Storytelling

We Remember Details “All Too Well”

By Nick Westergaard on September 18, 2025

I’m thrilled to announce my new podcast mini-series, On Brand: Taylor’s Version. These bonus episodes take us through the weeks leading up to the launch of Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl. But how did I get here?

My Swiftie story isn’t typical. I’m a 47-year-old man, father of five, none of whom were into Tay. No parental connection, no childhood soundtrack—so why did this matter to me?

Growing up, Saturday Night Live was my gateway into adulthood. I stayed up late laughing at Dana Carvey, Chris Farley, and my personal favorite, Phil Hartman. Staying up late felt like a rite of passage, a bridge into the adult world. Fast forward, and SNL is still comedy first—but it’s also my music discovery tool. With top 40 radio mostly dead and me outside what’s “current,” SNL keeps me entertained, vaguely relevant, and connected to new music—even as I struggle to stay awake.

Saturday, November 21, 2021, was one of those nights. Jonathan Majors hosted (oof), Taylor Swift was the musical guest. Red (Taylor’s Version) had dropped the day before. I knew a bit about her—Shake It Off is still an earworm, I knew the Kanye story, and I’d followed her re-recording journey as a business case study. I was sleepy, but SNL has a way of pulling you in—and this time, I wasn’t prepared for what came next …

When she began playing “All Too Well,” here’s what happened:

  • Taylor in silhouette on a dark stage, light blasting behind her. Cinematic—a music video she directed.
  • “I walked through the door with you …” We walk through the door with her via a first-person camera POV shot.
  • “Left my scarf at your sister’s house …” Shot of the scarf on the bannister. Curiosity spikes. Leaves fall on stage as in the video. Worlds blur.
  • “Dancing ’round the kitchen in the refrigerator light …” I see it, in my head and onscreen. “Plaid shirt days …” Perfect fall imagery and—
  • Wait. He’s returning her things but not the scarf?! “‘Cause it reminds you of innocence … and it smells like me.” Fully awake. Starting to get pissed. Also, how long is this song?
  • This is the guy who charmed her dad, “sipping coffee like a late-night show”!
  • “I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age.” Boom—mouth open. Stage drenched in red. The album name!!
  • Now snow falls. Seasons changed. How long is this song?!? She doubts herself: “The idea you had of me, who was she?”
  • Stage darkens. Backup singers join. This feels sacred. “It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well.” Applause.

Clearly, I still remember this performance all too well. That’s when I realized Taylor Swift isn’t just writing pop songs—she’s creating worlds, eras, and rewriting her own narrative.

If I had to pick one story strategy here, it’s that details make or break your stories. A simple scarf can carry meaning. Coca-Cola delivers it in the condensation on a bottle and the pop of fizz. Jane Goodall does the same with stories of chimpanzee Fifi grooming her infant Flossi under the midday sun, revealing their bond. These vivid touches make stories unforgettable.

What details can you add to make your stories feel real? Brand names? Sensory details like sounds, smells, and sights? These small, vivid touches make your story stick.

Use This Story Strategy in Your Work

  • Why Taylor? Tiny details—scarves, autumn leaves—make heartbreak cinematic.
  • When to use details: Specific moments help your audience see, feel, and remember your story.
  • For leaders: Sensory touches—like Fifi grooming her infant—make moments stick.
  • For brands: Small, vivid details—like a Coke’s fizz—bring stories to life.
  • ✨ Easter Eggs: 

When you want your story to stick, take a page from Taylor—be specific, layer in vivid details, and your audience will remember it… all too well.

 A version of this first appeared in Story Strategies—my monthly email newsletter designed to help you connect with your audience through the power of story. Get the next issue delivered to your inbox.