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.