13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast

The Life of a Showgirl Prelude: The Prologue

Before we rank the songs. Before we dissect lyrics. Before we take a peek behind the curtain…  We’re starting where Taylor Swift wanted us to start: the prologue. In this episode of 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast, we gather around the opening poetry of The Life of a Showgirl—the interconnected prologues released across the album’s five variants—and discuss the meaning behind them. These poems aren’t just bonus content. They’re a thesis statement. A behind-the-curtain look at what it means to live, love, perform, endure, and choose this life again and again. We break down each prologue piece by piece, the imagery, the metaphors, and the emotional weight behind lines that pull back the glitter to reveal the cost of show business. This episode unpacks how Taylor frames the entire album before a single song even plays. We discuss:• How the five variant poems form one cohesive story• The physical, emotional, and psychological toll of life onstage• The crowd as comfort and threat• The quiet joy and grounding love woven into the chaos• What these poems tell us about where Taylor was—and who she is now This episode is intentionally the foundation for everything to come. It’s the lens through which the rest of The Life of a Showgirl should be heard. If you’ve ever skipped the prologue, this is your sign not to. And if you’ve read it before, trust us—you haven’t heard it like this. Pull up a chair.Read between the lines.The curtain is officially up.  The Life of a Showgirl era begins here. This is a paid advertisement from BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at http://BetterHelp.com/TAYLORSWIFTFAN.  Stay Connected with 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast Join the conversation in our exclusive  Lobster Lounge: station.page/13  Contact the Podcast  Voicemail: (689) 214-1313  Email: the13podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @the13podcast  TikTok: @the13podcast  Twitter/X: @the13TSpodcast  YouTube: 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast  Follow the Hosts  Ana – @anaszabo13  Lacey – @laceygee13  Amy – @amysnichols  Nick – @heynickadams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Initial Rankings — The Life of a Showgirl

It’s time for the 13 Podcast to officially enter into The Life of a Showgirl era! Before we deep-dive into lyrics, theories, Easter eggs, and emotional devastation, we’re doing what we always do first: initial song rankings. In this kickoff episode for The Life of a Showgirl, we’re sharing our initial song rankings—the raw, unfiltered reactions that come after listening to a new Taylor Swift album on repeat and trusting your gut in this moment, because our rankings constantly change.  We break down where each track landed right now, what surprised us most on first listen, which songs instantly felt like standouts, and which ones we know are quietly waiting to grow into obsessions. Some rankings were obvious. Others shocked even us. And yes—this is the episode we’ll absolutely look back on later and say, “How did we ever rank it THAT low?” This episode sets the foundation for everything to come this album cycle:• how the album feels as a complete body of work• early favorites vs. slow burns• production moments that grabbed us immediately• emotional highs, unexpected turns, and first-impression hot takes• predictions for which songs will age into fan favorites If you’re listening along and ranking the album yourself, this episode is your invitation to pause, reflect, and compare notes—because initial rankings are a time capsule. They capture who you are, where you are, and how the music meets you in that exact moment. Whether you agree with us completely or are already yelling at your speaker, this is where the Showgirl era officially begins.  Hit play, lock in your rankings, and get ready—we’re just getting started. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY LIQUID IV Go to https://www.liquidiv.com and get 20% off your first order with code TAYLORSWIFTFAN at checkout.  Stay Connected with 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast Join the conversation in our exclusive  Lobster Lounge: station.page/13  Contact the Podcast  Voicemail: (689) 214-1313  Email: the13podcast@gmail.com  Instagram: @the13podcast  TikTok: @the13podcast  Twitter/X: @the13TSpodcast  YouTube: 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast  Follow the Hosts  Ana – @anaszabo13  Lacey – @laceygee13  Amy – @amysnichols  Nick – @heynickadams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 Bingo Board Recap

This is a paid advertisement from BetterHelp. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at http://BetterHelp.com/TAYLORSWIFTFAN.  Stay Connected with 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast Join the conversation in our exclusive  Lobster Lounge: ⁠ station.page/13⁠  Contact the Podcast  Voicemail: (689) 214-1313  Email: ⁠the13podcast@gmail.com⁠  Instagram:⁠ @the13podcast⁠  TikTok:⁠ @the13podcast⁠  Twitter/X:⁠ @the13TSpodcast⁠  YouTube:⁠ 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast⁠  Follow the Hosts  Ana –⁠ @anaszabo13⁠  Lacey –⁠ @laceygee13⁠  Amy –⁠ @amysnichols⁠  Nick –⁠ @heynickadams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ana's Chiefs Game Recap!

What happens when Swiftie dreams collide with the NFL spotlight? In this episode of 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast, Ana shares the surreal, whirlwind experience of attending a Kansas City Chiefs game with seats directly in front of Travis Kelce’s suite—and yes, Taylor Swift was there. From a last-minute invite from a listener to flying in for less than 24 hours, Ana breaks down the full timeline of how this bucket-list moment came together. The hosts dive into the now-iconic crossover of Swifties and Chiefs Kingdom, what it’s like to experience Arrowhead Stadium for the first time, and the undeniable energy shift when Taylor arrives. You’ll hear: What it’s really like sitting just feet away from Taylor Swift at an NFL game How Chiefs fans, stadium security, and the Kelce family handled the chaos A candid look at fame, privacy, and why respecting Taylor’s space matters Emotional reflections on Taylor’s lyrics about peace, visibility, and public life Tailgating in Kansas City, fan reactions (good and bad), and a once-in-a-lifetime souvenir from Papa Swift This episode offers a rare, human perspective on celebrity culture, fandom, and what it means to witness Taylor Swift simply trying to enjoy a football game while the world watches. Whether you’re a lifelong Swiftie, a new Chiefs fan, or fascinated by the Taylor-Travis era, this conversation is heartfelt, eye-opening, and unforgettable. Subscribe, leave a review, and join us as we close out the year with stories only Swifties could tell. 💌 Stay Connected with 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast Join the conversation in our exclusive Lobster Lounge: 👉 station.page/13 📲 Contact the Podcast 🎤 Voicemail: (689) 214-1313 📧 Email: the13podcast@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @the13podcast 🎶 TikTok: @the13podcast 🐦 Twitter/X: @the13TSpodcast ▶️ YouTube: 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast 👯 Follow the Hosts ✨ Ana – @anaszabo13 ✨ Lacey – @laceygee13 ✨ Amy – @amysnichols ✨ Nick – @heynickadams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book Plot Song Challenge!

Stay Connected with 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast Join the conversation in our exclusive  Lobster Lounge: ⁠⁠⁠ station.page/13⁠⁠⁠  Contact the Podcast  Voicemail: (689) 214-1313  Email: ⁠⁠⁠the13podcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠  Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ @the13podcast⁠⁠⁠  TikTok:⁠⁠⁠ @the13podcast⁠⁠⁠  Twitter/X:⁠⁠⁠ @the13TSpodcast⁠⁠⁠  YouTube:⁠⁠⁠ 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast⁠⁠⁠  Follow the Hosts  Ana –⁠⁠⁠ @anaszabo13⁠⁠⁠  Lacey –⁠⁠⁠ @laceygee13⁠⁠⁠  Amy –⁠⁠⁠ @amysnichols⁠⁠⁠  Nick –⁠⁠⁠ @heynickadams⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices