seventeen years later, and their friendship is still going strong! Tune into this installment of “The Squad” miniseries to hear all about the long-standing friendship between Taylor and Ashley. And trust us…if you don’t recognize her name, you almost certainly know her face.

It’s time! After months of collecting YOUR hottest takes about The Eras Tour, your hosts are here to talk about them over alcoholic beverages. In today’s return of the fan favorite “Tipsy Swifties” miniseries, guest host Rebecca guides Olivia & Dani through each hot take, and your girls have to drink if they agree! With over 150 submissions and countless drinks later, we’re proud to present today’s fun (and undeniably controversial) episode. Grab your favorite drink and play along!

From the outside looking in, becoming a Taylor Swift fan seems like an almost insurmountable challenge. With nearly two decades of lore and hundreds of songs in her discography, it’s no secret that the path to becoming a Swiftie can be daunting. Where should someone begin? In this episode, Dani & Olivia seek to help you answer that question! This “crash course” was designed with potential Swifties in mind and acts as an overview of need-to-know information to catch anyone up and bring them into the world of Swiftiedom. To cap it off, your hosts give song recommendations by genre to help get you started in her music. Long time Taylisteners, send this episode to someone you want to see become a Swiftie!

There is much debate about if Taylor Swift’s 2024 topped her groundbreaking 2023. Today, your hosts return from their holiday break to tackle that question! In this episode, Olivia & Dani continue their yearly tradition of giving you a “Taylor Wrapped” of sorts, talking through a timeline of Taylor’s highlight reel of 2024. Additionally, they top it off by recapping the accuracy of their 2024 predictions and cementing their 2025 predictions. So tell us- what is your biggest Taylor prediction for the new year?

After 21 months, 149 shows, hundreds of songs performed live, and millions of traded friendship bracelets, The Eras Tour finally came to its bittersweet end in Vancouver, Canada on December 8th. By way of luck, magic, and our good friend Rebecca, Olivia & Dani were able to attend closing night in person. The final show was emotional, heartbreaking, joyful, somber, sparkling, and perfect. Your hosts are honored to take you through the full experience of closing night, from standout moments to general vibes, so everyone listening can live in the experience of what it was like to be there for the final bow.

The simplest answer to the question “what makes an era?” is: …an album. An album cycle makes an era. But is that the whole truth? In today’s special episode, Justice - your TayIntern - guest-hosts to walk us through each intricate detail that characterizes a musical era. Join Justice, Olivia, & Dani as we cap off The Eras Tour with a lesson on the art, marketing, and groupings of all of Taylor Swift’s iconic eras that have defined her career thus far.

In October of 2011, lifelong Swiftie and Journalism student Sarah Chapelle decided to combine her passions to create the blog “Taylor Swift Style.” This blog has since amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, all of whom eagerly await for Sarah to post outfit details, prices, and even dupes of Taylor’s latest look every time she steps in front of a camera. Today, Dani & Olivia are joined by Sarah - now a New York Times best selling author - to discuss her new book, Taylor’s oxymoronic skill of marketing authenticity, and how music and fashion cannot be divorced when it comes to the iconography of a Taylor Swift Era!

With 14 Grammy Award wins and 58 nominations, it’s no secret that The Recording Academy is a fan of Taylor Swift- and she is a fan of theirs in return! But the perennial question remains: will Taylor succeed in this upcoming Grammy cycle? Today, your hosts do their best to put themselves in the shoes of a voting member of The Academy to make educated guesses about how things will shake out in each category Taylor is nominated for.

She hates it here, so she goes to secret gardens in her mind. The job of your hosts today is to find those secret gardens and take you along on the journey! In this installment of the fan fave ‘Mental Cages’ series, Olivia & Dani walk through TTPD’s “I Hate It Here”, a divisive and solemn track from ‘The Anthology’ half of the record. What does Taylor mean with the opening/closing lyric about a finance guy? What are the mid-sized city hopes and small town fears she is referencing? And what exactly was she trying to say with the controversial 1830s lyric? Tune in to find out!