Advertise on podcast: Swiftie Over 50

What happens when Taylor Swift's music becomes the soundtrack to your own life? This week on Swiftie Over 50, Neil Aaron welcomes actor and storyteller Cyrus Deboo, whose one-man show was inspired in part by Taylor Swift and the Eras Tour. Cyrus shares how Taylor's music helped him tell his deeply personal story of growing up queer in an Indian and Persian immigrant family, navigating expectations, and ultimately finding self-acceptance. We also dive into our love for The Tortured Poets Department, why certain Taylor songs reveal themselves when we need them most, the emotional power of "Daylight," and how Taylor's fearless storytelling inspires us to turn our own experiences into art. Plus, we talk about Swiftie dance parties, the magic of Taylor's lyrics, and why the Swiftie community is unlike any other. Follow Cyrus on Instagram and TikTok: @thecyrusdeboo Swiftie Over 50 is an independent fan podcast and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Taylor Swift or her representatives.

What happens when a former international cocaine trafficker discovers Taylor Swift? This week on Swiftie Over 50, Neil welcomes singer-songwriter Cissie Cobb, whose unbelievable life story inspired the seven-part podcast La Gata, produced by The Ringer. From the dangerous, glamorous world of drug trafficking in the 1970s and '80s to writing music for television, Cissie has lived more than a few eras of her own. But this time, she's entering her Taylor Swift era! In the debut of our new Swiftie Sommelier segment, returning guest Darcy Sawatzki pairs three of Cissie's favorite songs with Taylor Swift tracks. Cissie shares her reactions as a songwriter, discovering Taylor's emotional storytelling, vulnerability, and powerful lyrics. Plus, Neil and Cissie get personal about love, heartbreak, relationships, and how music helps us heal. Can a lifelong rock and soul fan become a Swiftie? You'll have to listen to find out! Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast.

It's a Swiftie podcast crossover! This week, I'm joined by Sara, co-host of Blank Plate, the Taylor Swift podcast for Swifties with an appetite! Sara shares how Taylor's Red album turned her into a lifelong Swiftie, the unexpected friendship that led to Blank Plate, and why Taylor's songwriting connects with us in such deeply personal ways. But our conversation takes a much more emotional turn as Sara opens up about her experience with premature menopause, infertility, and IVF—and how songs like "right where you left me" and "All Too Well" have taken on entirely new meanings in her life. We also explore the magic of the Eras Tour, the power of Swiftie friendships, and how the same Taylor Swift song can tell completely different stories depending on who's listening. It's a conversation filled with laughter, vulnerability, and the kind of connection that makes this community so special. 🎧 Find Sara and Laura on Blank Plate, available wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow @blankplatepod on Instagram and TikTok. 💖 Follow and subscribe to Swiftie Over 50 for more conversations celebrating Taylor Swift, her music, and the fans who love her. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift or her team.

Carnie Wilson is back for Part 2 of Swiftie Over 50, and this conversation takes us somewhere truly special. ❤️ We dive into the extraordinary power of music to connect us with the people we love, the memories we carry, and the family relationships that shape our lives. Carnie shares beautiful stories about her father, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, including what it was like recording together and how music helped them reconnect. In one of my favorite moments, we discover that we both used Elton John's “Your Song” to connect with our fathers. Neither of us knew we shared that experience! We also talk about: ✨ The magic of recording with Wilson Phillips and the incredible vocal arrangements behind “Good Vibrations” ✨ Behind-the-scenes stories about Michael Jackson and legendary producer Glenn Ballard ✨ The pressure of songwriting and the joy of creating music ✨ Our grandmothers, butterflies, and the beautiful connection to Taylor Swift's “marjorie” ✨ How music carries memories, emotions, and energy across generations ✨ Carnie's hilarious and heartfelt predictions about Taylor Swift's future! From Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to Elton John and Taylor Swift, this episode is a celebration of music, family, creativity, and the connections that stay with us forever. And yes, there are plenty of laughs along the way! 🎧 If you haven't heard Part 1 of my conversation with Carnie, be sure to listen to that episode too. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Taylor Swift or her team.

This week on Swiftie Over 50, I’m joined by the incredible Carnie Wilson — Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, television personality, author, and founding member of Wilson Phillips. In Part 1 of our conversation, Carnie shares why Taylor Swift’s “seven” completely blew her away, and we dive deep into songwriting, vocal harmonies, and the music that shaped both of us. Carnie also gets incredibly candid about growing up in music, creating the signature Wilson Phillips sound, working with legendary producer Glenn Ballard, and what it was really like being a young woman in the music industry in the early ’90s — including the pressure surrounding her body, image, and weight. We also get some amazing behind-the-scenes Wilson Phillips stories, from recording “Hold On” to the making of “You Won’t See Me Cry” and why Carnie never felt that video truly represented the group. It’s music history, Taylor talk, Gen X nostalgia, and a very honest conversation about learning to trust your own voice. And this is only Part 1.

Taylor dropped new music and a new video, so there was really only one thing to do: call Shira. Shira from Shira’s Version is back, and we’re going deep on Patient Zero, Cleveland, Pink Clouding and Babylon — what we love, what we don’t, the lyrics that jumped out at us, and the theories these songs have already inspired. We break down the powerful imagery in the Patient Zero video, talk about the recovery meaning behind “pink clouding,” debate Cleveland (Shira LOVES it; Neil has thoughts 😂), uncover some fascinating connections between Babylon and Taylor’s earlier work, and ask whether these four songs really belong to the Showgirl era at all. Then the clowning begins. Is the Encore a red herring? Is Reputation (Taylor’s Version) coming after all? Could Eras 3.0 actually happen? Is Taylor heading back toward country? And is all of this leading us straight into TS13? There is A LOT to unpack. Welcome back, Shira. Let’s get into it.

The Swiftie meets the Songwriter! 🎙️🎶 Angela McDow of The Swiftie and the Scholar is back for Part 2 — and this time, we’re going deep into one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs: “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys.” Angela brings the Swiftie perspective, I bring my perspective as a songwriter, and together we go line-by-line through the lyrics, metaphors and absolutely wild song structure. We unpack the army doll, the plastic smile, puzzle pieces in the dark, sandcastles, being put back on the shelf, all the Kens — and, of course, the heartbreaking idea at the center of it all: why would someone destroy the thing they love most? I also share a personal experience that completely changed the way I hear the title of this song, plus how Taylor’s unconventional songwriting gave me permission to break some of the “rules” in my own music. If you’re the kind of Swiftie who can spend an hour obsessing over a single Taylor lyric, this episode is for you. 🫶🏻 🎧 And if you haven’t heard Part 1, go back and listen to my full conversation with Angela about Taylor, fandom, lore, and the story behind The Swiftie and the Scholar. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Taylor Swift or her team.

What happens when a lifelong Swiftie teams up with a retired English professor to analyze Taylor Swift’s songs as literature? This week, I’m joined by Angela McDow, co-host and co-creator of The Swiftie and the Scholar! Angela shares how she discovered Taylor through “Tim McGraw” on MySpace back in 2006, how the idea for her podcast with her uncle Dr. Jerry Coats was born, and how that passion project eventually became her full-time career.  We also get into Taylor’s incredible songwriting, the difference between analyzing the work and getting caught up in the lore, what happens when Swifties come for you online, and why Taylor’s music can somehow speak to a teenager and someone over 50 at the exact same time.  And we’re just getting started… In Part 2, Angela and I go line-by-line through “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” from a Swiftie + songwriter perspective. 🎶 🎙️ Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast celebrating Taylor Swift, her music, and the community that loves her.

What happens when Swiftie intuition meets serious pattern recognition? Neil sits down with Shira of Shira’s Version for a deep dive into the theories, Easter eggs, clues, and wild possibilities that make being a Swiftie so much fun. Shira shares how she went from quietly following Taylor online to building a community of tens of thousands — and what it was like to suddenly find herself quoted in USA Today after calling out the misleading hype surrounding Taylor’s recent radio appearances. Then the clowning begins. 🤡 Is Reputation (Taylor’s Version) still coming? What are Taylor’s “shadow albums”? Was The Tortured Poets Department part of the original plan — or a detour? Is the Eras era actually over? And could TS13 be next? They also get into intuition, manifestation, online hate, Taylor’s humanity, the emotional power of her songwriting, and why this fandom gives us so much more to talk about than just the music. Come for the theories. Stay for the rabbit holes. 🎙️ Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast celebrating Taylor Swift, her music, and the community around it — because there is no age limit on being a Swiftie.

What was it really like to be a fan in Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” music video? Cassy Simmons tells the incredible story of how a mysterious “exclusive fan club opportunity” turned into a secret audition, a code-named project, meeting (and hugging!) Taylor Swift—and hearing “Shake It Off” months before the rest of the world. Cassy takes us behind the scenes of the video shoot, shares what Taylor was like in person, and reveals what it felt like hearing Taylor’s huge pop crossover for the very first time…with Taylor watching their reactions. We also talk Eras Tour adventures, TTPD, underrated Taylor songs, and why for so many Swifties, it’s not just about the bops—it’s about the songwriting. 🎧 Follow Swiftie Over 50 wherever you listen to podcasts. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or TAS Rights Management.

What makes Taylor Swift different from the pop icons who came before her—and how has she managed to keep evolving, innovating and bringing new fans along with her nearly two decades into her career? This week, Neil sits down with James Rodriguez, host and creator of The Original Doll Podcast, artist archivist, pop music expert and unabashed Swiftie. James has spent more than 400 episodes going beyond the hits to uncover the stories behind the music, talking with artists, songwriters, producers and other creatives who helped create the songs we know and love. Neil and James dive deep into Taylor’s songwriting and musicianship, why folklore became an entry point for so many older Swifties, the incredible diversity of the Swiftie community, and Taylor’s place in a lineage of powerful female artists including Madonna, Janet Jackson and the women of Lilith Fair. They also geek out over The Tortured Poets Department, “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” “The Black Dog,” The Life of a Showgirl, and the tiny musical and lyrical choices that can make a Taylor Swift song hit so hard. And James explains what an artist archivist actually does—and why preserving the stories of the songwriters, producers, engineers, background singers and other creatives behind our favorite music matters. Whether you've been a Swiftie from the beginning or are still wondering what all the fuss is about, this conversation may give you a whole new way to listen. 🎧 Swiftie Over 50 — celebrating every era of midlife magic, real stories and our fabulous community, all while screaming the lyrics to “the 1.” Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation or TAS Rights Management.

What happens when you stop being “too cool” for Taylor Swift and finally let yourself fall all the way in? Neil sits down with Darcy Sawatzki, a communications and behavior change expert and proud later-in-life Swiftie, for a deep dive into what makes Taylor’s songwriting so powerful — and why it can hit even harder as we get older. They talk about Taylor’s incredible ability to make every word heard, the universality hidden inside deeply personal songs, the stories and cinematic worlds she creates, and why songs about grief, injustice, love and reinvention can take on entirely new meanings through our own life experiences. Darcy also gets into the culture surrounding Taylor: the joy and generosity of the Swiftie community, the misogyny that can shape how people dismiss female artists, ageism in the music industry, and what happens when we finally reach the glorious “I don’t give a f*ck” era of life. Plus: Swifties as earnest Deadheads, becoming a “Swiftie sommelier” for the skeptics in your life, my tears ricochet, Bigger Than the Whole Sky, Midnights, Taylor’s diction superpower, and a lot more. Because sometimes growing up means realizing you’re allowed to simply love what you love. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or TAS Rights Management.

Writer-director Roger Kumble — the filmmaker behind Cruel Intentions, The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends, After We Collided, and the hit Prime Video film Love Me, Love Me — joins Neil for a conversation about Taylor Swift, filmmaking, fandom, and a career spent working with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Roger shares why “…Ready for It?” is one of his favorite Taylor songs, what it was like seeing both the Reputation and Eras tours, and why he considers Taylor one of the greatest artists working today. They dive into her songwriting, her evolution as a director, her incredible work ethic, and her ability to connect with fans across generations. Roger also takes us behind the scenes of his own career — including the story of that iconic Cruel Intentions kiss, working with Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, and Ryan Reynolds early in their careers, adapting beloved books for passionate fanbases, and directing Love Me, Love Me. Plus, Roger talks about dealing with online criticism, nurturing young talent, what decades in Hollywood have taught him about staying power — and why he thinks the sky’s the limit for Taylor Swift. 🎧 Follow Swiftie Over 50 so you never miss a new episode. 💬 Follow us on social media for clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and more Swiftie conversations. Swiftie Over 50 is an unofficial fan podcast and is not affiliated with Taylor Swift, Taylor Nation, or their representatives.

Actor, writer, and comedian John Ross Bowie (The Big Bang Theory, Speechless, and the new HBO Max series Stuart Fails to Save the Universe) joins Neil Aaron for a funny, thoughtful conversation about life as a Swiftie over 50. John shares how his kids first introduced him to Taylor's music, why Shake It Off is one of the greatest pop songs of the century, and what makes Taylor's songwriting so timeless. Along the way, the conversation explores creativity, misogyny in pop culture, the surprising longevity of Taylor's career, and why great artists are never afraid to take big creative swings. Plus, John shares behind-the-scenes stories from The Big Bang Theory, how Barry Kripke's unforgettable voice was created, what it's like returning to that universe in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and why he believes Taylor's next musical era may be her most stripped-down yet. Whether you're a lifelong Swiftie, a sitcom fan, or simply love hearing smart, funny people talk about music and creativity, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

In Episode 2 of Swiftie Over 50, Neil Aaron sits down with entrepreneur, television personality, and wellness advocate Eden Sassoon for a heartfelt conversation about reinvention, resilience, and the unexpected ways Taylor Swift's music brings people together. From embracing aging and finding authenticity to recovery, friendship, and the power of vulnerability, Neil and Eden explore why Taylor's songwriting resonates so deeply—not just because of the music, but because it gives voice to the experiences that connect us all. Whether you're a lifelong Swiftie, a casual fan, or simply someone navigating life's next chapter, this episode is a reminder that it's never too late to become more fully yourself. In this episode: Why Taylor Swift's music continues to evolve alongside her fans The healing power of storytelling and songwriting Embracing aging with confidence and gratitude Recovery, acceptance, and letting go of what we can't control What makes the Swiftie community such a unique and welcoming space Friendship, authenticity, and finding connection through music If you've ever found yourself in a Taylor lyric—or discovered that the best chapters of life can happen after 50—this conversation is for you.