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Articles by Toni Romm
Why Eldest Daughter is NOT about Taylor Swift-and what it really means.
Eldest Daughter may be the most controversial song on “The Life of a Showgirl.” Joe and Toni dive headfirst into the controversies about whether this song is too cringe, while raising the provocative question of whether this song is actually about Taylor Swift. And you won’t want to miss our fast-paced interview with an editor at The New Yorker who is Taylor fanatic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Taylor Swift whiz helps us decode Opalite’s unexpectedly deep meaning
Opalite does NOT mean what you think it does—as you’ll learn in this eye-opening episode. PLUS, we have a must-see interview with the brilliant Charlie Harding, a songwriter who co-hosts the award-winning hit podcast, Switched on Pop. The #2 song in America may seem like a simple bop, but in reality, it’s a complex lyrical gem that shines a whole new light on the album.
EXCLUSIVE! An Elizabeth Taylor expert helps us decode the meaning of Swift’s hit song.
Joe and Toni talk to Ben Mankiewicz, an expert on Liz Taylor and Cleopatra—who are both quintessential showgirls Swift is obsessed with. In the episode’s middle segment, the three discuss the many parallels between the two Taylors that Swift alludes to in the song. Ben is an amazing storyteller and host of the podcast The Plot Thickens whose latest season is on the ill-fated movie Cleopatra, which starred Liz and which his great-uncle Joseph directed and wrote.
Decoding Tayor's 'Red': Why Metaphors Are the Most Important Viral Storyteller Trick You Must Master | #8
ABOUT THIS EPISODE Taylor Swift doesn’t just write songs. She writes modern-day allegories. In this episode, we crack open “Red,” one of Swift’s most metaphor-dense tracks, to uncover why metaphors aren’t just lyrical flourishes but memory tricks that make stories unforgettable. From Maseratis on dead-end streets to falling autumn leaves, Joe and Toni explore how Swift uses metaphors to tattoo emotions onto our brains.
Never Ever Forget: The Rhetorical Genius of Taylor’s First #1 Hit | #7
ABOUT THIS EPISODE It’s the breakup heard ‘round the world and the lyric that won’t leave your head: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. But this isn’t just a catchy chorus. It’s a masterclass in how to make words unforgettable.
What Taylor’s But Daddy I Love You REALLY Means And Her Top Storytelling Secret | #5
ABOUT THIS EPISODE If you master Taylor’s one-word storytelling secret, you'll be better at writing, speaking, and making your content go viral online. This week, Joe and Toni reveal that one game-changing word— the beautiful ”but”—and the simple “cool rule” that the greatest storytellers use to maximize its power. “But” is the word that introduces conflict and tension in narratives, which is why Taylor suffuses her songs with the word.
To Be or Not to Be a Mastermind | #4 - Decoding Taylor Swift: A Storytelling Revolution (podcast)
ABOUT THIS EPISODE Why does Taylor start with “Once upon a time”? What does “scheming like a criminal” have to do with owning your power? And how can you use her approach to write and speak with precision, impact, and purpose? This week on Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni take on “Mastermind,” one of Taylor’s most lyrically complex and strategically structured songs, but this episode isn’t just about decoding a song. It’s about becoming the author of your own story.
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