Episodes
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Well divas, it's time for another emergency episode. We were planning on simply talking about the Grammy's but God had other a different plan....today's docket is full of lols and questions from the chaotic surprise announcement of Taylor Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department. We dissect the track list, discuss how this will impact the eras tour, and make other speculative statements.
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Published 02/07/24
PATREON FOR WEEKLY EPISODES: https://www.patreon.com/swiftologist Taylor Swift's reputation era is much lauded as one of her most concise, aesthetically thematic, and sonically jarring eras. To no one's surprise, we concur with this estimation. However, much gets lost in hindsight. Though her career recovered fairly quickly, there were numerous hiccups in the roll-out to reputation that were actually....kind of a big deal. Alt-right sympathizer allegations?! Is the ACLU getting involved? It's...
Published 02/02/24
Welcome back to another episode of boots-on-the-ground journalism. The bone collector returns to serve a delicious meal: what, exactly, is the Taylor Swift origin story? We know the official narrative: plucky girl meets guitar, moves to Nashville, gets discovered at the Blue Bird Cafe and the rest is history. Was there more to it than that? If the recently resurfaced emails from Scott Swift's 2005 legal dispute with Taylor's former manager are to be taken seriously, then yes. We take an...
Published 01/12/24
Well, here we are again snakes...back at it again to break down all of the most juicy insights & learnings from Taylor Swift's groundbreaking feature in TIME Magazine. Covering the whole scope of her career, Sam Lansky talks with the head reptile in charge about every little thing: from The Eras Tour to Travis Kelce, Taylor's Version, and her ongoing redemption narrative. We take an exacting lens to exactly what was said (and more interestingly, what wasn't) in the broadest 'access' we've...
Published 12/08/23
Welcome back to the Evolution of a Snake. Today's episode is the final Taylor Talk of 2023 and boy it's a doozy. We give some space to discuss the final leg of this year's Eras Tour, including the grave tragedy that took place in Rio de Janeiro. Elsewhere, we discuss the success of the Eras Tour Film, the flop of the Black Friday Merch, and whether or not Taylor Swift is the Person of the Year. Don't forget to sign up for the Patreon to hear from us three more times before the end of the...
Published 12/01/23
In this episode, The Snakes attend to the most pressing matter in the Taylor Nation: the re-release of the HBIC, the pop girlie who took no prisoners and changed the game. On the agenda today is an analysis of the minute (and sometimes overt) differences between the Stolen Versions & Taylor's Versions, an impending billionaire status that leaves a sour taste, and for the very first time an in-depth lyric analysis of each vault track. Harry Styles, as a muse, you were everything. Thank...
Published 10/30/23
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The crossover that no one asked for but we're giving it to you anyway. Caroline Calloway is so many things: writer, snake oil saleswoman, alleged scammer, Floridian, New Yorker, and apparently....a Swiftie? She talks Taylor with The Snakes on a variety of subjects ranging from The Eras Tour, to Gaylor bisexuality, and Matty Healy. And of course, her ongoing beef with Natalie Beach. Make sure to buy her memoir 'SCAMMER,' and pre-order the...
Published 10/11/23
Welcome back to Taylor Talk, a monthly segment in which The Snakes dissect the current affairs in the Taylor Nation. On the docket today: Taylor's monster on the hill appearance at the VMAs, her various fashion wins from this colder portion of the year, Swiftie hysteria over the new purse in town, 1989 vault and a debate on the appropriate conduct for a swiftie in a movie theatre when watching a certain concert film. Enjoy!
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Published 10/02/23
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The old Taylor can't come to the phone right now, she's (almost) dead. In the lead-up to 2017's legendary 'reputation', Ms. Swift is struggling with the fallout from the most apocalyptic year of her career. Marred in scandal and reassessing the fundamental elements of her life as a public figure and a private person, what seems like a year...
Published 09/15/23
Welcome to the first public monthly episode of Taylor Talk; in which The Snakes report back on the latest and greatest news from the Taylor Nation. In today's dispatch, Zack and Madeline discuss the announcement of 1989 (Taylor's Version) and speculate on the production credits and the content of the fabled 'amazing' vault tracks. Karlie Kloss, a noted crook who was caught, pops up on this hallowed occasion, and a girlie called Chelsea recreates the ENTIRE Eras Tour in her living room with...
Published 08/14/23
In this episode, we present the Snake Nation with a full-length preview of what lives behind the paywall. In our monthly voice mail segment, we answer your most pressing questions about happenings in the Taylor Nation and the world of pop culture. We record this segment once a month & our patrons enjoy this, our more focused 'Taylor Talk,' and listener requested deep-dives that we call 'Besties Episodes' on patreon.com/swiftologist every single month. With video accompaniments too if...
Published 07/31/23
In this episode, The Snakes delve into the dark and stormy waters of Speak Now (Taylor's Version). Each re-recording is dutifully compared against the stolen counterpart and assessed on a scale from I Knew You Were Trouble to Tell Me Why. There's an elephant in the room of course, which prompts some debate: the lyric change in Better Than Revenge. Was it blasphemous, or no big deal? Opinions may vary, and in this episode, they certainly do. The episode is concluded with an analysis of the...
Published 07/14/23
In this episode, The Snakes revisit the first night of The Eras Tour in Chicago. It was happy, free, confused, lonely, miserable, and magical. All at the same damn time. There's an in depth dissection of the extremely lengthy and involved setlist, a frank analysis of our fellow swifties around us, and an overall vibe check on what it's like to sit on the floor for the biggest tour of all time. This episode is not sponsored by our house down boots, which tore up our feet in ways you can't even...
Published 06/14/23
The shot heard around the world. A highly demanded recap of the final half of Taylor Swift's most disastrous year. We begin our story in the Getaway Car, and quickly head off to the UK where the Cobra engages in some truly deranged behavior, before a whirlwind summer of romance, drama, and truly great outfits. Hiddleswift is at its peak when the walls come crashing down: Kim Kardashian's illegal, doctored recording of Taylor Swift's conversation with Kanye West, leads to the...
Published 05/12/23
Well snakes, here we are. Another emergency episode. To discuss the shot heard around the world: the demise of Toe. In this episode, The Snakes detangle the various clues & cryptic easter eggs that have been dropped over the years about the nature of Taylor Swift & Joe Alwyn's 6 year relationship. Following a playlist created to chart Taylor's inner journey, your favourite armchair analysts speculate and hypothesise about what triggered the fallout, how the relationship started, and...
Published 04/16/23
In this episode of Evolution of a Snake, Taylor Swift's Stadium Show, The Eras Tour Tour is thoroughly dissected, appreciated, and critiqued. Zack & Madeline try their best to decipher the mental machinations of the HSIC (Head Snake In Charge) to discover why she chose certain songs and not others. It's a tremendous tour de force that really turns the idea of a 'touring artist' on its head: just how big can a show be? How much stamina, prowess, and power can one pop star have? The Snakes...
Published 03/20/23
Buckle in, snakes. Madeline and Zack are doing a free-dive into one of the most unhinged places on the internet: Ashley Leechin's TikTok. You may know her for allegedly resembling Taylor Swift. Or, perhaps you know her for getting disinvited to the Grammys. Madeline is the bone collector, and she has unearthed the most incredible bones on this subject. It goes so much further, deeper, and weirder than you think. On this special episode of the Evolution of a Snake, we reprise Madeline's...
Published 02/07/23
We did it, Joe. We finally made our Patreon. In today's episode, Zack & Madeline approach a breadth of topics: the Lavender Haze music video, Taylor's filmmaking ambitions, the impending eras tour, and the launch of our paywalled content which brings the Evolution of a Snake into your earbuds twice a month on top of the regularly scheduled programming. Whether you want cutting room floor content, an episode made just for you, or a video companion to everything you hear from here on out –...
Published 02/01/23
The Snakes are back with hotter takes than ever. In this episode, Madeline and Zack revisit Taylor Swift's 10th Studio Album. There's a state-of-the-union vibe check on the fandom & an honest, frank, but loving discussion on the positives and negatives of the songwriting, promotion, and release of Midnights. On the agenda: Jack Antonoff's undeniable footprint, future singles, a chat about the visuals, and speculation about where she's headed next sonically & professionally.
Published 12/22/22
It's finally here. The most dreaded and requested episode in four years. It's time for chaos, karma, vengeance, and the #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty. This first episode takes us from the beginning of the year to Bleachella and the Met Gala. The breakdown of Tayvin is unearthed with some shocking new revelations (and a heavy dose of informed speculation...) alongside an excavation of some very, extremely iconic candids. The release of Famous causes a stir and officially reignites the dormant feud...
Published 11/20/22
Here we are again, Swifties. With another deep-dive, first impressions & review of the fabled TS10: Midnights. In this episode, the album is batted around like a brand-new tennis ball. Some topics on the agenda: Taylor's shifting POV as a protagonist and a narrator, the breadth and depth of sonic experimentation on this record, Lana Del Rey's criminal excision, Jack Antonoff's heavy touch, the general concept of Tayvoodoo and the imperative fact that Karma is Taylor Swift's boyfriend. All...
Published 10/26/22
Welcome back, swifties. Zack and Madeline interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to go over a few key current affairs. TS10, heard of it? By now you certainly have. Midnights is on the horizon and we are, frankly, in a state of panic. It's a global emergency. In this episode, The Snakes dive into the 2022 VMA's. The fashions, tea, and symbolicalness of it all. Predictions are made. Revelations are shared. They answer your questions.
Published 09/02/22
In the final part of 2015, there’s plenty to discuss. Hot off the VMAs, Taylor releases the Wildest Dreams music video and receives some backlash while turning out looks. Turns out the back half of this year was kind of cursed. The 1989 Ryan Adams version comes out to absolutely no one’s enjoyment. Todrick Hall (noted villain) enters the canon. Then, there is a lengthy discussion of what is potentially Taylor’s most revealing magazine profile: her GQ interview and cover shoot. We dive deep...
Published 07/05/22
By some miracle, 2015: Part 2 has emerged. In this episode, Zack and Madeline delve into the second half of Taylor’s most chaotic year. In hindsight, it’s full of powerful foreshadowing, embarrassing blunders, and the beginning of a shift that drastically changed Taylor Swift’s relationship with fame. We begin this episode with the Apple Music letter, and go on to discuss some 1989 tour gossip, the absolutely unhinged Nicki Minaj/Katy Perry feud, and the fateful 2015 #SQUAD VMAs. Throughout,...
Published 06/13/22
In a series first for The Evolution of a Snake, Madeline and Zack dive deep into another artist's discography. Well, if you can call it that. In the wake of another round of comparison, Olivia's potential as the heir-apparent to the diaristic songwriting throne is discussed judiciously but with skepticism. With three smash hits and a headlining tour underway...is Olivia ready, willing, or able to take over? Not if The Snakes have anything to say about it. After all, heavy is the head that...
Published 04/17/22