Taylearning: A Taylor Swift Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Often (unfairly) overlooked and frequently (unjustly) criticized, ‘Midnights’ closer “Dear Reader” is a diaristic, confessional, and somber track that reminds its listener that, despite being full of advice, the author herself is not to be trusted. In this installment of the Mental Cages series, which doubles as Taylearning’s landmark 100th episode (!!!), Dani & Olivia break down this divisive track, chewing on every lyric to make some sense of it all. Taylor has spent the better part of two decades giving advice to millions through her lyrics, but in this song, she has herself (and the audience) wondering- is she really qualified to be a beacon of truth?

100 EPISODES!!! Thank you for being here. It’s cheesy, but we love this community and what we have built from the ground up. To celebrate and to thank you, listen all of the way through the very end of this episode- we have a surprise :) 

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Instagram/TikTok: @TaylearningPodcast, @danielle_winchester, @olivia_kotarski

Twitter (X): @Taylearning

Email: taylearningpodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.TaylearningPodcast.com

Spotify Playlist: Click here!

*Explicit: Language

Taylor made history (again) last week when she won the Video Music Award (VMA) for Video of the Year with TTPD’s “Fortnight”- but many people believe she was undeserving of the iconic award. This video, which was directed by and starring Taylor herself, beat out several other strong contenders! The award is fan-voted, but there are also so many layers and interpretations to this metaphor-heavy video, so today we answer the trending question- do we think it earned the VOTY title? Tune in as we break it down, scene by scene!

We are still fighting to get our Instagram back! Please help us by going to @taylearningpodcast_backup and following instructions on our first post.

Instagram/TikTok: @TaylearningPodcast, @danielle_winchester, @olivia_kotarski

Twitter (X): @Taylearning

Email: taylearningpodcast@gmail.com

Website: www.TaylearningPodcast.com

Spotify Playlist: Click here!

*Explicit: Language

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support

This week, your Harvard education continues as Stephanie Burt joins your hosts in talking through many Taylor topics! Stephanie, the professor of the viral Taylor Swift class at Harvard University, takes the time to talk about what it’s like to teach about Taylor, thoughts on ‘The Tortured Poets Department,” and we finally touch on a subject many of you have requested: Gaylor theories. Tune in to get Taylearned with the second and final part of our Harvard lecture series!

Spotify Playlist: Click here!

*Explicit: Sexual Content

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

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Everyone wants to be famous…right? In this episode, Olivia & Dani discuss ‘The Lucky One’, an often overlooked song from the Red album in where Taylor confesses her anxieties about being at her level of fame and her deeply rooted desire to retire from the hot spotlight.

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Most everything Taylor Swift does is intentional, and that includes what song she chooses to open her albums with. In this fun, music clip filled episode, Olivia & Dani chat about each opening track, including rating them, ranking them, and making their own 'Track 1' selections.

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

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Now we know the why of it all, but what about the impact? In this episode, Olivia & Dani discuss the effects of Taylor taking back her Masters, the criticism, the support, and the results.

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Most people know that Taylor Swift is re-recording her first 6 albums, but do you know why? In this episode, Olivia & Dani tackle Taylor's controversial decision to reclaim her music - on her terms.

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taylearning-podcast/support

Taylisteners, welcome to our first Harvard class! In today’s episode, prolific and iconic legal scholar/Harvard Law professor Cass Sunstein joins your hosts to talk about his new book, “How to Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars, and How the Beatles Came to Be.” This book, released this week, covers the magic and madness of how people become famous- and how they don’t. Taylor Swift is a perfect case study of the mixture of luck and talent needed to be the biggest name in the world, so let’s talk about it with one of the best minds in higher education!

Spotify Playlist: Click here!

Cass Sunstein Profile: Click here!

Get your copy of the book here!