Tech Exec Wellness Podcast: Conversations to Reignite Your Soul
In the fast-paced world of technology, where innovation and disruption are the norm, tech executives often find themselves caught in a whirlwind of high-pressure decision-making, long working hours, and constant connectivity. The relentless pursuit of success and the demands of their roles can take a toll on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. However, a new narrative that emphasizes the importance of tech executive wellness as a crucial component of sustainable success is emerging. This is the story of the tech executive's journey to rediscover balance, prioritize well-being, and ultimately thrive in their personal and professional lives.
If you're ready to embark on a wellness journey that will empower you to live your best life, I invite you to subscribe to Tech Exec Wellness, Navigating the Digital Balance, wherever you listen to podcasts. Together, let's cultivate harmony within ourselves and radiate positive energy to the world. Each week, we'll explore a wide range of topics related to wellness, inviting experts, thought leaders, and everyday individuals who have transformed their lives through mindful living, self-care, practices, and holistic approaches. We'll dive deep into areas such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, spirituality, mindfulness, personal growth, and more.
Tech Exec Wellness Podcast: Conversations to Reignite Your Soul
Unforgettable Journeys and Bonding through Taylor Swift's Era Tour with Dr. Meredith McClure
Prepare to be swept away by the musical phenomenon that is Taylor Swift's Era Tour, as we uncover its magic through the experiences of Dr. Meredith McClure. This episode brings to light how Taylor's music not only transforms concert arenas but also brings vitality to unexpected places—like Dr. McClure's operating room. Get ready to hear about the unforgettable journey of a mother and daughter as they create cherished memories at Taylor's concerts in Dallas and New Orleans, amidst a sea of fans spanning all generations. Dr. McClure shares her personal story of how Taylor's music became a soundtrack to both her professional and personal life, bonding with her daughter over shared moments of joy and nostalgia.
Listeners will be intrigued by Taylor's unparalleled impact on the live music scene, where her tours have become a beacon of creativity and community. This episode explores the warmth and unity among Swifties, who bring the party to life with vibrant costumes and the beloved tradition of trading friendship bracelets. We dive into Taylor's inspiring resilience, highlighting her triumphant journey from overcoming public controversies to becoming a record-breaking icon. The discussion also touches on her unwavering support for fellow artists and the heartfelt connection she nurtures with her fans. Join us for an extraordinary look at Taylor Swift's tours and the magnetic energy that makes them a life-changing spectacle.
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Hi, welcome back to the Tech Exec Wellness Podcast, the show where we dive deep into the stories of technology and business executives, trends and cultural moments like we're going to do today that define our world. I'm your host, melissa, and today we're stepping into a phenomenon that's transcended music, fashion and fandom the Taylor Swift's Era Tour. But first I want to introduce my guest, dr Meredith McClure. Dr Meredith is a gynecologist who specializes in menopause and midlife women's health care. She enjoys working with her patients to address their hormonal and relationship challenges. Dr McClure, working with her patients to address their, also recognizes the care gaps that exist for the phase of life and strives to educate patients, learners and other practitioners wherever she can about how to optimize midlife women's health.
Speaker 1:So, from record-breaking ticket sales to its jaw-dropping production, the Heiress Tour has become more than a concert. It's a movement, a celebration of artistry and a masterclass in creating unforgettable experiences. Whether you're a dedicated Swifty or just fascinated by the cultural juggernaut this tour has become, this episode is for you. We'll explore the stories behind the scene, the ripple effects it's had on the music industry, and even some of the behind the scenes stage strategies that have made it an unparalleled success. Grab your metaphorical friendship bracelets. And let's dive into the eras tour, dr Meredith welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me Super fun. What a segue from gynecology to Taylor Swift.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and let me ask you this how did you first get into Taylor Swift's music? How did you discover her and when?
Speaker 2:Probably when she was really young and my work partner, her daughter, was young she's now in college and she was really into it and they would go to shows then. So we actually would operate and listen to Taylor Swift.
Speaker 1:So in surgery you had Taylor Swift on. We did, we still do so what songs? Can I ask? What gets you going when you're doing your surgery here?
Speaker 2:I mean any of them. Now we're into the later eras, so the latest eras, midnight's and, of course, tortured Poets when those come on. But the classics like the Red and all that we jam out to Britney Spears, taylor Swift, spice Girls, that's our usual.
Speaker 1:That sounds like a really cool operating room there. So how many concerts have you been to? Is it two, am I correct?
Speaker 2:I have been to three Taylor Swift concerts oh three.
Speaker 1:What cities?
Speaker 2:Dallas for Reputation, and then Dallas for Eras and New Orleans for Eras.
Speaker 1:Reputation, and then Dallas for Eras and New Orleans for Eras.
Speaker 2:Wow, and I know tickets were really hard to come by. How did you secure yours? So, for Reputation, I dabbled in Taylor Swift but really came into Taylor Swift when one of my really really good friends, who's a big time Swifty, got tickets for her birthday to reputation, by joining the fan club. We got tickets to that. We were supposed to go to the Lover in California but then COVID shut that down. We had tickets to that one and then for Eras, when she announced that we all you know, did all the things signed up to get the tickets, my friend was in the fan club and all of us struck out. And then her husband thankfully his boss at the Christmas party for his company was giving away, you know, presents and one of them was seats for his cowboy season tickets for the Arras tour and her husband snagged them for us. So we actually got to go for free.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:Which was amazing, and of course the seats were perfect, so that was great. And then New Orleans was. I just signed up for the lottery and randomly got tickets for the lottery.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's crazy. I've seen face value and then up to $15,000 for floor seats. So crazy. Yeah, it's. I don't think I've ever seen a concert like this in my life, and I've been to a lot of them. I talk about that on my podcast with other guests, but this one here was something else. What is your favorite era? Which one really resonates with you? And I know you mentioned Midnight and you mentioned TTPD, but which one is your favorite?
Speaker 2:nights and you mentioned ttpd, but which one is your favorite by far? I don't know. I think I like red lover. Those are probably my faves. Reputation's good too yeah, it's good.
Speaker 1:So when you were at the, at the concert in dallas and um, or you know new orleans, can you describe the energy of the crowd like, how did you feel? What are some of the emotions you felt during that concert?
Speaker 2:So it's kind of fun because I mean, in Dallas we went, it was April 2023. And then, of course, new Orleans was October of 2024. So to go, you know there are different shows, which is kind of fun from that regard too, but like how things changed from one to the other, because in Dallas, you know, it just started. We were the third venue, so a lot of the things that you see now didn't exist then, like the friendship bracelets and all of that. A lot of things have kind of the show's changed a little bit, but even just the atmosphere has changed quite a bit.
Speaker 2:Probably one of my favorite things and I told my husband came with me to New Orleans with me, brought my 12 year old daughter, and I told him you're going to cry. He's like no, I'm not going to cry. I'm like no, you're going to cry because you're going to see all these girls and they're all screaming their hearts out and crying themselves, and you're going to look at our daughter and you're going to cry. And I think just transcends. I mean, it's just like you just get in there and it's all ages, young, old, no matter what, and everybody is just they're happy and they're. You know, everyone you know, shares the friendship bracelets now and they're helping each other out and it's just. It's just a fun experience.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're right about that. Notice from the beginning, like you said, the third stop. To now it seems like she got her confidence. Not that she hasn't been a confident person, but you could just tell she's just so energetic and you know, three and a half hours is just totally athletic. And I've seen some of the professional athletes. They just have so much respect for her because it's really. I mean, she dances the whole time and costume changes.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and jumping in and out of a stage and all the things I mean reputation. She flew across the stadium, which was amazing.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. Well, speaking of the concert, what era from a visual perspective was your favorite Like what performance was was wow, this is cool the torture poets was actually kind of really cool.
Speaker 2:That was, that was new and different. Um, I mean, her entrance is just like probably the best thing in the whole world too, to be totally honest you know, I think, tell me if you agree with this, but it was a concert, a musical.
Speaker 1:it covered every element of what a performance is 100%.
Speaker 2:She's a true performer. I mean, she's an artist in every sense of the word.
Speaker 1:Was there a song or performance? When you talk about your husband, you know you're going to cry. Was there anything that you can recollect, that you get teary-eyed thinking about?
Speaker 2:For me watching it with my daughter, I think for her and me, fearless was the one that I was like waiting for the most, just because it's awesome and her outfit's amazing and like it's just a good one, I think it's just a good good.
Speaker 1:That's just a good, a good one, I think, for me. I, I think I get teary-eyed because I don't know about you, but I've watched almost all of the tiktok live streams from everywhere in the world and I I know I'm like what the hell. But I think what makes me cry is a cardigan. That folklore evermore and I think that's when I became a big fan was over the pandemic, but I always get teary eyed with those for some reason.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome, yeah. So when we went to New Orleans with the Evermore, all of a sudden, like these people show up with these orange balls in the stands in the crowd and I'm like what's going on? Because you have your bracelets to light up, I'm like did we not get one of those bracelets? What's going on? And then I realized like people had snuck in orange balloons and they were shining their flashlights from their cell phones on them and like mimicking the dancers out there holding those orange globe things. And we were walking out. My friend was with us and she's like those people are really committed bringing those balls in.
Speaker 1:They were balloons really committed bringing those, those balls in. They were balloons. Yeah, that's for the song willow. I've seen it on tiktok where people are like this is demonic, she's summoning people, okay what's happening?
Speaker 2:like all these things are lighting up and it was balloons.
Speaker 1:People were speaking in you know what I've noticed? And the dancers. I love the dancers, they're extraordinary, but none of them dropped the, the, the orange ball, I mean and they're dancing and in some of those situations they had open stadiums where they still performed in the rain. And I'm like I'm over here cringing I don't have kids, but I'm almost like a mother going. I hope they don't slip and fall. It's so wet and it's pouring down. They just were super professional.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was worried for Taylor's safety when she's on the house in the rain.
Speaker 1:I was like I hope she does not fall down. Yeah, oh, my gosh, that was crazy. Let me ask you this If you were to describe in one word the heiress tour, what would that be? One word, transcends.
Speaker 2:She just does like everything you know everything she does. She's just everything her songs, her, you know, her costumes, her shows, everything. I mean, it's just it's amazing what she does.
Speaker 1:What is so unique about Taylor's fan base? Because I don't see this with Nine Inch Nails. I don't see this with Def Leppard. I don't see this with any other band out there, any concert I've been to. What makes her community unique, you think?
Speaker 2:I think it's inclusive. Again, it's all ages, so everyone, I think, can enjoy it and it just makes people happy Like no one. There is angry, which is great when we live in this really angry world.
Speaker 1:I've read articles and I've read a post where people say that kind of the same thing you said, Dr Merrill, is it's inclusive, but people say it's a safe space. And that really took me aback because I'm like, wow, is the world really that crazy? But a lot of people were saying it felt like a safe space.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and even just you know New Orleans, with the friendship bracelets made. People were just, you know, we walked out of the Superdome and there's, you know guys with AK-47s, you know all the security and stuff, and people are just handing these guys with bulletproof vests and big old guns friendship bracelets. It was just and they were super appreciative.
Speaker 1:And it was just, you know, it was just great Vancouver. The horses had on the friendship bracelets and I thought, wow, that is so cool. Yeah, Three and a half hours. Did it meet your expectations? Was it everything? And then some.
Speaker 2:Of course, yeah, I mean, it's you. Just she just keeps going and you're there for three and a half hours, but you don't feel it at all. It's just, it feels like it goes by in a in a flash.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you've heard this. I don't know if you go on TikTok, but when she first started the tour, a lot of people said that they were so excited over Joy that they walked out of that concert and they don't remember anything that happened. Did you hear about that? No, yeah, so she elevated them to another place in time. I guess I wasn't a part of that, but it sounds cool, yeah.
Speaker 2:We missed out on that, I guess.
Speaker 1:I know you mentioned TTPD. Was there a song specifically that you love seeing her perform? Good question, I don't know.
Speaker 2:The whole thing was good. I'm kind of thinking of, like individual names. I'm not as up to date on the TTPD on the names of the songs, but that's a tough one. I don't know.
Speaker 1:When we talk about the music you mentioned reputation, her earlier country, genre and whatnot. Why do you think her music resonates with so many fans? Because when I've heard about the attendees that were there, like Eddie Vedder was there at the last show, so you have people from all different genres that are there. What do you think? Why do you think it resonates with people?
Speaker 2:I mean she's been around. I mean she's, you know, from her young, young years and singing about school and things like that. And then you know into adulthood and just knowing what she's like, all the things she's done and been through, you know she just takes her life I mean it's her whole life that she just sings some songs. You've got to give her credit for that. So I think that just resonates with a lot of people and just certain things that she's going through in her life, that she's talking and singing about and people can relate.
Speaker 1:I think she's the ultimate storyteller because when, I really got into her and you know I've always liked her. But I think when you listen to works like Evermore Folklore and you listen to the lyrics, they're pretty deep, they're pretty. She's a storyteller. When you're listening to the songs like Willow or Seven, you really get entrenched into those lyrics and you start visualizing these characters and I think that is something no other artist has done.
Speaker 2:In my opinion yeah, yeah, do you think she's going to tour again? I?
Speaker 1:mean I would hope so, but I mean I think she would. This was two years.
Speaker 2:I think there's no way she's done, no way it's going to take some time.
Speaker 1:I hope not.
Speaker 2:Either.
Speaker 1:I mean, but two years, though. Do you think we'll? We'll get another tour like eras.
Speaker 2:I mean, I doubt it, I don't know, but I tried to explain to my daughter, you know, like this is your first huge concert, like you're never going to see anything like this again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know the whole like Kanye West thing, I again I didn't really pay attention to that stuff. I was kind of busy in my own personal life. But when I look back on some of the drama, if you will, that happened to her. I said she went into I don't know if this is correct but just kind of off the radar for a while and talk about a comeback story. I mean, here she is. I think it's the highest grossing tour in the world, breaking records but I think she came back better than ever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's one of the things I like. I mean that's personally. I like what I like about her because she was. She really came out of adversity and I don't know how someone at such a young age could have that happen to them and just power through and persevere and do what she did. You know it's credit to her.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I love the latest collaborations on this TTPD, and Midnight she had Lana Del Rey TTPD, florence Welch and Post Malone, so that was really cool, I think.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think she's supportive of other artists too, which is nice.
Speaker 1:She's really set the bar high, I think, in my opinion, I don't think. I personally myself, I don't think I can go see an artist now and I've got high expectations. Do you think this is making a lasting impact on how we will experience live music moving forward?
Speaker 2:I mean, she definitely sets the bar, you know, like it's, it's a, it's a tough, tough one to surpass, I would say for sure.
Speaker 1:I would agree with that the energy. And let's talk from the time first time we saw her you know, 2023 to Nat to 2024.
Speaker 2:I mean, we had to wait in line for three hours the morning of our show to get a sweatshirt. It was pure insanity. Everyone was super nice and everything and trading their bracelets and everything in line. But it was quite the experience, for sure.
Speaker 1:Bracelets and everything in line, but it was. It was quite the experience for sure. What was that experience like? Besides the long wait, Were you talking to other people? What did you do to keep yourself entertained?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean people were. You know it was hot because it was New Orleans, but we were outside. But you know people were. They're out there selling waters and things like that and the people were, you know, talking to each other. Of course, everyone was trading bracelets, like my daughter, she got approached all the time getting bracelets and she thought that was super fun and and all of that. So yeah, it was great.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. What do you think it is about her fan base? Again, when I was like really back into concerts growing up and stuff, I never saw anything like this. I mean, do you think it's just the camaraderie, like just what makes it unique to other artists like the Stones or whatever?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I think she's so many years she's been doing this and so again, she just transcends so many generations of people and you know her older stuff, even the young people know it. Like, you know, you go to some concerts and the people might not know the songs all the time, but in her case it's like everybody just knows everything and and everybody and they all, just it brings them together. You know, it just kind of binds everybody, I feel.
Speaker 1:I saw some of the live streams and some of the people are just screaming the lyrics out and you know I've seen all kinds of things. Babies were there with headphones, obviously. Yeah, people had their service dog, so it's like who is in a swifty?
Speaker 2:it's crazy. Well, and who and what other concerts do you go to that people dress up? None because I mean we, I mean I had to dress up for these like pick your era, wear your things. Like everyone just pulls things from what she thinks and makes costumes and goes to her show in costume yeah, that's right, and uh, I midnights, I saw a lot of midnights costumes. Oh yeah, this I mean. It's sequins everywhere, so many sequins. The whole floor is covered in sequins I think about eras.
Speaker 1:I think probably the one that stands out for me is closing with karma, because if you listen to the words and everything, it's so empowering, but just the performance, the dancers and and everything, it's just a goosebumps moment for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's that that is a good one, and their and their outfits are amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the outfits are amazing and the dancers I you know, I want to find out. Hopefully there's a documentary coming out but I want to know what they eat after each show, I mean they work so hard.
Speaker 2:It's amazing. I don't know how they do it.
Speaker 1:I want to know how many calories she's burning a concert.
Speaker 2:Well, in the entourage they have to bring with them for everything. I mean, that's physical work. You know physical therapists and whatnot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, she's quite the philanthropist too. The money, the bonuses that she gives to her people and I'm going to share this in another episode but some of the notes, the heartfelt Instagram posts that her staff is making about she's just a unique person. Everybody loves her. I don't think I've ever heard anything bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and who has their parents come to almost every show? It's like a whole family thing, you know. That's pretty awesome.
Speaker 1:Somebody had said before and I'm glad you bring that up but you'll see Andrea and Scott and you'll see like 80,000 people. Could you imagine as a parent you're a parent, meredith how would you feel just seeing everybody chanting your daughter's name and looking up and seeing that many people?
Speaker 2:I don't know how they do it. And then everybody kind of looks at them as their parents too and they roll with it. They really just embrace it.
Speaker 1:One thing to say again. I bring up the Kanye thing because it was embarrassing and you know she was young and I felt embarrassed for her. I think the whole room was embarrassed when he took the mic from her and said Beyonce should have won. And you look forward now and that's just pure resilience.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I saw some TikTok recently and it was showing how, like other people, when they're winning awards and at whatever events, and Taylor will stand up in the crowd and cheer for them. Wherever else is sitting down and she's doing that out of the solidarity of what she went through.
Speaker 1:Stiles won and I think somebody was booing him saying Beyonce should have won and she's the only one standing up for him and she's definitely a champion of other people. I love that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's really.
Speaker 1:I appreciate you coming by. I would like to have you on again if she tours, but I it's good to see that she has the staying power and in my opinion, I think she'll take a year off. But think about it, dr Meredith with you and your education, all your training and everything, could you imagine what it feels like to just go nonstop and then it's quiet? She's not getting ready for a tour, she's not traveling. What do you think about that?
Speaker 2:It's got. I mean that's gotta be I don't know odd for her, but you I mean you know she's going to incubate and she'll do other things and probably gives her time to even just do that where she hasn't necessarily had that much time probably gives her time to even just do that where she hasn't necessarily had that much time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and one thing I did see on TikTok is the dancers, cam and An, but a lot of people were talking about those two specifically, and will they ever be back together again? I hope so.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and she lets them kind of be themselves, which I think is really fun hope so yeah, and she lets them kind of be themselves, which I think is really fun.
Speaker 1:Oh, I was going to say I love the man, I love seeing the dancers and everybody in suits and the man.
Speaker 2:What did you think about that performance? Yeah, that was that was that was good. Yeah, that was a good. I mean, that was a good one. It's not my favorite song, but made me like it a little more.
Speaker 1:I have one more question for you, somebody who is a physician. What do you think about all of the endurance and everything? What kind of self-care do you think they were, or even Taylor had, after each performance, because that's a rigorous workout?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I mean they've got to have like you know as far as like nutrition, but I mean they have. I mean they have a whole team, I'm sure of people because they injure themselves, and they've got a physical therapist and chiropractors and all the things to keep them going. I don't know how they do it. Three nights, four nights in a row sometimes doing that, that's insane.
Speaker 1:I don't think I've seen anybody injured where they weren't. At the next show. I can't wait for the documentary, because I'm the behind the scenes person. I want to know what they were eating. I want to know what they were doing, you know. Are they having smoothies in between breaks? And here's another thing how do they go to the bathroom? Because I was never waiting for five minutes for the next song. I mean, it was right there.
Speaker 2:No, there's no way. I don't know. Questions left unanswered yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm going to have to tweet that. Oh, and the backup singers. I love those four ladies. The Starlight, I don't know, dr Meredith, I hope we get another tour. I think there's probably going to be a pent-up demand for the next one, as this one was just extraordinary.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know how we would even get tickets, oh we'll find a way.
Speaker 1:We'll find a way. We'll find a way. We'll talk offline. We'll find a way. Dr Meredith, thank you so much for for coming in here. I know you're a big Swifty and this is going to be amazing to our listeners, who are like, wow, they're playing Taylor Swift in the operating room, so I think that's really cool.
Speaker 2:Of course we play together in the operating room.
Speaker 1:Well, thank you for being here and to our listeners. Check us out on every streaming platform, send us some feedback and, as always, thank you for your support.
