Blank Plate: A Podcast for Swifties with an Appetite

Welcome to the second installment of our Swiftie Sessions series, with our friend Kelley! We chat about her sun, moon and rising albums, her love for the Lover album, her beef with the song “Timeless,” plus a lot of chatter about Showgirl and the Eras Tour. Of course we get into her Swiftie origin story as well, and she even recommends a Taylor Swift playlist for getting your child to sleep. Enjoy!
Chapters
(0:00) intro
(4:40) Kelley’s Swiftie origin story
(8:24) sun, moon and rising albums
(17:04) honest thoughts on Showgirl
(22:03) favorite album
(35:27) favorite songs
(40:50) Kelley’s beef with “Timeless”
(46:31) songs that hit a personal note
(51:14) Swiftie hot takes
(52:32) underrated songs
(55:12) adding to the Eras Tour set list
(59:10) 10-minute versions
(1:00:43) hopes for TS13
(1:03:36) other artists to enjoy
(1:09:11) goodbye + signing off
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Links Referenced
“The Taylor Swift Method” sleep playlist
“taylor swift instrumental for studying” playlist
Please 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]
leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831
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YouTube
Instagram
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You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:
• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram
Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

Welcome to the first installment of our new series titled “Swiftie Sessions,” where we chat with other Swifties to hear about what brought them to the fandom and what Swift-related things resonate with them most. First up is Sara’s friend Stef, who is a newer Swiftie. They chat about Stef’s Swiftie origin story, her favorite songs and albums, the importance of YOYOK, honest thoughts on The Life of a Showgirl, misconceptions about Taylor, some of Stef’s favorite lyrics from “peace,” hopes for TS13 and some other fun stuff. We hope you enjoy these conversations as we fill in some time while Laura’s on maternity leave from the podcast.
Chapters
(0:00) Intro and welcome
(6:11) Stef’s Swiftie origin story
(23:36) Stef’s favorite album and songs, etc.
(27:55) The song uniquely personal to Stef
(31:04) Honest thoughts about Showgirl
(36:12) Misconceptions about Taylor
(45:03) An underrated Taylor song to defend
(48:47) Adding to the Eras Tour setlist
(49:38) Stef’s “10-minute version” request
(50:38) Zooming in on “peace”
(59:56) Hopes for TS13
(1:05:14) An artist recommendation
(1:09:39) 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 Referenced
Sara’s food blog
“Swiftle” song-guessing game
“Wildest Dreams” at the Grammy Museum
Maggie Antone on Spotify
Please 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]
leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831
Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok
You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:
• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram
Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

For the first episode of Laura’s maternity leave we are “unlocking” the “champagne problems” episode from our Patreon Vault. If you’d like more content like this from Taylor’s back catalogue, we’d love to have you join us over on Patreon for a monthly bonus episode. If you’d like to give Laura some love, you can leave her a sweet comment on her Instagram post announcing the birth of her son, Theo. We hope you enjoy!
Summary
We have an evermore track for you today, and it’s a doozy: champagne problems!! A fan favorite. We get deep into the lore of this song, chatting about Taylor singing this with Aaron Dessner while wearing a wedding dress, and go on a tangent about Gilmore Girls since some fans believe this song is inspired by Rory and Logan’s story. There are tie-ins to I Look in People’s Windows, Sara learns what “splashed out” means, we plan out what the music video should look and feel like, and just generally appreciate the incredible emotional storytelling and world-building of this song. Enjoy!
Chapters
(0:00) intro by Sara
(2:58) beginning of Patreon episode
(4:58) introducing song
(8:49) personal associations
(15:07) folk’lore’ of the song
(31:59) verse 1: the night train, ILIPW tie-ins
(36:11) chorus 1: dancing metaphors, crestfallen on the landing and familial ties
(45:03) verse 2: “splashing out” on the bottle
(49:45) chorus 2: hometown skeptics and forgotten speeches
(54:47) bridge: poetry, the group of friends, which word?! and she’s f*cked in the head
(1:10:25) chorus 3 and outro: all the champagne problems
(1:13:32) music theory analysis
(1:16:06) favorite lyrics and ratings
(1:17:32) this song as a recipe
(1:20:14) 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 Referenced
Taylor's video of her singing champagne problems in a wedding dress
Death in the Afternoon cocktail
Elderflower 75 cocktail
Please 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]
leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831
Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok
You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:
• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram
Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

Update since recording: Laura had her son on March 20, 2026. She and the baby are both doing well! More details to come when Laura returns to the podcast after her maternity leave.
Can you believe that Sara and Laura have reached the final track of the album?! It seems like just yesterday Taylor released The Life Of A Showgirl, and today the ladies are analyzing its final title track. Sabrina and Taylor take us on a fictional ride through the glamorous and brutal world of show business, and we are here for the musical theater vibes. Be sure to tune in to hear about their plans for the pod while Laura is on maternity leave!
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(00:22) Maternity Leave and Podcast Plans
(01:41) What's On Our Plates
(15:00) Taylor Updates
(21:58) Introducing "The Life Of A Showgirl"
(25:34) Personal Associations with the Song
(29:42) The Folk"lore" Of The Song
(40:15) Verse 1: Introducing Our Main Character, Classic Female Star, Nods To Fame's Cycle Of Tearing Women Down
(46:43) Pre-Chorus 1: Theater Connections, Warnings
(53:18) Chorus 1: The Price Of Fame & Industry Realities, Imagining Young Taylor
(59:11) Verse 2 & Pre-Chorus 2: Sabrina's Story, Escapism
(01:05:10) Bridge: Musical Theater Ties/ Greatest Showman Vibes, More Poetry Ties, The Bruises and Lessons Learned From Stardom
(01:13:09) Chorus 3: Cheeky Attitudes, Glitz and Glamour, Additions From The Eras Tour
(01:20:13) Music Theory Analysis: Musical Theater Associations
(01:21:38) Favorite Lyrics & Ratings
(01:23:18) This Song As A Recipe
(01:24:42) Album Ranking Comparisons
(01:30:56) 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 Referenced
Pink Champagne Cake Recipe
Please 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]
leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831
Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok
You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:
• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram
Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza

Sara and Laura are obsessed with today’s sweetie pie song, “Honey,” from The Life Of A Showgirl. After sharing some maternity leave updates for the podcast (and Sara’s new obsession with Wuthering Heights!), the gals get into a short, sweet, and straightforward analysis of the song. Could this be the most Lover-coded song in Taylor’s recent discography? This uncomplicated, confident track has the girls giggling and kicking their feet… especially knowing that Taylor’s renewed sense of understanding love is so clear!
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(04:02) What's On Our Plates
(15:24) Taylor Updates
(18:57) Analysis of 'Honey' from Life of a Showgirl
(22:18) Our Personal Associations With The Song
(23:42) Folk"lore" of the Song
(29:15) Intro: Right To The Point, Interesting Structure Of the Song
(31:09) Chorus 1: Using Kind Words For Unkind Reasons, Snarls, Bathroom Trauma
(36:19) Post-Chorus 1: "Blues" Given New Meaning
(39:50) Verse 1: Seasonal Dreaminess, Early Stages of A Relationship, A Question...? Reference
(46:13) Verse 2: Naughty References, Wanting To See Him Everywhere, Public Relationship
(49:34) Bridge: A Callback To Past Exes, "Lovely" As Passive Aggressive
(53:45) Chorus 3: Fun Backing Vocals
(54:47) Music Theory Analysis: Odd Structure Of The Song Symbolizes Confidence, Fun Instrumentation
(57:58) Favorite Lyrics & Ratings
(01:03:11) This Song As A Recipe
(01:05:37) 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 Referenced
Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe
Please 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]
leave a voicemail at (717) 382-831
Patreon (get bonus episodes and first dibs on episode ideas)
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok
You can also follow Sara and Laura individually:
• Laura: Instagram and Tiktok
• Sara: Instagram
Listen to our previous podcast: Passports & Pizza