In this week's episode, I have my first co-host of season 5, Crystal Andrews! Crystal is a writer, author, and the founder & editor of feminist news publication, Zee Feed. But most importantly, Crystal is a Swiftie. Off the back of the Eras Tour in Sydney (which we both attended, twice), Crystal and I explore how Taylor Swift built such a culty fandom and why the Swifties feel so protective of their fave. Subscribe to Zee Feed's weekly newsletter that inspired this episode: https://zeefeed.beehiiv.com/ Find our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg  Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/  Join our Geneva home: https://links.geneva.com/invite/7eb23525-9259-4d59-95e3-b9edd35861a5  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infinitescrollpodcast/  Follow our publication: https://www.instagram.com/centennialworld/  Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/  Timestamps: 6:18: History of Swiftie Nation 19:00 Zee Feed newsletter that inspired this episode 30:52 Explaining the mentality of a Swiftie 40:33 How do Swifties project their protection of Taylor Swift? 48:05 How the 2009 VMAs changed the trajectory of pop culture and thus the direction of Taylor Swift’s career 56:10 The consequences of being unable to critique Taylor Swift without backlash Resources: https://zeefeed.beehiiv.com/p/eras-tour-geological-layer-rubbish  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf9ZDEEvuog&t=2296s&ab_channel=ArtsUnimelb  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/21/scoop-taylor-swift-eats-in-restaurant-and-we-missed-the-story  https://www.thedailybeast.com/taylor-swift-remains-silent-as-fans-doxx-and-harass-music-critic-over-folkore-review  https://www.businessinsider.com/harassment-taylor-swift-fan-base-worse-than-far-right-hate-2023-6  https://theoutline.com/post/8484/sore-winners-decade