Taylor Swift’s feature on the New Heights podcast, co-hosted by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason, shattered records, with 1.3 million live YouTube viewers.
The episode became the most-watched podcast premiere ever, surpassing 10 million views within 24 hours. This historic debut solidified her strong influence in media and entertainment. Let’s take a look at ten takeaways from the iconic podcast appearance.
1. Album Announcement
During the podcast, Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, which will be released on October 3, 2025. She shared that the album will feature 12 tracks, marking her first collaboration with producers Max Martin and Shellback since Reputation.
Fans eagerly anticipated the release, making this a pivotal moment in her musical career.
The Life of a Showgirl
During the podcast, Swift pulled out a green and orange briefcase, opening it to reveal her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
On the cover, Swift can be seen in a sparkling silver top, floating in water. Many fans think that this is a reference to the first track on the album, ‘The Fate of Ophelia.”
“This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time,” Swift said.
2. Love Story Origins
During the podcast, Swift and Kelce revealed how they met, with Kelce using the New Heights podcast as a personal “dating app.” Their first connection began after Kelce attended Swift’s Eras Tour in Kansas City, where he later expressed admiration for her on the podcast.
Their love story unfolded naturally, showing a genuine connection beyond the public eye.
A Personal Dating App
Swift revealed that she was only doing the podcast because “New Heights got me a boyfriend.”
However, Kelce gives the Eras Tour the credit, saying, “If I had never gone to that show and just been mesmerized and just captivated—and then left with such a desire to want to meet you, I would’ve never gone on [New Heights] and told everybody how butthurt I was.”
3. Behind the Scenes of ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Swift explained that The Life of a Showgirl was inspired by her experiences during the Eras Tour. She described the album’s vibrant sound and orange-themed aesthetic, reflecting the energy of her performances.
This album marks a new chapter in her career, merging her live performance insights with fresh musical perspectives.
The Eras Tour
She revealed that she was working on the album while she was in Europe, during her record-breaking Eras Tour.
“I would be playing shows, I’d do like three shows in a row, I’d have three days off, I’d fly to Sweden, go back to the tour, and actually, like, working on this, I was physically exhausted at this point in the tour, but I was so mentally stimulated and so excited to be creating,” she revealed.
4. Personal Hobbies Revealed
Swift opened up about her new hobbies, including baking sourdough bread and sewing.
She humorously shared that sourdough now occupies “60% of her thoughts,” revealing a grounded and relatable side of the superstar.
Bread Puns
During the interview, she even made a few puns with her own lyrics, which fans absolutely adored.
These included: “Are you bread-y for it?” “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast,” and “Loafing him was bread.”
5. Reclaiming Her Masters
In a pivotal moment, Swift discussed reclaiming the master recordings of her first six albums for $360 million. This achievement allowed her to regain control over her music, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Her ability to purchase her masters has been a major turning point in her journey toward artistic independence.
Buying Her Masters
It’s no secret that Swift has been fighting to buy her masters for years. But the day that her mother called and revealed that she could buy her music back, swift burst into tears, running to Kelce who was playing video games at the time.
“If I never would have been able to buy back my music,” Swift said, “one day, someone else would be leaving all of my music from my first six albums to their kids in their will.”
6. Relationship Dynamics
Swift and Kelce’s chemistry was evident throughout the podcast. Kelce praised Swift’s songwriting abilities, calling her the “greatest songwriter of all time.”
Their playful banter and mutual respect showcased their strong, supportive relationship, with Kelce expressing admiration for Swift’s artistry and personality in a way that felt both genuine and affectionate.
Humor and Chemistry
Swift and Kelce’s chemistry really showed in their banter. Swift jokingly confessed her lack of football knowledge, while Kelce’s humor about the media spotlight added a lighthearted touch to the entire discussion.
Their ability to joke and enjoy each other’s company provided a glimpse into their genuine relationship, making their connection seem natural and heartfelt.
7. Her Parents’ Health Issues
Swift also revealed that over the summer, both of her parents underwent surgeries. Her mother, Andrea Swift, underwent knee replacement surgery.
“My mom just got a new knee, so she’s doing great. She’s scampering around. She’s doing great,” she said.
Scott Swift’s Surgery
A resting stress test found that Swift’s father, Scott Swift, had five heart blockages. He was booked for immediate heart surgery. Swift revealed that she, her brother, her mother, and her father’s best friend were there for Scott after his surgery, and that he was doing great as well.
“This was just the summer of my parental upgrade,” Swift joked.
8. Easter Eggs
One of the most exciting parts about being a Swiftie is decoding all of Taylor’s many easter eggs. During the podcast, she discussed these easter eggs, stating, “I’m never going to plant an easter egg that ties back to my personal life.”
“It’s always going to be toward music, or something I’m coming up with, something I have coming up, a plan I have coming together. Something that you don’t know I’m saying for a specific reason that you’ll hear later.”
Her Favorite Easter Egg
Swift revealed that her favorite easter egg happened during her honorary doctorate commencement speech at NYU.
She said, “I put so many lyrical easter eggs in that speech that when the Midnights album came out, the fans were like ‘the whole speech was an easter egg.'”
9. Media Attention
When asked how Swift and Kelce handle the online chatter around their relationship and personal lives, Swift said, “We don’t, really.”
“I don’t see a lot of things. I’m of the firm belief that if you’re getting your feedback from the internet or from comments and stuff, I just think that anything you feed your brain, it will internalize.”
“But I’ve been in the music industry for 20 years; it’s hard to hurt my feelings at this point,” she said.
She’s A Pro
On this topic, Kelce called Swift a pro. “It took me a little while to be a pro about it,” he said. He revealed that there are still some strange theories about their relationship, which concerned him at first.
However, he says that Swift being so calm and understanding about everything made him grow up fast and learn to ignore these comments.
10. Fashion Choices
Swift’s appearance on the podcast also turned heads for her minimalist yet elegant style. She wore a white button-up shirt paired with a beige pleated skort, accessorized with a gold Cartier necklace and watch.
Her chic, effortless look demonstrated her timeless fashion sense, blending casual comfort with subtle luxury.