Summer 2025 was an action-packed few months full of music, podcasts, and delight, and as school’s familiar responsibilities begin yet again, it’s important to reminisce on some of the best listening moments this season has had to offer.
From Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s record-breaking podcast episode to Alex Cooper’s famous and controversial “Call Her Daddy” series, this summer’s hot releases have contributed to 2025’s upward trend in worldwide podcast listeners. Perhaps the most exciting music announcement of the summer came on Jason and Travis Kelce’s already-popular podcast “New Heights” with the grand confirmation of Taylor Swift’s twelve album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release October 3, 2025. “New Heights’” typically attracts an audience of devoted football fans, but Swifties, moms, and regular listeners alike flooded the episode’s stream in huge waves, amassing the total listener count to 21 million.
GA’s population of Swifties immediately took to their phones to repost and share Swift’s latest glitzy album cover to their social media accounts, but other students’ tastes diverged from Swift’s pop ballads this summer. “I loved Zach Bryan, Treaty Oak, and Chris Stapleton,” Ava Dalton ‘26 said. And what’s not to love about blasting country music during the summer with the windows down?
Another interesting listening pick this summer has been Germantown Academy Athletic’s “The Patriot Playbook,” a series featuring conversations about GA’s student-athletes, each episode dedicated to a singular team. Recently, the podcast dropped its Fall Sports Preview episode, which shines a light on the fall sports that are starting to kick off. GA faculty and athletes in particular have greeted this episode as a chance to learn more about possible newcomers to sports teams and exciting games to look out for.
As cooler weather replaces the blissful heat, we look to the upcoming album releases of Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Cardi B, and Doja Cat, and anticipate fresh up-and-coming podcast releases. Until then, GA will savor Summer 2025’s music memories and podcast enjoyment, eager for what comes next. Until autumn!