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Artwork for LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl

LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl with Mara Eller

Mara Eller
Taylor Swift
Honey
The Life Of a Showgirl
Ophelia
Wi$h Li$t
Eldest Daughter
Elizabeth Taylor
Hamlet
Feminism
Suburban Life
Show Business
Concept Album
Luxury
Shakespeare
Literature Analysis
Fleetwood Mac
Cannes Film Festival
Oskar Awards
Music
Pink Floyd

Class is in session!

After 16 years of teaching literature and writing, I’m bringing that same analytical energy to this controversial album. Think of this as AP Lit: Taylor Swift edition.

We’ll unpack TLOAS like a novel—tracing literary techniques, Shakespearean allusions, character arcs, and emotional architecture.

It’s like your favorite college English class, minus the assignments and grade... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes20Founded3 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl

Latest Episodes

For our last episode, I sit down with functional mental health practitioner Kelley Erickson to explore The Life of a Showgirl through the lens of emotional integration, identity, and resistance.

We unpack why this album feels so different, the emoti... more

In this episode, we uncover the secrets hidden in the six poems that fans are calling a prologue for the album. 

From the meticulous preparatory rituals to the unspoken rules that keep a showgirl sane under the gaze of adoring—and sometimes ruthless... more

For our second bonus episode and our first interview, I’m joined by musician and scholar Micah Vandegrift.

Micah and I met in graduate school when we both studying American culture at FSU. He specialized in music culture, specifically local post-pun... more

In this first bonus episode, we step beyond the showgirl’s story to explore the bigger picture of Taylor's reception as an artist. 

I’m sharing an essay I wrote that’s been getting a lot of attention on Substack about why some art—like Taylor Swift’... more

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Recent Guests

Kelley Erickson
A functional mental health practitioner who works with women to recover from childhood trauma.
Episode: 19: Finale — TLOAS is a culmination, not a contradiction (with Kelley Erickson)
Micah Vandegrift
Librarian with interests in music and culture.
Episode: 17: Punk Scholar Meets Showgirl (with Micah Vandegrift)

Host

Mara Eller
Host of a series that applies literary analytical techniques to Taylor Swift's music, enhancing the understanding of emotional architecture and themes in her work.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • Love this!!!

    I love to read and listen to podcasts but I am no writer so I am making myself write this review. I hope to see more!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    desanchez25
    United States23 days ago
  • Love the details! 🙌⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    This show is great! Mara dives deep into TLOASG and looks at the album as a concept album - telling the story of a showgirl’s raise to fame and power. It is so interesting and definitely helped me understand why Taylor Swift said this album had to be these 12 songs in THIS PARTICULAR order. Love the music and love talking about it 😍☺️🙌🩷

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dasdenphie
    Australiaa month ago
  • Unique, educational, and entertaining!

    I love the analysis of these songs in this way… the way I feel our English teacher (Miss Taylor Swift) would be proud of. Much more fulfilling exploring the literary analysis versus the drama model of most other content creators. I also enjoy the short quick episodes that don’t require blocks of time to consume the information. I hope that we get more album/song breakdowns in the future!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Laurisglenna
    United Statesa month ago
  • The best class ever

    Thank you so much for the incredible analysis! I absolutely love every single episode—I can't get enough! I just wish new episodes would drop more quickly. I'm so excited to hear all the theories and opinions. Can't wait!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Macoyombi
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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Some express a desire for more frequent releases due to the engaging nature of the material.
The engaging discussions and relatable content evoke positive reactions, making listeners eager for more episodes.
Listeners appreciate the depth of analysis and the insightful connections between literature and pop music.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#234
India/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

19: Finale — TLOAS is a culmination, not a contradiction (with Kelley Erickson)
Q: How do you think Taylor's albums reflect emotional experiences?
Kelley discusses the different emotional arcs present in Taylor's albums, using Taylor's transition from 'Reputation' to 'The Life of a Showgirl' to illustrate the journey from anger and rage to setting boundaries and integrated emotions.
19: Finale — TLOAS is a culmination, not a contradiction (with Kelley Erickson)
Q: What is your history with Taylor Swift and her music?
Kelley explains that she became a fan around the time of the release of the 'Reputation' album, drawn to the open expression of rage and exploration of identity.
17: Punk Scholar Meets Showgirl (with Micah Vandegrift)
Q: What's your opinion on Taylor Swift and her music?
Micah expresses a great respect for artists generally and appreciates Taylor Swift for her artistry and hard work.
11: “Wi$h Li$t“ — the luxury of being left alone
Q: How do you interpret the idea of fantasy in Wishlist?
It can be seen as both escapism and clarity regarding what truly matters to her.
10: “Actually Romantic” — above the fray or becoming the enemy?
Q: Do you think the showgirl actually feels unbothered by the hate she's encountered?
Despite the brash lyrics, it seems more likely that the song reflects deeper emotional turmoil beneath a confident facade.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl

What is LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on dissecting a specific album, this series analyzes the themes, narratives, and cultural implications of Taylor Swift's work, likening it to a literature class. The host employs literary techniques, drawing from Shakespeare and character arcs, to explore the emotional depths of Swift's songs and how they reflect contemporary societal issues, particularly around femininity and empowerment. Each episode offers a deep dive into the complexities of women's experiences in the music industry, critique of cancel culture, and the reclaiming of female agency, making it a rich resource for those who appreciate art and literary analysis.

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Which podcasts are similar to LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl?

These podcasts share a similar audience with LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl:

1. The Preamble
2. We Can Do Hard Things
3. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
4. BETH'S DEAD
5. Dear Chelsea

How many episodes of LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl are there?

LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl launched 3 months ago and published 20 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl?

Recent guests on LIT112: The Life of a Showgirl include:

1. Kelley Erickson
2. Micah Vandegrift

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