New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce | EP 151

"A Swift Debrief, Travis’ Preseason Prep and Starting Shedeur"

Release Date: August 27, 2025
Podcast Network: Wondery

Episode Overview

This episode of New Heights finds the Kelce brothers reflecting on their historic, record-breaking episode featuring superstar Taylor Swift, breaking down NFL preseason stories, and previewing the 2025 season. There’s brotherly banter, pop culture detours (from dying beards to domesticated animals), a behind-the-scenes peek into what it took to get Taylor Swift on the show, and candid thoughts on major league headlines—including Shedeur Sanders and the Browns, Cowboys contract drama, and detailed preseason analyses for the Chiefs and Eagles.

Key Sections & Discussion Points

1. Taylor Swift Engagement & Last Episode Debrief

[00:00 - 16:00]

• Opening News: The big off-pod news: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are officially engaged. Travis was absent for recording (“the proposal heard round the world”). The New Heights team sends their congratulations.
• Last Episode Recap: The brothers debrief their record-setting Taylor Swift episode (20+ million YouTube views in 72 hrs, most-viewed IG Reel ever, 1.3+ million live YouTube views, 400k new subs, etc.).
• Swift Impact:
  • Taylor’s transparency and comfort on the episode are praised (“She is the human exclamation point”—Taylor describing Travis, [07:19]).
  • Travis’s favorite song from Taylor’s new, poppier album is “Opalite” ([04:01]).
  • Jason dives into “Swifty Easter eggs” and details fan reactions across platforms.

Quote

“Taylor gave the world two hours that she’s never given them before...it felt like it really resonated with the fans.”
— Jason ([05:20])

2. Inside the Swift Episode: Fan & Family Reactions

[09:00 - 22:30]

• Mama Kelce’s Take: Donna Kelce calls the episode “eventful” and “very loving” ([16:08]).
• Turning Dudes into Swifties: NFL players and staff expressed newfound admiration for Swift, especially her take on handling media pressure ([19:06]).
• Highlight Fan Reactions:
  • A 54-year-old male listener left a viral comment about becoming a Swifty and loving the episode despite initial skepticism ([20:20]).
  • Fans, including dads and male coaches, were won over by Taylor’s authenticity.
• Zoo/Banter Tangent: Travis dreams of saving otters from captivity; the brothers banter about animals they’d domesticate (bear, wolf, otter, orca—very on-brand [22:39]).

Quote

“Friends, is it crazy for a 54-year-old dude to be googling what is a Swifty?...I laughed. I got angry at her not owning her own music. And I got choked up…”
— Dread70’s YouTube comment, read by Jason ([20:42])

3. Behind the Scenes: Keeping the Swift Episode Secret

[27:04 - 32:00]

• The Production Crew: Producers Brandon and Jake reveal the stress and secrecy required to prep the Swift episode (shout-outs to “not dropping the baby,” recalling Jason’s main internal mantra: Don’t say another word; don’t cut her off ([15:12])).
• Taylor’s Professionalism: Marveling that Swift trusted a podcast instead of a late-night show for such a massive album announcement ([30:27]).

Quote

“This is something that usually happens on Tonight Shows...She decided to come on the off-season of New Heights—a bunch of idiots that don’t know what we’re doing.”
— Jason ([30:50])

4. Chiefs Preseason Analysis & Travis’s Preparation

[33:57 - 53:22]

• Chiefs Camp Recap: Travis details the vibe at St. Joe’s, tight end room excitement, offensive line rebuild, and the division’s new look: easy banter on the AFC West’s loaded head-coach roster ([36:37]).
• Offensive Line Focus:
  • Josh Simmons and Kingsley transition; Jason gives in-depth O-line analysis, calling left tackle “one of the hardest positions” ([41:44]).
  • Trey Smith highlight, likened to a “domesticated bull” ([43:48]).
• Papa Kelce Prediction: Travis’s dad predicts Travis’s “best season ever,” citing strict offseason training ([49:58], [50:13]).
• Training Details: Travis discusses working with Tony Villani, focusing on fundamental speed, explosion, and adapting with age:

  “I went to Tony and said, I need to get my get-off off the ball more explosive and my top-end speed back...That’s what I need to focus on.” ([52:18])

5. Eagles Camp & NFL Preseason Storylines

[54:48 - 64:51]

• Jason’s Retirement/Ambassador Role: Jason talks about returning to Eagles camp, the joy of sharing his football knowledge, and the contagious “relentlessness” of Coach Stoutland ([56:09]).
• Camp Highlights:
  • Lane Johnson vs. Myles Garrett—watching “two of the best of the decade” go head-to-head ([59:45])
  • Offensive line evolution, and culture on the team
• NFC East Watch: Deep-dive into divisional changes, defenses, and why Philly still leads the pack ([66:01]).
• Dallas Cowboys Drama:
  • Jerry Jones vs. Micah Parsons contract standoff; speculation on management style:

    “Jerry is kind of the issue a lot of people have brought up for a long time in Dallas.” — Jason ([71:05])

  • Micah reportedly seeks $40M/yr, agent disputes JJ’s claims.

6. Cleveland Browns QB Controversy: Flacco vs. Shedeur Sanders

[73:11 - 80:30]

• Overview: Browns opt to start veteran Joe Flacco over rookie Shédeur Sanders, sparking fan/media uproar.
• Jason’s Reasoning: Believes coaches pick who they trust most, not a conspiracy against the rookie ([76:48]).
• Travis’s Take: Wants to see Shedeur play (“Give the people what they want!”), but understands coaching logic.
• Fan Expectation Reality Check: Jason clarifies that every rookie must earn first-team reps the hard way—preseason disappointment with Shedeur’s workload is “normal”, not a slight ([78:17]).

Quote

“Let the kid develop...just have faith that the Browns know what they’re doing at quarterback.”
— Jason ([77:52])

7. Off-Field/Personal Updates & Foundation Work

[83:41 - 91:02]

• Travis’s Car Jam Returns: Details on the 3rd annual 87 & Running Car Jam—raising money for Operation Breakthrough, helping underserved youth, and a unique STEM Ignition Lab electric-car build ([84:04]).
• American Eagle Collab: Travis launches a clothesline as True Colors Creative Director, involving top collegiate athletes and Olympians ([87:58]).
• Garage Beer x Chuck Liddell: Jason recounts being “knocked out” by MMA legend Chuck Liddell in a promotional skit ([66:19]).

8. Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “She is the human exclamation point.” (Taylor Swift on Travis, [07:19])
• “I’m all in on that guy. That was very well stated.” (Jason on 54-year-old fan’s Swifty conversion, [21:06])
• “Shout out to Mama Kels... it was authentic, very loving.” ([16:08])
• “Don’t cut her off, don’t ruin this. Just listen, you stupid idiot. Don’t drop the baby, man.” (Jason on his approach to the Swift interview, [15:16])
• “Jerry is kind of the issue...There’s an old-schoolness…but you have to find a way to work this out.” ([71:05])
• “Give the people what they want! Let him shake!” (Travis on Sanders, [79:23])
• “When Pop’s all good, we’re all good, baby.” (on Pacheco’s preseason sideline hit, [45:11])

9. Humor & Running Gags

• Jason’s Dyed Beard: Garage Beer bit went awry, resulting in an accidentally dark, youthful beard ([12:23])
• Domesticated Animals: Top five dream pets: bear, wolf, primate, otter, dolphin/orca ([22:39])
• Social Media Trends: Viral TikTok audios, Kylie Kelsey’s wit, women in sports meme circulation ([26:28])
• OT producer banter: “Don’t drop the baby,” “Mission Impossible”–style secrecy prepping Taylor’s pod appearance ([27:04])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:00 - 05:54] — Engagement, Swift episode and record-breaking stats
• [05:54 - 15:52] — Taylor on the pod: reactions, brothers’ approach, production talk
• [16:08 - 21:06] — Family/fan responses, why dudes love the Swift ep
• [21:31 - 28:30] — Animal banter, behind the scenes, viral clips, production secrets
• [33:57 - 53:22] — Chiefs preseason, Travis’s training, O-line rebuild, season outlook
• [54:48 - 66:01] — Jason’s return to Eagles camp, NFC East preview, league storylines
• [68:25 - 73:02] — Cowboys contract drama (Jerry Jones vs. Micah Parsons)
• [73:11 - 80:30] — Browns QB situation: Flacco vs. Shedeur Sanders
• [83:41 - 90:51] — Charity car show, Garage Beer ad, American Eagle “True Colors”
• [91:02 - End] — Plugs, thanks, episode wrap

Overall Tone and Takeaway

The episode is classic New Heights: insightful, irreverent, and full of warm, brotherly ribbing. The brothers balance fan service and football geekery with internet savvy and genuine affection for their guests and listeners. From Swiftie debriefs to lineman battles, playful animal hypotheticals to earnest talks about legacy and community, it’s an episode that’s as much about relationships and joy as it is about football.

Listeners will walk away feeling like insiders on both the NFL and “Kelce Universe”—with heart, humor, and more than a few hot takes.