Blank Plate: A Podcast for Swifties with an Appetite

• The Tortured Poets Department

  There would not be TTPD without its tongue-in-cheek title track! In today’s episode, Laura and Sara unpack the lyrics of “The Tortured Poets Department” and analyze how the song lays the groundwork for listeners to understand the gravity of Taylor’s “cyclone” relationship with her fellow tortured poet. Taylor’s self-awareness and sense of humor shines in this one! Who else is gonna TROLL you like Taylor?! P.S…. Stay tuned at the end of this episode, because the ladies are sharing a snippet of their newest Patreon episode unpacking the lyrics of “Maroon”! Chapters(00:00) Intro & What’s On Our Plates(09:07) Taylor Updates(16:53) TTPD Introduction(22:00) Our Initial Impressions(25:02) The Folklore Of TTPD (34:10) Verse 1: Matty's Old Interviews On Typewriters, Taylor's Sense Of Humor, Familiarity(41:36) Chorus 1: Dylan Thomas & Patti Smith, "Just Kids" References To Youth & Nostalgia(46:48) Verse 2: "Chocolate" & Charlie Puth, Tattooed Golden Retriever, Similar Dread, Cyclone As Chaos, Were Taylor & Matty Coding Each Other Into Their Songs(58:45) Chorus 2: Trolling, Tongue in Cheek Playfulness(01:02:03) The Diabolical Bridge: Unpacking The Role Of Mutual Friends, "Mutual Manic Phase," Wedding Rings & How This Song Lays The Groundwork For The Rest of TTPD(01:13:21) Chorus 3 & Outro, Production Notes & Noting The Lack Of Poetic Lyricism (01:19:21) This Song As A Recipe & Our Ratings(01:23:38) Signing Off & Patreon SnippetSUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedTaylor Swift’s Ex Matty Healy Talks His Love of Typewriters in Resurfaced Clip After 'Tortured Poets' ReleaseTaylor Swift’s Ex Matty Healy Praised Charlie Puth in Resurfaced Tweet From 2018Lucy Dacus Confirms Taylor Swift’s ‘Tortured Poets Department’ Lyric Is About Her: ‘She Texted Me and Asked for My Approval’Twix Bar RecipePlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email [email protected] a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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• Emergency Pod: Taylor Now Owns All Her Music!

  On Friday, May 30th, 2025, Taylor announced to the world that she FINALLY owns all her old masters! In today’s “emergency pod,” Laura and Sara unpack just how special and important this news is, starting with a great deep dive into the history behind Taylor’s journey with Big Machine, departing ways with Scott Borchetta, Scooter’s purchase and the betrayal that is/was to her, and sooooo much more. And of course, our girls love to clown, so you can expect a nice little clown session about some easter eggs she’s hidden in her letter to her fans! Chapters(00:00) Introduction(01:56) Personal Reactions to the Announcement(08:47) The Impact of Taylor's Music Ownership(10:59) Taylor's Music Chart Numbers(15:20) The Journey to Taylor Regaining Her Masters(50:02) Taylor's Triumph: Owning Her Masters Again(54:44) Taylor's Announcement Letter(59:04) The Impact of the Eras Tour(01:09:08) The Future of Rep TV & Debut(01:27:03) The Potential for a Documentary & Some Clowning(01:34:08) This Announcement As A Recipe & Signing Off!SUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedTaylor’s LetterThere's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift Leaves Big Machine, Signs New Deal With Universal Music GroupTaylor Swift’s Tumblr postBig Machine’s Scott Borchetta Fires Back at Taylor Swift, Reveals Deal MemosTaylor Swift ‘Finally’ Owns Her Masters. The Sale Happened ‘in Spite of Scooter Braun, Not Because of Him’: SourceTaylor Swift & Scooter Braun’s Feud: A TimelineSally’s Baking Addiction Funfetti CakePlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email [email protected] a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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• Our Taylor “Roman Empires”

  (RECORDED BEFORE TAYLOR’S 5/30 ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HER BUYING BACK HER MASTERS!) What’s an unsolved Taylor Swift mystery that keeps you up at night?! Sara and Laura certainly have a longggggg list… and they’ll unpack them all in this episode! From NiceBoy Ed, Karma: The Lost Album, Midnights Mayhem upside down phones, 1989 Double Album, “The Man” wall, and so much more, the ladies will sift through each unanswered theory and attempt to unpack all of the Easter Eggs Taylor has left behind! Chapters(00:00) Introduction & What's On Our Plates(13:28) Taylor Updates (recorded before Taylor’s 5/30 announcement!)(21:48) Taylor Swift's Easter Eggs and Numerology(31:06) Karma: The Lost Album Theory(41:24) "The Man" Wall(47:38) 1989 Double Album(50:53) Karma Coffee Cup / Release Restructuring Thanks To TTPD(54:43) The Mystery of 'Slut' Featuring The 1975(59:52) Midnights Mayhem: Upside Down Phone & Unraveling the Aesthetic Choices(01:04:41) Costume Mysteries from The Eras Tour(01:08:40) Cardiff Picture(01:09:39) The Reputation Eye Theory(01:12:59) The Enigma of Nice Boy Ed(01:18:05) The Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift Fallout(01:34:15) The Bitter-Sweet Reality of Taylor's Masters(01:39:54) Taylor's Roman Empires As Recipes & Signing Off!SUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedTaylor Naming ReputationZayn Malik interview: Taylor travels by suitcaseLover Bodysuit Behind The ScenesJack Leopards & The Dolphin ClubPlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email [email protected] a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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• So High School

  Truth, dare, spin… records? Taylor’s most rom-com-y song to date has Sara and Laura kicking their feet and giggling! The truth is, Taylor has never released a song quite this honestly lovestruck, and the girls are OBSESSED. This episode has Sara and Laura digging into Taylor’s use of high school as a grander metaphor, as well as a deep dive into Taylor’s unconventional high school experience. Travis Kelce / Tayvis fans… you’re going to love this one!Chapters(00:00) Intro & What's On Our Plates(15:04) Taylor Swift Updates: Easter Eggs - AMA's, Karma, Public Outing In Philly(25:14) Exploring 'So High School' - Song Overview(27:25) Our Personal Associations with 'So High School'(30:46) Folklore Of The Song: High School Crush, Travis Kelce, Taylor's Use Of High School As A Bigger Metaphor & Rom-Com Vibes(53:38) Intro: High School Crushes(55:29) Chorus 1: Older, Wiser, Bittersweet 16, Travis's Smile, High School Questions(01:01:12) Post Chorus 1: American Pie / Early 2000's Culture, All-American Relationship, Playful & Spicy Interactions(01:07:09) Verse 1: High School Games, Backseat Shenanigans(01:13:22) Bridge: Risky High School Games, Grand Theft Auto, Naughty Flirtation(01:22:35) Verse 2: Nods to Travis(01:26:10) Outro: Spicy "Yeahs"(01:28:32) Final Thoughts: We Have Never Gotten a Song Like This From Taylor Before(01:32:43) Our Favorite Lyrics and Ratings(01:34:07) This Song As A Recipe(01:36:45) We Have a Patreon! & Signing Off!SUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedTaylor Swift Sings About Wanting to Marry Travis Kelce in ‘So High School’Travis Kelce Plays 'Kiss, Marry, Kill' With Taylor SwiftTravis Kelce Is Going for ItRecipe: Cherry-Vanilla Soda SyrupRecipe: Easy Funnel CakePlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email [email protected] a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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• Clara Bow

  You… look… like… someone who’s not mentally prepared for this episode! Join Laura and Sara as they share a heartbreaking analysis of TTPD’s (technical) last track - “Clara Bow”! In this episode, Laura and Sara discuss how this song is one that ONLY could be written by Miss Swift. Her deep reflections on the music industry, femininity, hunger for fame and the repercussions of success hit deep. The girls call this “Nothing New” 2.0 and for good reason!Chapters(00:00) Intro & What's On Our Plates(07:21) Taylor News & Updates(17:11) Analyzing 'Clara Bow' and Its Significance(19:58) Folklore Of The Song: The Music Industry Machine, Illusion of Fame, Weight of Celebrity(31:33) Verse 1: The Original "It Girl," Earnest Hopes, "The Lucky One"(45:24) Chorus 1: "The Suits" Dialogue, The Cost of Fame(48:06) Verse 2: Stevie Nicks & Taylor's Friendship, Other Stevie Nicks Synchronicities, "Half Moonshine, Full Eclipse"(58:11) Chorus 2: Complexities of Success, The Crown Is Stained With...?(01:01:48) Bridge: No Quotation Marks, The Monster of Youth and Beauty, "Nothing New" Revisited(01:08:45) Verse 3/Outro: The Cycle of Fame Continues(01:16:01) Our Favorite Lyrics & Rating(01:19:32) This Song As A RecipeSUPPORT US ON PATREON! Show us some love and get monthly bonus episodes and first dibs on upcoming episode ideas. We’d be enchanted to have you join our Swiftie community!Links ReferencedFortune FavorThere's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor SwiftBurnt Honey Cornbread with Brown ButterBittersweet Chocolate CakePlease make sure to subscribe and leave a review. If you’d like to reach out to send in a question or comment, please do so via any of these platforms:email [email protected] a voicemail at (717) 382-831Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)YouTubeInstagramTikTokYou can also follow Sara and Laura individually:• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok• Sara: InstagramListen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

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