Decoding Taylor Swift: A Storytelling Revolution

If you want to fully decode Taylor’s new album dropping October 3, you’ll need to understand the 2 types of irony Taylor, Max Martin, and Shellback use in songs like “Shake It Off.” That #1 hit seems like a basic bop, but it’s not. Joe and Toni reveal how Taylor and her co-writers convey their true meaning by combining the first kind of irony—"when you mean what you say, but you don't say what you mean”—with the second kind, which is irony of fate, also known as poetic justice or karma. As Swift herself has said, “karma is real.”

A must-see episode that reveals all the pre-release secrets of “The Life of a Showgirl” you won’t hear anywhere else. Plus Toni sings (for the first time!) improvised previews of all 12 tracks. You’ll learn what Taylor and Ophelia have in common, plus everything we know about each song. Then Toni improvs her version of a verse, chorus or bridge for The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, Opalite, Father Figure, Eldest Daughter, Ruin the Friendship, Actually Romantic, Wi$h Li$t, Wood, CANCELLED!, Honey, and The Life of a Showgirl (ft. Sabrina Carpenter). 

In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni reveal the unforgettable reason Taylor is a tortured poet, which she encodes in the title track of The Tortured Poets Department. They take a deep dive into the lyrics, unpacking Swift’s rich use of allusion, irony, and hyperbole. They also break down Taylor’s viral two-hour sit-down on New Heights with Travis and Jason Kelce. But it's the stunning twist in TTPD that is the episode's centerpiece. From Dylan Thomas to Patti Smith to the Chelsea Hotel, Taylor layers cultural references that make her lyrics as cryptic as they are unforgettable. Joe and Toni decode why Taylor calls herself the “chairman” of the Tortured Poets Department, how self-sabotage plays out in her relationships, and what it means when Swift turns her own pain into poetic fuel.

In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni dive headfirst into “Cruel Summer,” one of Taylor’s most beloved songs—and one drenched in hyperbole. They decode the fever dreams, Shakespeare nods, and lyrical exaggerations that make it one of her most powerful storytelling feats. It’s part song breakdown, part storytelling workshop, and 100% Taylor. This episode reveals the secret to making your content go viral amid the Niagara Falls of noise that is the modern attention economy

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.  

It’s the breakup heard ‘round the world and the lyric that won’t leave your head: We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together. But this isn’t just a catchy chorus. It’s a masterclass in how to make words unforgettable. In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni break down the viral storytelling trick behind Taylor’s first #1 pop hit, why Jake Gyllenhaal probably still hears it in his sleep, and how you can use this same trick to make what you write go viral and what you say impossible to forget. And check out IG @Decoding.TaylorSwift

Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” isn’t just a pop masterpiece. It’s a storytelling clinic. In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni dive into the art of antithesis—the rhetorical power of opposites that makes lines like 'Cause darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream unforgettable. From invisible “buts” to Oscar Wilde to the timeless lessons of Martin Luther King Jr., Joe and Toni decode how Swift crafts tension, humor, and memorability in every lyric, and how you can use the same techniques to write, speak, and lead with impact. Whether you’re pitching an idea, giving a speech, or just trying to land the perfect comeback, this episode will help you make your words stick like a Swift chorus.

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. It’s the lyrical hinge between rebellion and regret, delusion and clarity. Joe and Toni take a deep dive into one of Taylor’s most controversial and misunderstood songs, But Daddy I Love You, and decode the true ironic meaning behind the chaos. This episode unpacks the power of that tiny word and what it reveals about the stories she tells, the men she chooses, and the person she’s becoming on the other side of it all.

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.

What if your personal growth—and your power to inspire others—hinged on how well you tell your story? In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni Romm unpack the storytelling power of “Anti-Hero” through the lens of the Hero’s Journey. You'll learn how to position yourself as the protagonist of your own life, why building your narrative is essential for leadership and connection, and what Swift, Star Wars, and even Al Capone have in common when it comes to shaping identity. This conversation will shift how you think about character, transformation, and the stories we all live by.  

What makes something unforgettable? In this episode of Decoding Taylor Swift, Joe and Toni dive into Taylor’s most emotionally gutting and lyrically layered masterpiece. Using “All Too Well” as the anchor, they break down the science and art of memory, why repetition works, and how metaphors make meaning stick. From Homer to The Hunger Games, Scarlet Letters to scarves in drawers, this episode unpacks how Taylor Swift wields poetic tools with surgical precision and how you can too, because being memorable isn’t just a pop superpower. It’s a life skill.  

Welcome to the first episode of Decoding Taylor Swift! In this podcast, you’ll learn the storytelling tools Taylor Swift uses that make HER a modern-day Shakespeare, but can make YOU a better communicator, so you can drive your mission and build your tribe. This podcast will transform how you think about Swift’s songs and give you the life-changing tools to lead, connect, and change the world. Let’s dive into the power of storytelling, foreshadowing, and the hero’s journey.